Rodney Cole
Sphinx Board of Directors
Rodney Cole is president of the DTE Energy Foundation and Corporate Citizenship at DTE. Appointed in 2023, he is responsible for leading the DTE Foundation's operations and grant strategies. He leads the company's Corporate Citizenship work within the communities where OTE's 10,000--plus employees live and serve.
During his 19-year career at DTE, Cole has held leadership positions in business units across the enterprise - including his previous role as director, Community Engagement, and vice president DTE Energy Foundation. Prior to that as director, state government affairs, Cole led a highly active and visible team that spearheads state legislative activities and manages relationships with state legislators and the governor's administration; he also led efforts to strengthen relationships with Michigan's public sector leaders. Cole began his career at DTE in human resources, supporting numerous business units while learning the depth and breadth of the organization's strategic priorities and efforts.
In addition to his work with the DTE Foundation and Corporate Citizenship, Cole serves on the board of directors for the American Association for Blacks in Energy (Michigan), Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan, Connect Detroit, Midnight Golf, Michigan Humane, Sphinx, Michigan Economic Development Foundation and The Parade Company. He also serve:s as a member of Teen Hype's advisory board and the Detroit Regional Chamber Advocacy Advisory Council. Cole is a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class XXXV and the 2018 cohort of Harvard University's Young American Leaders Program (YALP). He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University.
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes non-utility businesses focused on industrial energy services, renewable natural gas, and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80% by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric and Gas aspire to achieve net zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.