Alumni Awarded for Business Success
Arts and Sciences alumni take high ground on the Rocky Top Business Awards.
The Rocky Top Business Awards, presented by the University of Tennessee and PYA Accountants and Advisors, celebrate the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UT alumni. This year, alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences lead 16 of the 64 companies recognized. The university hosted a gala for the winners on May 2, shining a spotlight on these exceptional Volunteers and their achievements in business leadership and growth.
The College of Arts and Sciences Advantage
These winning alumni applied critical thinking and collaborative skills honed during their time in the college while building these successful businesses. Their wide range of business types reflect the breadth of learning opportunity and professional adaptability made possible within the college.
Anthropology studies gave Toni Twitty (BA, Anthropology ’06) a richer perspective in her chosen field of acupuncture, leading to operating her own clinic, Be Well Acupuncture in Edmond, Oklahoma.
“UT shaped who I am. It gave me the tools to think critically, care deeply, and take big leaps,” said Twitty. “Anthropology trained me to see people in context instead of through the lens of a diagnosis. The late Professor Michael Logan’s ethnography course comes to memory, as he emphasized healthcare in his studies. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all—patients are individuals with stories, beliefs, and environments that shape their health.”
Mike Ickowitz (MS, College Student Personnel ’07; MA, Sociology ’21) applied a similar adaptability for success in a very different field. He and wife Tanya Ickowitz (MS, Communications and Information ’12) founded Patdome Promotions, offering custom products to promote branding for a variety of businesses. His studies in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences’ college student personnel (CSP) program gave him insight for launching and building his business, and his more recent return to earn a master’s degree in sociology reinforced his approach through a sociological lens.
“It makes me hyper-aware that marketing, product design, and supply chains are always in a state of inter-woven small changes, and that anticipating this change and recognizing and searching for the forefront of ideas and solutions are critical to competitiveness,” said Ickowitz. “I lean on this in our regular business operations and even more so in periods of uncertainty.”
These two alumni express the Volunteer impact of this recognition that they share with their fellow Rocky Top Business Awards winners.
“It’s incredibly special and encouraging that UT values the outcome of the education you receive there,” said Twitty. “I grew up in Knoxville, so UT was always part of my world whether it was game days, university traditions, or just the energy the university brought to the community. To now be recognized by UT for the work I do is such a meaningful full-circle moment.”
The award and ongoing UT engagement carries the same weight for Ickowitz.
“I am genuinely humbled and honored to be connected to UT and to be recognized for our growth as an alumnus-owned business,” said Ickowitz. “The Volunteer Spirit is as strong as it is in large part because of the countless professionals working to make the experience of students and alumni second-to-none.”
Arts and Sciences 2025 Rocky Top Business Awards Winners
Axle Logistics
Jonathan Kidd Clay, BA, Political Science ’09
Cofounder of Axle Logistics, Knoxville, a top-ranked logistics provider offering adaptable transportation solutions.
Be Well Acupuncture
Toni Penery Twitty, BA, Anthropology ’06
Owner, Doctor of Acupuncture at Be Well Acupuncture, Edmond, Oklahoma, specializing in treating chronic pain and conditions using a multidisciplinary approach.
Belle Meade Jewelry & Repair
Scott Isaacs, BA, Political Science ’92
Owner/operator of Belle Meade Jewelry and Repair, Nashville, specializing in jewelry and watch repair, custom design, and more.
Edley’s Restaurant Group
William E. Newman, BA, History ’00
Founder and CEO of Edley’s Restaurant Group, Nashville, a restaurant group that includes Edley’s BBQ and Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina.
Friends in Need Health Center, Inc.
Allison Poget Penland, BS, Chemistry ’17
Dentist at Friends in Need Health Center, Inc., Kingsport, Tennessee, a non-profit clinic serving low-to-moderate income, underinsured residents in Tennessee.
HES Facilities, LLC
Charlie Spencer, BA Economics ’86
CEO and president of HES Facilities LLC, Knoxville, which offers professional facility services management.
HR Holdings, LLC
David Powers, BA, Sociology ’15
Founder and CEO of HR Holdings LLC, Chattanooga, a private-label hemp manufacturer and CPG company.
Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm LLC
Victor Alex Dorobantu, BA, Political Science ’06
Owner and founder of Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm LLC, Beaufort, South Carolina, a boutique law firm focused estate state planning.
Mac’s LTC Pharmacy Solutions
Morgan Honeycutt, BS, Biological Sciences ’08
CEO of Mac’s LTC Pharmacy Solutions, Powell, Tennessee, which provides pharmaceutical care and a range of other services.
McNabb Center
Mona Blanton-Kitts, BSW, Social Work ’86; BA Psychology ’86; MSW, Social Work ’92
President and CEO of the McNabb Center, Knoxville, a nonprofit provider of mental health services supporting over 51,000 people.
Motion Rx Sports Medicine Physical Therapy
Darryl Richmond, BA, Interdisciplinary Programs ’11
Owner and CEO of Motion Rx Sports Medicine Physical Therapy, Sunnyvale, Texas, a physical therapy facility in Dallas.
Patdome Promotions
Mike Ickowitz, MS, College Student Personnel ’07; MA, Sociology ’21
Managing director at Patdome Promotions, Knoxville, a creative firm and promotional products company that boosts brand identity.
Second Mile
Hannah Collins Lee, BA, Spanish ’13
CEO and Co-founder of Second Mile, a HubSpot and WordPress agency that helps companies streamline operations.
Sentri Roofing
Jessica Cardenas, BS Biological Sciences ’09
CEO of Sentri Roofing company, Chattanooga.
Tressler & Associates, PLLC
Todd A. Tressler II, BS Biological Sciences ’01
Founder and managing attorney at Tressler & Associates PLLC, Nashville, providing legal and real estate closing services.
Watauga Orthopaedics
Kim Wishon Marden, BA Political Science ’95
CEO at Watauga Orthopaedics, Johnson City, Tennessee, which provides comprehensive orthopedic care across four clinics.
By Randall Brown