Opening doors — and windows

Scott Gates is the vice president and general manager of Western Window Systems, an international window and door manufacturer based in Phoenix. A 2004 graduate of the W. P. Carey School and current Executive MBA student, this Sun Devil says donning maroon and gold for a second time was his obvious — and only — choice.

Scott Gates is the vice president and general manager of Western Window Systems, an international window and door manufacturer based in Phoenix. A 2004 graduate of the W. P. Carey School and current Executive MBA student, this Sun Devil says donning maroon and gold for a second time was his obvious — and only — choice.

"I have been fortunate to experience success in my business career, and I attribute much of that to the quality education I received as a business marketing undergrad at the W. P. Carey School," Gates explains. "So when it came time to consider going back to school to get my MBA, the only school I even considered was ASU."

As an undergrad, Gates joined a small distributorship business in Scottsdale, providing custom window and door systems to luxury homes. He went on to lead the custom sales division at a large window manufacturer in Tempe, and spent two years in international development before joining Western Window Systems as marketing director in 2011 — the first full-time marketing position the company had ever employed.

"We did a full rebrand, developed all new marketing collateral, did some strategic advertising and marketing campaigns," says Gates, "and the results were outstanding." Western grew more than 50 percent in four consecutive years. For Gates, increased growth meant increased responsibility. His marketing role expanded to include oversight and enhancement of Western's manufacturing plant, supply chain, human resources, service, quality control, engineering, new product development, business development, market expansion, and corporate communications.

"As my role expanded at Western, I felt a strong desire to strengthen my education in areas of business where I didn't have as much experience," Gates says. Returning to school to earn his MBA became the logical next step — a step he decided to take with the W. P. Carey Executive MBA.

"I was drawn to the Executive MBA program because it provided me an opportunity to get to attend class every weekend with a group of incredibly smart and talented individuals," Gates explains. “The most impactful lessons I have learned over the years have come from brilliant businessmen and women sharing stories of their personal experiences.”

Gates adds, “I knew getting my MBA alongside so many successful classmates would be an invaluable experience that I would never forget.”

Explore the value of learning in a high-caliber community, and find out more about advancing your career with an Executive MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.