John E. Cole III

John E. Cole III

John E. Cole III has over 20 years of experience in business and with non-profit organizations, including development and management.  He has an Associate degree in Architectural Technology from Bluegrass Community and Technical College.  John has served as President of the African American Forum, Inc. (AAF), one of the largest non-profit organizations representing African American arts and cultural events in the Lexington-Bluegrass region, since its inception, and is one of the founding members of the organization that produces the annual African American Ball.  Under his leadership, AAF was named the 1998 Commerce Lexington Minority Business of the Year.  

John has also served on the Commission for Small Business Advocacy and on the boards of LexArts and United Way of the Bluegrass.  He was selected for 40 Young Leaders Under 40 for the new Century by the Kentucky Press Association and Leadership Kentucky in 1999.  At Global, John has been active with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library, St. Aloysius and the Lexington Public Library Foundation.  John joined Global Advancement in 2007.