sue-cole

Sue W. Cole

Ms. Cole is Managing Partner of Sage Leadership & Strategy, LLC, a unique advisory firm she started in the fall of 2011.  She has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, including corporate lending and wealth management. Prior to SAGE, she was a Principal with Granville Capital for about five years.  Ms. Cole served as the Regional CEO, Mid-Atlantic Region, of United States Trust Company, N.A., where she was responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth, and leadership of five offices in North Carolina, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

She also served as President of North Carolina Trust Company, the predecessor to U.S. Trust Company of North Carolina.  Early in her career, she was a Senior Vice President at NCNB, where she was responsible for Corporate Banking Services in the Greensboro area and managed the retail branch system.

Ms. Cole has been and remains active in community affairs.  She currently serves as Director and member of the Executive Committee of the NC Biotechnology Center, the Cone Health Foundation, and is Chair of the United Way of Greater Greensboro.  She also serves on the North Carolina Economic Development Board, the Board of Governors ad Trustee of the Center for Creative Leadership, and the Chair of Biscutiville, Inc.  In addition, she is on the Board of Directors of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., a NYSE company and chairs its Compensation Committee.

Ms. Cole served as Chairman of NCCBI (now the NC Chamber), NC Biotechnology Center, the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce, UNCG Bryan School of Business & Economics Advisory Board, Guilford College Board of Visitors, President of Greensboro Center City Corporation, and Trustee of UNCG.  Ms. Cole attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration in 1972 and her M.B.A. in Finance in 1977.  She lives with her husband, Gordon, in Greensboro.  They have two adult daughters and one grandson.

"For me the project was a no-brainer! Leveraging our seven colleges and universities with the business community – no downside and huge potential for upside! The key was to build relationships and an environment in which we understood each other’s needs as well as each other’s challenges. Each group has resources the other group needs. The missing ingredient was knowing where the resources are and telling the story to our community and beyond."