On any given day, Adrienne Cole might be on the phone with a biotech CEO, meeting with county commissioners about transit, forging partnerships with nonprofits on housing initiatives, or helping a small business owner navigate challenges or seize opportunities. Her title as president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce hardly captures the scope of what she does. Still, ask Cole, and she’ll tell you that she’s wired to build the kind of relationships that connect people who turn ideas into action and make things happen.
In a climate of shifting economic tides, political divisions, and post-pandemic transformations, Cole’s work is both urgent and complex. But hers is a leadership style rooted in responsibility, informed by public service and driven by a not-so-quiet determination to help one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities grow, with both pace
and purpose.
“We are so fortunate to have Adrienne leading the Raleigh Chamber,” says Gary Greene, CEO of Greene Resources, a former Chamber board chair and an advisory board member. “She is a convener, a connector, a consensus builder, a solution finder — a true difference-maker for this region.”
For Adrienne Cole, it’s personal.
“At its heart, economic development is about creating opportunity,” she says. “Helping people in our communities thrive; that’s always been the goal.”
BIG FISH, LITTLE POND
Cole is a Raleigh-born, North Carolina-bred kid with roots in New Bern. She had an early penchant for public service and a strong sense of responsibility. The oldest of three, Cole was her parents’ only girl. She grew up watching her dad grab the kid closest to him to help with whatever he was working on around the house.
“He didn’t just grab my brothers to help,” she says. “I’m sure that had an impact on me.” In seven of eight positions Cole has filled since graduate school, she was the first woman. “Pretty early on in my career, I was comfortable navigating male-dominated roles.”
Cole was always driven, so her parents didn’t add any pressure. “They knew I’d already be harder on myself than anyone else could be,” she quips. At Meredith College, she dreamed of a future as a lawyer, like her dad. She majored in political science and American history, with a minor in art. Her father, James “Randy” Hiner, encouraged her to explore opportunities more aligned with her passion for the community. That prompted her to earn a master’s in public administration at Appalachian State University.
Her first job was in Pamlico County, where she wore several hats as the county’s economic planner, building inspector and 911 coordinator. Working in rural economic development made her a “big fish in a little pond,” she says, forcing her to get creative, collaborate deeply, and find answers fast.
“I had so much to learn, but I was given space to do it.” When she asked her first boss, a retired U.S. Army colonel, for advice on prickly issues, his frequent response was, “‘Adrienne, handle it,’” without even looking up. “That experience shaped how I lead today: I don’t take any business, no matter how large or small, that is growing and investing in the community — and the jobs they create — for granted.”
In 2001, Cole returned to Raleigh for her husband Walt’s environmental consulting career and briefly stepped away from economic development. She joined Meredith College, where she led the annual fund. Three years later, she rejoined the Raleigh Chamber as director of the city’s economic development office.
In 2011, Cole “hit a ceiling,” she says, “and believed I needed to go out to go up.” After a stint in the private sector, she returned to the Chamber in 2014 as executive director of Wake County Economic Development. (The chamber and county have had a partnership for many years, unlike many cities where the groups operate as separate organizations.).
In 2017, she was named CEO of the Raleigh chamber, succeeding Tim Guiliani, who had held the post for about 18 months.
“Was it part of a grand plan? Not really,” she says. “But every step prepared me for this.”
LEADERSHIP FOR A FAST-GROWING CITY
Since 2014, the chamber and county have landed economic development projects totaling $7.74 billion and 26,000 jobs. The big economic wins include expansions by Fujifilm, Amgen, Genentech and Gilead Life Sciences, following recruitment efforts involving state and local groups. Current projects include the $1 billion Lenovo Center mixed-use project, spearheaded by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, and the proposed $2 billion-plus N.C. Children’s Hospital, which is a joint venture of Duke University and UNC Health.
Economic growth is only part of the story. Cole’s vision includes improved infrastructure, inclusivity and livability. The chamber has championed campaigns totaling more than $2 billion, including Wake County’s $275 million parks and greenway bond issue, plus initiatives that support school construction, housing, regional transit planning, childcare and library expansions.
Balancing the need for immediate improvements with a long-term vision is part of Cole’s work. “We want Raleigh to be a great place to live and work now,” she says, “but we also want it to be a great place to live and work 50 years from now.”
She borrows wisdom from her mentor, Harvey Schmitt, who led the Raleigh chamber for 21 years before retiring in 2015: “You can accomplish amazing things if you don’t care who gets the credit.” For Cole, it’s not about being the loudest voice. A cornerstone of her leadership is getting the right people in the room, and making sure they’re heard and moving things forward for the good of the community.
“From the coast to grad school in the mountains and back to the middle of the state, I have such love and devotion for the state of North Carolina,” Cole says. “That motivates my wanting to make the communities better, and my wanting to collaborate and partner with whoever can make that happen.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Spend a day following Cole and you’ll see why her work matters. This particular day began with an early morning gathering of about 100 chamber volunteers at the Lenovo Center, where she meets four times a year with the group’s two key boards. Cole reviewed highlights, including Triangle Small Business Week, Leadership Raleigh and the revitalization of Dix Park.
Two hours later, Cole huddled with six chamber managers to tackle another priority: infrastructure. The conversation spanned municipal borders, with the group focused on crafting a regional infrastructure plan to keep pace with the area’s explosive growth.
“We have to make sure we don’t outgrow our preparation,” Cole says. “Are we getting the right people around the table and are we projecting correctly? Our business community wants us focused on this, and they’re right. Infrastructure is one of our key pillars now.”
The afternoon started with a recruitment luncheon at Raleigh Country Club, where Cole met with a handpicked group of current business and community leaders who are Chamber members. The table-for-10 allowed for candid conversations.
“We need more people,” Cole says, encouraging the invitees to enter another level of Chamber membership. “We need an engaged business community. We can’t do anything without it.”
She described the Chamber as “large, but friendly and accessible,” and emphasized that deeper engagement comes with higher levels of membership. The group has about 1,700 members. Cole emphasized: “It doesn’t happen without people like you investing in Raleigh. The relationships built around this table are why things happen.”
Cole also walks the talk, serving on numerous boards. The result includes plenty of recognition in the press. Cole has received honors from the Triangle chapter of
Commercial Real Estate Women, Raleigh Magazine, Triangle Business Journal and Business North Carolina.
INVISIBLE ENGINE
Cole says she realizes many people don’t understand the Chamber’s broad role until they get involved. Her team tackles topics ranging from business recruitment to workforce development, and from housing policy to entrepreneurship.
“We’re not just a business network,” she says. “We’re building the foundation of a thriving community.” That relies on trust nurtured project by project, meeting by meeting. “You can fake sincerity. But you can’t fake showing up.”
Cultivating talent to build a strong, collaborative team is part of Cole’s success, she notes.
Michael Haley connected with Cole when she led Wake County’s community development efforts. He joined the county agency in 2011 and says he has “really valued Adrienne’s mentorship and partnership throughout my career. She’s helped guide my path, not just within the organization but in the broader community.”
In 2017, when Cole moved up to the CEO role, Haley succeeded her as senior vice president of economic development. “We’ve always shared a vision for what economic development should be,” he says. “It’s about creating opportunity for people, new prosperity, good jobs, and capital investment.” That means finding win-win scenarios with public and private clients, the state and municipalities, he adds.
“Adrienne does that exceptionally well,” he says. “She’s built a reputation as someone who gets things done in a collaborative, trustworthy way. Whether it’s infrastructure, site readiness or regional partnerships, people know they can count on her.”
Yet, Cole doesn’t expect smooth sailing. “Big projects don’t move in a straight line,” Cole says. “I don’t let two steps up, two steps back frustrate me. The problem-solving of it all is exciting to me. No day is the same, and I love that.”
Metro Raleigh’s population has grown from about 700,000 in 2001 to 1.66 million now. From 2010-20, the area grew by 23%, second-fastest of U.S. metro areas with more than 1 million people. But growth, Cole warns, brings its own risks.
“There is so much positive momentum in Raleigh, Wake County and the RTP region, I would not do this work anywhere else in the country,” she says.
Establishing a transportation network and other infrastructure capable of handling the rapid growth are key community challenges cited by Cole. So is affordable housing, with about 39,000 Wake County households having an annual income of less than $40,000. Raleigh rents now average nearly $1,900 a month, according to the Zillow real estate business, while the median home sale price in Wake County this year has topped $450,000.
Addressing concerns about public safety in downtown Raleigh is a positive story, Cole says. Overall crime declined 8% last year, with larceny from vehicles, robberies and aggravated assaults falling sharply. She credits good cooperation between the city, police and downtown officials and aggressive efforts to attract visitors for events.
Cole is hopeful, placing optimism that new leaders are stepping up, public-private partnerships forming, and the region is pushing for inclusive growth.
“We play to a parade, not a crowd,” she says. “A parade is ever-changing. We have to make sure the parade of new leaders is engaged and participating in the future, and keeps moving forward. It’s about making sure the ‘new person’ has the opportunity to get engaged, so leadership continues. Like a legacy.” BLUEGRASS JAMMER
When Cole slows down, she loves to recharge with her family, says Christine McDonald, a close friend for nearly two decades. “We just really click,” says McDonald, the chief operating officer of Loden Hospitality, a Raleigh-based hotel operator. Whether at work or play, Cole is “authentically herself.”
“The same character elements of honesty and integrity guide her,” McDonald says. “That is the thing I’ve always loved about her and why I call her such a close friend.” Cole “tells it like it is, but she’s also very kind, very thoughtful and always thinking about the
big picture.”
Cole enjoys “family hangs” with her husband and their three children, along with other family and friends. Asked about Cole’s favorite food, McDonald didn’t hesitate: “Something made by her husband, Walt. He’s a great cook.” The two friends also occasionally go out for sushi, another favorite of Cole’s.
There’s also a lesser-known side to Cole: “She is actually a phenomenal singer,” McDonald shares. Cole often gravitates toward bluegrass, Americana or folk music. “I’d say Billy Strings is her favorite artist right now.”
The bottom line: Adrienne Cole brings the same heart to leading billion-dollar initiatives as she does to a bluegrass jam session at home with her family.
In a city where priorities in business, government, and community cross paths, Cole’s greatest strengths are her understanding of how strong communities are built and her
ability to bring the right people in the room to keep them moving forward.
The thing is, securing Raleigh’s future as a regional powerhouse isn’t a solo effort. It’s a team sport — and Adrienne Cole is its coach. ■
