Small Business Winners Announced for the 2013 Annual KOSBE Awards
December 06, 2013
SMALL BUSINESS WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2013 ANNUAL KOSBE AWARDS
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) celebrated 16 winners during the 19th annual KOSBE Awards held at Ridgefields Country Club, on Thursday, December 5.
The winning businesses and the categories in which they won were:
•Amis Mill Eatery, Veteran-Owned Business.
•Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina, Franchise Business.
•Classy Clawz and Paws Inc., Woman-Owned Business.
•Cureton Orthodontics, Innovation.
•Elite Manufacturing and Professional Services, New Business.
•F&L Limo and Livery, Steady Performer.
•Fanatics 101 Sportswear, Young Entrepreneur.
•GSM Filtration Inc., Rural Business.
•Hillhouse Graphic Design, Steady Performer.
•Mohr Fitness, Multiple Location Business.
•Nu Hearing Centers, Business Excellence Under 10 Employees.
•Seaver's Bakery, Small Manufacturer/Fabricator.
•TriCities Upscale Affordable Consignment, Community Betterment.
•We Run Events, Home-Based Business.
•Workspace Interiors, Business Excellence 10 Employees and Up.
•Billy Wayne Arrington of LampLight Theatre, Impact Award.
Kingsport Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Miles Burdine was also recognized with the Caped Crusader Award for his behind-the-scenes efforts in helping make Kingsport and the surrounding region the best place to do business.
"Congratulations to all the winners and contenders who voluntarily put themselves under the microscope of our panel of judges. Our judges deliberated for many hours before reaching their decision, which is never easy — especially when everyone is putting on their best show in the panel interview," said Aundrea Wilcox, executive director of KOSBE. "Once again, they have done a fabulous job choosing the best businesses to represent our region."
Jack King, fourth generation president of jeans maker L.C. King Manufacturing in Bristol, Tenn., spoke at the event.
KOSBE Awards sponsors included CenturyLink, Cumberland Marketing, Dykes Trucking, F&L Limo & Livery, Phil's Dream Pit, Barberitos of Kingsport, ChamberZone, East Tennessee Eye Care, Eastman Chemical Co., Food City, Hair Benders Salon, Hunter Smith & Davis Attorneys at Law, Pathway Lending, Picsee Studios, Kingsport Times-News, Times Digital Group, Triten Insurance, The Business Journal, Thompson Metal Services, VIP Seen Magazine, Wilson Worley Moore Gamble & Stout PC, Holston Valley Broadcasting Group, Advicoach, Beyond Engagement Social Media Solutions, Fish Window Cleaning, SunTrust Bank, and The Angel Roundtable.
KOSBE's intent is to be the go-to organization in the Tri-Cities for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their business, by creating and developing the right tools and resources and cultivating the right partnerships.
KOSBE is the Kingsport affiliate office of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at East Tennessee State University. The TSBDC Network is composed of 16 locations throughout Tennessee with a primary function to provide counseling services and educational opportunities to entrepreneurs and "for profit" new and existing small businesses.
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