Ms. Donna Reeves-Collins This is Me

Education

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1. 1. Rochester Women's Network

   www.rwn.org/womenwork.asp - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/23/2007   Last Visited: 2/21/2008

   Pursuing an altogether different course, Donna Reeves-Collins is the founder and CEO of Cole & Parks, an inviting café in Victor that specializes in gourmet cookies and specialty coffee.
   
   I first met Reeves-Collins at Digital Rochester's annual business plan contest. I had listened to a lot of pitches and was skeptical. After all, she wanted to sell cookies. I wondered what could have possibly compelled the former president, chief operating officer and managing partner for Frontier's wireless joint venture with Verizon Wireless to start a cookie business. Then she shared her story and delivered an impressive presentation.
   
   Reeves-Collins had passion, a strong sense for business and the finances to get her through the early stages of her new venture. She also had the support of her husband.
   
   "Investors in the audience were excited but limited to funding technology startups," Reeves-Collins said. Through vigilant networking, she later negotiated an investment through which she sold only 5 percent of the equity in her business.
   
   Reeves-Collins suggests some steps to take to be prepared for the transition. "Make sure you get sound financial advice" she said. "Find out what it would take to survive the best- and worst-case scenarios."
   
   When asked if she misses the corporate life, she shares a definitive "no." "Some of the business issues are similar, but you bypass the political obstacles that slow down the process."
   
   Today, 3, years later, Donna and her husband, William, run a successful business.

2. 2. Cole & Parks - Home Page

   www.coleandparks.com/ourstory. - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/17/2007   Last Visited: 11/17/2007

   Donna Reeves-Collins Founder and CEO Cole & Parks
   
   As a former officer at Frontier, Donna Reeves-Collins is on her way to creating a leading brand in the quick-casual restaurant segment - by combining her proven business abilities with her lifelong passion for gourmet cookies and specialty coffee. Her educational background combined with 19 years of marketing, operations, management and sales experience provides Cole & Parks with a solid foundation for success.
   
   Ms. Reeves-Collins began her professional career in sales in 1983 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business & Economics with a bachelor's degree in hotel management. She steadily progressed into management roles in marketing, operations and human resources within the telecommunications industry.
   
   In 1993, she started a direct mail business for Frontier. In less than a year, she grew revenues to $82M and built the infrastructure for continued growth in what became a very profitable business for Frontier. At the same time, Ms. Reeves-Collins spearheaded a pre-paid calling card business that also experienced dramatic revenue growth.
   
   As president, chief operating officer and managing partner for Frontier's wireless joint venture with Verizon Wireless, Ms. Reeves-Collins was selected to turn around the struggling venture. Her success was a result of building distribution and the opening and successful positioning of retail stores across the Upstate New York foot print as well as building a world-class organization.
   
   In 1996, Ms. Reeves-Collins was promoted to Frontier's Long Distance Division. She relocated to San Francisco to run the division in the 14 western states. Having proved successful once again, she was soon appointed senior vice president of sales for North America.
   
   In 1999, Frontier was acquired by Global Crossing. Ms. Reeves-Collins left the company in 2001 and began developing the concept and business plan for Cole & Parks.

3. 3. Cole & Parks - Home Page

   www.coleandparks.com/PR1113200 - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/13/2003   Last Visited: 11/17/2007

   VICTOR, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2003) - Donna Reeves Collins - formerly an officer at Frontier Corporation - today unveiled Cole & Parks, a new bakery café offering fresh-baked cookies, expertly brewed coffee, breakfast and lunch options, and even a drive-thru.
   ...
   " 'Fresh cookies and coffee, redefined' is our motto," said Donna Reeves Collins, owner of Cole & Parks.