Brother Lee Coles is an experienced business leader, driven by service and committed to establishing pathways to success for future generations. As a former United States Army Infantry Officer, commissioned at Benedict College, who possesses more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience across the mortgage, healthcare, and non-profitsectors, Brother Coles knows the critical role that dedicated leadership, leveraging partnerships, and managing resources plays in creating strong, stable and supportive communities.
As the President and Founder of Brother 2 Brother Inc., Healthcare and Counseling Services (B2B, Inc.) since 2009, Brother Coles seeks to close the disparity gap and increase access to healthcare and social services by providing a continuum of state-wide services including, long-term home healthcare, child and adolescent mental health counseling, and youth mentoring. Through negotiated partnerships with the SC Department of Juvenile Justice and the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, B2B, Inc. coordinates high-quality services for populations at increased risk. Brother Coles also serves as the Executive Director of Awakening Foundation, a non-profit housing development serving the Greater Columbia area to improve housing for seniors and people living with disabilities since 2014.
Prior to launching B2B, Inc., Brother Coles was the owner and operator of Southern Group Inc., a combined real estate company that developed land and built single-family dwellings and mortgage brokerage company (2000-2009). From 1994-2000, he operated SSC Service Solutions in Management providing comprehensive maintenance services to schools, commercial properties, and supervision of general contractors across 10 states.
Inducted in the 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia in 2003, Brother Coles served as chapter Vice-President in 2012 and was elected president serving from 2013-2016. Spearheading the establishment of the Collegiate 100 of Benedict College, his alma mater, and inducting its first cohort of 15 aspiring young men in February 2016 is one of his and the chapter’s proudest accomplishments. Under his leadership the chapter expanded its mentoring program by partnering with local churches, school districts, and state agencies, including the SC Department of Juvenile Justice (SC DJJ) to reach youth through a variety of initiatives including a lunch buddy program, Saturday leadership program, a lunch connection program for incarcerated youth. Selected program successes include: The SC Department of Juvenile Justice bestowing its highest award on the chapter in for its youth mentoring program in 2015 and 2016.
The lunch buddy program served 160 students monthly, becoming the chapter’s signature program. Through this initiative the chapter engaged the City of Columbia, the US Armed Forces, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and secured sponsorship from First Citizen Bank, which is ongoing to the present day.
An active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated initiated a Benedict College (Spr 1984) and a charter member of the Chi Iota Iota graduate chapter established in 1993 in Fort Jackson, SC, Brother Coles worked to increase the 100’s programmatic reach through collaboration with local PanHellenic organizations. Always mindful of addressing barriers to post-secondary education, Brother Coles was actively engaged on the 100’s Leadership Team to collaborate with the state’s flagship research institution, The University of South Carolina, to award annual scholarships to graduate students. He currently serves as the Mentoring Chair, and on the local chapter’s board. Brother Coles was recognized as the 2013 Mentor of the Year Award for Volunteerism.
Brother Coles is the second of four children born to the late James Coles and Willa Dean Coles of Hemingway, South Carolina. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Louise Conyers, for more than 30 years and together they have three beautiful daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing,business networking, and traveling.