Edward (Ed) Bates, Director of Southeast Operations for PACTIV Corporation, has been named DeKalb Technical College Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Foundation is a community based nonprofit organization that strives to promote the cause of technical and adult education while expanding education opportunities for the students of DeKalb Technical College.
"I am delighted to serve as Chairman of the Board. I welcome the great opportunity to work in this capacity to continue my support and address the strategic initiatives of the DeKalb Technical College Foundation while effectively connecting the community with the college," said Bates.
Bates holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Georgia State University. He joined Mobil in July 1979 and has served in a number of divisions with Mobil (now PACTIV) including central engineering, rigid packaging, consumer products, and plastics. In his current position with PACTIV, Bates manages a network of six manufacturing plants across the country producing plastic food service packaging.
"We are pleased to have Ed Bates as the new Chairman of the Foundation Board," said Dr. Robin Hoffman, President of DeKalb Technical College. "Not only is he a longtime supporter of the College and the Foundation, but he also brings to the position strong leadership qualities, impressive professional expertise, and a balanced perspective."
Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Foundation Board, Bates served as a Foundation Board member. He has served on the Board for five years. Two of those years Bates served as Vice Chair. Bates was also a dedicated nine year member of DeKalb Technical College’s Board of Directors. In addition, he previously served as a member of the Boards of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce and the Newton County United Way. He is married to Cindy Bates, and they have two children, Jeb and Leieh.
DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, promotes a student-centered environment for lifelong learning and development, encompassing academic and technical education for employment in a global community. The college has eight centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale and Morgan counties. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit their website at www.dekalbtech.edu.
