David Yates graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1985 with a business degree, and went to work for Arthur Young & Company, an accounting firm. In 1987, he was hired by a consortium located in Florida. In 1989, this group purchased the rights to the IRONMAN Triathlon events and brand and he became the Executive VP and then moved to CEO in 1992. During his tenure, the IRONMAN brand was established as a legitimate international sports brand, with TV packages on NBC and ESPN, and many international media outlets.

Yates joined Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) in 2006 as its CEO. He assumed this position when CMA was on the verge of insolvency and created a vision and business model that successfully resurrected CMA into a thriving global organization. When Winter the disabled dolphin came to CMA, Yates had the foresight to see her story of survival as an inspiration to others and initiated a marketing and media plan that promoted the story worldwide. Yates’ 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 CMA’s mission. These initiatives created a multi-billion dollar economic impact for the Clearwater Beach area and Statewide. Yates left CMA in 2020 after completing an $80 million new facility, and he is now executive producing multiple films for Lifetime and other networks.

Yates has produced a documentary on Winter’s story and has helped produce six books about her. Yates 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 and Kris Kristofferson. Yates also directed and wrote the documentary “Winter, the Dolphin That Can”, and directs the current web series Winter the Dolphin, Saving Winter. Yates and his wife Joan reside in Palm Harbor, Florida and have four grown children.


Awards/recognition:
• 3 Sports Emmy Awards – Ironman NBC Shows
• Governor’s Business Ambassador Award (Florida)
• Tampa Bay Business Journal Top Management Team
• Achievement Award – Florida Motion Picture & Television Association
• Nonprofit National Turnaround Award – Turnaround Management Association
• Legends Award – Film Florida