We’re excited to welcome Tim Coles to the Made in the Shade family! Tim will serve customers throughout Bowling Green and Franklin, Kentucky, along with Portland, White House, and Gallatin, Tennessee, bringing decades of leadership, operational experience, and a strong commitment to customer service to his new business.
Tim joins Made in the Shade after more than 20 years as a media executive, leading broadcast and digital media organizations through growth, innovation, and change. Throughout his career, he managed television station operations with full profit-and-loss responsibility while developing revenue strategies, expanding digital initiatives, and building successful teams across sales, marketing, news, and operations.
His professional experience goes well beyond media. Earlier in his career, Tim worked with Video Vending North America, a startup that helped pioneer self-service movie rental kiosks before automated rental became mainstream. As the company’s IT Manager, he helped support the development and deployment of its CineVault network and early online reservation technology.
Tim’s career actually began in the United States Navy, where he served as an Electronics Technician specializing in satellite communications and cryptographic systems. That experience helped establish the disciplined, technical, and problem-solving approach he has carried throughout his career.
From Corporate Leadership to Business Ownership
After years in the corporate world, Tim began looking seriously at what he wanted the next chapter of his career to look like. He knew business ownership was important to him, but he carefully evaluated whether consulting, independent entrepreneurship, or franchising would provide the right opportunity.
His research eventually led him to home services and Made in the Shade.
Tim was attracted to MITS because of its home-based business model, lack of inventory requirements, flexible territory opportunities, and straightforward fee structure. But ultimately, the people behind the brand made the biggest difference.
After speaking with existing Made in the Shade owners and members of the Home Office team, Tim found the conversations genuine, open, and sincere. That experience gave him confidence that Made in the Shade was the organization he wanted to build his next chapter with.
Tim plans to apply the same principles that served him throughout his career: understand what customers need, earn their trust, solve problems, and deliver on his promises.
Meet the Coles Family
Tim and his wife, Michelle, will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this October. Michelle works remotely as a Senior Product Manager for Real Deals, Inc., a home décor and fashion franchise.
They are proud parents of two children. Their son, Jack, works in Nashville as a graphic designer serving the airline industry and enjoys hiking, camping, and rock climbing. Their daughter, Lucy, is studying marketing at the University of Kentucky and enjoying college life.
Outside of work, Tim enjoys spending time with family and friends, discovering great local restaurants, and finding off-the-beaten-path destinations with history and character. He is also an avid sports fan, especially University of Kentucky basketball and the Minnesota Vikings, and enjoys audiobooks and golf.
Tim readily admits his golf game remains a work in progress, although he does have a tournament victory to his name after winning his country club’s Garvin Cup with a partner who kept reminding him throughout the tournament, “We got this.”
That attitude seems fitting as Tim begins his newest challenge.
Please join us in welcoming Tim and his family to Made in the Shade. We’re proud to have him joining our growing franchise family and look forward to supporting him as he builds his business throughout southern Kentucky and northern Middle Tennessee.
