Page 12 - Fayette County NCG

Cover Feature

411

Doug & Nathan Bates
CMIT Solutions
Southern Crescent of Atlanta

Doug and Nathan Bates While his kids were still in high school, Northwest. Kristen also joined CMIT as
CMIT Solutions of Atlanta Southern Doug asked if they would be interested in director of marketing.
“It’s challenging because you have to
Crescent has been a family-run IT joining CMIT. He gave Nathan a weekend
be able to delineate between the family
consulting company since April 1, to decide. The next day, Nathan said yes.
relationship and the business relationship
2009 – an intentional move by founder Thanks to the success of the Atlanta
at times,” Doug said.
Doug Bates, who jokes he chose to “not Southern Crescent business, CMIT
He said it can be a source of friction,
participate in the recession.” granted Doug a second franchise, in but talking and working through it is
Success was not without sacrifice. Cobb County. Now, Nathan is director important. “At the end of the day, the
Doug lost his job in corporate America. of sales at CMIT Solutions Atlanta family is more important.”
The recession forced a short sale of their
home. From the start, Bates’ wife Angie
worked for their CMIT franchise, landing as
accounting manager, a job she still does.
During CMIT’s first 18 months, Doug and
Angie didn’t draw a salary.
Son Nathan Bates remembers
one particular announcement by his
parents. “They said ‘Hey, we’ve been
saving money for you for college, but
it’s gone now,’” he recalled with a laugh.
A talented high school athlete, Nathan
chose to commit to doing what was
needed athletically to secure his academic
future, including playing eight years of
minor league baseball.
Sister Kristen was also an
accomplished athlete, a two-time
collegiate All-American swimmer, Top 50
in the world. Through athletic scholarships
and the HOPE scholarship, both Bates kids
were able to pay for college.
8 Fayette County SOURCE Magazine • Issue 2 • 2025