Carol Coryell breaks her leadership traits into four categories: a desire to learn and grow; hard work; a belief in her ability to succeed; and a love of people.
Coryell, who earned a doctorate of education from University of Arkansas in 2001, spent three decades in education teaching music at Missouri State and Evangel universities,Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff and Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, Calif. She also was a public school music teacher and the church music director at Wesley United Methodist Church.
"I dedicated myself to study and research, reading books and professional journals and trying new instructional methods on my students," Coryell says. "At heart, I strongly desired to have more to offer my students to better prepare them for their personal and professional lives."
In addition to a career in education, Coryell co-founded the family business, TLC Property Management LLC, in 1988 and continues to serve as the company's president.
"With little capital and less knowledge of the multifamily field, my husband, Sam, and I began with three single-family homes and a small, 10-unit apartment community," she recalls. "By 1993, we had acquired about 40 units and decided to expand by building a four-plex at an existing location, thus beginning the development phase that continues to this day."
By 1996, TLC had 150 units. With the help of Coryell's three sons, that number has expanded to 2,600 units at 16 locations, with another 600 units under construction or on the drawing board. TLC's gross income has grown to $20 million this year from $46,000 in 1989.
"The one tangible achievement in which I take the greatest pride is the co-founding of our family business," Coryell says. "With more than 50 full-time TLC employees, we estimate that we employed an additional 1,098 contract workers in 2008 through the construction arm of the business, Coryell Enterprises. The projected 2009 payroll for employees, excluding contract workers, is more than $1.25 million."
In May, TLC Property Managment received the W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year award from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Through TLC, Coryell has contributed to area organizations, including March of Dimes, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Regional Opera, Price Cutter Charity Championship and Evangel University.
Coryell was 47 years old when she returned to school to earn her doctorate, which she earned 10 years later. She had several reasons for taking on the required course work later in life, including setting an example.
"First, I wanted to achieve a personal goal and to model that commitment to my sons," she says. "Second, the knowledge to be gained would benefit our business. Third, I felt the degree would give me more credibility within the community ... to which I am indebted and to which I am grateful."
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