ACE NextGen Houston Speaker Series is a monthly series hosted on the last Thursday of each month bringing in entrepreneurs to share their experience, skills, knowledge and wisdom. The roughly one hour moderated talk or presentation will be preceded and followed by open networking.

Food and drinks are provided with additional food and beverages available for purchase. Parking after 7pm is free (do not need to scan the code).

Dress code: Casual

Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members

June Speaker Series: Donna Fujimoto Cole

Ms. Donna Fujimoto Cole founded Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc., in 1980, divorced, with a 4 year old daughter and $5,000 in savings. After working in the chemical industry for 4 years as VP of Sales and a 26 percent owner of del Rey Chemical, her customers: Exxon, Dupont, Monsanto and Shell asked her to start her own business. Donna started buying and selling chemicals out of a friends real estate office and within four months she needed to locate a warehouse to operate Cole Chemical to include additional chemical packaging services. The Company is known locally and nationally by receiving many quality awards from Fortune 500 companies, the Small Business Administration and numerous awards from the Chemical as well as Energy Industry professional organizations.

Ms. Cole has started, sold, invested and divested many types of businesses; from civil construction, to drilling loss circulation materials, chemical manufacturing, real estate, promotional advertising, distribution, warehousing, blending and packaging, to provide financing alternatives, back office support and IT integration with supply chain management services. In 2022, Ms. Cole sold a 40 percent interest in Cole Chemical to Berryman Smith, LLC., to provide additional products and toll manufacturing services with 500+ tank cars and 7 terminals with warehouses nationally.

Donna Cole has been on many boards and recognized for her leadership with the Houston Chemical Association, Mayor’s Asian Advisory Board, Mayor’s International Trade and Economic Advisory board for Asia, Japan America Society U.S.-Japan Council, Center for Asian Pacific American Women, Houston Forensic Science, Houston Minority Business Council, The Houston Parks Board, Women Business Enterprise Alliance, several Advisory boards such as The Women’s Home, National Veterans Network, University of St Thomas and a trustee for the Amos Tuck School of Business, A Rockwell Fund Trustee, And currently serving on The Harris County Precinct 4 Forward, American Leadership Forum Nationally and in Houston, the Institute of Supply Management Executive Advisory Board, National Veterans Network and the and The Japanese Garden Advisory Board, the Japan American Society and US Japan Council Legacy board. She also served on President George H Bush’s export council. Ms. Cole has taken several Mayor’s on a trade delegation to Japan and Korea. She serves as a Commissioner on the Port of Houston’s Marine Pilot Board.

Autumn 2021 Ms. Cole received the Japanese Imperial Decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays for her contribution to promote regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. She has participated in the following leadership programs: Center for Asia Pacific American Women’s APAWLI program, Jewish American Committee Asian Delegation to Israel, U.S.-Japan, Council’s Japanese American Leadership delegation to Japan, The Center for Houston’s Future and The American Leadership Forum.

Her philanthropy includes business, mentoring, education, health care, stem, and anti-hate. Her community work provides an opportunity to ensure ethical, caring and compassionate leaders are at decision tables. Donna’s latest interest is telling stories about strong women and supportive men to inspire and motive millions of women to take care of themselves, their families and improve their communities through Film, Plays and Musicals. Ms. Cole attended University of Texas – Pan American and graduated from Manpower Business Training Institute in Computer Operations and Programming in 1972.

She is a golfer, loves to grow herbs, a great home cook and shares her bounty with friends and enjoys traveling.