30 Dec 2023 Five-Oh-Ones to Watch 2024: Andrea Cole, ASU – Beebe
Andrea Cole of Beebe, nominated as one of the area’s “Five-Oh-Ones to Watch,” is a business professional, entrepreneur, wife, mother and grandmother.
Cole, in her role as the development officer/major gifts at ASU-Beebe, has facilitated educational opportunities for numerous students by overseeing private scholarship fundraising and allocation. Her diverse responsibilities span across fundraising endeavors for all four campus locations, co-chairing the Lecture-Concert Series, organizing comprehensive alumni engagements, managing the Vanguard Mini Grant program, coordinating community-centric events like the acclaimed Community Tree Lighting, and guiding the ASU-Beebe Development Councils for both Beebe and Heber Springs.
Cole also serves as the president of the Beebe Chamber of Commerce and helps plan major events for the community. In addition, she has been instrumental in connecting several area communities while planning for the April total solar eclipse.
Further, she is the owner/operator of Total Design Revolution, a graphic design and marketing firm, and with her husband, Joseph, owns multiple rental properties and Red Frog Investments, a real estate investment business.
Cole attributes her success journey to her late parents, Bill and Kathy Ball, for raising her to always work hard, value friendships, set goals and be resourceful. “They taught me how to always look for a better way to do things, continue to improve myself, and jump out there and just do it,” she said. “Life isn’t always easy, but if you do the right things, you will be successful.”
After graduating from Beebe High School, Cole earned an associate’s degree in science with an emphasis on physical education from ASU-Beebe, then built upon that to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in sports management from ASU-Jonesboro (A-State). She had the unique experience of graduating from ASU-Beebe with her mother. Her mom took classes at ASU-Beebe previously but in 1967 put her degree on hold to raise Cole and her late brother, Andrew. When her mom began working for the college, she resumed classes. They both received their associate’s degrees in 1997.
After her time at A-State, first as a student, then as the director of athletic marketing until 2009, Cole started her own graphic and web design business in Jonesboro. She continued working with her own company while becoming the assistant vice president for a software company, then later became a REALTOR® until returning to ASU-Beebe in 2018.
In 2015, she married Joseph, a retired Air Force major. Combined, the couple has three children and one grandchild.
