When George called to say he was going to appear in this issue, I almost fell over, and if you know George, you know why. He has been absolutely adamant about NOT appearing, NOT writing, and having NO mention of himself in his publications. Since this magazine’s inception we have tried to persuade him to be visible to the readers, so you all could have the chance to see what he was really about. However, George would never budge. He would insist that the magazine’s editorial content and advertisers speak volumes. He would say he was just the behind-the-scenes guy who brought everything together.
So, when he asked me to write his bio, I was struck with a moment of clarity. Here, right in front of us, was our 10th man! Since the idea for this issue’s cover story had taken flight, we had debated about having an odd number and decided that we liked it that way, but I always felt that the 10th man was missing. It all makes sense now. I had teased my boss – “Jorge” – about the fact that many would say that he should be in the cover story, and in his usual manner, he would roll his eyes and pretend to ignore me. But then the staff came over to my side, and we decided that George would unofficially and against his will be our 10th Man of Style and Substance. So, I interviewed him in the same way that I did the other nine
Asked what finally motivated him to appear, George answered, “I feel honored and privileged that these men would take their time to be in this issue of Greater Knoxville Homes & Living. I do truly believe that they are perfect examples of the style and substance of this area. I feel that if I am asking them to bare their souls and be in photo spreads, I should do the same. Of course, I did cheat and pick a picture from 1985.”
From the beginning, George conceptualized this publication with a kind of rebellious mind-set. He mulled over the fact that no one had yet played voyeur, going into the homes and lives of some of the most influential individuals in this community. “My initial vision was to create an upscale magazine for a community that was regarded as a third-tier city. There was so much to grasp that no one was getting,” he said.
A Chicago native who has adopted Knoxville as his home, George says, “I love the family lifestyle here and feeling good about the security of my wife and children. Plus, if you know the routes to take, I appreciate the absence of traffic. However, the closeness of the community can sometimes harbor innuendo and rumors that can generate personifications of myself that reflect on the magazine.”
The way he reacts (or doesn’t) to such negativity speaks to George’s style. It is laid-back, yet deliberate, come-what-may, yet determined.
People talk about how handsome and well put-together he is. (I have asked his wife, Leigh, if she secretly lays out his clothes, and she swears that she does not.) George has an unmistakable style all of his own, although people often call him a George Clooney or Rob Lowe lookalike.
His personal vision explains a lot about the motivation behind this publication. George says he began Greater Knoxville Homes & Living because of the negatives. “I realized that between the Internet, TV and newspapers, there were always negatives. I wanted to start a magazine that accentuated the positive, or the beautiful. I worked for a publisher out of Alabama and learned what not to do. From that experience I began to understand the correlation between readership, advertising and distribution. Now I am publisher of a magazine surrounded by a dedicated staff who take pride in their work and share my vision of what we are trying to do, which is to present the very best reflection of East Tennessee. Using only the finest quality paper, we produce a publication with sleek graphic design, fine advertisers and interesting editorial.”
George appreciates the support the community has given him for this product. Deane Conley, especially, trusted George. “I really thank Deane for taking a chance on a non-accomplished publisher of a local magazine in this area. To debut her home in our first issue was so gracious, and I am really grateful to her for taking that chance.”
He is also grateful to his family for their support and is proud to see his children show interest in creative outlets as well. Aside from numerous accomplishments in sports, both of his kids show unmistakable signs of the creative gene. His son just asked for Photoshop as part of his Christmas present, and his daughter is into graphic arts and likes to record and write music. “My family is my biggest supporter. My wife, kids and my father-in-law, Johnny Pirkle. I am so grateful to them and love them all.”
George is excited about the future of his company and is determined to continue to produce innovative, quality publications.”Our readers can expect 2007 to be our best year yet!” – Sara Spangler
