Charlene Dark is the Chief Operating Officer of Avania, a MedTech industry clinical development partner, and CEO of Summus Advisors, LLC, a leadership development firm specializing in executive coaching and leadership team development in the clinical research industry. With over 30 years of experience, she blends statistical expertise from NC State University with business acumen from her UNC Chapel Hill MBA.
As a certified executive coach, Charlene has dedicated her career to empowering leaders and fostering organizational growth. Colleagues know her as a natural connector—someone who brings diverse minds together to build relationships that last well beyond the boardroom.
Outside of work, Charlene enjoys reading, DIY projects, and cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes. She shares her life with a blended family of four children and eleven grandchildren.
Charlene wrote Mindset Reimagined to share the lessons, reflections, and practical tools that have shaped her own journey. Through storytelling and lived experience, she invites readers to challenge old patterns, embrace change, and reimagine what’s possible—one mindset shift at a time.
