New Technology in Steel Processing, New Success for Sarah J. Bates

As president and CEO of New Technology Steel, one of the largest femaleand minority-owned networks of state-of-the-art steel processing service centers in Michigan and Ohio, Sarah Bates is a woman who loves a challenge and who excels in surrounding herself with talented individuals who match her own energy, values and vision.

“We’re driven by a personal commitment to meet or exceed our customer requirements and expectations,”said Bates,who began her career in the 1990s with an entry-level position at a steel company.“After eight years, I had worked up to the position of general manager.”

Then came an opportunity for Bates to purchase a minority-owned steel service center.“The opportunity and the challenge came at the right time,” she said,“and NTS has been moving forward for the past seven years.” Beginning with 40 employees in 2000, the company now employs 163 individuals that live the CEO’s motto:“Just do it right and make it happen.” Less than two years after becoming president and CEO, Bates bought a second location, and in mid-2003, she bought a third location.

Today, New Technology Steel, under Bates’ leadership, consists of the three locations in Detroit and Erie, Mich., as well as Toledo, Ohio.There are also partnerships with four other companies, totaling 31 additional locations and 3,000 employees! These partnerships afford NTS to process in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “We grew very fast and all along, it was,‘Wow!’” she said, adding that being a certified MWBE has served to bind some of her relationships with original equipment manufacturers.

“I’ve been awarded business based on my quality of product, customer service and my certification, [which] was a requirement. MWBEs supporting MWBEs is also a key ingredient. I work to be the best of the best in order to be awarded business by the OEMs [original equipment manufacturers].”

Bates said her defining moment came about six months after she began NTS. “When I came into this business, I started with one plant needing a lot of repairs and a lot of work,”she remembered.“When my team was in place and we were making calls and buying steel, that’s when my wheels started turning. I realized,‘I think this plant will be OK — I think I can see the light.’”

Using the foundation she learned in her first job in the steel business, Bates has become a successful leader because she knows the business, is able to help others understand it and is a good delegator.“I hold my employees accountable and they enjoy the challenges.”

Bates considers herself fortunate to have built a first-class team consisting of Scott Clark, Chief Operating Officer;Tod Gonzales, Executive Vice President; Flora Jones, Supplier Diversity Manager;Viva McCarver, Human Resources Director; and Bradley Plasky, Vice President of Sales, and of course, Christa Gulowski, her personal Executive Assistant.

She said she has learned much from her husband, John Bates, who is also in the steel business, and from other mentors such as Chrysler’s Senior Manager of Supplier Development, Jethro Joseph, the Vice President of Lear Corp.,Vicki Piner, and from Johnson Controls, Kenneth Gardner. However, the most important lesson she’s learned has come from hands-on experience. “You have to keep your arms around your business,” Bates said.“Often, I hear people say you need to get out and meet people, build networks … but job one is keeping your eye on your business.”