Best of Blount Awards

Date: February 6, 2026
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Program runs from 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Airport Hilton
2001 Alcoa Hwy.
Alcoa, TN

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Best of Blount Sponsorship Form

The Best of Blount Awards are headed to the Airport Hilton on February 6, 2026, for an evening of live entertainment, dinner and dancing, and awards honoring the best of our community from 2025. The event, which runs from 6:30-10 p.m., begins with the awards ceremony held during the plated meal followed by live music. Awards are given for Philanthropist of the Year, Community Impact Award, Bright Future Award, Large and Small Business of the Year, First Responder Award, Young Professional of the Year and the Tourism Award.

Philanthropist of the Year – Brenda Sellers
Small Business of the Year – Dandy Lions Gifts
Large Business of the Year – Realty Executives of Maryville
Bright Future Award – Archer Academy
First Responder Award – Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp
Community Impact Award – Trinity Dental
Young Professional of the Year – Courtney McGhee
Tourism Impact Award – Smoky Mountain Festivals – Big Foot Festival

Philanthropist of the Year – Steve Coleman Family
Small Business of the Year – Allevia Technology
Large Business of the Year – Amazon
Bright Future Award – C.C. Marston & Co.
First Responder Award – Deputy Shelby Eggers and Deputy Greg McCowan’s A Step Further 344 Foundation
Community Impact Award – Blount County Community Action Agency
Young Professional of the Year – Britany Spence
Tourism Impact Award – Oldham Hospitality

Philanthropist of the Year – Tom Hatcher
Tourism Impact Award – Big Slate Media
Small Business of the Year – Visual Voice
Large Business of the Year – First Horizon Bank
Bright Future Award – Balloons & Co. TN
First Responder Award – Don Stallions, Townsend Fire Department
Young Professional of the Year – Megan Seaton
Community Impact Award – New Hope of Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center

Philanthropist of the Year – Steve Garner
Tourism Impact Award – Little Arrow Outdoor Resort & the Smoky Mountain Air Show
Business of the Year – GEAR Staffing
Bright Future Award – Tula Blu Events
First Responder Award – Eric Maynard & Reid Walker, Maryville Police Department
Community Impact Award – Kiwanis Club of Maryville

No awards given between 2020-2022.

2019 Best of Blount Award Winners
Guest Speaker – Mike Durant

Philanthropist of the Year – Kathy Johnson
Large Business of the Year – Altar’d State
Small Business of the Year – Avero Advisors
Bright Future Award – Tina Rhea, REO Cheesewagon
First Responder Award – Elizabeth Murphy, Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Community Impact Award – United Way of Blount County
Tourism Impact Award – RT Lodge

2018 Best of Blount Award Winners
Guest Speaker – Peyton Manning

Tourism Award – Dancing Bear Lodge
Bright Future Award – Express Strategic Services
Large Business of the Year – Accenture
Small Business of the Year – ICC International
Community Impact Award – Kingdom Design Ministries
First Responder Award – Blount County Sheriff James Berrong
Philanthropist of the Year – Jason Brooks

2017 Best of Blount Award Winners
Guest Speaker – Marcus Luttrell

Tourism Award – Downtown Maryville Association
Bright Future Award – Patriot Threads
Large Business of the Year – CBBC Bank
Small Business of the Year – Lowe’s Drugs & Home Health Care
Community Impact Award – Volunteer Action Civitan Club
First Responder Award – The late Maryville Police Officer Kenny Moats
Philanthropist of the Year – Randy Massey

2016 Best of Blount Awards Winners
Guest Speaker – Rusty Wallace

Tourism Award – Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Bright Future Award – The Golden Age 1942
Large Business of the Year – Newell Brands
Small Business of the Year – Blount County Eye Center
Community Impact Award – Pregnancy Resource Center
Philanthropist of the Year – Jack Campbell

2015 Best of Blount Awards Winners
Guest Speaker – Frank Caliendo

Tourism Award – Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks & Recreation Commission
Bright Future Award – Tony Saddy, Get Fit Maryville
Large Business of the Year – DENSO
Small Business of the Year – MK Russell and Abbott
Community Impact Award – Blount County Community Action Agency – Meals on Wheels
Philanthropist of the Year – Tom Hatcher, Blount County Clerk

2014 Best of Blount Awards Winners
Guest Speaker – Robert O’Neill

Tourism Award – Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson
Bright Future Award – LeConte Realty
Large Business of the Year – Vanquish Worldwide
Small Business of the Year – Ingram, Overholt and Bean, P.C.
Community Impact Award – Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
Philanthropist of the Year – Eric Barton, president and CEO of Vanquish Worldwide

2013 Business Excellence Awards Winners
Guest Speaker – Durwood “Mr. Doubletalk” Fincher

Impact Award – Blount County Health Initiative
Tourism Award – Blackberry Farm
Civic Service Organization of the Year – Maryville Lions Club
Bright Future Award – Corey Pabst, Computer Catering
Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Family Promise of Blount County
Innovation Award – Hickory Construction
Minority/Woman Owned Business of the Year – Leanne Moe-McQueen, Studio 212
Volunteer of the Year – Sharon Hannum
New Business of the Year – Roost
Above & Beyond Award – Leon Williams Contractors
Creative Marketing Tourism Award – Clayton Center for the Arts
New Interactive Attraction Tourism Award – CLIMBWorks
Entrepreneur of the Year – John Clark, Vienna Coffee House
Small Business of the Year – Trillium Cove Home & Garden Shop
Medium Business of the Year – Anderson Lumber Co.
Large Business of the Year – Alcoa Inc.
Philanthropist of the Year – Brenda Sellers

2012 Business Excellence Awards Winner
Guest Speaker – Hallerin Hilton Hill

Above & Beyond Award – Hickory Construction
Award in Innovation – Alcoa, Inc.
Bright Future Award – Wendy Wand
Entrepreneur of the Year – Randy Burleson
Impact Award – East Tennessee Medical Group
Minority/Woman Owned Business of the Year – Mary Beth West Consulting
New Business of the Year – America’s Best Choice Windows & More
Non-Profit/Civic Service Org. of the Year – United Way of Blount County
Philanthropist of the Year – Joy Bishop
Small Business of the Year – Multi-Media Solutions
Large Business of the Year – The Massey Group
Tourism Award – Maryville College – Dr. Tom Bogart
Volunteer of the Year – Virginia Hardwick