Kosbe Awards Now Accepting Small Business Entries For 2016

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Sept. 8, 2016 - PRLog -- The regional competition is open to clients, Chamber Members, as well as non-members alike.  Any legally established for-profit small business, with fewer than 150 employees and annual sales not to exceed $10 million dollars is eligible (some exceptions apply), including businesses located in Sullivan, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins or Washington County.  Home-based, online and agriculture businesses are also welcome.  The deadline for entries is on October 5, 2016.  The application, official rules and sponsorship information can be found on the KOSBE web site at www.kosbeawards.org.

At a special recognition event on Thursday, December 8^th, from 6 to 9 PM, at Meadowview Marriott Convention Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, winners will be revealed. Prior to the awards ceremony, Monica McCoy, Senior Manager of Channel Planning & Development, The Coca-Cola Company, will be the keynote speaker. Monica McCoy is Senior Manager of Channel Planning and Development for The Coca-Cola Company. She leads the quick service restaurant (QSR) burger channel strategy, oversees annual planning and consults with top customer teams on a range of visionary business initiatives. Since starting her career with The Coca-Cola Company in 2002, her innovative approach and passion for pushing the envelope have earned her a variety of strategic positions and expanded responsibilities. Monica is also the Founder of MonicaMotivates, providing executive-level speaking, coaching and consulting services to professional corporate women and female business owners.

The competition is divided into 11 eligible divisions, including:

• Business Excellence -10 (under 10 employees)

        •  Business Excellence 10+ (10 or more employees)

        •  New Business (in business for not more than 36 months)

        •  Young Entrepreneur (owner is under 40 years of age)

        •  Small Manufacturer/Fabricator (must make or assemble a product)

        •  Woman-Owned Business (must be at least 51% woman-owned)

        •  Veteran-Owned Business (must be at least 51% veteran-owned)

        •  Multiple Store/Franchise (locally owned and operated multiple store/franchise)

      • Gazelle Business (high growth company that has increased revenues by at least 20% annually, for at least 4 years or more)

     • SB IMPACT (must be a small business/advocate/individual nominated by a past winner or a business entering the contest in one of the preceding categories)

•      •  CVB IMPACT (must be a hospitality industry employee nominated by a supervisor, manager or small business receiving tourism-related benefit in Kingsport)

A Key Change for the 2016 KOSBE Awards:

This year, our category winners have a chance to be selected to receive the following bonuses:

• Professionally directed and produced 3-minute "Tell Your Story" video by Cumberland Marketing
• New logo design or existing logo makeover by Rae Design
• $1,000 cash prize
• Social media assessment and prescription by Beyond Engagement
• 3-month Kingsport Chamber trial membership (includes an introductory "About Us" email to all members)
• Financial analysis by AdviCoach
• Mobile app design and development, and upload to Android or iOS (does not include monthly maintenance fees) by Appville 101
• One hour of legal consulting
• Published magazine article with photo
• One year co-working space membership
• GrowthWheel program participation (includes full kit and membership for one year)
• 4-week group mastermind based on John Maxwell's 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, for up to 10 employees, by Sandy Willis – Speaker/Coach of Reveal the Real You
• Pitch refinement session with opportunity to present to investors
• 5 hours Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing: RCAM new product development coaching (includes assisted use of 3-D printer)

• And other bonuses to be determined

Selections will be made by an expert panel of judges based on an in-person interview and how well the entries meet the judging criteria: customer relationship strategy, story of success overcoming adversity, community involvement, financial strength, best practices, marketing creativity and presented strategies for growth.

Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased in advance online, in person at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, or by calling (423) 392.8811.  This event has been sold out for the past four consecutive years.  Seating is limited and early ticket purchases are recommended.  All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.  The public is invited to attend.  Tickets go on sale starting October 5^th.

Sponsors include: Cumberland Marketing, F & L Limo & Livery, Phil's Dream Pit, ChamberZone, VIPSEEN, Elite Manufacturing and Professional Services, Eastman Chemical Company, Food City, Hair Benders Salon, Hunter Smith & Davis Attorneys at Law, Eastman Credit Union, NETWORKS, Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council, AccelNOW, Pathway Lending, Kingsport Times News, Triten Insurance, The Business Journal, Holston Valley Broadcasting Group, AdviCoach, SunTrust Bank, Hillhouse Graphic Design, Prendergast Construction, and The Angel Roundtable.

Event Partners include: Action Rentals and Sales, Express Signs, Flowers by CopperCreek, Holston Distributing Company, Lake Pointe Advertising & Awards, Pristine Springs, and Meadowview Marriott.

About KOSBE Awards
Inaugurated in 1994, the Annual KOSBE Awards is the longest running and most recognized small business-focused awards program in the Tri-Cities area.

About KOSBE
The mission of KOSBE 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 proud to be the Kingsport Affiliate Office of the TSBDC at ETSU.  The TSBDC Network is comprised of 15 locations throughout the State of Tennessee, whose primary function is to provide counseling services and educational opportunities to entrepreneurs and "for profit" new and existing small businesses.The cooperative agreement between KOSBE and East Tennessee State University is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Additional funding is provided by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the state of Tennessee.

To learn more, please call 423-392-8811, or visit www.kosbe.org.