Cindy Bates is Vice President of Microsoft’s U.S. SMB organization where she is responsible for the company’s end-to-end SMB sales and marketing efforts, including SMB strategy, business development, regional field sales and national distribution sales, channel marketing, and customer marketing. Armed with a wealth of management experience leading high performing teams and expertise in sales, marketing, strategy and corporate development, Bates is a 10 year Microsoft veteran with an interest and passion for the SMB business woven throughout her experiences. She started her career with four years as a Managing Director in Microsoft’s Corporate Development and Strategy group where she was responsible for strategically evaluating, structuring, valuing and negotiating the company’s mergers, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures.