WILLIAM TATE
Chairman & CEO

Colonel Bill Tate, USMC retired, after serving 30 years in the military, founded CPS with his wife Helen in 1976.  Since then, Bill has created one of the leading DMCs in the country employing 32 full-time and 150 part-time employees.  Recipient of numerous industry awards and consummate volunteer for travel industry trade groups; Bill is highly recognized in the industry as one of the leaders and pioneers in the industry.

HELEN TATE
Executive Vice President Human Resources

Helen joined Bill in founding CPS in 1976 and quickly became the client’s choice for planning and executing a successful meeting. She traveled the country with her clients to select sites and manage their meetings. As the business grew and the staff increased, Helen turned her attention to the real assets of the business – its employees. As EVP of Human Resources she is “the glue” that holds the team together during tough times and makes us celebrate our many successes.

JOHN TATE
President

After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in industrial systems engineering, John worked for Frito Lay for a number of years before joining the family business in 1989. Starting as a Director of Business Development and designer of transportation systems, he learned the business from the ground up. John was promoted to President of CPS in 1996. Since then, John has grown the company several fold, attracting private investors, building a professional sales force, and establishing its expertise in transportation, special events and themed décor. In 1997, John and his father founded Transit Masters, Inc. bus company which grew to one of the most successful companies of its kind by 2001, just before it was sold.

SHARON DECKER
Vice President

Sharon started her career at CPS in 1984 selling and operating programs for some of the largest associations in the United States. Since then she has grown up with the DMC business in Orlando and is recognized nationally by many of the largest associations as the expert in Orlando. She has worked in every area of the business as a meeting planner, DMC specialist, Program Manager, and executive. Most recently she was Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 2001 she lead the successful start-up team for the Gaylord Palms Resort on-site DMC.

BOB REED, MBA, MS
Senior Vice President Business and Client Services

Bob began his 25-year career in national account sales for AT&T. After receiving his MBA from Columbia University he worked for American Express as Brand Manager for The Platinum Card, where he designed numerous services for the most demanding clients. In 1990 he moved to Orlando to start up marketing and sales operations for Disney Vacation Club. In 1995 he moved to the Disney Institute to head up New Business Development and in 2000 joined CPS as Vice President/GM. Bob specializes in new business start-ups and product development and brings a wealth of experience from a variety of industries.

DUANE LATIMER
Senior Vice President, Operations, Purchasing & Quality Assurance

Duane started her career as a registered nurse specializing in medical/surgical nursing and pediatrics. She joined her family in 1989 as a meeting planner and bookkeeper and grew up with the business. She is an expert with all operational and financial aspects of the business and human resources. Over the past decade she has managed numerous group meetings and held several executive positions. Duane is currently leading several new initiatives for developing preferred supplier agreements, purchasing, pricing, and quality assurance.

MIKE DAY
Senior Vice President, Business Development

After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Mike began his career at Ving Med Sound, a cardiac ultra-sound company. He started with CPS in 1992 working in numerous departments selling and operating group programs for corporations, incentive companies, and associations. In 2001 Mike became the Director of Sales leading a team of seven professional Account Executives to grow CPS’ business. Now Vice President of Sales and Marketing, he specializes in special events, entertainment and themed décor and is recognized nationally by corporations and incentive companies as an expert in the DMC business.

JOHN ROTH, CMP
Director, Sales

John is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and has served as an Adjunct Professor at UCF in the School of Hospitality Management. He has 21 years of DMC experience having owned his own DMC, Complete Meeting Concepts, from 1985-2005, joining CPS in January of 2005. As active volunteer in Meeting Professionals International, John served as an MPI International Board of Director from 1991-19995, President of the Greater Orlando Chapter in 1991, and was recognized as the Chapter Meeting Professional of the Year in 1988. He has been a Certified Meeting Professional since 1991 and frequently teaches CMP workshops and speaks at industry meetings.

RANCE BROWN
Vice President, Sales

Rance began his career a special event décor company. He joined CPS in 1997 and spent the next 5 years in a variety of positions working directly with all types of clients and meetings, developing sales proposals and operating a variety of high profile pharmaceutical product launches and incentive meetings. In 2002 he became the National Account Manager for CPS and in 2004 he took over as Director of sales, leading a team of six Account Executives. In 2005 Rance was promoted to VP of Sales and lead his team to achieve record sales. Rance combines a very strong experience in Operations and Sales and is considered by his clients as a leading expert in DMC services.

DAVE CLARK
Controller, CPA

Dave came to CPS in 2005 and brings with him nearly 24 years of experience in a variety of accounting and financial positions in very large and medium size companies. He started his career in the financial services industry with GE Credit Corporation. He then spent 10 years in the manufacturing industry with a variety of companies. Before joining CPS, he held several senior positions at Budget Rent A Car.

HOPE VALENTINE
Sr. Sales & Marketing Account Executive

Hope is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and has been a member of the CPS sales team for over 9 years. She has developed and managed large events for companies such as Ford, Procter & Gamble, Cendant and Honda, for whom she and the CPS creative team produced a high-energy special event at the Convention Center for 3,000 attendees.

CPS is the in-house DMC at the Gaylord Palms Resort where their executive management team has requested that Hope be assigned to sell and manage all their high level meetings and events.

Hope’s expertise is in special event design, event flow and logistical movement of the attendees. Her ability to effectively communicate with her client during this process helps to create a worry free environment and a flawless event.

Hope has been an active member of Meeting Professionals International since 1990.