Pannell Graham Construction: Partners in Progress

Through trust, purpose, and people-first values, Pannell Graham Construction is redefining what construction means in East Tennessee
A
t Pannell Graham Construction, the work is about more than just bricks, blueprints, and building permits. It’s about people. Founder Isaac Pannell and his partner, Cole Graham, are united by a singular purpose: helping Knoxville grow by supporting the small businesses and entrepreneurs who give the city its unique character. Their work doesn’t just shape the skyline—it strengthens the community.
“We really like supporting small businesses and helping them get to the next chapter,” says Pannell. “Community is everything. And doing business for us, and our clients, is all about building trusted, long lasting relationships.”
The company has built relationships with business across a variety of sectors, from breweries and restaurants, to historical sites and educational spaces, among others. And many of the clients are repeat customers for a reason. “We share not just the same business goals but the same values,” Pannell says. “Our businesses have grown together.”
Growing Partnerships
The Black Dog Brewhouse, where Pannell and Graham have partnered with Ben Austin of BBN Hospitality, has been a shining example of how they’ve helped companies see through new additions and enter new chapters in their growth as businesses.
“Ben is a gritty small business owner who’s helped develop part of the city with multiple restaurant concepts,” Pannell explains. “That’s who we want to work with—people like Ben, who are building something meaningful from the ground up.”
The admiration is mutual. “There’s definitely a commonality I share with Isaac and Cole,” Austin says. “We’re all focused on developing and growing our businesses, and doing it with the community in mind.”
Like Pannell Graham Construction, The Black Dog Brewhouse emphasizes local sourcing and employee care, offering benefits like healthcare and retirement plans to its 160-person team. “Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your customers,” Ben says. “I know Isaac and Cole share that philosophy.”
It’s this mentality that has caused many business owners to seek out Pannell Graham for their construction work.
Serving the Community
Graham’s own career reflects a dedication to serving others. Prior to joining Pannell, he spent years training at-risk youth through a pre-apprenticeship construction program at the Knoxville Leadership Foundation. “My passion is more about helping people than building structures,” Graham says. “Investing in people and helping them find purpose—that’s what drives me.”
That human-first focus is also what defines his approach to business. “We don’t want to be the generic ‘Knox box’ builder,” he says. “We want to work with entrepreneurs, create interesting, creative spaces in Knoxville, and forge relationships built on mutual trust and vision.” Their work with Ben Austin is exactly the kind of project they seek out. “We could do a lot of things if it was just about profitability,” Graham adds. “But we choose purpose over profits.”
As a team, Pannell and Graham bring complementary strengths. “Cole gets to do what he loves: be on-site, work with the team, solve problems,” Pannell says. “And I’m more of what you might call the ‘long-term visionary.’ I put my focus on business development—for our clients, our people, and for Knoxville.”
Ultimately, this duo, along with client partners such as Ben Austin, see building as a vehicle for something much larger, much more meaningful. As Pannell puts it, “This is how Knoxville succeeds and has succeeded—through partnership, through trust, and through businesses working together to build a better community. And that’s exactly what we want to continue doing—project by project, client by client, relationship by relationship.”
Pannell Graham Construction
900 E. Hill Avenue, #140
Knoxville, TN 37915
865-333-9266
pannellconstruction.com
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