Tennessee investment banking firm Oaklyn Consulting was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year in The 17th Annual American Business Awards today.
 
This is the first year Oaklyn Consulting has won a Stevie Award, widely recognized as one of the nation’s top business awards. Oaklyn won in the Most Innovative Company of the Year category for organizations of 100 or fewer employees.
 
Judges noted Oaklyn’s innovative model of fee-based investment banking services in lieu of commissions, which allows Oaklyn to offer truly objective advice to business owners in Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and across the Southeast concerning the wisdom of mergers, acquisitions and other major financial decisions.
 
“We’re honored to receive this award, and it’s particularly gratifying to be recognized for our fee-based investment banking model, which helps our industry serve more businesses and expand access to capital,” said Frank Williamson, founder and CEO of Oaklyn Consulting. “We believe that our model complements the work of other investment banking firms in our region and is the best way to truly serve business owners’ needs when deals are too small, risky or complex for those whose revenue depends on success fees. This award serves as a wonderful confirmation of that.”
 
More than 3,800 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Live Event of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. More than 200 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.
 
“The nominations submitted to The 2019 American Business Awards were outstanding. They illustrate the continued vibrancy of innovation and high level of achievement across the American economic landscape,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.