Sue Ellen is a lifelong resident of Rock Hill, SC. A graduate of Rock Hill High School, she went on to attend Winthrop College before beginning her career in human resources. She first served as a Human Resource Manager with a distribution warehouse group in Charlotte, NC, and later became Training Coordinator for The Employers Association, a long-standing HR and training services firm in the Charlotte area. During this time, Sue Ellen earned both her PHR (Professional in Human Resources) and SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) designations, solidifying her expertise and commitment to the profession.

 

Her career path later shifted when she began supporting her son, Les Smith, as he pursued a professional motocross and supercross racing career. This experience led her into accounting and business management, where she spent 17 years as a Controller in both motorcycle and automotive dealerships. Since joining CIIG in October 2017, Sue Ellen has brought more than three decades of combined experience to the organization, and currently leads the Quoting & Implementation Team in Employee Benefits. Family remains the center of her life, and outside of work, she treasures time with her children, grandchildren, football, and traveling.