Our Team

Tom Goodwin proudly serves as Owner and CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets, a family-owned Gatlinburg vacation rental management leader for over fifty years. Since 2012, he has guided the company through a competitive market, preserving the family legacy and ensuring future success. 

With 32 years of executive experience at Cru, shaping culture and brand, Tom is passionate about revitalizing businesses and communities, bringing new life and productivity to Mountain Laurel Chalets and those it serves.  

Married to co-owner Susan, they have raised five incredible daughters and have three grandchildren.  Tom loves serving his local church and being involved in the national movement promoting hospitality in the vacation rental industry.  You can find Tom on several industry, busines and Christian podcasts where he shares his love for people and hosting great experiences.

For the past 20 years, Corey has risen through the ranks at Mountain Laurel Chalets — starting at the front desk in guest services and even stepping in as a cleaner whenever the team needed an extra hand. That ground-level experience shaped the leader he is today. Now, Corey oversees the entire on-site team's day-to-day operations while always keeping an eye on what's next for MLC.

Corey also serves as our in-house real estate broker and general contractor, having personally overseen seven complete home builds — including the Retreats at Deerview Trail — along with three full remodels and more than 70 additional home improvement projects. It's this kind of hands-on expertise that makes Mountain Laurel Chalets the only truly full-service vacation rental manager in the Smokies.

Corey pours his heart and soul into every project, treating each one like family — because to him, that's exactly what it is. Outside of work, he's a diehard Tennessee Vols fan and serves as assistant coach for the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School junior varsity baseball team.

Quite possibly no one in the vacation rental industry — in Tennessee or across the country — has been at it longer than Kay King. For the past 37 years, Kay has been the heart of Mountain Laurel Chalets, starting out as personal assistant to our founder, Dot Egli, whom Kay still affectionately calls her second mother.

A 14th generation Gatlinburgian, Kay is as local as they come. She lives with her husband and cocker spaniel in the Arts and Crafts district, just minutes from many of the very homes she cares for. As Director of Owner Services, Kay handles every detail that lets our owners rest easy, knowing their Smoky Mountain home is being looked after by someone who genuinely loves this place and the people in it.

Kay is the proud grandmother to Alice, and mother to two grown children, both graduates of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. Whether she's inspecting a property or going the extra mile for an owner, Kay represents everything Mountain Laurel Chalets strives to be — care, faithfulness, and a deep love for home.

For the past 20 years, Jazmin has been a cornerstone of Mountain Laurel Chalets — starting as a cleaner and rising to lead our entire cleaning and laundry operation. Under her direction, MLC has earned a 4.86 out of 5.00 rating and a reputation as one of the best cleaning experiences in the Smokies. Jazmin oversees 10 contract cleaning crews along with our in-house commercial laundry, ensuring every home is guest-ready down to the last detail.

Jazmin's touch goes far beyond spotless homes. She adds personal warmth to every guest's stay, from thoughtfully chosen gifts and supplies to her incredible charcuterie trays for special occasions. That same heart for people extends well beyond MLC — Jazmin serves as head translator for the Sevier County school system, helping at-risk families experience a safe and welcoming education for their children. She recently coordinated a backpack drive for the children of our cleaning crews, making sure every child started the school year ready and supported.

Jazmin is the proud mother of three incredible kids, and her care and attention to detail are a big part of what makes Mountain Laurel Chalets the best vacation rental management company in the Smokies.

Jennifer joined Mountain Laurel Chalets after a career in operations services for the Indiana State Penitentiary — though you'd never guess it from how warm she is. She started at MLC as our bookkeeper and, in true MLC fashion, rose into a leadership role as Director of Operations, now overseeing all of our software, financials, reservations, and guest services.

Jennifer's ability to close out financials accurately and on time, every month, is what allows MLC to steward our resources well and make good on the trust our owners place in us. It's demanding, detail-heavy work, but Jennifer has a gift for taking the edge off the complexity of this business — and somehow does it all with a smile, keeping the team calm and the numbers straight no matter how busy the season gets.

Jennifer is the mother of four and grandmother of two. She birthed triplets, then decided to have one more for good measure — a decision that says a lot about her spirit and her stamina. Her kids and grandkids are her pride and joy, and they're also her favorite excuse to get away, whether it's a cruise or a trip down to Florida. An Indiana girl at heart, Jennifer has fallen in love with the Smokies over her years with MLC — and we've fallen in love with her right back.

Kelly's love story with Gatlinburg started long before she ever worked here. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Kelly first fell for the town back in 1994 when she came for her twin sister's wedding. What began as annual visits turned into a deep connection — and when the devastating fires of 2016 hit, it became the turning point that led Kelly and her husband to buy property, build her own cabin, and eventually call Gatlinburg home for good.

That journey from Family FIrst guest to full-time resident is what makes Kelly such a natural fit at Mountain Laurel Chalets. She brings 30 years of history with this town to every guest interaction, sharing her passion for hiking, cooking on the deck, and bonfires, while helping visitors experience Gatlinburg the way locals do. Having watched the town grow and change over three decades, Kelly has a rare appreciation for the balance between tourism and local heritage — and she's always ready to point newcomers toward the local groups that helped her feel at home.

At home, Kelly shares her life with two Great Danes, including Balboa, an AKC Champion. Kelly's story is proof that Gatlinburg has a way of turning visitors into family.

Chris came to Gatlinburg the way so many of our best team members do — as a guest who fell in love with the place. He held a full-time job elsewhere, but when the opportunity to go fully remote came along, Chris didn't hesitate. The Smoky Mountains were the place he loved, so four years ago, he packed up and relocated to start a new life here.

With his weekends free and a deep appreciation for Mountain Laurel Chalets as a former guest and Family First member, Chris decided he wanted to give back to the community that had given him so much. Now he runs our operations and guest services every Saturday and Sunday, and doubles as a property inspector, making sure our homes are guest-ready no matter the day of the week.

Chris has a genuine passion for the Smokies, and it shows in his incredible photography. He's often found out on the mountain chasing a great shot of the local wildlife — though with as many bear encounters as he has, it sometimes seems like the bears are the ones following him.

Holly's path to Mountain Laurel Chalets started at an oil change. She was working as a guest services coordinator at Grease Monkey when Tom came in and was struck by her warmth and excellent customer service. Turned out Holly, a communications graduate of Young Harris College, was already looking for her next opportunity — so Tom interviewed her the very next day at a local Dunkin' Donuts, and the rest is history.

Now, as Executive Assistant and Marketing Associate, Holly gives direction to our social media, podcasts, owner relations, and communications, jumping in wherever the team needs a hand. She's married and shares her home with her dog.

 Fabio maintains Mountain Laurel Chalets' commercial laundry department on-site at our office with real expertise and precision — and one of the friendliest greetings you'll ever get. Every property is stocked with fresh linens, sheets, and towels for each guest, and it's Fabio's work behind the scenes that gives our cleaning crews everything they need to get a home guest-ready.

Originally from Colombia, Fabio now calls Sevierville  home and has been part of the MLC team for four years. If you ever need fresh towels, just stop by the office — Fabio will be there with a smile, ready to help.

After years spent raising her children, Patty was ready for a new challenge and found the perfect fit as a Guest Services Ambassador with Mountain Laurel Chalets. A longtime, frequent visitor to Gatlinburg herself, Patty brings a genuine love for the destination to every guest interaction, even while serving remotely from her home in Marietta, Georgia.

Patty has a true passion for hospitality, and MLC's brand of warmth and care resonates deeply with her own values. Deeply involved in her local church, she's committed to helping guests experience incredible hospitality from the very first moment they start planning their trip to Gatlinburg.

Alex grew up around Mountain Laurel Chalets, watching his parents Jazmin and Corey pour their hearts into the company long before he ever considered joining the team himself. Four years ago, that changed — he came on board and quickly proved he'd inherited the family knack for genuine, warm hospitality, becoming someone guests and owners alike trust from the very first conversation.

Today, Alex carries that legacy forward, bringing the same care and stewardship to Mountain Laurel Chalets that his family has built it on. Outside of work, you'll find him out on the golf course or spending time with his family, friends, and pets.