T. Cory Lewis is originally from Sylva, North Carolina, the unique mountain town in Western North Carolina, where he grew up working for his dad and grandfather, playing sports, riding horses, fishing, and being outdoors. He moved to Johnson City, Tennessee to attend East Tennessee State University, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Cory then moved to Tampa, Florida in pursuit of an MBA in International Business and Investments, and soon found himself working for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball Organization, assisting with the direction of Spring Training.

After a couple of years, Cory was eventually ready for a return to the mountains and founded T. C. Lewis & Co. “It just made sense. I’ve always been consumed by architecture and had an interest in land development and construction- always dabbling in real estate.” He chose the name because it (T.C. Lewis) goes back four generations in his family. “I’ve come from a long line of entrepeneurs in service-related industries, and I understand the importance of customer service and professionalism. There’s really no substitution for family-ownership, hard work, knowledge, integrity, and service. I think we’re simply filling a need for educated professionals in these fields in the Mountain South region, and when someone sees our sign on a property for sale or under construction, I’m standing behind it.”

Cory is almost never spotted without a company ball cap on, and he’s frequently asked by friends if he doesn’t have a suit hanging in the closet that he could wear to some of these meetings. His response is always the same, “George Washington Carver said that he was told that he should dress better for meetings, too. His response was, ‘If they want to see nice clothes, I’ll send them. If they want the information, I’ll go.’"

Over the last few years, T. C. Lewis & Co. has grown and expanded and been recognized for its customer and community service, conservation efforts, and industry excellence. “I’m proud of a lot of things that we’ve accomplished thus far. The company and individuals within our organization have received awards, including myself, and we’re building a following of satisfied clients and beleivers in our work ethic, methods, and results throughout our divisions.” Cory has been named one of the Business Journal’s Top 40 Under Forty Business People, recognized by Marquee Mountain South Magazine and his alma mater ETSU, served as a director on various boards, as a spokesperson at numerous events, and served as Chairman of the founding of the Northeast Tennessee Green Building Council.

“We have a lot of momentum. We have built a lot of good relationships with clients and others in our respective fields, and we hope to keep building relationships and adding services to offer our clients. There’s one quote that I look at almost everyday, and I really believe it: ‘A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, and die gallantly- specialization is for insects.’ It’s this attitude that makes us the standard of comparison.”

Cory in the news

11/19/2009
Cory Lewis speaks before Johnson City Commissioners

10/21/2009
Cory Lewis to serve two-year term on Board of Directors for Washington, Carter, Unicoi, and Johnson Counties

9/30/008
Cory Lewis named to the Business Journal’s Top 40 Under Forty - honored at Millenium Centre Gala

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