Lee Gowan CPA: Local Accounting Experts
Local Roots, modern expertise, and a genuine commitment to your success.
At Lee Gowan CPA, our team is proudly homegrown, deeply rooted in Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee communities. Because we live and work here, we share a vested interest in the success of local businesses and individuals. Our firm culture prioritizes collaboration and forward-thinking, eliminating the corporate bureaucracy commonly found in traditional accounting. This approach allows you to benefit from our local accounting expertise, as we offer a dedicated, approachable team of professionals with a combined 75 years of experience. Driven by a client-first mindset, we provide tailored Knoxville CPA services, whether we are mapping out a proactive tax strategy or answering a quick year-end question. Every client relationship is treated like a true partnership, ensuring you receive the professional tax solutions you need.
Lee Gowan
Lee is a 1974 graduate of Maryville High School, where he earned All-State honors in football before attending Vanderbilt University and graduating in 1978. With nearly five decades of executive financial leadership and public accounting expertise, particularly in Knoxville CPA services, Lee began his career at Pugh and Company (1979–1987) before joining Gillespie & Sherrod (1988–1991). He spent the next six years as Chief Financial Officer for Buddy Gregg Motor Homes (1992–1997) and subsequently served as CFO at Rodefer Moss, CPA Firm from 1998 through 2015. Since founding Lee Gowan CPA, PLLC in 2017, he now serves as Partner Emeritus while continuing to leverage his local accounting expertise. Additionally, he actively participates in public service roles as Treasurer of South Blount Utility and Chairman of the Blount County Audit Committee (2016–Present), providing professional tax solutions to the community.
Chris Gowan
A 2003 graduate of Maryville High School and a three-time state champion, Chris built a strong foundation in both academics and athletics before earning an undergraduate degree at Mars Hill University. During college, Chris was recognized for excellence in the classroom as a three-time South Atlantic Conference (SAC) All-Academic selection (2003–2005), later completing graduate studies at Western Carolina University.
With over 15 years of public and corporate accounting experience, Chris began his professional career at BDO (2007–2010), followed by roles at Stovall, Grandey, & Allen (2011), Etowah Utilities (2012), and Hamilton Price CPA Firm (2013–2016). Since 2017, Chris has served as President of Lee Gowan CPA, PLLC, providing local accounting expertise and professional tax solutions, while delivering tailored Knoxville CPA services to clients.