About The Team
Meet Your Realtors
MAELEA AND TROY share a love of education, service, and helping people make confident decisions about their future. Their experiences and strengths create a real estate partnership built on collaboration, communication, and a genuine commitment to the people they serve.
Maelea’s career as a public educator gave her a strong foundation for working with people from all walks of life and finding solutions to complex challenges. Her success in education led to a consulting business focused on collaborative solutions to seemingly impossible dilemmas. She brings that same ability to listen, problem-solve, and bring people together to every real estate relationship.
Troy brings his own experience, perspective, and strong connection to East Tennessee to the team. Together, Troy and Maelea have created an environment rooted in teamwork and shared goals, with each bringing different strengths to the process and a common belief that real estate should be about relationships, not simply transactions.
As Blount County residents, Maelea and Troy feel deeply connected to the outdoors, the mountains, and the one-of-a-kind community at the Foothills of the Smokies. That connection inspired The Appalachian Team.
They believe growth and opportunity can go hand in hand with preserving what makes Blount County and East Tennessee special. Whether you’re buying, selling, or leasing residential or commercial property, Maelea and Troy are committed to educating you throughout the process, helping you understand your options, and making you feel confident along your real estate journey.
Whatever your needs, the Appalachian Team looks forward to walking with you on your real estate journey.
Eric Rice
Eric left the Midwest Plains of Kansas and came to the mountains of East Tennessee in 2005. Since 2015, he has dedicated himself to providing unparalleled service and market knowledge for Leconte Realty. In 2018, Eric received his Broker’s license and has since received designations as a GRI and ABR as well as serving on both the Education and Grievance committees for the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors®. Eric also helped initiate and manage the Property Management arm of Leconte Realty, a full service management company serving rental owners in the area.
Eric has earned a BS from Kansas State and an MS from the University of Tennessee. Besides his family Eric’s greatest asset is that while he takes his job seriously, he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Maelea Galyon
Growing up here, raising my son here, building a life here, and watching this area grow has brought me so much joy. When Troy asked me to join him in real estate, it seemed only natural to say “Yes!” Helping folks find the perfect home for their specific stage in life seems like a natural extension of sharing my appreciation for East Tennessee. I love the fact that I get to call this place home and that I get to share it with others!
When I’m not showing homes, you can find me providing leadership, coaching to local businesses, singing in my band, or playing with my grandchildren. I’m game for most anything that allows me to enjoy all the things that East TN has to offer!
Troy Galyon
As a lifelong East Tennesseean and Appalachian Trail hiker, I have a deep seated connection to this region. As a realtor, I am able to provide honest and efficient service in Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Knox and Sevier counties. Whether you hope to buy, sell, or lease a new home, acreage, or commercial property, I am your one stop shop to better real estate transactions.
Hailing from a multi-generational real estate family, I have the experience and the network to help my clients find the real estate they need. When I’m not helping clients, you can find me running, hiking, or spending time with my wife Sarah, two sons Abel and Ezra, daughter Edie and our dog Winnie. Whether you join me in business or on a hike, I hope to see you soon! Happy Trails.
Troy’s Story
Conquering the Appalachian trail
Growing up in East Tennessee, I always felt at home in the mountains and dreamed of one day hiking the Appalachian Trail. During my senior year of studies at the University of Tennessee, my father was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. This was the beginning of my Appalachian Trail journey as I decided I would hike the trail’s entirety, from Georgia to Maine, to raise money for cancer research. After a grueling 107 days to finish the 2,200-mile trail, I returned home in time to act as a full-time caregiver for my dad. Before he passed away, my dad said the journey I took for him along the AT was the greatest gift he ever received. Traversing thousands of miles taught me about life, pain, grief, and connection. My experiences on the Appalachian Trail helped me to understand that everyone deserves honesty and kindness because we are all on the same path, all walking toward a better version of ourselves, moving in the same direction together. In turn, I hope to walk with my clients on their real estate journey. Though the trail can sometimes be rocky, I’m confident that my experience both on and off the beaten path can benefit you. Have questions? Visit my Contact page to request more information! Troy Galyon talks about hiking the Appalachian Trail for cancer research.