About us
Welcome to GRID!
GRID Smokies is a real estate community built by investors for investors. We are a group of real people doing real deals.
Our core mission is to connect to, learn from, and collaborate with like-minded people interested in building wealth and creating impact through real estate.
We welcome investors of all experience levels. We are life-long learners and believe everyone has value to share.
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How it works
We meet once a month, 12 months a year, on the same day, week, and time of the month. Each month we cover a different investing topic in the Lifecycle of an Investor—ranging from wholesaling to rehabbing to becoming a bank through private lending.
Our meetings are not sales pitches. They are opportunities for us to dive deep into a real estate topic, connect with local experts in our marketplace, and build long-term relationships with other doers and deal-makers.
All of our events are 100% FREE.
Learn more about GRID Investor at www.gridinvestor.com
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Join the GRID Facebook Community online 8K+
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gridinvestor
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Your GRID Leadership
GRID Smokies is led by Vernon Corum and Nathan Gort.
## About Vernon
Vernon Corum, known as “The Short-Term Pro,” is the Founder of Staycating, Realtor, and GRID Coach focused on the Smoky Mountains short-term rental space. He works with investors and agents on building and operating vacation rentals through clear strategy, structured systems, and a strong emphasis on hospitality.
His focus is on helping others better understand how short-term rentals operate, from setup to guest experience, while contributing to a growing investor community in the Smokies.
At home, Vernon is a husband to Jeannette, father to Bryce, Jake, and Seth, and dog dad to Zelda, Winnie, and Koda. He is also involved in the 865 Academy, where he supports youth education around entrepreneurship, homeownership, and investing.
## About Nathan
Nathan Gort, also known as “The Coach,” brings a strategy-focused approach to real estate and lending. Raised on Hilton Head Island, he was exposed early to real estate and construction, which shaped how he evaluates deals and market opportunities.
Nathan works with clients across a range of real estate strategies, including short-term and long-term rentals, house hacking, and lending structures. His approach centers on understanding each situation, analyzing the numbers, and helping clients make informed decisions.
He has experience with traditional financing, non-QM products, DSCR loans, and private capital. His focus is on deal structure, planning, and helping clients navigate options with clarity.
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Our partners:
Casago Smoky Mountains
Casago Smoky Mountains is a locally owned vacation rental management company specializing in luxury cabin getaways throughout the Smoky Mountains.
Their team provides full-service property management while delivering exceptional guest experiences rooted in southern hospitality and local expertise.
Led by experienced East Tennessee investors and operators, they bring extensive knowledge in vacation rentals, real estate development, and property management.
Learn more about Casago Smoky Mountains
https://casago.com/smoky-mountains/
theLender is a direct mortgage lender that provides financing solutions for homebuyers, real estate investors, and self-employed borrowers. The company offers a range of loan programs, including conventional and non-traditional options, designed to accommodate different financial profiles and property types.
Learn more about theLender
https://thelender.com/
Upcoming events
3
Cash Machine → Wealth Machine → Income Flip
The Pines, 230 Court Avenue,, Sevierville, TN, USIf you were starting again today, how would you intentionally build your business, deploy your profits into real estate, and reach the point where passive income exceeds your active expenses?
That is the big question we are unpacking this month at GRID Smokies.
Most people are working hard to create active income. They are closing deals, serving clients, managing projects, building businesses, and doing what it takes to generate cash flow today.
But wealth builders learn how to turn that income into assets.
This month, we will explore how to build a business that creates reliable income, how to use that income to acquire real estate, and how to move toward the point where passive income can support your lifestyle, your family, your freedom, and your future.
We are excited to welcome Rob Chevez and Kim Chevez as our guest speakers.
Rob Chevez is the Founder of GRID Investor Network, CEO of The CAZA Companies, and Founder and CEO of GRID Capital Partners. Rob has built a vertically integrated real estate platform focused on helping agents, entrepreneurs, and investors move from transactions to ownership and create long-term wealth through real estate.
Kim Chevez is the Founder and CEO of Your Wealth BFF, where she helps businesses and real estate agents fix their finances so they can build real wealth and live financially free. Kim understands the commission rollercoaster firsthand — her household has been 100% commission-based for 24 years, and she built and ran a 300-unit property management company before learning the hard way that hustle without the right systems leads to burnout. Today, she helps business owners, agents, and entrepreneurs set up better cash flow systems, organize their finances, and build toward retirement, investing, and legacy.
During this event, we will discuss:
✅ How to build a business that creates consistent income
✅ How to create better systems around cash flow and finances
✅ How to deploy profits into real estate and long-term assets
✅ How to think beyond transactions and start building wealth intentionally
✅ How to move from active income to passive income
✅ How to create a path toward freedom, choice, legacy, and impact
✅ What you would do differently if you were starting again todayThis event is for real estate investors, agents, entrepreneurs, business owners, lenders, contractors, property managers, service providers, and anyone who wants to think bigger about building wealth through real estate.
Because the goal is not just to earn more.
The goal is to build something that gives you more freedom, more options, and more impact.
Come for the training. Stay for the networking.
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Join the GRID Facebook CommunityJoin the online GRID community here to post deals, ask questions, and connect with other investors across the globe.
4 attendees
How to Maximize your Income Through Property Management
The Pines, 230 Court Avenue,, Sevierville, TN, USThe Smokies vacation rental market is not the same market it was a few years ago.
Guests have more options. Owners have more competition. Regulations, safety requirements, guest expectations, cleaning standards, pricing, amenities, marketing, reviews, and day-to-day operations all matter more than ever.
In a market built around tourism, hospitality, and memorable guest experiences, your short-term rental cannot just be a property. It has to operate like a business.
This month at GRID Smokies, we are talking about how to maximize STR income through smarter property management.
We are excited to welcome Erin Kavanagh, REALTOR®, Productivity Coach/Mentor, STR owner, and short-term rental advisor with THE CAZA GROUP.
Erin brings more than 23 years of real estate experience, a background in hospitality, and hands-on experience helping clients buy, manage, and scale short-term rental properties. As both an STR owner and mentor, she understands what it takes to create strong operations, increase profitability, and deliver five-star guest experiences.
During this session, we will discuss:
✅ What STR owners need to focus on before the first booking
✅ How better property management can protect income and guest experience
✅ What makes a short-term rental more competitive in today’s market
✅ How to think through operations, amenities, vendors, reviews, and marketing
✅ Why guest experience directly impacts performance
✅ How to avoid common mistakes that cost owners money
✅ What it takes to move from owning a cabin to running a hospitality businessThis event is for cabin owners, short-term rental owners, vacation rental operators, hospitality professionals, property managers, investors, vendors, and local business owners who serve the Smokies tourism economy.
Because in today’s STR market, the best operators are not just collecting bookings.
They are managing the guest experience, protecting the asset, improving the operation, and building a business that can perform.
Come for the training. Stay for the networking.
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Join the GRID Facebook CommunityJoin the online GRID community here to post deals, ask questions, and connect with other investors across the globe.
2 attendees
Commercial 101: Office, Retail, Industrial, and Storage
The Pines, 230 Court Avenue,, Sevierville, TN, USCommercial real estate can seem daunting to budding investors.
But in reality, the process of finding, analyzing, managing and maximizing a commercial property is very similar to residential rentals, you just add some zeros.
In this month's meeting, we will cover the basics of the different types of commercial real estate, including office, retail, industrial, and storage property.
Join us to learn how to add some zeros to your bank account.
Come for the training, stay for the networking!
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Join the GRID Facebook CommunityJoin the online GRID community here to post deals, ask questions, and connect with other investors across the globe.
2 attendees
Past events
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