Careers and Creativity Thrive Side by Side in Blount County, TN

Courtesy of Humble Bob and The Engineers

In Blount County, the rhythm of everyday life includes opportunities for professional ambition and creative expression – a delightful rhythm that suits Aaron Henry and Justin Marcus perfectly. 

Henry is the vice president and East Tennessee operations lead at Civil & Environmental Consultants (CEC) Inc. Marcus is the president of Joseph Construction. Both hold high-level roles by day, but come evening, they pick up their instruments and take the stage with their bands – Humble Bob and the Engineers for Henry, and Drift Boat Cowboys for Marcus. They perform regularly at fundraisers, restaurants and community events, and both groups have loyal local followings. 

Born and raised in Blount County, Henry and Marcus each left to attend college but ultimately returned to grow their careers, raise families and reconnect with their musical roots. 

Courtesy of Humble Bob and The Engineers

Engineering a Tune 

“I always liked figuring out how things work,” Henry says, crediting Maryville City Schools for exposing him early to subjects like calculus and physics. That academic spark, combined with the influence of his grandfather – an engineer and surveyor – led him into civil engineering. 

He also loved and grew up around music. His mother played piano, and his father guitar and drums. Henry took piano lessons as a child and picked up the guitar in seventh grade. Today, he plays bass in a band he helped form with colleagues at CEC. 

“It started with James Tomiczek, Robert Johnson and me playing together after work,” he says. “We added a drummer, then another singer, and it just kept growing from there.” 

The band has become both a creative outlet and a source of camaraderie. 

“It’s a chance to take a step back and just have fun,” Henry says. “And really, what’s more collaborative than making music? Musical roots run deep in East Tennessee. So many people live and work here but also pursue music as a passion.” 

This vibrant local music scene is anchored by iconic venues ranging from The Shed Smokehouse & Juke Joint to the Clayton Center for the Arts, with Blount County’s heritage celebrated as part of the statewide Tennessee Music Pathways program. 

For Henry, the region’s appeal is as much about community as it is about opportunity. 

“This is a place where people work together,” he says. “You go out to eat and you see people you know. You play music and see those same faces in the audience or the other bands. It feels like a community.” 

With three young daughters, Henry says there’s no place he’d rather be. 

“If your city is built around families and community, everything else will work out.” 

Courtesy of Drift Boat Cowboys

Building a Band

Marcus initially planned to pursue music as a career – at first. But after struggling through music courses in college, he pivoted. 

“I’ve always loved building things,” he says, recalling childhood treehouses, forts in the woods and time spent framing houses as a teen. 

That led him to Middle Tennessee State University’s construction management program, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Today, he leads a thriving construction company – but music has never left his life. 

He started violin at age 4, picked up guitar in high school and now plays with childhood friends in the Drift Boat Cowboys. Many of the band members sang and played together at Fairview United Methodist Church. 

“We had all played together at various times,” he says. “We got together for a chili cook-off event for the Boy Scouts in Alcoa and really enjoyed it, so we kept going.” 

Courtesy of Drift Boat Cowboys

The band began with a bluegrass sound but has since shifted toward country. Since 2016, they’ve had a standing practice session every Wednesday night. 

“We meet whether two people show up or all six,” Marcus says. “It’s our weekly reset. For a few hours, we’re just thinking about the music and hitting the right notes, not deadlines or work. Being midweek, it gives us all a breath and energizes us.” 

Their performances draw familiar faces. “At least half the people in the audience are co-workers, neighbors or friends,” Marcus says. “That makes it more fun.” 

They also give back. The band donates a show each year to the Maryville City Schools Foundation auction, helping raise more than $40,000 over the last five years. 

Marcus and his wife have two children and are surrounded by extended family. 

“Our parents are here, and we’ve got lifelong friends and a strong support network,” he says. “It’s the kind of place where you show your kids what it means to help others.”