Student to Coach: Sue Keith Transforms Lives One Conversation at a Time
- deshaywilliams3
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
Tuesday, September 30
7:00 a.m.
DeShay Williams
Spark Thomasville Executive Director
Listening might be our community’s most undervalued asset. 💫
Meet Sue Keith – a Spark Thomasville coach whose journey from retail executive to entrepreneur to family caregiver to volunteer embodies the very transformation she now guides others through.
A Lifetime of Business Brilliance 🏆
Ever wonder what decades of business experience look like when redirected toward community good?
Sue’s professional journey reads like a masterclass in adaptability:
Began her retail career as a teenager in Neel’s Department Store in downtown Thomasville
Rose to manage a seven-store retail district in North Carolina
Transitioned her business skills to professional grant writing and development for Christian nonprofit organizations
Founded a 20+ year grant writing and development business serving nonprofits in Florida and Georgia
“I’ve been in business for a very long time,” Sue shares with characteristic humility – understating a career that equipped her with the exact expertise Thomasville’s entrepreneurs need.
When Life Redirects Your Business Plan 🌼
Sue’s return to Thomasville wasn’t part of her business strategy – it was a generous response to family need.
As a caregiver for her mother and then her father with Alzheimer’s disease, Sue experienced firsthand the lack of resources for caregivers in our community.
This gap inspired her Spark Thomasville business idea: a physical location for caregiver training and support modeled after Leeza Gibbons’ Care Connection.
“The good thing about Spark Thomasville is you can start the training with a business idea, learn more about yourself and your vision as a result of the training, and end up with a solid business plan you never imagined,” Sue explains.
Her business plan evolved into volunteer-led caregiver groups and one-on-one coaching – reaching people across the country without charging a penny.
From Student to Coach: The Full Circle Journey 🔄
As a member of Spark’s second-ever cohort, Sue experienced the transformation she now facilitates:
Growing professionalism
Expanding vision
Mounting excitement
“Just to see the difference between the first day of class and the last day of class is huge,” she says, her voice filled with the kind of joy that comes from witnessing potential unlocked.
When invited to coach, Sue partnered with Earl Williams, learning from his expertise while bringing her unique gift: creating spaces where people share what they’ve “never told anybody.”
Why This Matters for Thomasville ❤️
When caring volunteers like Sue share their business expertise:
Underestimated entrepreneurs gain trusted mentors
Minority business ownership in Thomas County grows beyond 2.7%
Generational wealth begins building
The ENTIRE community benefits from diverse business leadership
What expertise could YOU share with Thomasville’s next generation of entrepreneurs Comment below and let’s connect you with Spark’s volunteer opportunities!
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