CEO • Systems Architect • Southern Storyteller

LISA COLE builds systems that work. As a seasoned executive with over two decades experience at all levels across nonprofit, educational, and publishing sectors, she specializes in change-management and helping resource-strapped organizations punch above their weight class.

As CEO of Literacy SC since 2022, Lisa orchestrated a historic turnaround for the languishing 55-year-old nonprofit. Under her leadership, the agency underwent a strategic rebrand, achieved debt-free 6-figure status, and expanded its reach through a sophisticated multi-county partnership with 40+ site partners. Her leadership produced a team that built a modern, scalable infrastructure that changes lives at a statewide level.

Lisa’s sweet spot is the intersection of high-level vision and tactical execution. An visionary MBA with technical fluency, she is as comfortable managing complex governance issues, HR transitions, grant writing and QuickBooks compliance as she is crafting brand narratives or developing evidence-based curricula. Her career is marked by a relentless pursuit of efficiency: she has served on seven boards of directors, contributed to over 45 educational and nonprofit committees, and edited more than 300 policies for organizations that enhance educational equity in South Carolina.

Before her tenure in executive leadership, Lisa founded the indie publishing venture Vestra Lingua Publishing, where she guided the creation and publication of over a dozen books for local Midlands authors. A “born and raised” southern storyteller, she remains an indie publisher at heart, believing that the ability to read and write well is the ultimate declaration of independence and pride.

Lisa’s leadership is defined by GRIT: Growth, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity. She is a graduate of Leadership Columbia Class of 2025, Together SC’s 2024 Carolina Leadership Seminars, and the United Way’s 2020 JLC Blueprint for Leadership, .

A proud resident of the Cayce-West Columbia area and a mother of four, Lisa brings a heartfelt, human-centered approach to every system she builds. Whether she is navigating a philosophical exchange with friends, primitive camping, or protecting her stash of Snickers from her children, Lisa remains committed to the idea that strong foundational systems allow the front lines of humanity to thrive.