September 28, 2005

A Salem executive pastor and former business leader was named vice president for advancement at Corban College, President Reno Hoff announced Sept. 27.

Michael Bates, leadership executive at Salem Alliance church since 1996, will take up his new duties Oct. 10. He has been on-site a day or two a week, training with fund raising consultant Vic Atcheson, while transitioning out of the church where about 3,000 people gather for worship each Sunday.

“It gives me a great deal of pleasure to announce this,” President Hoff said. “Mike's experience in business and a church will be very valuable to us because he understands both the business and Christian enterprise and fully understands our mission.”
The position of vice president for advancement has been vacant for about a year.

Bates will give direction to all fund-raising efforts of the college and its alumni office, the president said.

A Salem native, Bates controlled a $4 million budget at Salem Alliance and was extensively involved in strategic planning and in capital campaigns for church expansion.

From 1982 to 1996, he was Senior Account Manager at Supra Products, Inc. in Salem. In this position, he headed the national sales effort and developed the sales strategy for the company. Bates also was actively involved in direct sales for the manufacturer of electronic products.

Bates double-majored a Bachelors of Arts degree in business management and psychology from Seattle Pacific College in 1975; he graduated with a 3.95 average GPA and the President's Citation for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Bates also earned a Masters of Education degree from Seattle Pacific University in 1978 with an emphasis in educational counseling.

“Community and business leaders have great respect for Mike,” President Hoff said. “He also has extensive experience with the Baptist community as a member of a Salem Baptist church many years. I am looking forward to working with him."

--By Karen L. Willoughby