Thank you. I thought I was excited about being nominated. Now, this!

People first, right? I love what I do. I never really thought that it would be manufacturing in the electric motor space around the world, but why not? To all of us, this is more than an award to a successful business. It is validation and recognition of the fact that all business is about people. Staff, customers, vendors, community, … people who have learned that everything they do, as individuals, makes a difference. Do what you say you will. Learn from mistakes. Never sacrifice quality. And try not to make decisions you are ashamed of. Today, in 2022 with all the challenges of recent times, we have the very best team of people we have ever had.

Think about this: our amazing customers are companies who can choose to work with anyone at all. Around the globe. They are choosing ICC. Here in East Tennessee a world away from more than half of them.

No business succeeds on its own. We made a decision that if ICC was going to grow, the health of our industry was paramount, and we have a responsibility to help make it stronger.

Where we are now and where we are going, is a direct result of these efforts. Our people-first culture makes us different, and it makes us better.

Thank you to those of you through the Knoxville Chamber who looked at who we are and decided to award us this honour.

Thank you to Shawn, and Tracy, and Jason, DaLynn, Pam, Jay, Keith, Johnny, Dwayne, Brent, Joe, John, Michelle, Krista and every one of the incredible staff who make ICC special, whether they have been with us 2 months or 32 years.

Evan and Kate, my beautiful girls, remember always that you can do anything and that I love you dearly.

And thank you, to this community, for making this home.