Sue Watkins
President and CEO, Telecom Transport ServicesSue Cole Watkins is the CEO and President of Telecom Transport Services, Inc., a specialized transportation and commercial storage solutions company serving the Southeast. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Telecom Transport is a leader in transporting and handling telecommunications equipment for customers such as AT&T, The Home Depot, KGPCo/Circet, CIRBA/Battery Solutions, General Electric and Alpine Power Systems. Telecom Transport is a certified woman-owned business through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (WOSB).
Watkins is the second generation owner of Telcom Transport in 1998 succeeding her late father at the helm. She has accelerated the growth of Telecom Transport by focusing on agility, innovation and adaptation as the critical tools in the rapidly evolving transportation marketplace. The company’s growth is attributed to its battery recycling division that handles safe and environmentally optimal storage and recycling of industrial grade batteries including lithium-ion batteries and other tightly regulated hazardous materials. Due to Watkins’ leadership, Telecom Transport has experienced 37% revenue growth for the past five years, expanded their capabilities to include a 20,000 square foot warehouse for staging and storage of high performance telecom equipment. The company has a stellar safety rating earning a Certificate of Recognition Safety Awareness & Accident Prevention by achieving a 0% Loss Ratio in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Her team has earned 12 Work Comp Safety Awards from the Alabama Trucking Association. Telecom Transport earned the 2008 Hauling & Hoisting Contractor of the Year Award by Ryder Integrated Logistics and Alcatel-Lucent.
She is a member of the Alabama Trucking Association, American Trucking Association, Women in Trucking, National Association of Women in Construction, Homewood Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Business Alliance and the Garden Club of America that preserves our nation’s environmental resources. Telecom Transport is a corporate partner of the Birmingham Zoo and the Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum that promotes STEM careers for women. She is a sponsor and member of the Women Business Collaborative Entrepreneurs of Purpose.
Watkins has been an active member of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South) since 2005 and serves on the board of directors. She was recognized as a 2022 Supplier of the Year and received the 2022 Outstanding Service Award by WBEC South. She serves on the Women’s Enterprise Forum with WBENC and is the 2025 WBE Star representing the region. She’s a sponsor and member of the Women Business Collaborative Entrepreneurs of Purpose initiative to advance women in business.
She advocates to expand economic and educational opportunities for all and actively supports Alabama Possible, a non-profit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education and collaboration. Her company hosted a regional networking initiative to connect women and minority-owned businesses. Watkins was selected as one of the 2010 Top Birmingham Women by the Birmingham Business Journal.
Watkins has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She and her husband, Telecom Transport VP Warner Watkins, live in Birmingham, Alabama and have two adult children and one grandchild. In her down time, Sue enjoys playing tennis and watching college football.