Top Workplaces 2022: See the full ranking of Knoxville-area companies and who won
Congratulations are in order for East Tennessee's 2022 Top Workplaces.
For the sixth year, Knox News and Knox.biz have partnered with survey firm Energage to determine the best workplaces and company cultures across Knoxville and East Tennessee. The rankings are determined by surveying employees anonymously.
Being known as a company with a great workplace culture is as important as it's ever been. That trend is illustrated in this year's Top Workplaces awards.
A record number of companies participated in the process this year. Eighty-nine went through the surveying process, and a record 55 businesses received the Top Workplaces designation. That's up from 50 businesses in 2021 and 35 in 2020.
This year's list includes 10 large companies (employing 500 or more people qualified), 18 midsize businesses (employing 100 to 499 people) and 27 small businesses (employing 99 or fewer employees).
Top Workplaces large winner: Pilot Company
Pilot Company placed first in the large businesses category in this year's Top Workplaces awards. It has received the Top Workplaces designation five of the six years that Knox News has given the awards. This is the second time the company has taken first place.
Employees taking the survey cited Pilot's willingness to take care of its employees. With nearly 2,500 employees in Knoxville, managers work to meet their team's needs first. The company's leadership team provided gas discounts and shift meals to members and worked around their schedules to build future career paths to become higher-ranking leaders. The company also provides paid parental leave.
MORE ABOUT THE WINNER: Large company winner Pilot Company fuels employees' cars and careers
Large category Top Workplaces winners
First Place: Pilot Company
Second Place: United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR)
Third Place: First Horizon
Edfinancial Services
Ensemble Health Partners
Radio Systems Corporation
Oak Ridge Schools
21st Mortgage Corporation
OrthoTennessee
Ole Smoky Distillery
Top Workplaces midsize company: Pinnacle Financial Partners
Pinnacle Financial Partners placed first in the Top Workplaces midsize company category. This is the sixth year in a row the firm has been named a Top Workplaces company and the fifth time that it has taken first place.
With 130 employees in Knoxville, the company received praise from employees for its positive work culture, long-term employment retention and flat organizational structure. With $39.4 billion in assets, Pinnacle Financial Partners continues to grow while maintaining its focus on employees.
READ MORE ABOUT THE WINNER: Pinnacle Financial Partners preserves culture through growth
Midsize category Top Workplaces winners
First Place: Pinnacle Financial Partners
Second Place: Axle Logistics
Third Place: Harper Auto Square
PYA, P.C.
Total Quality Logistics
Master Services
CGI
UScellular
LSI
SmartBank
Mortgage Investors Group
Sidekick Therapy Partners
World Acceptance Corporation
University of Tennessee Foundation Inc.
Panda Restaurant Group
Aspen Dental
Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services
Top Workplaces small company: Kramer Rayson LLP
Kramer Rayson LLP has placed first in the Top Workplaces small company category. The company has received recognition for its workplace culture by making the Top Workplaces list six years in a row.
The 48-person law firm was praised by employees for a work environment that welcomes friendly conversation and advice among coworkers, along with benefits that cover health and retirement needs. The management team has stayed consistent, which might be why employee retention is so high.
READ MORE ABOUT THE WINNER: Kramer Rayson builds workplace where employees 'stick together'
Small category Top Workplaces winners
First Place: Kramer Rayson LLP
Second Place: Coulter & Justus PC
Third Place: Executive Building Solutions Inc.
ERISA Services Inc.
PCS Inc.
Two Roads
The Trust Company of Tennessee
Pioneer Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.
Baldwin Risk Partners
Arrow Exterminators Inc.
LBMC
Lawn Butler Inc.
FourSeasons Inc.
Realty Executives Associates
Rather & Kittrell Inc. and TN Pension Admin. (RK Holdings)
Alliant
Angela Floyd Schools
Novinger Ball & Zivi P.C.
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.
'58 Foundations
ChoiceSpine LLC
SHADES of Development
BB Industries LLC
London Amburn
Denark Construction Inc.
Thrive
How Top Workplaces are determined
Energage conducted a 24-question survey about leadership, workplace culture and more, which was sent to 21,128 employees across 721 organizations. The firm determined the top 55 workplaces from the 12,683 employees who responded.
Q&A WITH TOP CEOs: East Tennessee business leaders on how they're retaining workers
SPECIAL AWARDS: These Top Workplaces won awards in 2022 for leadership, communication
Six-time Top Workplaces recipients
There are nine companies that have made the Top Workplaces awards list for all six years. Congratulations to our six-time recipients:
First Horizon
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Harper Auto Square
SmartBank
Kramer Rayson LLP
Coulter & Justus, PC
The Trust Company of Tennessee
LBMC
Denark Construction Inc.
First-time Top Workplaces winners
United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR)
Radio Systems Corporation
Ole Smoky Distillery
CGI
LSI
Sidekick Therapy Partners
University of Tennessee Foundation Inc.
Aspen Dental
Two Roads
Baldwin Risk Partners
FourSeasons, Incorporated
Rather & Kittrell Inc. and TN Pension Admin. (RK Holdings)
Angela Floyd Schools
Novinger Ball & Zivi, P.C.
Thrive
Top Workplaces win special awards
Along with recognizing the Top Workplaces in the small, midsize and large categories, Energage and Knox News award special commendations for exceptional performance in certain categories.
Award for Leadership winners: Tony Hollin, Edfinancial Services; Marty Brown, PYA, P.C.; Suzanne Crisp, Executive Building Solutions Inc.
Award for direction winner: Pinnacle Financial Partners
Award for managers: Axle Logistics
Award for new ideas: Two Roads
Award for doers: Ensemble Health Partners
Award for meaningfulness: Thrive
Award for values: ERISA Services Inc.
Award for clued-in senior management: Pilot Company
Award for communication: Baldwin Risk Partners
Award for appreciation: PCS Inc.
Award for work/life flexibility: First Utility District Of Knox County
Award for training: United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR)
Award for benefits: 21st Mortgage Corporation
Interested in finding out if your business has an outstanding company culture? Visit knoxnews.com in February 2023 to nominate your organization.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Top Workplaces 2022 celebrates Knoxville and East Tennessee companies