Not all Top Workplaces look the same. Some serve meals or care for children, while others sell real estate, manage finances or help clients navigate the nation's complex nuclear industry.
The work being done across East Tennessee is as diverse as the companies behind it, but the region's Top Workplaces for 2026 share a common commitment to their employees and the customers they serve.
Knox News and Top Workplaces partner Energage celebrated the 72 companies recognized as Top Workplaces during a July 23 ceremony at The Mill & Mine, where awards were presented and the No. 1 workplace was named in the small, midsize and large employer categories.
Check out all the winners, below.
Top Workplaces winners: large, midsize and small
Large winner - Pinnacle Financial Partners
For decades, Pinnacle Financial Partners has paired thoughtful recruiting
with heartfelt, effective client advice − and a strong sense of camaraderie at every level. This is the 10th time Pinnacle has been named a top employer in East Tennessee.
- Joanna Hayes, Knox News Growth & Development Team
Midsize winner - Sidekick Therapy Partners
Kids are the real heroes at Sidekick Therapy Partners, where therapists have spent 45 years in Tennessee teaching communication skills to help children with mental and learning disorders live their best lives.
- Keenan Thomas, Knox News Growth & Development Team
Small winner - Paschal Solutions
Oak Ridge engineering firm Paschal Solutions is expanding amid a boom in nuclear development, with employees helping clients navigate things like federal nuclear requirements, design engineering, project management and technical writing.
- Mariah Franklin, Knox News Growth & Development Team
Top Workplaces specialty awards presented by Knox News
- Leadership Award, large business category: Mike DiStefano, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Leadership Award, midsize business category: Marty Brown, PYA
- Leadership Award, small business category: Vicki Dyer, Scientific Sales Inc.
- Appreciation Award: Kramer Rayson LLP
- Benefits Package Award: Y-12 Credit Union
- Clued-in Senior Management Award: Paschal Solutions
- Communication Award: Design Innovation Architects
- Direction Award: Axle Logistics
- Doers Award: Harmony Family Center
- Managers Award: The Baldwin Group
- Meaningfulness Award: Positively Living & Choice Health Network
- New Ideas Award: Sidekick Therapy Partners
- Social Responsibility Award: Shafer Insurance Ageny
- Values Award: Oak Ridge Schools
- Well-Being Award: Solid Ground Security Solutions
- Work/Life Flexibility Award: Cellular Sales
All East TN companies recognized by Top Workplaces
Top Workplaces, large category
- First: Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Second: Axle Logistics
- Third: The Baldwin Group
Large category winners continued in ranking order:
- Oak Ridge Schools
- Cellular Sales
- Celebration Cakes
- Harper Auto Square
- Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
- CGI
- First Horizon Corp. (Knoxville)
- River Valley Health
- ESS
- Cook's Pest Control
- Dollywood Parks & Resorts
- UCOR
- The McNabb Center
- The Auto Club Group
- LSI
- Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.
- Edfinancial Services
- KARM Stores
- The Sports Facilities Companies
- Groundworks
- CBIZ
- West Shore Home
Top Workplaces, midsize category
- First: Sidekick Therapy Partners
- Second: Harmony Family Center
- Third: PYA
Midsize category winners continued in ranking order:
- Wallace Real Estate
- ERISA Services, Inc.
- CENTURY 21 Legacy
- Knox Area Rescue Ministries
- Solid Ground Security Solutions
- Omega Technical Services
- The Trust Company of Tennessee
- RSI
- Y-12 Credit Union
- KaTom Restaurant Supply
- Jupiter Entertainment Inc.
- Total Quality Logistics - TQL
- Vanterra Foundation Solutions
- Perfection Group
Top Workplaces, small category
- First: Paschal Solutions
- Second: Design Innovation Architects
- Third: Shafer Insurance Agency
Small category winners continued in ranking order:
- Kramer Rayson LLP
- Maple Hall / Red Chimney Pizza Co.
- MS Technology
- Novinger Ball & Zivi, P.C.
- Gresham Smith
- Pro Source Home Buyers
- Rather & Kittrell, Inc. and TN Pension Admin. (RK Holdings)
- Centriworks
- FourSeasons Incorporated
- Positively Living & Choice Health Network
- Coulter & Justus, PC
- Allevia Technology
- The 9 Group
- Tennessee Standard Plumbing
- LBMC
- Schmid & Rhodes Construction
- F.E. Trainer Construction
- Pugh CPAs
- Rand Property Management
- Realty Executives Associates
- K&P Remodeling
- PCS
- Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen and Carpenter, PLLC
- Scientific Sales, Inc.
- RCN Technologies
- Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
- Spectra Tech Inc.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 72 East Tennessee companies recognized as Top Workplaces: See the winners











