Date: 16 Nov 2011

Bedroc Named as Finalist for the 2011 Next Awards!

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneur Center have announced the finalists for the inaugural NEXT Awards.

The awards will recognize the accomplishments of companies and individual entrepreneurs in five business categories in the Middle Tennessee economy: health care; technology; digital media and entertainment; sustainability and alternative energy; and social enterprise. Individual awards for successful youth, minority, female and startup entrepreneurs will also be given, in addition to an Entrepreneur of the Year award and Legacy award in each of the five business categories.

The NEXT Awards replace the Future 50 Awards, which were bestowed by the Chamber for 19 years. The new partnership with the Entrepreneur Center extends the concept beyond simply spotlighting emerging companies, which was the mission of the Future 50 Awards.

The NEXT Awards ceremony will take place Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Three finalists and one winner will be recognized in each category.

“Our thriving entrepreneurial community has contributed significantly to the economic prosperity of Middle Tennessee,” said Chamber President & CEO Ralph Schulz. “We are proud to be able to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of these businesses and individuals.”

“Recognition like this is so important for small business owners and their employees. The NEXT Awards can provide the exposure and motivation to propel these entrepreneurs to a new level of success,” said Michael Burcham, Entrepreneur Center president and CEO.

The 2011 NEXT Awards are presented by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Entrepreneur Center, in partnership with Bank of America. Additional sponsors include Bandit Lites, KraftCPAs, Lipscomb University Center for Entrepreneurship, Tennessean Media Group and WSMV-Channel 4. For more information, visit www.nextnashville.com.