"Our mission is to help Centralia's top businesses find outstanding employees. We are convinced that the economic engine of our country is small and medium-sized businesses and we are committed to helping those businesses succeed through our staffing and employment services or through referrals to our business colleagues and friends."

Reid Bates is the owner of Express Employment Professionals offices in Olympia, Centralia and Aberdeen, Washington. Each and every year, hundreds of people find permanent employment through Reid's offices. He has over 30 years of business experience including 18 years as an executive with global forest products giant, Weyerhaeuser Company. Reid serves in leadership roles with several civic organizations including Past-President of the Thurston County Economic Development Council (EDC), board member of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., past-board member of the United Way of Thurston County, a member of the Grays Harbor College Business Advisory Council, Advisory Board Member of the St. Martin's University School of Business and past-chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Reid was elected by shareholders to the board of directors for Anchor Bank in 2013. He has appeared on television, radio, newspapers and spoken at numerous seminars on the topic of employment and workforce-related issues. His business, Express Employment Professionals, is past recipient of the Thurston Economic Development Council's Small Business of the Year and he is twice recipient of the Ralph Palmen Leadership Award presented by Express Employment Professionals, Northwest Region. Reid is a graduate of the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University. He and his wife Kathryn are the proud parents of five children and 6 grandchildren and they make their home in Olympia.