Cory was born to Dennis and Karen Shawver in Lorain, Ohio in 1989. As the son of hardworking middle class parents, he was taught very early on in life that the two characteristics needed to be successful were to be hard working and honest. His family knew early on that he was destined for a career in public service when, at the age of 5, he could recite every U.S. President in order from memory and give biographical facts about them. His interest in the political process continued to grow and as the grandson of two veterans, one who fought in the Korean War and one who fought in World War II and later became the president of the Boilermakers Union, Cory learned the importance of standing up to fight for what is right and what he believes in.  

Cory is a 2008 graduate of Marion L. Steele High School and he earned his Bachelors in Public Management from Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs in 2013. He works as the Project Manager for the Lorain County Port Authority.