Ryan WiluszKnoxville News Sentinel
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When you're employed by a Top Workplace, you know it, whether it's culture, benefits packages or leadership that set your company apart.
For the past eight years, in partnership with survey firm Energage, Knox News has surveyed employees across East Tennessee about what makes their workplace special. This year, more than 26,000 employees responded.
Based on analysis of those responses,73 of the 91 companies we surveyed were honored at The Mill & Mine in downtown Knoxville on July 24 for contributions to their employees and communities.
Check out all the winners below, including those who took first place in the large, midsize and small categories, as well as specialty award winners in leadership, training, communication and more.
Top Workplaces winners in large, midsize and small categories
Large Winner - Axle Logistics
Self-dubbed "Knoxville's rocket ship," Axle Logistics is growing at an arguably absurd rate, largely due to its ability to attract and retain talent. Pair this with a pride for company culture, and you have your Top Workplaces 2024 winner in the large company category.
Full story: Axle Logistics is empowering employees as it shoots for the moon
Midsize Winner - Pinnacle Financial Partners
Most bankers at Pinnacle Financial Partners used to work at bigger banks. In the industry, that means they often dreaded going to work. But at Pinnacle, which hires experienced bankers who work as a team, that's not a concern.
Full story: Pinnacle Financial Partners' all-star team makes banking fun again
Small Winner - Tennessee Standard Plumbing
Kelton Balka started Tennessee Standard Plumbing with just one other employee and a truck. Though operations began in early 2020, Balka had years of experience in the plumbing business and a finance degree under his belt. In just a few years, Balka's company has grown to 36 employees and 15 trucks, along with an office building and plans to expand
Full story: Tennessee Standard Plumbing is 'a developer of people'
Full list of Top Workplaces recipients and specialty awards
Of course, 1st place isn't everything. Many Knoxville companies beyond those that placed first received the prestigious recognition of being designated a Top Workplace.
Check out these special awards and the full list of recipients from each company category:
Specialty Awards
- Appreciation Award (I feel genuinely appreciated at this company): SmartBank
- Benefits Award (My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry): McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects and Interior Designers
- Clued in Senior Management Award (Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company): CENTURY 21 Legacy
- Communication Award (I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company): Design Innovation Architects
- Direction Award (I believe this company is going in the right direction): Axle Logistics
- Doers Award (At this company, we do things efficiently and well): Brother Wolf & Osteria Stella
- Leadership Award (I have confidence in the leader of this company): Dr. Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools; Marty Brown, PYA; Jennifer Yearack, RCN Technologies
- Managers Award (My manager helps me learn and grow): Harmony Family Center
- Meaningfulness Award (My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful): KARM Stores
- New Ideas Award (New ideas are encouraged at this company): Tennessee Standard Plumbing
- Social Responsibility Award (My employer is socially responsible in the community): Allevia Technology
- Training Award (I get the formal training I want for my career): Sidekick Therapy Partners
- Values Award (This company operates by strong values): Coulter & Justus, PC
- Work/Life Flexibility Award (I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life): Edfinancial Services
- Winners from all eight years: Coulter & Justus, PC; First Horizon; Harper Auto Square, Kramer Rayson LLP; LBMC; Pinnacle Financial Partners; Smartbank; The Trust Company of Tennessee
- First-year winners: Abercrombie Radiology; AESSEAL, Inc.; Allevia Technology; Bluemont Group; Brother Wolf & Osteria Stella; Century 21 Legacy; Design Innovation Architects; Finish Point Trim and Millwork; Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.; Jupiter Entertainment Inc.; KARM Stores; MS Technology, Inc.; Nisus Corporation; Positively Living & Choice Health Network; Scott's Hotrods 'n Customs; Smoky Mountain Resorts/Collier Development; Tennessee Standard Plumbing; Wallace Real Estate; Y-12 Credit Union
Large Category Recipients
- First place: Axle Logistics
- Second place: Oak Ridge Schools
- Third place: Edfinancial Services
Large category winners continued in ranking order:
- First Horizon
- Pilot Company
- 21st Mortgage Corporation
- UCOR
- Dollywood Parks & Resorts
- KARM Stores
Midsize Category Recipients
- First place: Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Second place: Harmony Family Center
- Third place: CENTURY 21 Legacy
Midsize category winners continued in ranking order:
- Sidekick Therapy Partners
- PYA
- Top Concepts
- SmartBank
- Wallace Real Estate
- Harper Auto Square
- Y-12 Credit Union
- Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.
- Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services
- Mortgage Investors Group
- Total Quality Logistics - TQL
- Panda Restaurant Group
- CGI
- Bluemont Group
- Jupiter Entertainment Inc.
- Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.
- Smoky Mountain Resorts/Collier Development
- AESSEAL, Inc.
Small Category Recipients
- First place: Tennessee Standard Plumbing
- Second place: Design Innovation Architects
- Third place: Kramer Rayson LLP
Small category winners continued in ranking order:
- Coulter & Justus, PC
- MS Technology, Inc.
- F.E. Trainer Construction
- GEM Technologies, Inc.
- Executive Building Solutions, Inc
- Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
- Novinger Ball & Zivi, P.C.
- Brother Wolf & Osteria Stella
- The Trust Company of Tennessee
- Rather & Kittrell, Inc. and TN Pension Admin. (RK Holdings)
- McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects and Interior Designers
- Gresham Smith
- Centriworks
- RCN Technologies
- Realty Executives Associates
- ERISA Services, Inc.
- PCS
- Scott's Hotrods 'n Customs
- FourSeasons, Incorporated
- '58 Foundations
- AtWork Group
- Abercrombie Radiology
- The Kendall Group
- Positively Living & Choice Health Network
- Rand Property Management
- Finish Point Trim and Millwork
- Pugh CPAs
- LBMC
- Nisus Corporation
- Arrow Exterminators, Inc
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East TN
- ChoiceSpine LLC
- Allevia Technology
- Elo Touch Solutions, Inc
- Baldwin Risk Partners
- CBIZ
- Freeman Webb Company Realtors
- West Shore Home
- TIS Insurance Services, Inc.
- Maple Hall / Babalu
