Michael L. Suggs is the President of the Goler Community Development Corporation, a faith-based community development corporation that is revitalizing a community in downtown Winston-Salem. A former marketing and governmental executive with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Mr. Suggs is leading the $100 million effort to restore the area through the construction and renovation of an industrial area into a mixed-use and multicultural community.
Mr. Suggs attended North Carolina A&T State University where he graduated with honors in Business Administration. His education continued at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned an MBA in Marketing. Mr. Suggs gained additional work experience at Procter and Gamble, Miller Brewing Company, and Champion International.
Prior to joining RJ Reynolds, Mr. Suggs worked as a Brand Manager for Hanes Hosiery where he was responsible for building the company’s share in department stores and mass merchandiser accounts. At RJ Reynolds, Mr. Suggs was Senior Director of Public Affairs, responsible for the company’s outreach to its numerous constituent organizations, including civic leaders, business owners, elected officials, and community leaders. Early in his almost twenty-year career at RJ Reynolds, Mr. Suggs held several positions in the Marketing Department, including Brand Manager for Vantage, More, and Now, as well as Special Markets Manager for Salem.
Mr. Suggs and his wife Dana own and operate a boutique/art gallery called Body and Soul in Winston-Salem’s Art District which has become a destination for locals and visitors for over 13 years. Mr. Suggs’ civic activities include former Chairman of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, a board member of Winston-Salem Business Inc., and a member of The North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development.

Image courtesy of Innovation Quarter
Garrett Bolden is the Chief Financial Officer for Goler Community Development
Corporation. Garrett is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the
accounting department, developing, and maintaining accounting procedures and fiscal
management policies, construction, and real estate accounting, as well as the annual
audit. Garrett is also responsible for Goler’s grants management and reporting for funds
received from federal, state, local and private sources.
Garrett is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S degree in
Business Administration with a concentration in Banking & Finance. Garrett has over 35
years of experience working in public, corporate, governmental, and not-for-profit
accounting through employment with Harris & Sanders, CPA’s (Orlando, FL), Pepsi Cola,
The City of High Point, and consulting contracts over his career.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred E. Phifer | Board Chairman
Garland Burton, Member
Ron Fisher, Member
Cornelius Graves, Member
Alana James, Member
Mary Jac Brenan, Member
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.