David Yates

Former CEO - IRONMAN Group and Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Producer of Dolphin Tale movie franchise

Emmy Award winning Producer of NBC and ESPN IRONMAN shows

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Let David help and inspire you with...

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• Personal Inspiration & Motivation:

  • Books: Read his multiple inspirational real-life books.   Books & Films

  • Coaching: Utilize David’s Personal Coaching techniques to change your life trajectory.   Life Coaching 

  • Films: Experience his moving movies and documentary.   Books & Films

• Career Assistance:

  • Business Planning: David’s award winning strategic planning can turn your                                                       nonprofit or small company around or simply help you achieve greater success.  Consulting

  • Speaking: David is an energetic and inspirational speaker, virtually or in-person,                                                  that will motivate your team.    Speaking 

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               About David – A Life of Building Hope.                     

From Ironman to Dolphin Tale  

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 "David is someone who, in the midst of his unbelievably demanding schedule, makes time for every individual person in beautiful ways they’ll never forget." Cozi Zuehlsdorff – Actor (Dolphin Tale movies, Disney’s Mighty Med, Disney’s Freaky Friday - 2018) 

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David Yates is the former CEO of both the IRONMAN Group (IRONMAN Triathlon Company) and Clearwater Marine Aquarium (home of the Dolphin Tale movie franchise). IRONMAN is now a nearly billion-dollar international sports brand, and as the Executive VP and then CEO, David repositioned the IRONMAN brand and established a brand growth plan that exists to this day. 

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David recently completed a 14-year tenure as CEO at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida. David assumed this position at a time when CMA was on the verge of insolvency, and created a vision, business model and an award-winning management team that has successfully resurrected CMA into a thriving global organization. When Winter the disabled dolphin came to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, David had the foresight to see her story of survival as an inspiration to others. He initiated a marketing and media plan that promoted the story worldwide and attracted the attention of animal lovers and individuals with life challenges, who would learn from her story. Winter’s story has been told in nearly all major national and international media outlets, including NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, BBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and thousands of others. Winter’s story has also been featured in magazines such as People, Reader’s Digest, Time, Women’s World, Scholastic, National Geographic Kids and too many others to recount. David’s unwavering vision has come to fruition and drawn an unparalleled amount of tourists to the Clearwater, Florida area to see Winter and learn more about her story and Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s mission. These initiatives and the increase in attendance have created a multi-billion dollar economic impact for hotels, restaurants and other attractions in the Clearwater Beach area and Statewide. 

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Millions around the world have been brought life-changing inspiration by David’s work with IRONMAN and Winter the Dolphin. David has produced a documentary on Winter’s story and has helped produce six books about her. David is also Co-Producer/Executive Producer of the #1 box office hit Dolphin Tale and its sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, the Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment major motion pictures that star Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Highsmith and Austin Stowell. 

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Yates also directed and wrote the documentary “Winter, the Dolphin That Can,” and directed the web series Rescue-Clearwater. Yates and his wife Joan reside in Palm Harbor, Florida and have four grown children. 

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