Executive Spotlight: Who Is Wesley Bates, Chairman and Longtime CEO of Stanley Steemer International? (2027)
Wesley Bates is the chairman of Stanley Steemer International, the Dublin, Ohio cleaning company that began in 1947 and has company-owned and franchised locations in 49 states. He led the company as CEO and, according to a company-data summary that cites Columbus Business First, moved to chairman when Philip Ryser was named CEO. Older directories and some university pages still list him as CEO.
This page covers public professional information only, taken from pages read for this page. Sources on him are thin, so what is not confirmed is said so.
Current role and company
Stanley Steemer International is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, and dates to 1947, when it began as a carpet cleaning business. Highperformr, a company-data aggregator, lists Bates as chairman and Philip P. Ryser as president and CEO as of April 2025.
- CompanyStanley Steemer International, Dublin, Ohio (founded 1947).
- TitleChairman. Earlier sources, and Wittenberg University pages, describe him as CEO and chairman of the board.
- Leadership changeHighperformr cites a Columbus Business First article dated June 2, 2022 reporting that Ryser was named CEO, succeeding Bates, who moved to chairman. The original article was not retrieved, so the date is secondhand.
- FootprintCompany-owned and franchised locations in 49 states (Highperformr; 1851 Franchise).
Career path
- Education. He is a Wittenberg University graduate and has served on its board.
- Stanley Steemer leadership. 1851 Franchise's roster, in an article drawing on the 2023 franchise disclosure document, lists him as chief executive officer, with Philip Ryser then listed as executive vice president and general counsel. That roster predates the reported change.
- Chairman. After the reported leadership change he is chairman while Ryser is CEO and Justin Bates is listed as chief operating officer (Highperformr).
- University service. Wittenberg says he joined its Board of Directors in 2007, served eight years there, and later co-chaired its campaign steering committee.
What Bates is known for
- Leading a national service brand. He is described as CEO and chairman of Stanley Steemer International, which 1851 Franchise says has more than 275 company-owned and franchised locations in 49 states.
- A reported leadership handover. The move of the CEO role to Ryser, with Bates staying on as chairman, is the most recent public change at the top found. No interview about it was located.
- Support for higher education. Wittenberg gave him its Alumni Association Class of 1914 Award, which it calls the association's most prestigious honor, and describes him as a lead donor for its Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex, whose centerpiece is the facility called The Steemer.
Leadership style and philosophy
No interview, speech or talk by Bates turned up in the pages read, so this page does not attribute a leadership philosophy or quotation to him. The only characterization found is Wittenberg's description of his service as going above and beyond what might be expected of a contributor to the college's welfare, which describes his university work, not his management approach.
Key numbers
Figures are company-reported or from third-party summaries, each with its period. Counts change and none are audited.
- Locations (1851 Franchise)More than 275 company-owned and franchised locations in 49 states.
- Per-unit sales (2022, from the 2023 franchise disclosure document)Average gross sales per unit of $1,715,720, as reported by 1851 Franchise; the highest-grossing unit exceeded $12 million.
- Employees (Highperformr, 2025)About 2,360, a third-party figure.
- Founded1947 (Highperformr; 1851 Franchise).
Questions people ask
Who is Wesley Bates of Stanley Steemer?
He is chairman of Stanley Steemer International and was its CEO. A company-data summary citing Columbus Business First says Philip Ryser succeeded him as CEO.
Is Wesley Bates still the CEO of Stanley Steemer?
Not according to the most recent roster found, which lists Philip Ryser as president and CEO and Bates as chairman as of April 2025. Some directories and older pages still list Bates as CEO.
Where is Stanley Steemer based?
Stanley Steemer International is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
When was Stanley Steemer founded?
The company dates to 1947, when it began as a carpet cleaning business.
How many locations does Stanley Steemer have?
1851 Franchise reports more than 275 company-owned and franchised locations in 49 states. Counts change, so check the company's own site for a current number.
Sources
- Wittenberg University: Meet the Campaign Steering Committee · Title, university roles, award; hero photo (alt text names Wes Bates)
- Wittenberg University: Wittenberg celebrates alumni achievement (Oct 6, 2015) · Class of 1914 Award, board service
- Highperformr: Stanley Steemer company profile · Leadership change (citing Columbus Business First), 2025 roster, founding, headquarters, footprint
- 1851 Franchise: Stanley Steemer franchise deep dive · Location count, 2022 per-unit sales from the 2023 FDD, earlier roster
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026. The leadership change is reported secondhand and its exact date was not confirmed from the original article or a press release; no interview with Bates was found. The hero photo is the official board portrait on a Wittenberg University page that names him (alt text "Wes Bates"). It shows him alone and is centered on a blurred card. Photo: Wittenberg University. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Wittenberg University (Board of Directors page)