• Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share via Email
The City of Knoxville’s Purchasing Department held its first Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) Awards Ceremony in 2016, to recognize small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses for outstanding performance, as well as City departments committed to reaching out to DBEs with procurement contracts.

The 8th Annual DBE Award Ceremony was held on September 28th, 2023 in the Marble Hall Chapel at Lakeshore Park.  A light breakfast was served at 8 a.m., and the mayor presented the awards at 8:30. 

The ceremony will recognize DBE’s (small, woman-owned, and minority-owned businesses) for outstanding performance in helping the City meet one, or more, of its four stated core goals. 

Also the ceremony will recognize City departments which have achieved either the highest dollar or highest percentage of competitive spend with DBE’s.


AWARD WINNERS


2023 Diversity Business Enterprise Award Winners


2023 HONOREES
 
ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD
SCU Bus LinesSCU Bus Lines

Watch video of SCU Bus Lines
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Edison ElectricEdison Electric

Watch video of Edison Electric

IMPACT AWARD
Southern Safety SupplySouthern Safety Supply

Watch video of Southern Safety Supply
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
ExpoQuipExpoQuip

Watch video of ExpoQuip
RISING STAR AWARD
Trusted Field ServicesTrusted Field Services

Watch video of Trusted Field Services
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Progression ElectricProgression Electric

Watch video of Progression Electric
WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Tennessee Fire Equipment & Safety SuppliesTennessee Fire Equipment & Safety Supplies

Watch video of Tennessee Fire Equipment & Safety Supplies
   
CITY AWARDS
 
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF M/WOB EXPENDITURES
Large Spend Knoxville Fire Department
Medium Spend Engineering
Small Spend Special Events
Micro Spend 311
EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Carla Jones Fire Department


2022 HONOREES


2022 DBE Award Honorees
ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD - Bio Solutions Tennessee
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD - Dynasty Construction Inc.
IMPACT AWARD - Patrick O'Brien, M.D.
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Edison Electric, LLC
PARTNERSHIP AWARD - Cannon & Cannon and Tish Spalding/SEsite, LLC
RISING STAR AWARD - Runners Market LLC
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Taylor’s Lawn Service
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Southeastern Construction Concepts Corp

City Awards:

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF M/WOB EXPENDITURES
Large Spend - Engineering
Medium Spend - Knoxville Area Transit
Small Spend - Benefits & Risk Management
Micro Spend - City Court

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE EXPENDITURES WITH SMALL BUSINESS - Housing & Neighborhood Development 

DEPARTMENTS WITH OVER 50% OF THEIR FY22 DISCRETIONARY SPEND WITH SMALLL BUSINESSES
311, Plans Review & Inspections, Law, and Public Service

EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE AWARD - Joey Jones / Fire Department


2021 HONOREES



2021 Group Photo


ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD - National Building Service, Inc.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD - Edison Electric, LLC
IMPACT AWARD - Cox Power & Supply
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - WJBE Radio
PARTNERSHIP AWARD - Progression Electric, LLC and Southern Constructors, Inc.
RISING STAR AWARD - Jefferson Farmers Cooperative
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Camel Custom Canvas
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Allen Sign Company
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD - Integrated Response Systems, LLC

City Awards:

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF M/WOB EXPENDITURES
Large Spend - Engineering Department
Medium Spend - Knoxville Public Building Authority
Small Spend - 311 Department
Micro Spend - City Court Department

EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE AWARD - Angie Davidson and Nicholas Spine 




2020 HONOREES



2020 Winners


• RISING STAR AWARD - Marvin L. Thomas
• ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD - AVCO Technologies, Inc.
• MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Scientific Sales, Inc.
• WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - Saf-T Enterprises
• SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD - A & W Supply, Inc.
• IMPACT AWARD - Patriot Lawn Maintenance
• IMPACT AWARD - Shelton General Contractors
• YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD - Media Manipulation Studios

City Awards:

• HIGHEST SPEND WITH M/WOB’S (EXCEEDING $1M) AWARD- Engineering Department
• HIGHEST SPEND WITH M/WOB’S (UNDER $1M) AWARD - Fleet Services Department
• HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SPEND WITH M/WOB’S (EXCEEDING $1M) AWARD - Public Building Authority
• HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SPEND (UNDER $1M) AWARD - Inspections & Code Enforcement Department
• EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE AWARD - William Hinton


2019 HONOREES



2019 DBE Winners

• Borderland Tee, Rising Star Award
• Service One, Above and Beyond Award
• Pioneer Builders, Inc., Minority Owned Business of the Year Award
• A-Z Office Resources, Inc., Woman-owned Business of the Year Award
• Washing Equipment of Tennessee, Small Business of the Year Award
• Knoxville Spring Service, Impact Award
• Siemens Mobility, Andres Electric and Edwards Supply, Partnership Award

City Awards:

• Sustainability, Advocate Award for large department category of highest spending with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Plans Review & Inspections / Codes Enforcement, Advocate Award for small department category of highest spending with minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
• Sustainability, Advocate Award for large department category of highest percentage expenditures with minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
• 311 Center for Service Innovation, Advocate Award for small department category of highest percentage expenditures with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Ben Buckner, Logistics and Supply Manager with Public Service, Employee Advocate of the Year Award 
• Linda Blackburn, Senior Buyer in Purchasing, Employee Advocate of the Year Award


2018 HONOREES



DBE Awards 2018

• Arrow Crane Services, Rising Star Award
• The Cor-Tenn Co., Above and Beyond Award
• Scientific Sales, Minority-owned Business of the Year Award
• Roadway Solutions, Woman-owned Business of the Year Award
• Design & Construction Services, Inc., Small Business of the Year Award

City Awards:

• Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), Advocate Award for large department category of highest spending with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• SMG, Advocate Award for small department category of highest spending with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Policy & Redevelopment, Advocate Award for large department category of highest percentage expenditures with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Plans Review & Inspections / Codes Enforcement, Advocate Award for small department category of highest percentage expenditures with minority- and women-owned businesses.
• Mike Bannon, KAT's director of maintenance, Employee Advocate of the Year Award 

Click here to view more photos of the 2018 event 


2017 HONOREES



DBE 2017 Awards

• Bentco Office Solutions, Rising Star Award
• Master Battery, Above and Beyond Award
• ExpoQuip, Minority-owned Business of the Year Award
• National Auto Parts, Woman-owned Business of the Year Award
• Southern Pump & Tank Co., Small Business of the Year Award
• Southern Constructors Inc. and Superior Traffic Control, Partnership Award

City Awards:

• City's Engineering Department, Advocate Award for large department category
• City's Office of Special Events, Advocate Award for small department category
• City's Parks and Recreation Department, Highest Percentage of Contracting for large department category
• City's Communications Department, Highest Percentage of Contracting for small department category
• Karen Briggs, Administrative Supervisor in Parks and Recreation, Employee Advocate of the Year Award

Click here to view more photos of the 2017 event


2016 HONOREES



Winners of DBE Awards

• K & W Cleaning Service, Rising Star Award
• Quantum Environmental & Engineering Services, Above & Beyond Award
• Eight Lane Consultants, Above and Beyond Award
• B & B Lawn Services, Inc., Minority-Owned Business Award
• Scientific Sales, Inc., Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award
• ExpoQuip, Inc., Small Business of the Year Award
• Johnson & Galyon, Inc. & First Place Finish, Partnership Award

City Awards:

• Community Relations Department, DBE Advocate Award
• Fleet Services, DBE Advocate Award
• City Court, DBE Most Improved Advocate Award
• Community Development, DBE Most Improved Advocate Award
• Gwen Winfrey, Community Development Senior Project Specialist, Employee Advocate Award

Click here to view more photos of the 2016 event