– Appalachian Stars Gymnastics – Dulci Miller (Johnson City, TN)
– Atlas Culinary Concepts – Corrinne Carrabello (Kingsport, TN)
– Bays Mountain Brewing Company – Mike Kochemba (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Brian Burchfield Ministries – Brian Burchfield (Surgoinsville, TN)
– Change Medical Spa & Laser Care – Angela Shelton (Johnson City, TN)
– Conrad Guide Service – Anthony Conrad (Blountville, TN)
– Eat My Art Bonbons & Candies – Erin Coffey (Kingsport, TN)
– Elite Frontier Adventures – Alisa Crandall (Rogersville, Tennessee)
– Glowin ‘Honey Tans – Kristyn Page (Kingsport, TN)
– Good Batch Mama – Adam Rosenbalm (Kingsport, TN)
– Johnson City Brewing – Eric Latham (Johnson City, Tennessee)
– Antique Model Town & Flea – Robin Griswold (Kingsport, TN)
– Restaurant Nick’s – Victoria Harville (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Divine Olive Oil – Greg Mueller (Johnson City, TN)
– Reflections Paint & Body Shop – James Smith (Kingsport, TN)
– Rowan Tree Care – Robert E. Sheffey (Johnson City, Tennessee)
– Room 108 – Kristin Wilmoth (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Shipley Soda Co. – Ryan Shipley (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Stapleton Act – Christina Stapleton (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Sugar High LLC – Audrey Russell (Kingsport, Tennessee)
– Taylor Martial Arts Academy – Chandler & Landon Taylor (Kingsport, TN)
– The Lab – Ashton Smyth (Kingsport, TN)
– The Middle Lane – Joshua Russell (Kingsport, TN)
– The Queen’s Magnet – Jurnee Stout (Johnson City, TN)
– The Wooden Hanger Boutique – Kristin Burton (Kingsport, TN)

KOSBE Awards go through a two-tier review / selection process, starting with online applications which are reviewed to ensure they are complete and then advanced for review. All finalists interview a panel of four judges selected by the KOSBE Advisory Board.

The members of the KOSBE advisory board include: Chairman of the Board Rick Thomason, editor of Kingsport Times-News; Jamie Jackson, owner of JamiEvents; Dustin Mohr, COO of Martin Dentistry; Paul Montgomery, mayor’s council and alderman; Wes Argabrite, vice president of commercial banking at the Bank of Tennessee; Keddrain “KD” Bowen, owner of Fanatics 101; David Douthat, owner of Douthat Insurance; Tara Burns, owner of Branded; Cassie Honaker, owner of Millennium Properties; Tori Humphreys, vice president of operations at Cumberland Marketing; Ted Fields, senior vice president of the National Bank of Powell Valley; Cari Parker, retiree of Eastman Chemical Company; Amanda Hudson, Senior Vice President at Truist.

The winners will be announced at a private awards ceremony at the KOSBE Black Tie Breakfast on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. The event will take place at Fusion @ BANQ in downtown Kingsport. (Enter the building on Center Street and take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd floor.) By invitation only, finalists and sponsors will attend the private event. Others will be able to watch the event live hosted by Julie Newman, WCYB News 5 presenter. Last year’s KOSBE winners were invited to attend the event in person for a special photoshoot, as the event was virtual last year. All participants must confirm their attendance (to Madison Smith at 423-392-8811 or [email protected]) by Friday, December 3.

As a COVID-19 precaution, places are limited and a plate meal will be served instead of a buffet. This breakfast, prepared by Fusion, includes an omelet, French toast, fruit, croissant, potatoes, orange juice and water. A cash bar will be available featuring Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Peach Bellinis with SH! Daddy’s beard. Early Bird’s Coffee Company will also be offering a cash bar where they will serve coffee and specialty drinks.

Virtual Keynote Speaker Chris Haythornthwaite, Founder of nGaje, will explain how he and his wife Gillian started a business to help employers actively engage with employees, teams, staff and suppliers.

Sponsors for the event include the title sponsor: Bank of Tennessee; Diamond Sponsors: Eastman Credit Union, Food City, nGaje and Sync.Space; Gold Sponsors: Kaplan CFO Solutions, Pathway Lending, Powell Valley National Bank and Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council; Silver Sponsors: Beyond Engagement, Branded, Brown Edwards, Champion Chevrolet, East Tennessee Eye Care, First Horizon, Hillhouse Creative, Hoeppner Law, Honda Kingsport, JamiEvents, Kathy Richards, Martin Dentistry, Millennium Properties Designs LLC, Phil’s Dream Pit, The Bagel Exchange, Truist and Wilson Worley. Friends of KOSBE: Triten Insurance and Cari Parker. In-kind sponsors: Cumberland Marketing and violinist Eric Greene.

KOSBE promotes economic impact by recognizing small businesses that lead by example and make extraordinary contributions to the communities in which they do business. These companies exemplify leadership and excellence in overcoming adversity and the passion to help others succeed. The winners are inspiring leaders for other local small businesses and they model best practices that will advance the region as a whole.

For more information on KOSBE, please visit www.kosbe.org/kosbes.