Two of Johnson City's small businesses — Jane's Lunch Box and Eagle's Landing Transcription Service — were recently honored for their outstanding quality and performance with Blue Ribbon Small Business Awards from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"It's really just shining a flashlight on outstanding small businesses," said Brent Inscoe, director of small business marketing communications for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

This was the first year for the Blue Ribbon Awards. Inscoe said the Chamber had originally intended just to honor one small business of the year, but received so many quality applicants that they decided instead to honor those businesses who achieved a certain score, as determined by a five-person panel.

Applicants were judged based on financial performance, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service and business plans or goals. Overall, 60 small businesses across the country received awards — six of which were in Tennessee. The top seven finalists will compete for the small business of the year award.

Eagle's Landing
Eagle's Landing Transcription Service — a health care documentation company — first started out of necessity in a Georgia laundry room.

"My desk was right by the hot water heater, and we used to pray that the hot water heater would not burst and send water all over our servers," said Executive Director Elisa Comer. "I worked in the laundry room and people came in and interviewed at our kitchen table for jobs."

Comer had a background in health care and was attending nursing school when she developed a severe latex allergy. Unable to continue with school, she took a job in administration with a dialysis company.

After having children, Comer decided she wanted a job where she could both stay home and utilize her medical and medical administration background. Thus, she pursued a diploma in medical transcription.

A church friend eventually asked Comer to take over her transcription clients, and in six months, the home business grew from around 10 clients to 50. When a large contract from a client in Atlanta came through, Comer's husband, Chris, quit his job with Delta to help run the business.

Eagle's Landing was officially born in February 1999 in the couple's laundry room.

The Comers moved Eagle's Landing to Johnson City in 2004, with some help from the Chamber of Commerce, community leaders and Hank Carr, project director of Johnson City's Med Tech Regional Business Park.

Comer said they decided to move the business because they didn't want to raise their children in Atlanta. She said Carr became their tour guide and encouragement during the transition and that ETSU worked out the kinks in transcription lines so that the family could stay.

"East Tennessee gets small business right," Comer said. "They put their money where their mouth is and it's not just talk, it's action. And we are a different company because we came to Johnson City."

Since moving the business, Eagle's Landing has continued to grow. Eagle's Landing serves more than 300 physicians at various offices and surgery centers.

The company now has 42 employees in 13 states, including a virtual office in Atlanta. Except for the five administrative staff who work out of the headquarters on Market Street, all other employees work from their homes. Comer said they are hoping to add up to 15 more employees by the end of the summer.

"We're a family owned business, and we support the family," Comer said. "It works. Our doctors are very happy."

[This article, written by Christan M. Thomas, originally appeared in the March 30, 2006 issue of the Johnson City Press.]