Bob Bates
Reliable and proven flooring industry professional with over two decades of experience. Effective in communication and fostering business relationships. Skilled in leading performance driven teams and delivering industry leading solutions that improve customer service quality and increase revenue. Strong background in concrete repair and resilient and hard-surface installation. Knowledgeable in technical standards and industry best-practices.
Work History
Systems Development Manager
13 Years 1 Month- Led a high-performance team, that managed responsibilities including Technical Hotline Support, Installation and Maintenance Training, and Technical Communications.
- Supported the entire customer channel across North America, ensuring excellence in response time and service quality.
- Active in the development of industry leading adhesive and installation solutions to meet market demands.
- Managed the adhesive/sundry portfolio, reduced the number of sku's, increased profitability, and improved marketing attributes of the category.
- Served as a strategic extension of the sales team when targeting key accounts.
- Partnered with manufacturing to ensure continuous improvement.
Owner
4 Years 3 Months- Established strategic relationships with decision makers at several larger commercial accounts including universities and hospitals.
- Managed projects from pricing to completion.
- Managed employee development to ensure a positive customer experience.
Education
High School Diploma
Skills
Accomplishments
Oversaw the development and launch of Tarkett's RollSmart Adhesive, the industry's first roller-applied adhesive released by a flooring manufacturer. This proven solution did not require a primer and allowed for immediate occupancy and unlimited rolling load capacity. The value proposition created opportunity for the business to lead with adhesive even before the already proven flooring solutions.
Contributed to the development of Techtonic, an industry-leading performance coating
Managed a team of 6 staff members with different backgrounds and capabilities. Oversaw the development of each member of the team to ensure alignment with the needs of the business.
Helped secure and manage large strategic national accounts by utilizing technical, competitive benchmarking and sales techniques.