David Hatley grew up in Elizabethton, Tennessee, a small town in Carter County, where the Watauga settlers once declared they didn’t need anyone to govern them. That independent streak stuck.

After a turbulent childhood and a young adulthood that nearly went off the rails, David channeled everything he had into building businesses — starting with a van full of tanning lotions and a willingness to outwork anyone. Today, he is the founder and owner of the largest hot tub manufacturing operation on American soil, shipping product worldwide from over 740,000 square feet of facilities in Johnson City, Tennessee. He also created the Whisper golf cart brand, a line of personal lifestyle vehicles that is redefining the industry. His companies employ over 750 people across multiple facilities, and his employee profit-sharing program ensures that the workers on the factory floor share directly in each company’s success.

Tested in Tennessee is his story.