Corey R. Johns, CEcD

Director of Business Development - Interactive & Creative Technology
Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
Nashville, TN


Corey R. Johns serves as Director of Business Development - Interactive & Creative Technology for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission at the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. In this role, he directs the TEC’s “Create_Here” campaign, manages the Tennessee Interactive Digital Media Advisory Council’s efforts to accelerate growth in Tennessee’s creative technology industries and markets the State as a highly-competitive market for workforce relocation & business expansion by emerging digital content creation firms. Learn more at CreateTN.com.

Corey is an IEDC Certified Economic Developer with a decade of experience in technology-led economic development leadership. Prior to joining TEC & ECD, he launched & led multiple U.S. Department of Commerce-funded state broadband initiative programs for several states (including Iowa, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas & Alaska) & served three years as Executive Director of Connected Tennessee. Highlights from his tenure include over $225 million in federal broadband infrastructure grants secured for unserved & underserved areas of Tennessee; quantifying & marketing Tennessee as the nation’s leader for residential gigabit broadband availability; expanding innovative technology skills development & job-placement programs; & helping bring Google Fiber to Nashville.

Corey began his economic development career at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in one of the Southeast’s most dynamic tourism communities. He is a proud Alumnus 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 resides in the Nashville area with his wife, two young sons & their chocolate lab, Bonnie.