2023 40 Under 40 Spotlight: Sam M. Coryell, 2006

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Then: President, Coryell Enterprises
Now: President, Coryell Collaborative Group

In 2006, Sam M. Coryell was president of Coryell Enterprises, the construction division within Coryell Collaborative Group.

In 2009, with the Great Recession in full swing, Coryell stepped up to preside over the entire organization.

Coryell, 50, started working with social service agencies to help tenants stay in place, but meanwhile, banks were calling in notes. Coryell had to come up with $2 million within 90 days to avoid a foreclosure. An 11th-hour loan from The Bank of Bolivar saved his bacon.

“I’d never been super involved in the operations department, but in 2009 I got real involved. Honestly, I was counting nickels and dimes,” he says.

Coryell says that seasoning instilled lasting discipline, noting, “We were able to navigate the COVID years without a hiccup.”

Those lessons may prove relevant again this year, Coryell says.

Best advice to young professionals?
You never know where help’s going to come from. Don’t ever discount a relationship.