Michael J. Coles
Michael Coles, an accomplished businessman, community leader, education advocate, and
family man, is living proof that there are no limits to what we as individuals can accomplish.
Michael serves as the Executive Chairman and President of Global Onboard Partners, which
specializes in advertising on commercial airlines. In addition, he serves on the board of Brand
Group Holdings, which operates banks under the name of Brand Bank.
In January 2003, Coles accepted the corporate reins of Caribou Coffee Company. The
company was a regional brand with no brand reach outside its existing 11 markets. Coles
implemented a strategy that resulted in more than doubling the size of the company over the
next five years. As Chairman, CEO and President, he extended the brand reach of the
Company domestically and internationally by creating a franchise division (domestic and
international) a commercial sales division and a strategic alliance strategy. In September of
2005, Caribou became a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ as CBOU. Today you can
find the Caribou Brand in all 48 contiguous states and in 10 countries outside the United States.
Coles has been an entrepreneur all of his life and put those skills to the test in 1977 when he cofounded the nationally successful Great American Cookie Company with an initial investment of
only $8,000. With three major cookie companies already in existence, one with almost 100
stores and two with almost 50 stores, Coles and his partner put in a unique twist on the concept
and grew the company to the largest franchisor of cookies stores in the United States. When
Coles sold the company in 1998, it had hundreds of stores nationwide with sales over $100
million.
Following a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1977, Michael was told he would never walk again
unaided. He recovered and thru a self-designed rehabilitation cycling program, he not only
walks unaided, but holds two World Transcontinental Bicycling records: Biking from Savannah
to San Diego in 11 days, 8 hours and 15 minutes, breaking his first record set in 1982; and in
1989, Michael joined a four-man team to win the Race Across America, biking 3000 miles from
Los Angeles to New York in five days, one hour and eight minutes. Both records still stand
today.
In 1987, Michael was one of the founders of the Charter Bank and Trust where he served as
Board Chairman. He grew the bank both organically and through acquisitions, forming a holding
company. They took the holding company public and eventually sold to Synovus Bank.
Always committed to women and minorities’ equal opportunities, Coles was presented the
National Women’s Political Caucus’ Good Guy of the Year Award for his work on behalf of
women’s issues. He joined the ranks of past recipients, including Bill Cosby, Ed Asner, Alan
Alda and former Vice President and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Walter Mondale.
In recognition of Michael’s success, leadership and benevolence, Kennesaw State University,
under the authority granted by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, has
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declared that the institution’s School of Business be named and known in perpetuity as the
Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.
In an attempt to develop future franchise executives, Michael was part of the leadership team
that developed the curriculum to achieve this goal. Louisiana State University was the first
university to adopt the curriculum for individuals to become Certified Franchising Executives
(CFE). In 1991, LSU awarded Michael the title of Certified Franchising Executive (CFE) for all
of his efforts and expertise.
In 1999, he received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Kennesaw State
University.
In 1999, Michael also received the Beta Gamma Sigma Medallion for Entrepreneurship, which is
a prestigious national award given to outstanding individuals who combine innovative business
achievement with service to humanity.
With his wife, Donna, Michael has contributed much of his time and resources to education, the
arts, the environment and philanthropic organizations. In 1995, Michael and Donna were
honored as the Georgia Philanthropists of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of the National
Society of Fund Raising Executives.
In an effort to continue his commitment to community service, Michael ran for public office. In
1996 he was the Democratic nominee for Congress challenging then Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich and in 1998, Michael won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate,
challenging then incumbent Senator Paul Coverdell.
Michael was appointed and served as Chairman of the Georgia Film, Video and Music Advisory
Council from 1999 until 2003. The work of the commission was to bring film and video to
Georgia to help strengthen its economic development. Under Coles’ leadership, he created the
first tax incentive package for filmmakers. Through his efforts he brought over a billion dollars of
economic impact to the state.
On January 9, 2001, Michael was appointed by Governor Roy Barnes to the Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia. The Board of Regents of Georgia oversees the state’s 35
universities and colleges.
He lives in Atlanta with his wife Donna and they are the parents of three adult children and six
grandchildren.
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Michael Coles
CORPORATE BOARDS
• Boardwalk Investment Group
• Brand Group Holdings
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The Georgian Club
Global OnBoard Partners
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PAST CORPORATE BOARDS
Great American Cookie Company, Founder
• The Coleman Company
• Charter Bank & Trust, Co-Founder &
E-Hatchery
Chairman
Caribou Coffee Company
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
• Kennesaw State University, Board Member ,
The Walker School
Past Chairman and Executive Committee
Buckhead Coalition
Member
Hillels of Georgia, Board Vice President
• Atlanta Jewish Federation, Board Member
Henry’s Lake Foundation
PAST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
• Atlanta Project, Sponsor
• Metro Atlanta Heart Association Walk-AThon Chairman, 1997
• Celebration of Women, Contributor
• Georgia Special Olympics
• El Tour De Tucson, Advisory Board Member
• American Lung Association
• National Conference, Board Member
• Manufacturer’s Hanover Road Race
• Safe America Foundation, Board Member
• Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Care
• Museum of the Rockies, Board of Directors
• The Open Gate
• Georgia Public Television, Board Member
• Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Board • Tommy Nobis Center, Board Member
of Directors and Member of the Chairman’s
• Friends of Kennesaw National Park, Contributor
Club
• Alliance Children’s Theater Education Program
• March of Dimes, Honorary Chairman Two
• American Heart Association Cobb County
Years
Heart Ball Chair 2001
• Westside Senior Citizens’ Home, Sponsor
• The Carter Center, Board of Councilors
• The Walker School
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HONORS
1995 Philanthropist of the Year, Georgia
• Path Foundation Contributor
Chapter of the National Society of Fund
• 1986 National Women’s Political Caucus’
Raising Executives
Good Guy of the Year
Heart Association Community Service Award, • 1991 Certified Franchising Executive (CFE)
1996
• 1999 Beta Gamma Sigma Medallion for
Galaxy of the Stars Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship Award
Award/Tommy Nobis Center, 2000
• Honorary Doctorate, Kennesaw State
Entreprenuer of the Year-Stanford
University, 1999
University Alumni Association
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ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers, Board
• Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Member
Living Brightwater Trust, Member
• Global Green
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CURRENT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Kennesaw State University, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee Member
PAST EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & APPOINTMENTS
• Kennesaw State University, Entrepreneur-InBoard of Regents of the University System of
Residence
Georgia
University of Georgia Guest Practitioner
• U.C.L.A. Business School, Past Entrepreneur-InResidence
Devereux Georgia Treatment Network, Board • Guest Lecturer at Hundreds of Businesses, Business
Member
Organizations, Elementary Schools, Secondary
Schools, Colleges and Civic Groups
Walker School Board
• Georgia Film and Videotape Advisory Board, Chairman
POLITICAL
Past Chairman Democratic Party of Georgia
• Co-Chair Georgia: Gore for President
Governor’s Georgia Roundtable, Past
• Vice Chair, National Business Leaders for
Chairman
Gore/Lieberman
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1996 6 Congressional Democratic Candidate • Chair, Georgia Business Leaders for
Gore/Lieberman
1998 U.S. Senate Democratic Candidate
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