Energized by growth and change, Susan has served as a “Jill of All Trades,” holding the titles of Chairwoman, CEO, Chief Executive, COO, President, SVP, and VP at various points in her career. In all of these diverse roles, she has consistently delivered results, spearheading business turnarounds, imposing order in chaotic situations, identifying business opportunities and conceiving business ideas, and operationalizing and executing those ideas flawlessly.
In 2015, Susan co-founded CREO, an award winning, management consultancy delivering strategy, M&A, digital transformation, cybersecurity, IT quality and regulatory compliance consulting services to life sciences and healthcare organizations. CREO seeks to advance innovation in human health by providing holistic solutions to its life science and healthcare clients, helping them reach their full potential and overcome multi-faceted industry challenges. Since inception, CREO has established a proven track record of business performance and customer growth, as evidenced by CREO being named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for the past 4 years and included several times on the Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 list of the fastest-growing companies in the Triangle region. Susan also received a 2023 Triangle Life Sciences Award where she was named Consultant of the Year for her contributions to advancing growth and innovation in life sciences in the Research Triangle region. The annual Triangle Life Sciences Awards recognize both individuals and research organizations that are breaking ground in this field.
Before launching CREO, Susan served as President and COO at SciMetrika, a population health research organization, where she led initiatives focused on planned growth and business execution. Prior to SciMetrika, she spent 13 years with SRA International as VP and Director of Health & Civilian Government. She joined SRA via acquisition where she played an instrumental role in the complex integration of Constella Group into SRA’s new Global Health Sector. She was retained to help lead this effort after serving integral roles on Constella Group’s Executive Leadership Team as SVP of Corporate, Organization and People Development and as the Corporate Compliance Officer. As head of Constella’s Corporate Development function, she initiated and led an acquisition strategy that brought Constella into new global markets, doubled the company’s size overnight, and set EBITDA on track for ninefold growth to $18M. Previously, Susan led her own environmental health and safety start-up company.
These varied roles have provided invaluable immersion experiences in high-growth and entrepreneurial environments, including the unique experience of building and growing a venture-backed start-up where she raised nearly $20M from Silicon Valley investors.
Susan has an MBA from top-tier Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She serves as an Adams Advisor at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She is a William C. Friday Fellow, an Emmy Award–winning film producer, an alumna of Springboard Enterprises, and an active member of the local community, having served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations.
