{"id":33019,"date":"2026-02-25T11:23:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/?p=33019"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:49:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:49:36","slug":"black-legacy-lives-here-brent-hooks-is-building-memphis-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/meet\/black-legacy-lives-here-brent-hooks-is-building-memphis-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Legacy Lives Here: Brent Hooks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Black excellence in Memphis has never been accidental.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been engineered through vision, discipline, and\u00a0a commitment\u00a0to community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Brent Hooks, that legacy is both inherited and actively built. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The native Memphian and regional vice president at Cornerstone Engineering recently became the first professional from Memphis and Tennessee to earn dual recognition on two of the nation\u2019s most prestigious young professional lists in architecture, engineering, and construction: Engineering News-Record\u2019s Top Young Professionals 40 Under 40 and Building Design + Construction\u2019s 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an industry where representation shapes opportunity, Hooks\u2019 achievement sends a clear message: Memphis produces leaders who shape cities across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rooted in Memphis<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born and raised in Memphis, Hooks\u2019 leadership journey began early. He earned his degree in accounting and finance from the University of Memphis before completing an Executive MBA at Vanderbilt University, building a foundation that blends financial strategy with operational leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before joining Cornerstone Engineering, Hooks served as Chief Administrative Officer at Allworld Project Management, helping guide the civil engineering and construction management firm through rapid growth. Under his leadership, the company earned recognition on Inc. Magazine\u2019s Fastest-Growing Companies in America list in 2019 and 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allworld played a role in several transformative Memphis developments, including Crosstown Concourse, the Fairgrounds redevelopment, Hotel Chisca, and The Citizen at Union and McLean \u2014 projects that continue to shape how residents experience the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Hooks leads strategic growth and operations for Cornerstone across the Southeastern United States, including Memphis, Atlanta, and Birmingham. His work drives business development while ensuring projects directly impact quality of life. His work increasingly intersects with large-scale redevelopment efforts, capital strategy, and public-private partnerships that influence how cities grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI view my work as an opportunity to make a positive contribution to my community,\u201d Hooks has shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hooks has expressed long-term ambitions in real estate development and financial structuring, aiming to help shape the next generation of transformative projects in Memphis and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Legacy of Leadership<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excellence for Hooks is generational. His great-great-grandmother, Julia Britton Hooks, was the first Black woman to attend Berea College. His great-uncle, Benjamin L. Hooks, served as Tennessee\u2019s first Black criminal court judge and later as executive director of the NAACP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That legacy informs his commitment to access, opportunity, and civic investment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond his executive leadership, Hooks serves on several boards, including the Downtown Memphis Commission, the New Ballet Ensemble & School, and the Chairman ACE Mentor Program of Memphis, supporting economic development and creative growth across the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis honor reflects the power of Memphis and what\u2019s possible for our young people,\u201d Hooks said of his national recognition. \u201cI hope it inspires students across our city to explore careers in STEM.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brent Hooks\u2019 story is a reminder that Black legacy in Memphis isn\u2019t just historical \u2014 it\u2019s present, active, and building the future in real time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because here, excellence doesn\u2019t just live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It leads. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Black excellence in Memphis has never been accidental.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been engineered through vision, discipline, and\u00a0a commitment\u00a0to community.\u00a0 For Brent Hooks, that legacy is both inherited and actively built.  The native Memphian and regional vice president at Cornerstone Engineering recently became the first professional from Memphis and Tennessee to earn dual recognition on two of the nation\u2019s most…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":33020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,72],"tags":[5730,5732,5727,5729],"class_list":["post-33019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meet","category-memphian-stories","tag-black-legacy-2","tag-black-legacy-lives-here","tag-black-legacy","tag-profile"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBlack Legacy Lives Here: Brent Hooks - We Are Memphis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet Brent Hooks and see how he is helping shape Memphis' future through leadership, vision, and community impact. 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