David C. Cole

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David C. Cole (born September 24, 1952) is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He has been active worldwide in the publishing, communications, software, online services, and consumer products industries.

In October 2003, Cole was appointed chairman, president and chief executive officer of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc., a land holding and operating company in Hawaii. Since 1997, Cole has been president of Aquaterra, Inc., an investment management firm that serves as managing general partner for Pan Pacific Ventures and Catalyst II, partnerships with interests in software, real estate, agriculture, retailing, and consumer products.

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[edit] Biography

Cole grew up in Kailua, Hawaii and obtained his Liberal Arts Degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1976. In 1997, the university honored him with the UH Distinguished Alumni Award and in 2005 with an honorary doctorate degree.

Cole has spent much of his professional life working in the technology industry, heading up software company Ashton-Tate, publisher Ziff Communications and Internet-based software company NaviSoft Inc.

When NaviSoft was acquired by America Online in 1994, Cole became an officer, working alongside former AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case, a 43.5 percent owner of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. At America Online, Cole directed the company’s corporate strategy, local online services, acquisitions, and international operations.

In 1996, Cole bought and became chairman of 425-acre Sunnyside Farms. Upon leaving America Online in 1997, he decided to focus on organic farming. He worked to remove diseased trees, restore the soil, install an irrigation system and gain organic certification for Sunnyside Farms, which became a recognized retailer and supplier of premium organic meats and produce serving mid-Atlantic fresh food markets. He sold Sunnyside in 2006.

In October 2003, Cole was appointed chairman, president and chief executive officer of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc., which includes subsidiaries Maui Pineapple Company, Ltd. and Kapalua Land Company, Ltd. Since Cole's appointment, the company has been reinvesting in its three primary business divisions—agriculture, resort and community development and forging partnerships with other entities seeking to invest in renewable energy and sustainability initiatives. Two such partnerships are the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM), started in 2004, and Hawaii BioEnergy LLC, an international consortium formed in 2006 that is currently researching the viability of renewable energy crops, products and services in Hawaii.

[edit] Executive Positions

  • 2003-present: chairman, president and chief executive officer Maui Land & Pineapple, Inc. Effective October 15, 2003.
  • 2001-present: director of The Twin Farms Collection, LLC, an owner & operator of luxury resorts in Vermont and California.
  • 1997-2004: director, Healthnotes, Inc., a publisher of peer-reviewed nutritional and health information for retailers and consumers.
  • 1996-present: chairman, Sunnyside Farms LLC, a retailer of luxury goods based on a diversified organic farm serving mid-Atlantic fresh food markets.
  • 1994-1997: officer of America Online, Inc. serving initially as president of AOL’s Internet Services Company and later as president of AOL New Enterprises group; held operating responsibility for AOL International, AOL Enterprises, Digital City and AOL corporate development.
  • 1993-1994: chairman, president and chief executive officer of Navisoft, Inc., an Internet-based software provider that AOL acquired in 1994.
  • 1986-present: lead investor in a variety of early-stage technology investments, including Macromedia, Inc., Shiva Corporation (acquired by Intel Corporation), and Tops, Inc. (acquired by Sun Microsystems Inc.).
  • 1985-1987: president of Ziff Communications and the Ziff-Davis Publishing Group.
  • 1981-1984: chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ashton-Tate.
  • 1976-1980: manager of a consulting firm serving the strategic planning needs of emerging software companies and a variety of editorial positions at Prentice-Hall and CBS, Inc.

[edit] Professional Affiliations

Cole is a partner in Twin Farms, LLC (TwinFarms.com), a luxury resort in Vermont. He serves as director of Hawaii BioEnergy LLC, Grove Farm Co. Inc., Hawaii Superferry, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Sesame Workshop. Other affiliations include Chancellor’s Advisory Council of Maui Community College and Kamehameha Schools Board of Advisors. Cole is a former national director of The Nature Conservancy, PBS and World Wildlife Fund and past director of the American Farmland Trust, Healthnotes, Inc. and Island Press.

In 2004, Cole was elected chairman of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. He served on the organization's national Board of Governors for 10 years and its Asia-Pacific Council since its inception. Cole previously served on the Hawaii Board from 1988 to 2000.

[edit] Publication References

Cole is referenced in numerous books and articles, including ‘’New Ideas About New Ideas’’ by Shira P. White, ‘’Dream Makers: Putting Vision and Values to Work’’ by Michele Hunt and ‘’Eat Here’’ by Brian Halweil. Other publications that reference Cole in the last five years include the Washington Post, The New York Times, Town and Country, Gourmet Washingtonian, Southern Living Magazine, Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Pacific Business News.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links