CATES SHEET METAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

The History of Cates Sheet Metal Industries, Inc.

Cates Sheet Metal Industries, Inc., was founded in 1968 as Cates Seibolt Industries by Joseph A. Cates and John Seibolt. Six weeks after opening the company's doors, John Seibolt passed away ? leaving Joseph to depend on his 35 years of sheet metal experience to manage the new company alone.

Later that year, Joseph's son, Dan, joined the family business after graduating from the University of Kansas. Also a field-trained sheet metal craftsman, Dan combined his on-the-job experience and college business skills to help his father evolve Cates into the most progressive and computerized sheet metal company in Kansas City. Not only was Cates the first organization in the area to utilize computerized estimating, it became the first to use computer aided drafting and computer aided manufacturing ? later installing the city's only plasma cutting system.

The next two decades brought Cates great success, as the business grew rapidly and advanced from small commercial projects to major hospital and industrial installations. Unique to the industry, Cates specialized in its ability to detail complex projects and successfully coordinate all other trades. The addition of an Engel fully automated coil line in the 1980s allowed Cates to install projects of any size and created numerous additional growth opportunities.

Joseph retired in 1989, leaving Dan as Cates President and CEO. As the company continued to prosper under Dan?s leadership, Cates left its Olathe, Kan., home of 28 years and relocated to nearby Lenexa, Kan. ? doubling its space to a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and 10,000 square feet of office space. This location continues to serve as the company?s headquarters.

Paul Russell joined Cates in 1996 as Vice President. A graduate of Vanderbilt University with degrees in mechanical engineering and business, Paul served our country with two tours in Vietnam as an Army Ranger and Infantry Officer.

Cates expanded into spiral and oval manufacturing in 1999 and used its technology to acquire numerous projects outside of the Kansas City area, such as the Omaha Arena, Houston Convention Center and Hilton Hotel, Vanderbilt Children?s Hospital and the Omaha Union Pacific Office Complex. This new capability quickly outgrew the Cates manufacturing facility and the 20,000-square-foot Cates Spiral Shop opened its own location around the corner from the company?s headquarters.

Joseph passed away in 2000, but lived to see the third generation of Cates men join the company when his grandson, Carson, entered the family business that same year. A graduate of the University of Kansas and Mid-America Nazarene University, Carson earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business administration.

Today, Cates Sheet Metal Industries, Inc., continues to lead Kansas City and the surrounding region with its state-of-the-art technology, capabilities, customer service and quality craftsmanship. With Dan now serving as Cates Chairman, Paul as President and Carson as Vice President of Pre-Construction Services, the company will continue to add even more innovation and service offerings in the coming years to solidify its position as the region?s leader in sheet metal fabrication and installation.