Michael Bates has over 20 years of experience in credit management, accounts receivable, collections, and pricing analysis. He has worked for several large companies, including LafargeHolcim, Best Block Company, and DE-STA-CO. At his roles, he improved days sales outstanding, reduced bad debt, implemented new systems, and ensured compliance. He maintains affiliations with credit professional organizations and seeks ongoing development through coursework and conferences.

1. Michael Bates
19180 Santa Barbara Cell: (586) 489-9385
Detroit, MI 48221My michael.bates.cdt@sbcglobal.net
Credit Manager and Pricing Administrator
Credit, Collection, Accounts Receivable and Pricing Analyst
Highly motivated, detail oriented professional with outstanding experience in the prevention of bad debt, developing
mutually beneficial customer relationships, implementing corporate initiatives to continuously improve Days Sales
Outstanding (DSO), and eliminating non-value added activities. Proven team leader in identifying the cause of
unproductive business processes, and implementing solutions for both external and internal customers.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Collection Negotiations
• Pricing Analysis
• Report Writing and Analysis
• Project Management
• Oracle Accounts Receivable
• Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LafargeHolcim Group 2013 – 06/2016
The largest building material supplier in the world with 115,000 employees, in over 90 countries, and a projected $50 billion in sales
for 2016. LafargeHolcim has over 2,500 pits, quarries, and manufacturing locations for the production of aggregate and cement for
the construction industry.
Credit Manager (Feb 2013)
Responsible for determining credit worthiness, collection of outstanding invoices, process mechanic’s liens, and identifying potential
bad debt. Inherited a massive portfolio that had not been worked in over a year and my only resource for assistance was our Service
Center in Toronto (NABS).
• Implemented a Credit Application processing process with NABS called “IBM Blueworks Live” for the tracking of multiple
daily requests for open terms.
• Successfully created a system for a smooth and visible processing of the numerous requests for notarized mechanics lien
waivers received each day with our NABS team.
• Reduced rolling average of over 90 days past due from $1.5M to $305K.
Best Block Company 2008 - 2013
A long established privately held manufacturer of masonry block and landscape products including residential and engineered
retaining wall products, paver bricks , and clay brick.
Credit Manager (May 2008)
Responsible for determining credit worthiness, collection of outstanding invoices, cash posting, and identifying potential bad debt.
• Returned company to positive cash flow within 6 months of hiring.
• Within 12 months, ended the need to borrow on receivables for the first time in 18 years, and have maintained that status.
• Established a process for managing the extensive use of construction lien laws to make certain that time sensitive dates are
met to guarantee the validity of a construction lien.
• Implemented a process for gently educating customers that paying finance charges, fuel surcharges and delivery service fees
are not optional.
DE-STA-CO, A Dover Resources Company 1994 – 2007
A worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and support of clamping, gripping, transferring and robotic tooling solutions for
workplace and flexible automation needs, generating annual sales in excess of $150 million. A subsidiary of Dover Corporation that
is a highly diversified company, serving a variety of markets with reported annual sales of over $5.5 billion.
Credit Manager (1994 – 2007)
Responsible for invoicing, collection, cash posting and identified potential for bad debt, monitored cash flow and improved, then
preserved DSO to achieve corporate metrics.
• Cultivated customer relationships, and established excellent cooperative communication with Sales and Customer Service.
• Coordinated collection efforts and inter-company transfers at all divisions throughout the world.
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2. • Implemented a Shared Services concept for domestic Credit, Collection and Accounts Receivable, which significantly
improved productivity through reducing the number of calls to the large percentage of shared customers of the different
divisions, and a reduction of staff of 1.5 persons.
• Drove need for several “Kaizen” events that addressed internal errors within the Customer Service, Manufacturing, Quality
and Shipping Departments, which were driving the DSO in the wrong direction. This resulted in the successful
implementation of processes that reduced internal errors by over 50% for external customers, and 35% for inter-company
transfers.
• Implemented bi-monthly tracking reports of internal errors and mandatory meetings of respective departments to address
trends of recurring internal errors and assigned individuals to investigate and suggest solutions for those issues for
discussion in the next meeting.
• Instrumental in the planning and execution of Oracle’s Accounts Receivable Module, including recent upgrades and
implementation worldwide.
Pricing Administrator (1998 – 2007)
Maintained detailed analysis of sales trends, sales projections and profitability that was used to determine price adjustments each year.
The Analysis was also useful to monitor the stages of the product lifecycle that was extensively referred to for product development.
Pricing Administrator (Continued)
• Successfully redesigned and converted End User and Distributor price lists from a quantity-based discounting philosophy to
pricing based on pay-for-performance criteria that streamlined distributor pricing for ease of use and improved profitability
of 2.3%.
• Redesigned, updated and published End Use and Distributor price lists annually.
• Eliminated pricing errors of Standard Product caused by manual calculations, in the Customer Service Department, by
implementing a complicated matrix that automated pricing within the ERP system for 100% accuracy.
POST & COMPANY Madison Heights, MI 1993-1994
A privately held paper packaging & distribution company.
Credit & Collection Specialist
Responsible for daily customer collection calls, account reconciliation, and resolving disputed invoices.
• Collected $2.5 million monthly.
• Managed over 1500 commercial accounts.
• Researched credit applicants for current credit history.
• Analyzed Dun and Bradstreet reports, checked references, and determined credit worthiness.
ADIA Temporary Services 1992 –1993
Temporary Staffing Service
• Provided customer service, data entry, collections and order entry for various Metro-Detroit businesses.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
National Association of Credit Management (NACM) Madison Heights, MI Member Since 1994
• Served as Director, Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of the Madison Heights Chapter 2002 - 2006
National Tool & Accessories Credit Group (NACM) Chicago, IL Member Since 2003
• Served as Vice-Chair, Chairman of the Board, and Councilor of the National Credit Group 2004-2007
Credit Research Foundation (CRF) Member since 1998
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Course work in Accounting, General Business and Marketing
Oakland Community College, Royal Oak, MI
Emergency Medical Technician
Attended numerous NACM Seminars and CRF Conferences
Notary Public
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3. COMPUTER SKILLS
MS Excel, Word, Outlook, Act, PowerPoint, Adobe, Oracle, Lotus Notes, AS400, MAS-90, GetPaid, Blueworks
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