Joe Kalis

Joe Kalis was not born in Tennessee, but after one visit to the Upper Cumberland region of Middle Tennessee, found that his heart belonged there the whole time.

As a Chicago-born lifelong Illinois resident, raised in the suburbs, he was used to the high-paced atmosphere of the entertainment-rich, white-collar business world. As a graduate of highly-acclaimed Lincoln-Way High School, and having received a business degree from Illinois State University, Joe worked his way through a handful of corporate jobs and built a successful multi-level marketing business before his entire life changed in 2013 with the birth of his daughter, Emery.

It was at that point that he realized that he was destined to be an entrepreneur, taught himself the art of digital marketing, and created a new identity as owner of a successful digital marketing company and licensed Realtor.

In 2020, COVID happened and changed life as we all know it… and eager to escape the COVID-craziness of the Chicago suburbs, Joe and his family took a trip to get away and visit his dad in rural Tennessee.

That’s when The Tennessee Life was born.

Long story short, the Kalis family fell in love with the Southern charm and beauty of Tennessee, and five months later, transplanted themselves to Livingston.

After quickly getting his Tennessee real estate license, and establishing himself as a local Realtor, Joe decided to create The Tennessee Life as a way to capture his passion about his newfound life and family in the beautiful Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.