Meet Ken Gilreath CEO of AAN Adjusters
Ken Gilreath is the CEO of AAN Adjusters and official sponsor of NASCAR driver Tommy Joe Martins in the 2020 Xfinity Race series!
Ken Gilreath was born on May 24th, 1959. He spent his youth in Northwest GA. raising cattle on the family farm. Ken grew a passion for farming at a young age while showing steers and row cropping 1000 plus acres and was President of the FFA through high school.
Family History
The Gilreath family always believed in hard work, loyalty with a long history of entrepreneurs. Ken’s great-granddad was a dairy farmer selling milk to the folks of Chattooga County Ga. and owned a family country store. While Ken’s father (Mr. Gilreath) grow up farming, built wrecks, bought and sold farm equipment, and owned a go-cart race track. (Mr. Gilreath) also raced carts as well which led him into the tire recapping and tire sales industry. Later in life (Mr. Gilreath) started a feed mill business to compliment grain raised on the farm. (Mr. Gilreath) passed away at the age of 58 while working the feed business and still farming in Georgia.
Education
Attended Walker County Tech school. Received a degree in welding and blueprint reading.
Experience
The first job Ken had off the farm was welding. Welding pays well but is hard work. At 18 years old a job with the railroad seemed more promising. Ken decided to work as a switchman/brakeman for the railroad before becoming an engineer and transferring to Knoxville Tennessee. He worked for the railroad for over 11 years while becoming a contractor doing remodeling and building. Which led to his claims business he owns today.
Ken Gilreath
Ken was working in Tennessee having started a claims adjusting business. A decision had/ to be made. Would Ken go back to Ga and continue farming or stay and build the claims business in Tennessee. After a long and hard decision, Ken Gilreath chose to sell the farm equipment and mill at auction. This was one of the low times of Ken’s life. Ken was hunted to think if that would be the end of Gilreath Farms and the legacy that was built for multiple generations?
AAN and 411 Claims Adjusters
Ken Gilreath continued to work with insurance claims adjusters. While attending a claims adjusters association meeting for marketing a decision was made to look into a claims adjusters job. After working for some independent adjusting firms obtained a position as a senior commercial claims adjuster for a major insurance company. After a couple of years working for a staffing company, Ken decided to open an independent adjusting firm. Having worked on the independent side of claims as well as the staff and contractor side gave him a perspective of what was needed to build a successful independent claims business. AAN Adjusters was started in 2004. AAN is primarily a property claims company. After starting to grow a property claims business Claims Adjusters 411 was started to handle trucking liability claims. As recent AAN Adjusters and Claims is run by Family members and a long time friend and partner Jimmy Hicks. Having built two successful businesses has allowed several other endeavors into Ken Gilreath’s future.
KT Cabins
Interest in street rods, old cars and racing eventually led us into buying a cabin in Pigeon Forge to attend car shows. This was the start of KT Cabins. Ken and Tina (kens better half) started a cabin rental business building and buying rental cabins. Tina manages the cabin business today. Ken and Tina’s cabins are located in Knoxville, Dandridge, and Pigeon Forge.
Car Dealership
Ken recently opened a car dealership in 2019 with son Brad Gilreath where they rebuild and sell vehicles. In addition to vehicles, they have trailer sales for three different trailer manufacturers.
Hobbies
Ken Gilreath has a passion for all things car-related. In his extra time Ken and his son Brad race cars at tracks like Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, NCM in Bowling Green, and other road track venues. The love for cars and racing includes a collection of performance vehicles, collector cars, motorcycles, and street rods.
NASCAR
Through companies owned by Ken and Tina, a sponsorship arrangement for 2020 was signed with NASCAR’s Xfinity series driver Tommy Joe Martins who drives the 44 car for Martins Motorsports. The 44 car displays Tina and Ken’s company brands at each race. In addition to the Xfinity cars, Ken’s TA2 series car displays the same design.
Gilreath Farms Today
Gilreath Farms was first purchased back in 2013 with additional acreage added over the past few years. Gilreath Farms today runs on average 75 to 100 head of registered Red Angus cattle. The demand for beef from the farm has led to beef sales from the farm. Hard work and the grace of God has built a couple of well-established businesses over the years. This has allowed the legacy of Gilreath Farms and the family name to stay alive for future generations.
Ken Gilreath
Ken Gilreath, of AAN Adjusters and Gilreath Farms (the Red Angus car), is the official sponsor for Tommy Joe Martins this season. Tommy Joe finished 15th at Talladega, and is ready to take on Kentucky Speedway THIS Thursday, July 9! Catch it live here!