impact awards
Celebrating local leadership
14th Annual Impact Awards
November 2026
Interested in sponsoring? Click below for our event-specific sponsorship options or contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities. Ticket sales for this year’s Impact Awards will begin soon!
About the Impact Awards
For almost 15 years, Young Professionals of Knoxville has honored local organizations and individuals who are impacting young professionals in all aspects of our community. The annual Impact Awards provide an opportunity to recognize leaders in the Knoxville community, network with other professionals, and celebrate all things Knoxville.
Connect Award
The Connect Award is given to an individual, organization, or business that works to welcome and unite the Knoxville community through an event, action, or space. This award is focused on the opportunity for personal connection and growth that comes with human interaction.
Develop Award
The Develop Award is given to an individual, organization, or business that has created and/or championed community educational and/or professional development content or opportunities in the Knoxville area. This award is focused on tangible opportunities in which the Knoxville community can participate.
Serve Award
The Serve Award is given to an individual, organization, or business that has displayed meaningful participation in outreach projects and/or provided opportunities for community members to give back while helping make Knoxville the most desirable city for young professionals to live, work and play.
Outstanding Young Professional Award
The Outstanding Young Professional Award is given to a young professional in our community who lives the values of YPK — Connect, Develop, and Serve. This individual also contributes to their respective professional field through their passion and dedication. This person can be seen as the standard bearer for the traits and values we believe organizations and our community at large attribute to consummate professionalism.
Impact Award
The Impact Award to one experienced leader whose daily influence challenges young professionals and who casts a vision for our community. This individual is a trailblazer that fosters growth for future leaders and has been a major reason why the strength of Knoxville’s community continues to grow.
YPK Member of the Year
YPK Member of the Year is awarded to a current member who has demonstrated their commitment to the organization and truly embodied our mission to connect, develop, and serve. This member is highly involved within the organization and seen as an ambassador for YPK within the Knoxville community.
Past Winners
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Connect Award
Lynnette Taschner
Develop Award
Caitlin Moore
Serve Award
Anton Horvath
Impact Award
Booth Andrews
Outstanding Young Professionals Award
Bailey Dingley and Leah Roberts
YPK Member of the Year Award
Andrew Duncan
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Connect Award - Individual
Daniel Pope
Connect Award - Organization
Maple Hall
Develop Award - Individual
Emily Norris
Develop Award - Organization
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Serve Award - Individual
Tyler Janow
Serve Award - Organization
Metro Drug Coalition
Impact Award Winner
Leslie Beale
Outstanding Young Professionals
Bethany Lemons and Victoria Abohasen
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Connect Award - Individual
Kelsi Walker
Connect Award - Organization
Nourish Knoxville
Develop Award - Individual
Bukky Abdul
Develop Award - Organization
Real Good Kitchen
Serve Award - Individual
Sam Elliott
Serve Award - Organization
Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Impact Award Winner
Kimberly Pettigrew
Outstanding Young Professionals
Emily Cala and Jade Adams
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Connect Award - Individual
Kirby Deal
Connect Award - Organization
New2Knox
Develop Award - Individual
Catherine Porth
Develop Award - Organization
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Serve Award - Individual
Avery Howard
Serve Award - Organization
Centro Hispano de East Tennessee
First Horizon Impact Award
Phyllis Nichols
Outstanding Young Professionals
Carter Hall, Kayla Klein, Lacey Mellott, and Rachel Dellinger Stallings
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Connect Award - Individual
Grace Bennett
Connect Award - Organization
Knox Brew Tours
Develop Award - Individual
Andrew Hart
Develop Award - Organization
YWCA Knoxville & The Tennessee Valley
Serve Award - Individual
Anna Moseley
Serve Award - Organization
Battlefield Farm & Gardens
First Horizon Impact Award
Dr. Martha Buchanan
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Outstanding Young Professionals
Diesha Finley, Nick Wilson
YPK Member of the Year
Richelle Ballenger
Impact Award
Vrondelia "Ronni" Chandler
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Most Impactful Businesses
New2Knox, Volunteer East Tennessee
Outstanding Young Professionals
Rhoni Basden, Claudia Caballero, Jim LaPinska, Dasha Lundy, Wesley Wilson
YPK Member of the Year
Amanda Freuler
Impact Award
Sharon Couch
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
Alliance for Better Nonprofits
Most Impactful Small Business
Crowe LLP
Most Impactful Large Business
Radio Systems Corporation
Outstanding Young Professionals
Megan F. Bradley, Rebecca Dotson, Katie Gillman, Ashley Humphrey, and Brian Winbigler
YPK Member of the Year
Kelsie Crittendon
Mentor of the Year
Randy Boyd
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
Junior League of Knoxville
Most Impactful Small Business
Management Solutions, LLC
Most Impactful Large Business
First Tennessee Bank
Outstanding Young Professionals
Allison Duff, Shana Love, Dale Mackey, Tommy Smith and Ryan Willis
Mentor of the Year
Jerry Askew
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
The Knoxville Fellows
Most Impactful Small Business
Axle Logistics
Most Impactful Large Business
TeamHealth
Outstanding Young Professionals
Becca Habegger, Nicole Hight, Amie Cohorst, Michael Leventhal, Denetria Moore
Mentor of the Year
Alvin Nance
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
Knoxville Chamber
Most Impactful Small Business
Pyxl, Inc.
Most Impactful Large Business
Claris Networks
Outstanding Young Professionals
Sarah Herron, Tiffany McGee, Nathan Woods, Kara McFarland, Stephanie Strutner
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
tnAchieves
Most Impactful Small Business
AC Entertainment
Most Impactful Medium Business
Pugh CPA’s
Most Impactful Large Business
21st Mortgage
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Most Impactful Nonprofit
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
Most Impactful Small Business
DesignSensory
Most Impactful Medium Business
Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain P.C. (LMBC)
Most Impactful Large Business
U.S. Cellular
