MBJ staffers who voted on the selections are calling the group of companies and executives the most impressive and interesting in many years.
Finalists in the 1-20 employee category, listed alphabetically, include Felicia Suzanne’s, Felicia Willett, owner and executive chef; Lucky Electric Supply, Mike Wappler, president; Memphis Chemical & Janitorial Supply Co., Laurita Jackson, president; People’s Custom Rx, Bill Johns, owner and compounding pharmacist; and Special Event Service and Rental Inc., Steve McGhee, president.
In the 21-50 employee category, the finalists are Apple Grove Assisted Living Alzheimer’s & Dementia Residence, Ed L. Apple Sr., owner; Data Facts Inc., Daphne Large, president & CEO; Lensrentals.com Inc., Roger Cicala, president; Memphis Equipment Co., Doug Cummings, vice president; and Paramount Uniform, Mickey Harlow, president.
Finalists in the large category, with 51 or more employees, are Centro Inc., Michael Gallagher, president; Crew Training International Inc., Alan Mullen, president & CEO; Emergency Mobile Health Care LLC, Michael Arndt and Betty Arndt, owners; Lanigan Worldwide Moving & Warehousing Inc., Lynn Lanigan, president & CEO; and Mechanical Systems Co. LLC, Grover Lee Walker IV, president.
Finalists for Executive of the Year, also listed alphabetically, include Deborah Carpenter, owner of Custom Springs Inc.; Mohamad Hakimian, managing partner of the Madison Hotel; Christopher Moore, president of National Drayage Services LLC; Lisa Rossmeyer Wade, dealer and principal & owner, Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson; and Jacob Savage, founder and owner, Speak Creative LLC.
MBJ will publish a special section profiling each of the finalist companies and executives on May 13. The finalists will be honored at an awards dinner May 19 at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis starting with a cocktail reception and registration at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation of awards.
A panel of independent judges from a variety of industries are making on-site visits, conducting interviews with company executives and references, and will select one winner in each category. The judges this year are Mike Bowen, president of Champion Awards; William B. Courtney, president of Classic American Hardwoods Inc.; John Malloy, professor of taxation in the School of Accountancy, Fogelman College of Business & Economics at University of Memphis; Linda Tharp, optometrist; and Bev Vitali, associate professor of business at Christian Brothers University.Gold sponsors for this year’s event include CIGNA Healthcare, Decosimo CPAs, Regions Bank, RJ Young and Sunshine Enterprise Inc. Networking sponsor is Robert Half. Contributing sponsors are Champion Awards and the Fogelman College of Business & Economics at University of Memphis
