Steve
Warlick
President
and CEO
Bates
S
teve Warlick’s journey to president and
CEO of Bates began with his childhood
in a rural Missouri trailer park.
At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United
States Air Force to serve his country as a
C-130 aircrew member. Five years and 54
countries later, the Gulf War veteran began
his education at Drury University pursuing
architecture, knowing that the only thing that
would open doors for him was hard work and
dedication. After graduating with a bachelor
of architecture degree, Steve started as an
intern at Bates, which was founded in 1973.
In 2011, Steve became the third president
of Bates, following Warren Bates, the founder,
and Alan Bates, the mentor. Upon taking the
helm of the already successful 40-year-old
company, Bates has increased revenues more
Photo courtesy of Bates
than 10-fold in five years. The foundation
to this incredible growth, Steve says, is
quantifiable value to clients. Period.
The recipe has involved the firm’s 40-plus
years of architectural experience, a bold vision
for how technology changes everything, the
ability to take the risk, and most importantly….
the people.
Steve’s pride and joy is his son, Cy, who he
enjoys watching compete. Steve also enjoys
traveling, sporting events and growing the
business to carry on the Bates name.
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