Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Small Business Excellence: Real Good Kitchen

Real Good Kitchen (RGK) was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Small Business Excellence category. RGK is the Knoxville community’s first full-service, shared commercial kitchen and food business incubator. The award is for an East Tennessee small business that employs 50 or fewer people and has consistently grown its workforce and revenue.

“Our philosophy has always been collaboration over competition,” said Bailey Foster, founder of Real Good Kitchen. “We have built a community inside the kitchen and in our networks that really supports the idea that if we all work together, we all grow together, we can all succeed together. Members of Real Good Kitchen will tell you the most impactful piece is building their business alongside other people in the community.”

Learn more about Founder Bailey Foster.

Mid-Sized Business Excellence: LDA Engineering

LDA Engineering was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Mid-Sized Business Excellence category. LDA Engineering is a Tennessee-based engineering and design firm that provides civil engineering, environmental services, land planning, and construction administration for public and private development projects.

Investing in the next generation of engineers is also central to LDA’s mission. The firm supports STEM initiatives and programs like the Future City Competition, where middle school students design cities 100 years in the future, using the engineering process to solve real-world challenges. Brooks sees these programs as a way to cultivate the professionals who will continue to build and maintain the Knoxville area’s infrastructure for decades to come. Read more about Future City.

“Our mission is simple,” said Jason Brooks, CEO of LDA Engineering. “We want to contribute to stronger, happier communities. When people can get where they need to go, have access to safe drinking water, and know that their infrastructure works reliably, that’s when we know we’ve done our part.”

Large Business Excellence: BESCO

BESCO was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Large Business Excellence category. BESCO is a mechanical contracting company that designs, installs, and services HVAC, plumbing, and building automation systems for commercial and industrial facilities.

For President Bridgett McMahan, the recognition reflects decades of work built on relationships and service. “For BESCO to be able to get recognized in this way is an honor,” McMahan said. “We want to be the solution for our customers in whatever capacity that looks like.”

Woman-Owned Business Excellence: SkyNano

SkyNano was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Woman-Owned Business Excellence category. SkyNano develops advanced nanomaterials and coatings that enhance durability, performance, and sustainability for industrial and consumer products.

SkyNano’s success is deeply connected to the Knoxville area’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with founder Anna Douglas emphasizing the vital role of local support for hardware-based startups. Strategic decision-making has been central to the company’s growth, as Douglas explained that SkyNano initially focused on defense-related projects, where risk tolerance and funding support allowed them to refine their technology. This approach has enabled the company to build robust data and capabilities that can later be applied to consumer products.

“There aren’t many women in this sector. It can feel isolating, but I’ve been fortunate to have strong relationships with other women in the Knoxville community who are leading STEM companies. Their support and guidance have been invaluable,” Douglas said.

Read more about Sky Nano.

Minority-Owned Business Excellence: Turning Knox Rental

Turning Knox Rental was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Minority-Owned Business Excellence category. Turning Knox Rental is in the business of experiences, not just equipment. From selfie stations to inflatable domes, the company brings events to life across the Knoxville area, helping people celebrate and create lasting memories.

Turning Knox Rental has grown through intentional partnerships and local networks. Landes leveraged connections from her real estate career and from the University of Tennessee, where her husband is an alumnus, to secure high-profile events.

“Our goal has always been to create moments that matter,” said Yvonnca Landes, co-founder of Turning Knox Rental. “We want people to walk away from an event and say they had a great time. That feeling, that connection, is what drives everything we do.”

Impact Award: Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Impact category. KCDC is the public housing authority for Knoxville and Knox County and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a high-performing public housing authority. It is led by Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley.

KCDC defines success by listening first. Through resident needs assessments, the organization gathers data directly from neighborhoods to determine which partnerships and services will make the greatest difference. From workforce development and education to transportation access, KCDC works alongside community organizations to provide resources that extend beyond housing alone.

Innovator Award: iO Urology

iO Urology was the Pinnacle Award winner in the Innovator category. From its Knoxville headquarters, iO Urology is changing how patients and physicians understand urologic health by turning everyday biological data into meaningful medical insight.

“It’s recognition of what we’re trying to do to change the world, to improve the lives of people, not just in East Tennessee but eventually across the world,” said the CEO, Britton Garrett. “We want urologic health to become part of the conversation between a patient and a physician.”

Traditionally, urologic care has relied on limited snapshots of information gathered during office visits. iO Urology’s technology instead captures ongoing data from patients at home, creating a clearer picture of health over time. By simplifying collection and automatically transmitting information to physicians, the company aims to help doctors identify risks earlier and make more informed decisions.

Young Entrepreneur Award: Jonathan Halley

Jonathan Halley was selected as the Pinnacle Award winner of the Young Entrepreneur category. Halley is the founder of Big Slate Media, which is Knoxville’s fastest-growing video and content creation company.

“Knoxville has shaped a lot of who I am personally and as a result has shaped the business,” Halley explained. “The biggest testament to that is how this community shows up and supports entrepreneurs. Everybody seems to be pouring in for the good of each other, but as a result, the good of the city as well.”

Since starting in 2015 with a single drone and a vision, Big Slate Media has expanded to a team of 31, blending production and agency services to serve a broad range of industries, from manufacturing and tourism to technology and economic development. The company has invested in unique capabilities, including an in-house VFX studio, a composer for original music, and proprietary software called B-Roll Bank that allows clients to access and utilize raw footage.

Read more about Big Slate Media’s journey.

Read more about the B-Roll bank.

James A. Haslam, II Leadership Award: Donde Plowman 

Donde Plowman was awarded the Pinnacle James A. Haslam, II Leadership Award. It is annually awarded to one key community leader who exhibits strength in character, resolve, and a commitment to the community.

Before becoming chancellor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2019, Plowman served as dean of the College of Business and then executive vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She was previously a department head at UT.

Plowman is a globally recognized organizational scientist whose scholarship includes the topics of leadership, change management, and strategic decision-making.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from the Knoxville Chamber,” said Plowman. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and partners who work every day to advance the university’s mission and strengthen our community. I am grateful to serve alongside people who are committed to excellence and to the future of the Knoxville area.”

Under Plowman’s leadership, the university has increased its research expenditures to a record $384 million by shifting its focus from individual efforts to big collaborative projects.

You can view the full stories about each company on the Chamber’s website.

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