Cates has most recently been an Account Executive with WPSD, and has also been an Executive Assistant with the City of Paducah Finance Department, and a Clinical Coordinator in the Physician Assistant Program at Bethel University. She has a Bachelor of Science in management and Organizational Development, and Master’s in Education, both from Bethel University. She volunteers as a Reading Pal with the United Way of Paducah-McCracken County.

Paducah Bank is an award-winning, locally-owned bank with locations in the city and county.  The Bank has six locations throughout the community and employs 135 people. Paducah Bank is currently the top small business lender and the top mortgage lender in Paducah/McCracken County.  Paducah Bank was named the Best Place to Work in Kentucky among medium-sized companies in 2006.  In 2008, Paducah Bank was chosen by the Wall Street Journal as one of the nation’s Top 15 Small Workplaces.  Paducah Bank was named Best Bank in the Paducah Sun Readers’ Choice Awards in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2015, the Bank was the only Kentucky bank recognized for the effective use of social media by the Independent Community Bankers of America.