Meet The Iconic Leadership

We believe Founders deserve expert guidance from a team that understands both the strategic and emotional complexities of navigating business transitions. Our team is made up of experienced Founder-owners who have successfully grown and transitioned their businesses, along with trusted advisors who have spent decades working alongside entrepreneurs—helping them make high-stakes decisions with clarity and confidence.

Kory Mitchell

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Kory is a proven business builder, strategic growth expert, and trusted advisor who has walked the exact path he now helps other Founders navigate.  With over 25 years in the specialty contracting industry, Kory has experienced the full entrepreneurial journey—from building a small regional business into a nationally recognized brand to a nine figure transaction.  Like most business owners, Kory learned along the way, working very closely with his dad and brother to grow both organically and through small acquisitions.  In 2019 the business merged with another regional leader to form EIS Holdings.  They continued the growth journey and ultimately had a very successful financial exit in 2021.  Kory transitioned the CEO role in 2024.  Today the business thrives as a $200 million leader in the environmental services space. 

Since that time, many business owners have asked for advice on how they might run a similar playbook.  Many leaders struggle with how to take their business to the next level through acquisitions, or how to sell their business without destroying the legacy of the brand.  As a result, Iconic Founders Group was born.  Instead of going it alone, business owners now have someone who thinks and talks like they do, someone who can be in their corner as an advocate. 

Travis Rue

Chief Operating Officer

Travis is a seasoned entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and trusted partner to founder-led businesses navigating growth and transition. With a background spanning investment banking, private equity, strategic advisory, and scaling national companies, he brings a rare combination of Wall Street expertise and hands-on operational experience. He began his career advising on M&A transactions at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette before going on to co-found and successfully exit a national building products company. He also founded and scaled a national facilities services company, where he continues to serve as a Strategic Advisor. 

Today, in addition to his work with Iconic Founders Group, Travis advises CQL Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, where he supports execution of key strategic initiatives at the firm's portfolio companies and also plays an integral role in the firm's due diligence processes. He is passionate about helping founders build lasting businesses, unlock meaningful value, and achieve successful exits without compromising their legacy. Travis is also deeply committed to his community, having founded a 501(c)(3) in 2014 that raises funds for children and veterans through annual Member Guest events.

Kelley Johnson

Chief of Staff

Kelley brings 20+ years of strategic firepower to Iconic Founders Group, where she leads all things growth, marketing, and founder engagement. She’s the architect behind our go-to-market strategy and the driving force that connects our brand, platform, and partners to the exceptional founders we serve.

A former operator and fractional executive, Kelley has spent her career inside of founder-led businesses, helping leaders scale with clarity, exit with confidence, and build lasting legacies along the way. She’s known for aligning vision to execution, translating big ideas into powerful brand stories, and creating systems that drive results.