Kelly Peterson
Kelly runs Labor Exchange from the same Chapman Highway office where her late husband Bill founded the company in 2012. What started as a single staffing desk has grown into East Tennessee’s go-to source for same-day construction, warehouse, hospitality, event, and manufacturing workers — covering three counties and dispatching from a deep pool of pre-screened local workers.
In 2025, the Knoxville Chamber recognized Labor Exchange with the Pinnacle Business Award for Woman-Owned Business Excellence — selected from approximately 200 nominated companies for contributions to the greater Knoxville economy.
Key takeaways
- Labor Exchange is a family-owned staffing agency in South Knoxville, Tennessee. Bill Peterson founded the business around 2012.
- Bill’s wife, Kelly Peterson, took it over after he passed and runs it today.
- We’ve put workers to work across Knox, Blount, and Sevier counties for over a decade. Rated 4.3 stars across 108 Google reviews.
- “We are in the people business. Honestly, we have the best job in the world.” — Kelly Peterson
Pinnacle Business Award
2025 Woman-Owned Business Excellence recipient — Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. Selected from ~200 nominated companies.
3× Knox Stars Winner
Community Choice Award for Best Staffing/Employment Agency — voted by the Knoxville community three consecutive years.
BBB A+ Since 2013
Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating since the company’s first year of operation. Zero unresolved complaints.
The story
Labor Exchange was founded in 2012 by Bill Peterson, who brought his background in HR into the staffing industry. Bill built the business from the ground up at 4408 Chapman Highway in South Knoxville — finding workers, matching them with employers, and dispatching them to job sites across Knox and Sevier counties. He put the blood, sweat, and tears into building it into the business it is today.
After Bill passed away, Kelly took over the business. She expanded the company’s coverage into Blount County, grew the worker pool to over 5,000, added manufacturing and event staffing to the service lines, and built the operation that now serves the entire three-county East Tennessee region. Under Kelly’s leadership, Labor Exchange has been recognized by the Knoxville Chamber, the Knox Stars Community Choice Awards, the Better Business Bureau, and the Made for Knoxville program.
My staff and I sincerely care about the people we place in jobs and truly want to help them succeed.
— Kelly Peterson, Made for KnoxvilleAs Knoxville Chamber President and CEO Mike Odom put it: “Kelly and Labor Exchange are helping solve workforce issues by placing talent where they are most likely to flourish. Companies benefit from the quality support and employees find roles that suit their abilities.”
Company timeline
Founded
Bill Peterson opens Labor Exchange at 4408 Chapman Hwy in South Knoxville. First services: construction labor and hospitality staffing for Knox and Sevier counties.
BBB accredited
Earns Better Business Bureau A+ rating in the first year of operation. Still holds the A+ rating today.
Kelly takes the helm
Kelly Peterson takes over as owner and president, expanding services and geographic coverage while maintaining the family-owned culture Bill built.
Blount County expansion
Adds Maryville, Alcoa, and Blount County to the service area. Manufacturing staffing becomes a core offering.
First Knox Stars win
Voted Best Staffing/Employment Agency in the Knox Stars Community Choice Awards. Wins again in 2023 and 2024 — three consecutive years.
Pinnacle Business Award
Knoxville Chamber of Commerce awards Labor Exchange the Pinnacle Business Award for Woman-Owned Business Excellence. Selected from approximately 200 nominated companies.
10,000+ placed, 3 counties
Today, Labor Exchange dispatches same-day workers across Knox, Sevier, and Blount counties — construction, warehouse, hospitality, events, and manufacturing — from the same Chapman Highway office where it all started.
Our values
Five principles that drive every placement, every shift, every day.
Excellence
We go the extra mile.
Flexibility
We meet change head on.
Integrity
We do what we say.
Serving
We serve our way to success.
Golden Rule
We treat others the way we want to be treated.