Greatness in the construction industry is often shaped by visionary leaders who do more than manage projects—they inspire innovation, build strong teams, and transform challenges into opportunities. These leaders understand that the true foundation of success lies in resilience, culture, and a commitment to sustainable growth. Their influence extends beyond blueprints and buildings; it’s about shaping an industry that evolves thoughtfully while delivering real value to communities.
Among these trailblazers, Cory Lyons, Brand President at Koala Insulation, stands out as one of the most influential construction business leaders to watch in 2025. With a unique blend of strategic insight and people-first leadership, Cory has driven Koala’s rapid expansion and set new standards in energy efficiency and franchise growth. His ability to merge innovation with a strong culture makes him a force shaping the future of construction, one insulated home and empowered team at a time.
From Franchising to Construction Leadership
Cory Lyons’ professional journey reflects a dynamic blend of adaptability, leadership, and strategic foresight. With roots in franchising, he honed his skills in the restaurant industry before branching into the fitness and wellness industries, where team performance and customer experience are vital. Each step along the way sharpened his understanding of scalable business models, team development, and operational excellence. His return to the restaurant space further deepened his expertise in managing high-performing franchises.
These cumulative experiences laid a strong foundation for his transition into the construction sector when he was tapped to lead Koala Insulation as Brand President. While the industry was new, the challenges of scaling a brand and empowering franchisees were familiar territory. At Koala, Lyons applies his cross-industry insights to shape strategic direction, drive expansion, and build an agile, people-first organization poised for long-term success.
About Koala Insulation
Koala Insulation stands as the number one insulation company across North America, renowned for its commitment to improving comfort and energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The company’s insulation solutions are designed to envelop spaces in consistent temperature control while significantly reducing energy consumption and costs. By addressing one of the most overlooked aspects of building performance, Koala Insulation helps customers experience a noticeable difference in comfort from room to room.
Why Koala Insulation Is the Preferred Choice?
Industry data reveals that nearly 90% of homes are under-insulated, leading to nearly half (44%) of household energy being used inefficiently for heating and cooling. Koala Insulation’s expertly installed products enable homeowners and businesses to save up to 15% on their energy bills, making a substantial impact on both budgets and environmental footprints.
What truly distinguishes Koala Insulation is its blend of cutting-edge insulation technologies, such as spray foam, batt, and blown-in insulation, and a customer-centric approach that values quality workmanship and personalized service. This combination ensures every client receives tailored solutions that meet their specific needs. With a strong reputation for reliability and excellence, Koala Insulation continues to lead the industry by helping customers enhance their spaces in both comfort and efficiency.
Distinctive Growth Strategy
Koala Insulation’s impressive trajectory under Cory’s leadership can be credited to a thoughtfully designed business model that emphasizes accessibility, scalability, and value. Unlike traditional construction franchises that often require heavy capital outlays, Koala offers a low-barrier entry point, making it attractive to aspiring business owners. Yet, it balances that accessibility with strong earning potential, thanks to high average ticket values that continue to rise. What gives Koala its true competitive edge is its all-in-one approach.
As the only franchise in its category offering the full spectrum of insulation services—including spray foam, batt, blown-in, and crawl space solutions—it enables franchisees to meet a wide range of customer needs efficiently. This breadth not only maximizes daily job capacity but also builds a reputation for reliability and versatility, solidifying Koala’s place as a standout player in the insulation industry.
Sustainability Commitment
Cory Lyons emphasizes that sustainability isn’t just a value at Koala Insulation—it’s built into the company’s core mission. Every insulation project aims to improve energy efficiency, helping homeowners lower their energy bills while reducing their environmental footprint. By optimizing heating and cooling retention in homes, Koala contributes to long-term energy conservation.
But their commitment goes further: many of the materials used, such as cellulose insulation made from recycled newspapers, are selected with both performance and planet in mind. This dual focus of improving comfort and reducing environmental impact reinforces Koala’s guiding principle of “doing well by doing good.” Lyons sees this as an opportunity not just to serve customers, but to actively contribute to a more sustainable future through everyday business operations.
Navigating Industry Challenges
In a volatile economic climate, Cory Lyons acknowledges that navigating uncertainty requires both agility and foresight. Like many in the construction and home improvement sectors, Koala Insulation faces challenges from fluctuating tariffs, inflationary pressures, and shifts in consumer confidence. However, one of the more persistent hurdles unique to the insulation industry is a general lack of consumer awareness—many homeowners simply don’t realize the importance of proper insulation until problems arise.
To bridge this gap, Koala Insulation took a proactive approach by overhauling its marketing strategy. The focus shifted toward education, creating messaging that informs consumers about the benefits of insulation in clear, relatable terms. This has not only helped demystify the product but also established Koala as a trusted resource, turning an awareness gap into a growth opportunity for the brand and its franchisees.
Power of the Team
For Cory Lyons, the backbone of any successful organization lies in its people. He firmly believes that no strategy, system, or innovation can outperform a dedicated and well-aligned team. His advice to emerging leaders in the insulation and construction industry is to prioritize team-building above all else, never compromising on talent and always striving to cultivate a culture of trust, empowerment, and accountability.
Lyons stresses that leadership isn’t about doing everything alone but about surrounding oneself with individuals who are passionate, capable, and committed to the company’s mission. When leaders invest in their teams—recognizing their efforts, supporting their growth, and fostering collaboration—success becomes a shared journey. In his experience, it’s this human-centric approach that fuels long-term, sustainable success.
Lessons in Resilience
One of the most defining lessons Cory Lyons has learned in leadership is the value of resilience. While wins are celebrated, he believes true learning and character development occur in the face of adversity. Lyons views every challenge as an opportunity to pause, assess, and rise stronger, not by skirting around the issue, but by confronting it head-on. He emphasizes the importance of stepping back to gain perspective, finding clarity amid chaos, and navigating through difficulties with purpose.
This mindset, he notes, not only strengthens individual leaders but also unites teams around a shared sense of perseverance and growth. For Lyons, the real measure of leadership is how one leads during the hard times—and how those experiences are used to shape a more resilient, forward-moving organization.
Facing Challenges Head-On
Cory believes that while business can be exhilarating during times of momentum, true success is defined by how leaders navigate adversity. For him, growth lies not in sidestepping obstacles, but in confronting them directly. He emphasizes the importance of stepping back to gain perspective, looking at the challenge objectively rather than getting lost in it. According to Lyons, working through difficulties with a united team strengthens both the organization and its people. It’s not about avoiding the storm—it’s about learning how to walk through it together.
Embracing Innovation
Cory Lyons emphasizes that innovation plays a key role in Koala Insulation’s growth and success. The company strategically integrates technology into its operations to boost efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. A standout example is their use of infrared thermometers during home energy assessments. These tools help identify areas of heat loss or air infiltration, allowing for tailored, effective insulation solutions.
Additionally, their proprietary bidding software empowers franchise owners to generate real-time, precise estimates, making the consultation process seamless and transparent. By embracing such tech-forward practices, Koala Insulation not only improves operational efficiency but also elevates the overall client experience, cementing its reputation as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.
Empowering Leadership
Cory Lyons believes that cultivating a strong and positive culture is key to attracting and retaining top talent at Koala Insulation. At the core of his leadership style is empowerment—he encourages team members to take ownership of their roles and make independent decisions within their departments.
Lyons also emphasizes coaching over micromanagement. He actively supports his team through individual development conversations, offering guidance where needed, while celebrating successes publicly. His philosophy is simple: praise in public, correct in private. By recognizing good work openly and handling critiques with discretion and support, he fosters a high-morale environment built on mutual respect and shared growth.
Future Industry Trends
Looking ahead, Cory points to spray foam insulation as a transformative force in the insulation and construction sectors. Its superior energy efficiency, durability, and adaptability make it a preferred choice for modern builders and homeowners alike. As awareness around energy conservation grows, so does the demand for more effective insulation methods, placing spray foam at the forefront. Lyons predicts its adoption will accelerate in the coming years, gradually replacing traditional materials and redefining insulation standards across residential and commercial markets.
Vision for Expansion
Looking ahead, Koala Insulation is focused on strategic growth and strengthening its presence across North America and beyond. After successfully launching its first location in Canada, the company has now stepped onto the international stage and plans to continue expanding across the U.S., Canada, and potentially into other countries.
As a young and rapidly scaling brand, Koala Insulation is still exploring what full market maturity looks like. Each new franchise continues to show strong year-over-year performance, signaling promising future returns as operations mature.
A key part of the company’s growth strategy involves building both national and local business-to-business partnerships. Lyons highlighted their successful collaboration with Lowe’s, where Koala Insulation is now present in over 970 locations. These partnerships not only support brand visibility but also help drive repeat business, an area the company is actively prioritizing to stand out in the industry. Ultimately, the vision is clear: to become the go-to name in energy efficiency across homes and commercial spaces alike.
Steps Toward Sustainability
Cory Lyons emphasizes several practical steps the construction industry can take to become more environmentally responsible. He points out the importance of minimizing waste by avoiding the disposal of usable materials. Using natural and sustainable products, especially in lumber, is another key focus. Whenever possible, incorporating recycled materials is encouraged. Ultimately, Lyons stresses that increasing overall energy efficiency across construction practices would be a significant positive move for the industry’s environmental impact.
Cory Lyons’s 5 Powerful Business Mantras
- Put People First: Build a culture of trust and empowerment—teams drive success, not just strategies or technology.
- Embrace Challenges: Face obstacles directly, gain perspective, and grow stronger through resilience and teamwork.
- Innovate Constantly: Use technology and new solutions to boost efficiency and enhance customer experience.
- Make Sustainability Core: Commit to eco-friendly practices that benefit both business and the environment.
- Scale Smartly: Design accessible, scalable models and adapt quickly to market needs through education and partnerships.
