The College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) inducted Mitch Cox into its Hall of Fame on April 21, 2016.
During the ceremony, Mitch was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award. This award is presented to alumni of the College of Business and Technology who have made significant accomplishments in business or public service, and are committed to the betterment of the community and the ETSU College of Business and Technology.
A Johnson City native, Mitch Cox has been instrumental in creating Johnson City’s business and residential communities through real estate development, general contracting, and property management for over thirty years. In 1971, Mitch earned a BS degree from East Tennessee State University in Economics. He began his first design-build project in 1979 and has since followed with numerous developments, such as Mountcastle Centre, University Plaza, Park Place, Princeton Square, Sunset Professional Park, Sunset East, Sunset West, Knob Creek Marketplace, Peoples Crossing, Perimeter Plaza, Waterbrooke Professional Park and Med Tech Plaza.
In addition to his contributions in commercial real estate, Mitch has added an impressive list of residential communities to the Tri-Cities area, such as Waterbrooke, The Ridges Overlook, The Villas at Netherland Lane, and Hunter’s Lake – which includes an assisted-living facility. Mitch has also developed hotels in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois.
Mitch has served on the Boards of The United Way, Contact Ministry, Mountain States Foundation, Blue Ridge Medical Management, Coalition for Kids, Inc., Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Johnson City Country Club and Buffalo Mountain Camp. In 1989, he was recognized by the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce as “Small Business Person of the Year.” In 2005, he was recognized as a “Leader in Christian Service” by Milligan College. In May 2006, he received the “Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate” recognition for his focus on responsibility, ethics, leadership and the encouragement of youth. Mitch has also received the “Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Award” for his service to the organization and to the community.