Pinnacle Financial Partners has a stated vision--to be the best financial services firm and the best place to work in Tennessee--and again this year, Pinnacle tops the list of the Best Places to Work in Tennessee 2009."When we formed the company in 2000," says Terry Turner, president and CEO of Pinnacle, "we had 37 people who went to our orientation before we had even received our bank charter, and we were united in our vision and mission for the company." With approximately 740 employees in the state of Tennessee, that vision is more important than ever--and for Turner, it is "awesome" that the employees continue to feel that way.Pinnacle provides a full range of banking, investment and insurance products and services, along with comprehensive wealth management services, for individuals, businesses and real estate professionals. Customer service is key, Turner says, and the best customer service is provided by team members who are experienced in their positions and who bring their own enthusiasm and passion for what they do to work with them each day. "We concentrate on the human resources equation," Turner says. "How we recruit and how we engage our staff once they're here has a lot to do with our continued growth in thesetroubled times." Turner believes that Pinnacle has been engineered since its inception to take advantage of turmoil in the large regional banks market, and in his view, there has never been more turmoil than in the last nine years. "These are difficult times," he says, "but we anticipate increasing our workforce by 10% and increasing the number of offices we have from 31 to 34 in 2009. We're on the offense, which is exciting and engaging for all of our associates."

Edward Jones is a national and global presence with almost 11,000 offices worldwide, but the decades-old vision of Edward D. "Ted" Jones Jr., son of the firm's founder, still endures--clients working closely with a trusted professional to make important financial decisions. Today, Edward Jones investment brokerage firms dot the landscape but work together as a network of small neighborhood offices with the same mission--to provide quality investments and personal service to investors in the local community. Edward Jones is the nation's only major financial services firm that retains a partnership form of ownership.The firm serves one client: the serious, long-term individual investor. Long-term is key, both in client relationships and within the firm itself, and personal relationships are integral to business. Chuck Cloud, regional leader in West Tennessee, has worked for the company for 12 years and doesn't see himself going anywhere. "We have a family environment within Edward Jones," Cloud says. "There's a value system that I can relate to, and I have friends within the firm that I socialize with outside of work."Cloud contends that the mission of Edward Jones team members--to enhance the financial lives of the clients--is one that comes out of the partnership philosophy within the firm. "We do our best for our clients, and that makes us successful," he says, "and since we all share in the financial rewards, it brings out the best in everyone." He's not surprised that Edward Jones would make the Best Places to Work in Tennessee list again. "We're all focused on one mission," he says, "and it's certainly a great honor to be recognized for that."

Contacting the leader of a large law firm with hundreds of attorneys and staff members working in five states might seem an exercise in futility, but call the chairman and CEO of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, and he's likely to pick up the phone himself on the first ring. Baker Donelson has a stated commitment to put their clients above all else, and it shows.The firm's offices are linked through state-of-the-art technology, BakerNet, an industry-forward internal Web site that contains the firm's library, legal search portals, and additional critical information for attorneys and staff members. BakerNet provides all team members and clients to instant information. This high-tech addition to the firm's repertoire--geared toward maximum efficiency and the best possible service for clients--is part and parcel of what makes Baker Donelson an award-winning firm.Attorneys at Baker Donelson lead in their field and in their communities, as well--holding judgeships, Senate seats, presidencies of local and state bar associations, ambassadorships, and serving as governors and on presidential councils. They also support a variety of causes through volunteer work and pro bono legal assistance.Banker Donelson has grown from its roots as a one-man shop in 1888 into one of the 100 largest law firms in the United States, and every employee, Adam says, is as valued as the clients they strive to serve. Adams joined Baker Donelson in 1981, after graduating from Vanderbilt Law School, and he has enjoyed a close-up view of the growth of the firm and the growth and diversity of the staff and attorneys that work for the firm. "I'm really very proud that the firm has received this recognition again," he says. "It's a testament to the culture that we've built together here."

Unum, headquartered in Chattanooga, is a diverse family of businesses with a 160-year history of providing employee benefits, including disability, long-term care, life and voluntary insurance. Unum Group consists of Unum US and Colonial Life in the United States, and Unum UK in the United Kingdom. The company is a market leader in group and individual disability benefits and long-term care coverage in the United States. The company's vision is to provide products and services that help employers manage their businesses and to help employees protect their families and livelihoods-no easy task when you're serving more than 20 million working people and their families.Bob Best, COO of Unum, believes that it is the people of Unum who help the company meet and exceed its vision. "For more than 150 years in Tennessee, our company has demonstrated an appreciation for its most valuable asset--our people," he says. "In turn, our employees make a difference to the individuals and companies we serve."Best points to a work environment that emphasizes collaboration and flexibility as one reason for Unum's inclusion on this year's list. Many employees take advantage of opportunities to telecommute, which contributes to the excellent results on annual employee satisfaction surveys. Unum also offers health education in the form of coaching and individual health counseling. "This is the third year we've been honored with this award," Best says, "and we will continue to strive for the recognition for many more years."

Statewide, First Tennessee Bank is second largest in market share in deposits across the state of Tennessee, servicing customers with 200 branches and approximately 6,000 employees. First Horizon National Corp., the parent company to First Tennessee, has been in business in the state since 1864. "It feels good to be recognized as a great place to work," says Charles Burkett, president of banking. "We're proud of our employees and proud of what we do as a company."An essential element of First Tennessee's culture is acting as a good corporate neighbor and interacting within the community based on that culture, which is called Firstpower--"working together to take ownership in everything we do and having the freedom to make decisions that directly benefit our employees, customers, shareholders and communities." Employees are encouraged to volunteer, and every year First Tennessee employees donate tens of thousands of hours of their own time to help the causes that matter to them. Employees are encouraged to become leaders of the organizations with which they volunteer through leadership grant programs. "Satisfied employees meet the needs of our customers," Burkett says, "and our employees are the most strategic advantage we have when it comes to providing financial services in Tennessee. It's more important than ever now, with the attention on financial services companies in these difficult times." Burkett credits open, clear communication with every employee as a key element in allaying concerns and keeping attention focused on effectively serving customers. "Putting our employees first is how we operate."

More than 100 years ago, in 1891, a pastor named J.M. Frost borrowed money from his wife and launched a company that grew from a small corner of an office into what is today one of the world's largest providers of Christian resources. An entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, LifeWay Christian Resources is a religious nonprofit organization that receives no funding from the denomination and reinvests all income above operating expenses into mission work around the world. Headquartered in Nashville, LifeWay now has more than 1.3 million square feet of office, retail, parking, conference and warehouse space, approximately 1,500 full-and part-time employees, a community fund that supports 10 charities in Middle Tennessee, and employees who involve themselves in the ministries of numerous area churches."LifeWay employees are committed to create resources that spiritually transform lives and cultures," says Chris Turner, media relations manager. "Our employees are committed to missions, churches and serving a role in people's lives that help them grow through God--and it carries over into their jobs."LifeWay's products include Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies, research services through LifeWay Research, and Internet services through LifeWay.com. The current name was adopted in 1998 and reflects the company's slogan: "LifeWay. Biblical solutions for life."

Perhaps more than any other goods or services people place the highest value on their homes, and in the case of apartment homes, renters want an excellent place to live with friendly management that strives to serve the residents. Eric Bolton, CEO of Mid-America Apartment Communities, acknowledges that responsibility and says that his team is up to the task. "Above all else, it is because of the folks that work for us that our customers are happy." Mid-America Apartment Communities was created in 1977, and the company went public in 1994 as a self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The corporate office of Mid-America Apartment Communities is in Memphis, and there are approximately 500 employees in Memphis, Chattanooga, Jackson, Nashville and Murfreesboro.With a portfolio of almost 41,000 homes across the Southeast and South Central United States, Mid-America services a lot of satisfied customers. "The enthusiasm and compassion our employees demonstrate toward our customers is a necessary element in creating communities that are great places to live," Bolton says. Management training is critical, and Mid-America has instituted a training program that builds human capital and helps new managers learn company culture. Its program has the managers hooked for the long haul.The stated mission of Mid-America Apartment Communities is to "exceed expectations," and Bolton says that goes for residents, shareholders and employees. "This business is a competitive one," Bolton says, "and for the employees to feel good about where they work and who they work for is hugely important to the happiness of our customers."

InfoWorks Inc. is a service business, and according to InfoWorks president Tony Heard, there is no better endorsement for a service business than repeat business. The employees of InfoWorks, which offers custom business solutions, business and IT consulting, and project management to large-and medium-sized companies, are committed to providing the experience and dedication necessary to solve the toughest business and technology challenges their clients face.Heard joined the company as president on Dec. 1, 2008, after InfoWorks founder Jim Clayton tapped him for the position in a move that he described as a clearly stated succession plan for himself. Clayton formed InfoWorks in 1997, after 32 years with IBM in Nashville.Heard was attracted to the company because of InfoWorks' track record of successful results. "InfoWorks' clients credit the company's policy of taking the time necessary to fully complete each project as one reason they keep coming back,"he says.The company has 43 employees and has been employee-owned since 2005. "I could see how Clayton had developed a unique culture within the company," Heard says. "Every employee feels proprietary about the business, and that feeling is transferred to our clients.""Having a great place to work drives us as much as providing great service to our clients," Heard says, acknowledging the company's inclusion on the Best Places to Work in Tennessee list. "It's an honor."

Eighteen months ago, NASBA president and CEO David Costello reorganized the human resources aspect of the company, forming the Office of Relationship Development and naming Alfonzo Alexander as chief relationship officer. NASBA, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, serves as a forum for the nation's 55 state boards of accountancy, which administer the Uniform CPA Examination, license certified public accountants, and regulate the practice of accountancy in the United States. NASBA's corporate headquarters is in Nashville, where approximately 200 people work. NASBA was founded in 1908.The formation of the Office of Relationship Development is part of the reason why NASBA is one of the best places to work in Tennessee, Alexander says. "We take a great deal of pride in creating a family environment where our employees feel valued, trusted and respected," he says. "We feel this differentiates us from other companies." Leaders in human resources, communications, marketing, government relations, and education and research all work togetherto interact as effectively as possible with their constituents. Costello agrees. "I believe we're number one because our employees tell us that, and we're proud to be recognized as a great place to work in a public forum." Costello says that at NASBA, people are emphasized as the company's most precious asset. "We nurture relationships across the spectrum with our '3-C' approach of 'constant, consistent connectedness.'"

The North Highland Co., a management and technology consulting company, is in the business of assisting companies undergoing changes such as mergers, acquisitions and integrations, and with the development and implementation of growth plans, strategic growth services, project management and process management. Headquartered in Atlanta, the Nashville office was opened in 1999 by a group of Big 5 consultants who wanted to continue doing what they loved out of a home office.Nancy Schultz, vice president and local office leader, was part of the leadership team that founded the Nashville office, and she calls her company a "hidden jewel." Schultz had almost two decades of consulting business under her belt when she interviewed with The North Highland Co., and she says that the plan for the Nashville office sounded "almost too good to be true.""You have to live it to believe it," she says. "Having a true balance between a challenging career and a satisfying home life is a wonderful thing. There are 47 employees in the Nashville office, and the company's clients are in health care, insurance and music industries, as well as the public sector. Schultz cites the company's "local model" as part of its recipe for success. "We see our clients all over town, and to be able to both implement their plans and see them through the execution phase is satisfying to both our employees and our clients."

"Being named as one of the Best Places to Work in Tennessee means more than any other award," says Ted Alling, co-founder and president of Access America Transport. "We really try to empower our employees, and we believe our employees are the greatest in the world."The company's 65 employees are the middlemen between manufacturers and shippers and carriers in this third-party logistics business. "We find the best-priced and best-serviced carriers for our clients by working with 14,000 different trucking companies," Alling says of his full-service transportation company.Access American Transport was founded in 2002 by Alling and Barry Large as the Logistics Division of Key-James Brick. It diversified and grew quickly into other commodities. In just a few short years, AAT has opened five additional locations and expanded into the less-than-truckload and heavy haul arenas, as well as starting a government services division and expanding into supply chain management systems. The company has been recognized as a Fastest Growing Company in the Southeast, named a SmartWay-approved carrier, and recognized by the National Association of Small Trucking Companies. In 2008, AAT was named to the Hot 100 list by BusinessTN magazine, a list of the fastest growing companies in the state of Tennessee."Our whole atmosphere at Access America is a positive one, and the result is a great employee culture, so I'm not surprised that we've made the Best Places to Work list," Alling says. "We know that happy employees are productive employees."

Stites & Harbison PLLC is one of the oldest law practices in the United States, tracing its origins to 1832, and is one of the largest law firms in the region. The firm's offices, located in four contiguous states in the Southeast, employ more than 260 attorneys and a support staff of almost 300 people. In January 2001, Stites & Harbison moved into Tennessee by combining with the highlyrespected Nashville firm of Farris, Warfield & Kanaday. The firm has been recognized with awards in every state in which it conducts business, as well as on a national level. These accolades are the result of its award-winning total client service program, which links the highest quality legal product with the highest quality client service."One reason we're recognized as a Best Place to Work in Tennessee is that we work hard to show that our people are valued and appreciated," says Stuart Campbell, office executive member in Tennessee, where approximately 100 of the firm's employees are located. "There is a down-to-earth working atmosphere in our firm and an emphasis on everyone's contributions in meeting the clients' needs."The firm actively encourages its employees to take leadership roles in civic and charitable work, increasing their involvement within the community, and building on a cooperative mindset between the firm and the community it serves.

"This is the second year in a row that we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work in Tennessee," says Jeff Palmquist, senior vice president of Nashville operations, "and we're very excited."Duke Realty was founded in 1972 in Indianapolis, Ind., as a leader in commercial real estate development and industrial property management. By the late 1970s, it was expanding both geographically and by product type. Within a decade, an office was opened in Nashville. In 1993, Duke Realty issued an Initial Public Offering (IPO) that generated more than $310 million and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Duke's portfolio at the time of the IPO was 10 million square feet. For more than 35 years, Duke Realty has developed premier buildings across the United States, with a proven track record of providing build-to-suit development services."At Duke," Palmquist says, "everyone feels that their input in day-to-day decision-making is important. Everyone realizes the importance of his or her roles to the success of both the Nashville office and the company as a whole. Everyone feels rewarded at the end of each day."

The employees of Avenue Bank feel like part of a family, a mindset that is reinforced by meetings that are called "Family Gatherings" and the sharing of "wow" stories by employees--success stories about employees going the extra mile and delivering extraordinary service to the bank's customers. Management goes the extra mile, too, implementing such programs as a "fuel bonus" of $25.00 per pay period during the recent gas crunch. Community involvement is both encouraged and supported. Musically gifted team members visited clients during the holidays, and an Avenue Bank band was formed to compete in a corporate band challenge."I have long believed that putting the right people in the right jobs will lead to success," says Ron Samuels, president and CEO. "Avenue Bank is living proof of that philosophy. Our employees know that they were selected especially for their role, and they know the importance of their contribution to the company's success. That translates to employees feeling valued."Avenue Bank is a young upstart on the banking scene, approaching its second year in business, and the team there is focused every day on consciously developing the kind of environment that espouses the values of ownership and success. "Every team member has ownership of our work environment, our clients' satisfaction, and our company's financial success," Samuels says. "When you have everyone working together, every day, to achieve those goals, you are going to be successful."

"It's a great honor to be listed as a top employer in the state of Tennessee for the fourth year in a row," says Warren Gooch, managing partner of Kramer Rayson LLP. "We view our partners, lawyers and staff members in the firmnot only as valued team members in the legal profession but as part of our extended family." For more than 60 years, since the firm's inception by the late Russell Reed Kramer, Kramer Rayson has built a reputation as one of the state's leading firms, involved in many of Tennessee's most significant legal decisions. Thirty-two lawyers practice out of offices in Knoxville and Oak Ridge, and practice areas include but aren't limited to employment, health, government, personal injury, corporate and commercial law, and estate planning and administration. The firm handles both litigation and transactional matters.Gooch is proud that in the most recent edition of Best Lawyers, half of the partners of Kramer Rayson were acknowledged as the best in their field. "We're fortunate to have our excellent attorneys and our fine support staff--our employees allow our lawyers to be as productive and successful as they are," Gooch says. "We try to go the extra mile to take care of everyone."Obviously, we consider our employees our greatest resource," Gooch says, "and we want to do everything we can to make Kramer Rayson an outstanding place to work by fostering a collegial atmosphere among our partners, lawyers and staff members."

In 1986, Bruno Pauletto took his experience as a nationally recognized strength and conditioning coach and former world-class athlete and produced several training videos, which he and wife Julie Pauletto marketed to coaches. From that early success, the couple added other sports performance training equipment to their product line and grew their company from a home-based startup business to a full-time venture. Power Systems is now a one-stop shop for coaches, trainers and others needing quality sports performance and fitness equipment, marketing more than 2,000 products to its customers."We are so pleased and humbled to be recognized as one of the twenty-five best companies to work for in Tennessee," the Paulettos say. "We built Power Systems on core values that we believed in from the start, and those values have stood the test of time." The Paulettos credit their employees for the success of the company, and they support their employees by offering great benefits and promoting a policy of giving back to the community.Mike Akers, COO of Power Systems, calls the company the best organization he has worked for in his 36 years in business. "I am living a dream to be a part of Power Systems--who it is and what it stands for," he says."When we started the company over twenty years ago, we never dreamed it would become what it has today," the Paulettos say. "To be recognized as one of the best in the state is icing on the cake."

Jack O. Weatherford, Lee Moss and Ben Weatherford founded MidSouth Bank as a locally owned community bank in January 2003. And every year since its inception, Midsouth has been recognized as a Best Place to Work in Tennessee-a fact that makes Moss, who serves as chairman and CEO, proud. "I find it particularly rewarding this year," Moss says, "because banks and banking really feel the ramifications of a depressed economic cycle. It puts pressure on us to make our employees and clients feel better."The founders of MidSouth Bank wanted the bank to have a broad base of ownership comprised of Rutherford County residents and to have experienced, successful bankers who are passionate about their community. At its founding, MidSouth became the highest capitalized new bank in the history of Tennessee, and 90% of its shareholders are Rutherford County residents. In addition to the four Murfreesboro offices, there are two branch offices in Smyrna, and approximately 86 "hand-selected" employees. With the current economic conditions, Moss says it has been incumbent upon the industry to do a lot of expense-management containment, which usually has a negative impact on the team members. "I believe our open and candid conversation with our personnel, which has been consistent since day one, has helped all of our bankers know fully what's going on with the bank financially and what their roles are in implementing solutions."

Crowe Horwath LLP calls itself "The Unique Alternative to the Big Four," and as one of the top 10 accounting and consulting firms in the United States, the company has been recognized by a number of organizations as one of the country's best places to work. "It's quite an honor to be chosen as a Best Place to Work in Tennessee," says Larry Morton, executive in charge of Crowe Horwath's Tennessee offices. "It's a real tribute to our people." Founded in 1942 in South Bend, Ind., Crowe Horwath expanded into Tennessee in 2002, and there are now approximately 200 Crowe Horwath employees across the state.As an alternative to the Big Four, Morton says that all of Crowe Horwath's decisions take into account the people, the clients, the firm and the public trust. Value for the clients, values to live by, integrity and independence, and a high level of servicecommitment are the "big four reasons to consult Crowe." "The success of our firm is dependent on the success of our people, and that means supporting an atmosphere in which they want to work," Morton says. "We try to make decisions within the firm that are fair to everyone involved."This is not the first year Crowe Horwath has made the list, but Morton says that it is still exciting every year. "In this economy, we're looking for every bright spot wecan find."