Our Team

Corey Johns, CEcD

Executive Director

Corey R. Johns came to the Joint Economic & Community Development Board of Wilson County in January 2023. Mr. John’s responsibilities include new business marketing and prospecting to attract new business and industry to Wilson County. He also works with business leaders to retain and expand economic development opportunities within the County. Mr. Johns is the main point of contact for recruitment efforts of the office.

Mr. Johns is a resident of Wilson County, Tennessee and an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with over fifteen years of proven leadership in a variety of diverse economic development roles ranging from the local level, to statewide, to a multi-state portfolio.

He most recently served as Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNECD) and the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC).  In this role he led the development & implementation of the State’s 1st strategic initiative targeting the rapidly-growing Digital Media and Creative Technology industry cluster.

Prior to joining TNECD, Johns spent over half a decade in technology-led economic development launching and leading state broadband initiatives for multiple states, including Tennessee as Executive Director for Connected Tennessee. 

Mr. Johns began his economic development career in one of the Southeast’s most dynamic tourism and entertainment communities as Special Projects Manager for the Sevier County Economic Development Council (SCEDC).  There, he supported industrial and advanced manufacturing recruitment, business retention and expansion efforts, planned and secured grant funding for a county-wide workforce development study, and grew an innovative primary healthcare program for retail & hospitality employees.

He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and completed a Master of Public Administration. He is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (EDI). Corey is the father of two school-aged boys who attend Wilson County Schools and is active at his local church.

Tammy Stokes

Assistant Director

With 25 years of dedicated service to the Joint Economic & Community Development Board, Tammy plays a vital role in advancing the region’s economic development strategy. As Assistant Director, she supports the full spectrum of economic development activities—ranging from strategic marketing and business recruitment to site inventory management and data-driven responses to RFIs (Requests for Information).

A core focus of Tammy’s work has been retail recruitment, where she has spent years building relationships with brokers, developers, and site selectors to attract major commercial and retail projects to Wilson County. Her knowledge of local market dynamics, combined with her keen eye for community fit, has helped shape successful retail growth in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, and Watertown.

Tammy leads the organization’s digital marketing efforts and oversees the design and distribution of electronic promotional materials. She manages the county's property database, maintains the JECDB website, and ensures timely, accurate information-sharing with partners and prospects alike.

She is a licensed Tennessee State Notary and an active member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Tennessee Economic Development Council (TEDC), and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Her growing professional development portfolio includes multiple ESRI certifications in ArcGIS mapping tools, and she is currently pursuing her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation.

Originally from Louisiana, Missouri, Tammy relocated to Wilson County in 1999 and quickly made it home. She holds a certification in Office Systems Technologies from Pike/Lincoln Technical Center and brings a thoughtful, well-rounded perspective to her work that’s grounded in years of real-world experience and deep local relationships.

Tammy lives in Lebanon and is the proud mother of two adult children—her daughter Brooke, who also lives and works in Lebanon, and her son Michael, who lives nearby in Sumner County and works in Mt. Juliet. She became a grandmother in 2022 and is loving every moment of watching her grandson grow. As she enters what she calls her “Happily Ever After…Take Two” chapter—recently engaged and thriving—Tammy continues to bring passion, heart, and excellence to all she does for Wilson County.