Meet Dr. Hans C. Ballew | Owner Tennessee Pre and Principal of Northview Primary STEM School

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Hans C. Ballew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Hans, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our thought process behind starting Tennessee Pre was a need in the industry. A lot of athletes, like myself, buy several ingredients to create a concoction they use before going to the gym. Paying for all of these products separately including the price for separate packaging, shipping, branding, etc. costs a lot more than the ingredients the athletes need. One morning I was making my concoction around 3:00am and I wondered why someone doesn’t put these five ingredients in one tub so I (A) didn’t have to mix it up at 3AM and (B) would be much cheaper. I asked my wife what she thought and she gave me the green light to continue to research. The we needed a brand. I wanted something that anyone in my area could identify with- not just my name. So my daughter and I were in Europe visiting several countries and we like to strike up conversation with those on trains, planes, boats, and what not. And every person we talked to we learned their story. Then they asked where we were from and none of them knew where or what Tennessee was. Do you know Dolly Parton? Dollywood? Elvis? No, no, and no… but then their eyes would light up and they would always say- wait…. Jack Daniels?!?!?! Yes! That’s us! Haha.
So we started the brand with the premise of 1860 era whiskey bottles.
We got our first shipment of product the day before all the gyms were shut down for COVID. I thought we were ruined before we started… but then it took off and it has been fantastic ever since!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our brand has been able to take advantage of a regional niche and supporting local events. This presence at local events coupled with our family like atmosphere really sets us apart from others. The biggest challenge for me as an owner has been to juggle being a school principal, a father and husband, and Tennessee Pre all at the same time. The only way I have been successful at doing so is our vision casting trips.
My wife and I will go to a State Park and get a cabin in the woods. We will unplug from everything and vision cast for the next 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years. We will also review the past vision casting and determine efficacy and then monitor and adjust. This has been so helpful in staying focused and determined as well as connecting to the industry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely hike Mt. LeConte and see Myrtle Point! We could eat at The Appalachian in downtown Sevierville and enjoy five star cuisine. You can have an enormous steak and frog legs as an appetizer. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are packed with attractions such as Dollywood, WonderWorks, Anakeesta, etc. Of course, I would definitely check out some gyms like Elite Fitness in Gatlinburg as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Tennessee Pre would not have taken off or sustained without the family that we built around it. From our athletes to our brand ambassadors to our customers. We have a tight knit family that encourage each other daily and reach out with questions and freely give advice. This is what has made our company what it is today and separates our smaller brand from the larger competitors. We also do not take money from the company, so we can pour it back into our athletes and research and development.

Website: tennesseepre.com

Instagram: @tennessee_pre

Image Credits
Plenty of photos on the website!