Pinnacle Awards Recognize Local Tourism Promotion

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Several organizations promoting the Mountain Empire’s musical history won Pinnacle awards Wednesday in a ceremony sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association.

The Pinnacle Awards are presented annually to recognize organizations promoting tourism in the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia area.

Leah Ross, the director of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, picked up the Pinnacle Award in the cultural arts division of special events for the success of the Rhythm & Roots Reunion.

Another musical-related award went to the Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University and the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services for "The History of Country Music in the Tri-Cities: An Exhibit & Interactive Kiosk." The exhibit tells the story of the region’s musical heritage with videos, stories and archival photographs.

The Bristol Herald Courier won the business division Pinnacle Award in the special projects category for a multi-section newspaper insert called "The Straight & Narrow on The Crooked Road." Compiled with media partners News Channel 11 and TriCities.com, the special edition profiled people and places of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. Earlier this year, the project also won awards presented by the Virginia Press Association and Media General Inc.

Barter Theatre won a Pinnacle Award in the cultural arts division of the advertising and promotions-print category for "Jimmie Rodgers: America’s Blue Yodeler Marketing Campaign."

Merit awards went to the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau’s concert series; the "Live the History" marketing campaign by the Virginia Highlands Festival; and the General Morgan Inn’s "Rediscover Greeneville" project.

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