Sue Coates worked in contract management for 35 years on a variety of projects in both public and private sectors, and owned a small business for fifteen years providing procurement-related consulting and training services and publishing a local bid information service.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Golden Gate University (cum laude), a Master of Public Administration from University of San Francisco, a Certificate in Contract Administration from University of California Berkeley Extension, and numerous awards for procurement-related service.  Her master’s thesis was about municipal corruption. She is a PhD candidate in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, studying inter-organizational relations.  Her dissertation is a collective case study of how organizational culture compatibility supports project sustainability.

Her publications include “The Subcontract Management Manual”, “How To Make Ethical Decisions”, “How To Find M/WBE Subcontractors”, a chapter on International Subcontracting, and a training manual for the United Nations, and she co-authored an article on “Subcontract Types”.  She retired from University of Arkansas with Emeritus status in 2010 and is now a frequent speaker and trainer, presenting topics related to her research and experience.