Al Bates Dr. Albert D. Bates, chairman and president, is the found- er of the Profit Planning Group, a research and executive edu- cation firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The firm works exclusively in the area of corporate financial planning. He makes approximately 100 presen- tations each year on topics such as Improving the Bottom Line, Getting Serious About Profit, Doing More with Less, and Pricing for Profit. He also provides strategic direction for the firm’s investigation into profit- ability research for over one hun- dred different trade associations. He has written extensively in both the professional and trade press, including the Harvard Business Review, the California Management Review and Business Horizons. In addition he writes the quarterly Profit Improvement Reports for the firm’s trade associa- tion clients. Al received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and his MBA and doctorate from Indiana University. While at Indiana he was one of the first recipients of the Ford Foundation Fellowships in Business Education. He is married and has three college-aged daughters, which is why he gives 100 presentations a year. When he is not traveling giv- ing seminars he enjoys tennis and skiing. He is not particularly good at either one. Certified TileInstaller WANTTOBETHEBEST? TheCertifiedTileInstaller (CTI)programistheonly third-partyassessmentofa tileinstallationprofessional’s skillandknowledgethatis recognizedbythetileindustry. Visitourwebsiteandputyourself abovethecompetition. GETCERTIFIED! 864-222-2131 info@ceramictilefoundation.org www.ceramictilefoundation.org Last year’s sports- themed closing dinner was a hit. This year, come dressed to the nines for the TSP gala at a capital location! TOTAL SOLUTIONS PLUS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 76 TileLetter | July 2017