Contact The Gates Group
Contact Sarah to set up a confidential consultation regarding your potential needs:
Don Gates - Founder & Principal
don@the-gates-group.com
Donald W. Gates, Jr.
Don Gates is the founder and principal of The Gates Group, a multi-faceted communications agency in the Christian ministry space. Don works with well-known pastors, authors and ministry leaders on a variety of ministry and business endeavors. Most notably, he represents Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church and bestselling author of not a fan.
Prior to starting his own venture, Don was the Vice President of Marketing for Zondervan, the leading Christian communications company and a division of News Corporation (HarperCollins, Fox, WSJ, etc.). He led a team of professionals on the branding, advertising, promotions, creative and public relations for books as well as worked closely with editorial and sales in all decisions. He collaborated with some of the most accomplished authors and leaders in the Church, including Rick Warren, Anne Graham Lotz, Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, Ann Voskamp, Mark Batterson & Max Lucado.
Prior to joining Zondervan, Don spent fifteen years in brand management and food marketing. Most recently, he was the Brand Marketing Officer at YUM! Brands, responsible for the largest fast food seafood concept, Long John Silver's, as well as the first-ever burger place, A&W. Previously, he was the Marketing Director of Hugs & Kisses at The Hershey Company; and started in brand management with Goldfish at The Campbell Soup Company.
A native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Don received a BS degree with a concentration in marketing and political science from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he played Ivy League football. He also earned a MBA degree with a focus in finance and management & strategy from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree in Worldview and Apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Don has been faithfully married to Amy for twenty years and is very active in the lives of their children - Don III, Abigail and Emily. He is an avid reader, engaging communicator and enjoys coaching sports. He is a dedicated member at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville; and on the board of several faith-based organizations.