Meet Cole Island's Owners & Board of Directors
Mike & George
Mike and George Buero are twin brothers born in Charleston, South Carolina. The twins spent many youthful summers in the late 1940s and early 1950s fishing around Cole Island with their grandfather, uncle, and cousins after World War II to help feed and support their family. Later in life, Mike and George would serve in the military and become Flight Engineers. Their military training prepared them for a life traveling the world that ultimately led to flying Boeing 747s for commercial airlines as Flight Engineers. The twins bought the island in 1994 on their 58th birthday and became the island's keepers, protectors, and stewards. Rarely in life were the twins ever separated, but the Buero family lost George on December 15, 2024. Mike currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his family.
Matt
Matt Buero is one of the three owners of Cole Island and is on the Board of Directors of the Cole Island Foundation. Matt is the son of Mike Buero and was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Matt was named after the twins' uncle (Lawrence Matthew Sirisky), who spent the summers with his nephews on Cole Island. Matt grew up in East Tennessee, but his Charleston roots pulled him back to the Lowcountry. As a graduate of The Citadel and one of the owners of Ultimate Autowerks, a BMW service and repair shop in Charleston, Matt utilizes his business degree and experience to manage Cole Island. In his free time, Matt enjoys restoring old cars, racing dirt bikes, and spending time with his son, "Cole" named after the island. Matt and Cole reside in West Ashley.
Carmen
Carmen Conley is the founding Director of the Cole Island Foundation and an owner and steward of Cole Island. She inherited her ownership of the island in 2024, following the passing of her beloved father, George Buero, with whom she shared cherished family memories exploring the island’s natural beauty and historical richness. With a professional background in nonprofit leadership and community development, Carmen brings deep experience in organizational management, preservation, and civic engagement to her role. She is dedicated to honoring her father’s legacy by protecting Cole Island’s unique ecology and uncovering its layered past for future generations.
Photo Gallery
Mike and George building the dock on Cole Island in the late 1990s.
Mike or George? Enjoying island life!
Mike and George celebrating their 80th Birthday on Cole Island.