SouthEast Best Real Estate Meetup -April: Ken DeFoor

When: April 1st.

Doors open at 5:30PM EST. Event starts at 6:15PM

Where: Granfalloon Event Venue.

Why: To pull aspiring and current investors together from Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta and Chattanooga and everywhere in between.

What to expect: Food Trucks, giveaways, free parking, education and connections are included. Price of admission is you SHOWING UP ready to meet the person you need to take your business to the next level.

This event is made possible by:

Casey Bryant Mortgage

The Grace Frank Group (Brokered by Zach Taylor)

Acadia Capital

Key Title

Doorby Property Management

Wysong Tree Service

Insight Home Inspection Services

Jaco Contracting and Roofing

VaVia Dumpster Rental

Webive Digital Marketing

This month, we are honored to have Ken DeFoor joining us. Ken is one of Chattanooga’s most accomplished developers. Alongside his brother Byron, he has created DeFoor Brothers Hospitality (one of Chattanooga's largest hospitality companies). You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from Ken’s decades of experience in the industry. Please join us, and bring a friend!

Ken’s Bio:

Ken DeFoor is a distinguished real estate developer and entrepreneur with a career spanning over five decades. His work has significantly shaped the commercial and hospitality landscape of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Early Business Ventures:

In 1973, Ken began his entrepreneurial journey by co-founding a retail flooring business with his brother, Byron DeFoor, and their father, Kenneth. This venture laid the foundation for his future success in real estate development.

Real Estate Development:

Ken transitioned into commercial real estate development in 1985, focusing on high-quality office spaces and mixed-use developments. In 1998, he founded The Corporate Image, which has since become Chattanooga’s largest office ownership development. With locations in Gunbarrell, Northgate, Shallowford, and Lee Highway, The Corporate Image has also grown into the city’s largest provider of medical office space, encompassing over 500,000 square feet.

Major Real Estate & Hospitality Projects:

Ken has co-developed and led numerous landmark projects in Chattanooga, including:
Waterside Lifestyle Center – A 40-acre mixed-use development blending retail, office, and residential space, strategically located across from Hamilton Place Mall at I-75 and Shallowford Road.

The Fehn’s Property – A 32-unit luxury condominium project on the river, currently in the planning phase.

Embassy Suites Hotel & Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Co-developed and co-owned with Byron DeFoor, this premier hospitality project opened in 2013 on Shallowford Road.

The Westin Chattanooga & Citi/Park Garage Retail Center (West Village) – A major development in downtown Chattanooga, transforming the area into a vibrant urban destination. The Westin Chattanooga was recognized as Marriott’s Hotel of the Year in 2019.
Marriott Hotel at Chattanooga Convention Center – Co-owner of Chattanooga’s largest hotel, directly connected to the city’s primary convention venue.

Community Leadership & Board Memberships

Beyond real estate, Ken is deeply involved in community service and leadership:

Board of Directors, Millennium Bank (Chattanooga, TN)
Board of Directors, Chattanooga Visitors Bureau
Board of Trustees, Southern Adventist University
Advisory Board, School of Business, Southern Adventist University
Former Board Member, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Former Board Member, Girls Preparatory School (the largest all-girls school in the U.S.)

Faith & Personal Endeavors:

Ken is also committed to spiritual leadership. He founded and leads a weekly study group at Collegedale Community Church, where participants discuss spiritual and real-life challenges.Through his vision and dedication, Ken DeFoor has left an indelible mark on Chattanooga’s real estate, hospitality, and business communities, continuing to influence the region’s growth and development.

Host or Publisher SouthEast Best Real Estate Meetup