Since childhood, Steve Cory has had a close relationship with construction. Tagging along with his father to job sites, he didn’t know then that those early visits would foreshadow not only his career path but the business he would eventually build. Today, as Co-owner and President of Cory, Tucker & Larrowe, Inc., Cory leads a bond and insurance agency dedicated to serving the construction industry—a firm that’s been operating since 1981.
Throughout high school, Cory spent summers working on construction sites, gaining firsthand experience in the field. Later, he enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University, where a business professor sparked his interest in management and finance. That moment, he says, was the true start of his career.
Cory became part of Southeastern’s first graduating MBA class, and upon graduation, was hired by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City, where he trained in sales.
“This was 1973. I came back and started selling life insurance,” Cory said. “I met some great friends, learned a lot about selling and building relationships, but I still had a quench for construction.”
Unable to leave that passion behind, Cory eventually found a way to bridge his interests. In 1978, he joined Travelers Insurance in the construction bond department.
“I went to work for Travelers and stayed three years,” he said. “I loved every minute of it.”
Although he had no plans to leave, a growing agency convinced him to take on a new opportunity. Six months in, the company dissolved.
“But just like anything,” Cory said, “it ended up being an opportunity of a lifetime.”
He partnered with the company’s CFO, Pam Tucker, and together they launched what would become Cory, Tucker & Larrowe, Inc.
“We took off running,” Cory said. “And since that first May of 1981, I’ve loved every minute of what I do.”
About Cory, Tucker & Larrowe, Inc.
Cory, Tucker & Larrowe specializes in performance and payment bonds, workers’ compensation, general liability, and other commercial insurance lines for contractors. They also offer captive insurance solutions, which have attracted clients seeking greater control and cost savings.
Their work is essential to the construction industry, providing specialized risk management tools that contractors legally need to operate.
“Going back to the products we sell—our clients have to have them,” Cory said. “If they’re going to bid on public work, they need bonds. If they’re going to bid at all, they need insurance.”
Performance and payment bonds act as financial guarantees, protecting owners and subcontractors from potential losses. Without them, contractors can’t compete for public work—limiting their opportunities for growth.
Today, the company serves clients across Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and even international markets. With offices in Baton Rouge, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas, they’ve built a reputation based on their underwriting expertise and deep understanding of insurer expectations.
“We become part of our clients’ team,” Cory said. “We build relationships and help them grow. When they succeed, we succeed.”
That relationship-first mindset runs deep. No one at the company works on commission—they operate as a collective, with a culture focused on trust, teamwork, and shared success.
The Bigger Picture
Cory, Tucker & Larrowe sees every client’s growth as an extension of their own.
“I’m very optimistic about the future of our business,” Cory said. “We’ve worked hard to earn the reputation we have, and we want to protect that at all costs. We’ve got an absolutely great team of up-and-coming professionals ready to run with it.”
That commitment extends beyond business success. Cory remains deeply involved in community and industry organizations. He serves on Southeastern’s business school advisory board, giving back to the university that helped shape his path. He’s also active in Architects, Contractors and Engineers (ACE), a national program that connects high school students with professional mentors in construction-related fields.
Cory is also Treasurer of the Endowment Foundation, a member of the National Board of the Associated General Contractors (AGC), and serves on the Metro Louisiana Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs.
For Cory, long-term success is about more than numbers—it’s about character.
“We want to be remembered for always acting in the best interest of our clients,” he said. “That means doing the right thing, maintaining our reputation, and working with the right people.”
