Nashville Area Chamber, Entrepreneur Center announce NEXT Award winners
October 19, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 19, 2011) – The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneur Center announced the winners of the inaugural NEXT Awards at a dinner held Oct. 18.
The NEXT Awards were developed to honor the area’s most innovative entrepreneurs and area businesses experiencing the most significant growth in terms of revenue and employment.
“The success of our homegrown entrepreneurial companies helps drive growth and prosperity in all sectors of our local economy,” said Chamber President & CEO Ralph Schulz. “The finalists and winners have all contributed to Middle Tennessee's exemplary business climate.”
2011 NEXT Award Winners
Startup
Health Care - Vivere Health
Technology - HCTec, LLC
Digital Media - Rockhouse Partners
Sustainability - (n)habit
Social Enterprise - Burger Up
Growth
Health Care - PharmMD
Technology - BEDROC (formerly ICV Solutions, Inc.)
Digital Media - Rabbit Hole Creative, LLC
Sustainability - WAP Sustainability Consulting, LLC
Social Enterprise - Magdalene Inc., dba Thistle Farms
Market Mover
Health Care - USr Healthcare
Technology - Capital Confirmation, Inc.
Digital Media - Music City Networks
Sustainability - LightWave Solar
Social Enterprise - YouthMerch
Entrepreneurial Partner: Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain, P.C.
Legacy Entrepreneurs
Digital Media & Entertainment - John Ingram
Health Care - Clayton McWhorter
Social Enterprise - Hal Cato
Sustainability & Alternative Energy - Earl Swensson
Technology - Tod Fetherling
Youth Entrepreneur: Jake Jorgovan, Rabbit Hole Creative
Startup Entrepreneur: Tasha Ross, FiddleCakes
Woman Entrepreneur: Beth Chase, C3 Consulting
Minority Entrepreneur: Eddie Hamilton, Centennial Pediatrics
Entrepreneurs of the Year
Health Care - Herb Fritch, Healthspring
Technology - David Klements, Qualifacts Systems
Digital Media - Clint Smith, Emma, Inc.
Sustainability - Steve Johnson, Lightwave Solar
Social Enterprise - Becca Stevens, Magdalene, Inc. dba Thistle Farms
Overall - Saurabh Sinha, emids Technologies
Company of the Year: Vanguard Health Systems
The 2011 NEXT Awards are presented by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Entrepreneur Center, in partnership with Bank of America. Additional sponsors include Bandit Lites, KraftCPAs, Lipscomb University Center for Entrepreneurship, Tennessean Media Group and WSMV-Channel 4. For more information, visit www.nextnashville.com.