Sharon Miller Pryse didn’t initially set out to become the owner and CEO of a highly successful trust company. However, her personal drive, ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and the opportunity to seize the right moments early in her career set her on that path.
Originally from Atlanta, Pryse came to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee with plans to become a special education teacher. However, the limitations of the curriculum led her to shift her focus to finance. At one point, she considered a career in insurance sales but quickly abandoned that path after a negative experience with a disreputable company.
During her time as a young executive at Valley Fidelity Bank & Trust, Pryse anticipated taking on greater responsibility for the trust operations of its parent company, Washington, D.C.-based First American Bankshares. When that opportunity didn’t materialize, it proved to be a pivotal moment for her career.
In the summer of 1986, Pryse and her husband took a trip to the East Tennessee mountains to reflect on her career direction. Returning to Knoxville with clarity and determination, she resolved to start her own trust company.
Today, The Trust Company of Tennessee—a name that reflects Pryse’s straightforward and practical approach—manages $3.5 billion in assets. With satellite offices in Johnson City and Chattanooga, the company has grown to include a team of 75 professionals, including relationship managers, CPAs, attorneys, wealth and investment managers, certified financial planners, and support staff. Offering trust, retirement plan, and wealth management services, the company generates all its income from service fees and recently reached a significant milestone by securing its first $100 million account
