Debbie Bates-Schrott

Debbie, the Founder of WBENC and WOSB certified agency Beyond Definition (formerly Bates Creative), has over 25+ years of pushing creative strategy, branding, design, and marketing strategies beyond traditional limits. Her visionary perspective and understanding of forward-thinking technologies that influence brand experience positions Beyond Definition as an industry-leading integrated strategic and creative agency that’s been decorated with more than 200 awards including the prestigious FOLIO: Top Women in Media award, recognizing her achievements as a progressive leader within the industry. Her future-focused thinking has led the agency to continuously climb the ranks in the Washington Business Journal’s Book of Lists and a top Advertising Agency in the Washington, DC metro. This year, she celebrates joining the ranks of the fastest-growing companies in America, making the Inc 5000.

Year after year, Debbie’s pursuit for “what’s next” has produced sustainable, successful results for high profile clients like ExxonMobil, Cisco, Air Force Association, CREW Network, Heifer International, Military Officers Association of America, NACS, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Architect of the Capitol, American University, the United States Marine Corps and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

And, Debbie is recognized as a top-tier, dynamic public speaker. She has taken center stage at events for Adobe, the American Marketing Association, and Association Media & Publishing moving and inspiring audiences with leading marketing, digital, and creative insights.

Currently, she is a member of the INC CEO Project and the Association for Enterprise Growth. Recently, she represented the American Marketing Association, D.C. Chapter as Chief Creative Officer and has previously sat on boards for Association Media & Publishing, International Association of Business Communicators, and Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington.