A long-standing company in Nashville gives new meaning to the words “Auburn Family.” Lee Company, one of only a few fourth-generation family-owned businesses, is a heating and air-conditioning company that started in 1944 in Leon Lee’s basement. With only one man and one truck, Leon grew the company and created an engineering legacy for his family. In 1992, Leon’s grandson Bill Lee, ‘81 mechanical engineering, assumed the role as president of Lee Company. Thirty-two years later, Bill now serves as CEO and oversees the company’s 750 employees. The family connections continue as Bill’s son, Caleb, a ‘13 mechanical engineering grad, has also joined the company.

As the company approaches its 70th anniversary, it has been recognized with numerous local and national awards. In 2006 and 2007, Lee Company was named one of Tennessee’s top five best companies to work for, and was awarded the Nashville Business Journal’s 2011 “Best in Business” award.