Jim Bates

Jim is a partner and co-founder of Sports Club Advisors. He is an experienced M&A advisor, a successful sports and fitness professional, a successful entrepreneur, and a published author. Jim works with buyers and sellers of fitness and athletic clubs, and provides valuation, operational and value enhancement consulting services nationwide.

Jim has over 30 years of tennis and fitness club experience. He started playing in competitive tennis at the age of 9 and went on to play tennis at Western Illinois University where he was a four-year standout and earned team MVP and all-conference accolades.

After college Jim began his professional career as a tennis pro working at a number of premier tennis and fitness clubs before returning to Western Illinois University to earn his MBA and to serve as assistant coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams.

Post graduate school, Jim has spent the last 20 years in the investment banking industry while at the same time remaining actively involved in tennis. He has been involved in over a dozen transactions with an estimated market value of over $100 million. In addition, he co-authored Business Valuation for Dummies (Wiley & Sons Publishing – 2009).

Education:

• BB – Economics, Western Illinois University (1990)
• MBA – Concentrations in Finance and Marketing, Western Illinois University (1998)

Awards, accolades and other professional responsibilities:

• Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries Collaboration Award, 2006
• Professional Tennis Registry Member of the Year for Illinois, 2012
• Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries Collaboration Award, 2014
• Professional Tennis Registry – State of Illinois Representative
• Professional Tennis Registry – Faculty Member
• Professional Tennis Registry – Conference Facilitator, Director of Tennis Conference

Memberships of professional organizations:

• Professional Tennis Registry – holder of three certifications:
  • High Performance
  • 11 – 17
  • Adult Development
• United States Tennis Association

Writing:

• Co-Author, “Business Valuation for Dummies”, Wiley Publishing, 2009
• Contributed numerous articles published in TennisPro magazine on a variety of different business topics for club owners.

Speaking:

Tennis and Fitness:

• 2013 PTR Director of Tennis Conference
• 2015 PTR Director of Tennis Conference
• 2014 TIA Owners and Managers Conference
• 2015 TIA Owners and Managers Conference
• 2016 TIA Owners and Managers Conference
• 2017 TIA Owners and Managers Conference (Specialty Course)
• 2018 TIA Owners and Managers Conference (Specialty Course)
• 2018 PTR Director of Tennis Conference (Conference Co-host and Speaker)
• 2019 PTR Director of Tennis Conference (Conference Co-host and Speaker)

Speaking (Other):

• Summer 2017 – “Strategic Management for Sports Clubs”, a 6-part webinar series for Tennis Industry Association
• March 2016 – “How Valuation effects Exit Planning”, Internal Presentation at Northwestern Mutual’ s “Elite” Wealth Management Group, NWM Headquarters, Milwaukee, WI
• September 2010 – Webinar: “A New Way to Look at Business Value”, The Exit Planning Institute
• November 2009 – “How Buyers View your Business”, University of Chicago – Graduate School of Business, Entrepreneurial Roundtable Event, Chicago, IL
• March 2007 – “Taking Care of Business”, Dealer Conference for Nationwide Manufacturer/Distributor of Commercial and Residential Overhead Doors, Champaign, IL
• November 2005 – “Maximizing Value”, Northern Trust “Family Business Breakfast Series”, Chicago, IL
• May 2004 – “Valuing A Cash Business”, Midwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries Seminar “How to Buy & Sell Businesses”, Chicago, IL
• April 2004 – “Business Appraisal 101”, Masonry Contractors Association of America, “MCAA Showcase”, Chicago, IL
• October 2003 – “Business Appraisal 101”, Refrigeration Services Engineering Society, “RSES National Convention”, Nashville, TN
• February 2002 – “Business Appraisal 101”, Masonry Contractors Association of America, “MCAA Showcase”, Phoenix, AZ