Team Q&A: Liz Bates – Client Account Manager

From composting and recycling to client success, our new Client Account Manager, Liz Bates, is committed to sustainability in her daily life. Join us in welcoming Liz to the Virtual Peaker team! 

How did your previous life prepare you for Virtual Peaker? 

I spent the last five and a half years with Infosec, a cybersecurity software education company and training center for security professionals. I had three different roles there during my tenure, all of which were different sales functions, but my most recent and longest role was as an account executive for their security awareness software. I primarily worked to acquire new logos but also managed relationships with our channel partners. I have found that I enjoyed working with channel partners and developing long-term relationships which led me to the client account manager role at Virtual Peaker. 

I have experience maintaining and growing channel accounts (resellers and managed service providers). However, I thrive on finding new solutions for customers and helping them get the most out of our software. I also enjoy traveling to meet customers and promote the company at trade shows. I’m excited to bring my experience to the Virtual Peaker and learn more about the industry. 

Tell us about your role at Virtual Peaker. 

As a Client Account Manager, I will work with current accounts within the channel space. I’ll focus on helping our partners onboard clients; to increase client retention; and on growing our business amongst their clients. My manager is Kirsten Millar and my colleagues are Shelby, Beth, Drew, and Stephanie. I’m excited to learn more about our customers and help them with their sustainability efforts across the grid. I’m looking forward to learning more about the Virtual Peaker platform and the services we provide to our clients. 

How do you personally engage in sustainability efforts? 

I focus on the little things I do daily. For example, making sure I have compostable bags when I take my dog on a walk or clean my cat’s litter box. Using a metal or refillable water bottle for the gym and separating recyclables. I also used a smart thermostat in my previous condo (planning to buy one for my new house soon!) and would like an electric car once my 2004 Hyundai kicks the bucket. Solar panels are also on my radar at some point, probably once we replace our aging roof. I believe little things add up over time and can make a big difference in the long run. But I’m always looking for ways to be greener and am excited to learn more things I can apply in my day-to-day life. 

What can you tell us about yourself?

I was born and raised in Madison Wisconsin and have lived there my whole life other than a semester in Ireland during my junior year of college. I went to the Wisconsin School of Business and am a lifelong Packers/Badgers fan. 

I recently bought my first house in Madison where I live with my boyfriend and our pets. We have a two-year-old Shiba Inu named Akira and two cats, Jango (3) and Smokey (14). I’m a geek at heart and love to watch movies and TV. In my spare time, I enjoy attending comic conventions, traveling to new places, and playing video games with friends. I’ve also been described as a Disney adult by my boyfriend and younger brother. I’m very excited to be joining the team at Virtual Peaker and can’t wait to meet everyone!

About The Author

Bill is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD from UC Berkeley in Controls and Artificial Intelligence and 10 years of experience with high performance residential energy management and connected appliances. He was previously at GE as an Advanced Systems Engineer in the Connected Home Software Group, but left that role in May 2014 to pursue entrepreneurship full time.

Bill grew up in Louisville and returned with his family in 2010 after a long stint in the San Francisco Bay Area. He loves Louisville and is working to make it a better and more attractive city for high tech startups.

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