“What resonates with me the most is how we value culture and community; I am honored to be part of such a dynamic group. We at ZP create leading-edge products and provide an unparalleled customer experience. We are building a bridge that connects us to one another and enhances communication.”
At ZP, central to our mission and our values is a deep and unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive world.
At ZP, each and every day we:
At ZP, we strive to lead by example:
At ZP, we are working with some of the world’s best-known brands to build more equitable and inclusive workplaces for the deaf and hard of hearing.
ZP Better Together was uniquely founded as CSDVRS in 2000 by and for the deaf community. We were the very first provider in the United States of video relay service (VRS), a backbone of communications for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Since then, for nearly a quarter of a century, ZP continues to bring to market the most innovative and trusted technology solutions, and the very best interpreting services, not only for deaf and hard of hearing consumers, but also for some of the biggest companies in the world.
What has never wavered at ZP is our firm belief that every conversation matters — that communications access is a human right — not just for some of us, but for all of us.
Full and equal communications access with family, friends, doctors, employers and colleagues is central to creating a barrier-free and inclusive society.
This is how we make our world better.
This is how we are all better together.
“Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.” — Paul Ryan
Every individual is beautifully unique and contributes in their own way. We love to celebrate our diverse community!
A way of life of a group of people.
We value the culture of our community and appreciate that we are all connected. We are united by the fact that we all have more in common than we do differences.
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Information Officer
Chief Experience Officer
Vice President, Application Systems, Product, and PMO
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Corporate Interpeting
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Chief Legal Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Vice President, Customer Experience
Vice President, Marketing
Vice President, Sales Operations
Vice President, Product Strategy and Innovation
Chief Operations Officer, VI Operations
Vice President, VI Operations
Chief of Staff
To request help or support, please contact our customer experience team at 877.885.3172 or click the “Email us for Support” button below.
Chief Executive Officer
Sherri Turpin is CEO of ZVRS and Purple Communications (ZP), a leading provider of communications solutions, including video relay technology and interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. She is a signatory to CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She serves as board member for the New York School for the Deaf, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Foundation and Avita Pharmacy.
Under Sherri, ZP has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion (2020, 2021), earning a score of 100% on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), an initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability: IN. One of few hearing CEOs proficient in American Sign Language, Sherri is among the bold social impact leaders today, advocating to advance equity and inclusion for the deaf community. She is deeply committed to bringing increased awareness of communication access and equity, and the power and value of the deaf and hard of hearing community – all for greater inclusion and well-being in the workplace and beyond.
Sherri previously served as EarthLink’s Channel Chief responsible for all aspects of the company’s indirect distribution channel, including full profit and loss, sales and revenue growth, and EBITDA contribution. Sherri also served as Executive in Residence for Kinderhook Industries and with XO Communications in varying leadership roles. She has been recognized with several awards for her leadership and innovation, including the CRN Women of the Channel/Circle of Excellence. She has been featured in prominent media including The Hill, Forbes, the Austin Business Journal and Medium’s Inspirational Women Leaders of Tech and was selected to present at SXSW 2022 on “Big Bold, Brave Ideas for a More Inclusive World.”
Chief Information Officer
Bill joined ZVRS in 2017 where he is responsible for technology strategy, architecture, operations, governance, and product development. He is a recognized enterprise change agent and business leader, known for developing a strategic vision and executing business transformation initiatives.
Prior to joining Z, Bill was Chief Security Officer for EarthLink. In addition to his role as CSO, Bill served EarthLink as Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Engineering, and Vice President of IT Development where he led multiple global initiatives that were instrumental to EarthLink’s successful transformation to a hosted technology and telecommunications services provider.
Bill earned his degree in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University. As a licensed ship’s captain, Bill enjoys boats, and he along with his family are involved in the community and supporting local animal shelters.
Chief Experience Officer
Chris is a seasoned executive and influential leader, whose journey with the ZP Executive team began in 2007. With a robust background in management spanning over 25 years, Chris has been at the forefront of steering various teams at ZP. His current purview includes overseeing customer experience.
Chris is widely recognized nationally as a stalwart in organizational management and board development. His commitment to advocacy is evident through his tenure as the president of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), a prominent civil rights organization for Deaf and hard of hearing Americans, where he served from 2012 to 2016. Furthermore, Chris has contributed significantly as the chair of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Board of Trustees and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Foundation Board.
A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a degree in Social Work, Chris furthered his education at Colorado State University, earning a master’s degree in organizational leadership and management.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Chris finds joy in his personal pursuits. Family holds a special place in his heart, and he cherishes moments spent with them. A dog enthusiast, he can often be found walking his loyal companion, Levi. Chris’s adventurous spirit extends to his love for travel and exploring different wineries, reflecting his appreciation for the finer things in life.
Vice President, Application Systems, Product, and PMO
Melissa joined ZVRS in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience in Telecommunications and IT Services industries. As the VP of Application Systems, Product and PMO, Melissa is responsible for identification, development and implementation of innovative product concepts and user interfaces. She is an influential executive who is experienced in driving complex business transformations through the lens of both process optimization and customer experience.
Prior to joining ZVRS Melissa was the Sr. Director, IT Solutions at Windstream, where she led the integration of the Earthlink acquisition. She has held multiple leadership positions within the Product/IT lifecycle, ranging from Product management, Program Management, Product Development, and IT systems integration. Her extensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between IT and operational organization, has honed a pragmatic approach to solving operations issues, that affect value of effort or revenue potential.
Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York College at Oswego. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and hiking as she works toward accomplishing the “46 High Peaks”.
Chief Technology Officer
Zarko holds a 20-year professional career in technology, which does not include the years he spent reverse engineering anything within reach going all the way back to his first toy.
The past ten years of his career have been spent in the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) and Video Relay Services (VRS) industry holding a variety of technical and managerial positions from overseeing the Network Operations Center, to heading System Architecture, and most recently leading the Development and Test teams.
Zarko enjoys leading a team of talented and passionate engineers through success but even more so through the challenges where his leadership and out of the box thinking provides the highest value to the team and product development. He thrives in the ability to get into the bits and bytes of a technical problem and promote business strategy and technical deliverables that optimize the customer experience. Zarko enjoys the outdoor California lifestyle with his wife and two children.
Chief Administrative Officer
Caryn joined the Z family in 2015, and brings over 20 years of experience in the Telecommunications industry. Prior to ZVRS, she worked with Earthlink for 10+ years supporting various leadership roles in different areas of the telecommunications industry-including Operations, Service Delivery, Account Management and Sales Support.
As Chief Administrative Officer, Caryn oversees the administration of company policies, procedures and quality assurance and leads Human Resources. Since joining ZVRS, Caryn has learned American Sign Language. Caryn enjoys music and art, loves exploring nature with her husband Cleveland, and cherishes every moment spent with her playful dogs, Simon and Lola.
Director of Corporate Interpreting
Kama joined the ZVRS family in 2013 and has worked in the profession of interpreting for over 17 years. Prior to joining ZVRS, Kama was a staff interpreter at Arizona State University. She is a nationally certified interpreter and brings experience in leadership and interpreting in the business, education, community and video relay service industry. She previously served as an Operations Manager responsible for ZVRS Video Interpreters; recruiting, hiring and managing all activities related to operations. As the Executive Services Administrator to the Office of the CEO, Kama works closely with Sherri Turpin and the Executive Team. Kama is a child of deaf adults (CODA) and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Norman has been on an extraordinary journey with the company for over 17 years. His career began at Hands on VRS (HOVRS), a small, family-owned Purple legacy company, where he held various roles. After HOVRS merged with GoAmerica, which later became Purple Communications, Norman successfully led a nationwide sales team to new heights.
In 2017, following the acquisition by ZVRS, Norman advanced to a key leadership role. With extensive experience in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry, he has a proven track record of guiding teams through strategic initiatives that maximize revenue, productivity, and execution.
As the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Norman oversees multiple departments, including sales, marketing, and customer care. Outside of work, Norman is an adventure enthusiast who enjoys spending quality time with his family traveling, camping, and proudly being the #1 sports dad. He currently resides in Roseville with his wife and two children.
Chief Legal Officer
Admitted to New York and Texas Bar, Greg joined ZVRS in 2016 following his 15 years tenure at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the Chief of Disability Rights Office and legal advisor. At the FCC, he was responsible for administering a wide array of disability rulemaking proceedings and policy matters, including regulations of several types of relay services, notably Video Relay Service, as well as various issues on accessibility of communication technologies.
Greg holds a BA in Government from Gallaudet University and a JD from Hofstra University School of Law. Greg is a member of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Lexington School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University. Greg also serves as a legal counsel for the Mark Seven Deaf Foundation. He is known for his leadership role as the student body government president at the Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University in 1988. Greg lives in Ellicott City, MD and is married to Charmaine Jacobs Hlibok. They have four grown children. Greg would spend some leisure time to play pickleball or go for a scuba dive.
Chief Financial Officer
Mike joined ZP in October 2022 following 15 years at IWG plc (International Workplace Group, leader of the flexible office space with Regus and SPACES brands), with most of that time as CFO of the North American region. Mike’s experience also includes 13 years with Sabre in various roles, most notably head of Finance for the Electronic Travel Distribution division and 2 years with Travelocity. Mike is adept at building and maintaining strong relationships both internally and externally as he works to benefit all stakeholders in his capacity as CFO.
Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Abilene Christian University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Vice President, Customer Experience
Tim joined ZVRS in 2006 and has enjoyed a 20+ year career combining his love for advocacy with business. He comes from four generations of a deaf family. Prior to joining ZVRS, he worked with Communications Services for the Deaf (CSD) as vice president, supporting community interpreting and video relay services. He then served as VP of Sales and is currently the VP of Customer Experience.
Tim received his B.A. degree in Government from Gallaudet and began his first career as a staff assistant, working and advising Senator John McCain on disability and ADA issues. During his leisure time, he enjoys cooking, hiking, and playing disc golf. Tim, along with his wife, has four children.
Vice President of Marketing
Carlton joined ZP in November 2020, bringing over 20 years of experience in Sales, Merchandising, Business Analysis, Project Management, Learning and Development, Sales Enablement, Operations and Marketing. His previous work experience includes working for such companies as J.C. Penney’s, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
As VP of Marketing at ZP Better Together, Carlton guides the Strategic Marketing Vision for ZP, Brand and Product Positioning, Growth Strategies, Marketing Communications, Market Research, Customer Relationship Management and Intelligence, Demand Generation, and Partnerships.
Carlton’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Xavier University of Louisiana and Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing and Global Management from the University of Phoenix.
A native of Louisiana, Carlton enjoys making memories with his wife, kids, and family. A leader with a servant’s heart, Carlton’s volunteer work is evident in participating with organizations such as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Youth Center for Underprivileged Kids, the former Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, Tornado Relief, Youth in Action, and the Junior Diabetes Foundation.
Vice President, Sales Operations
Aaron joined ZVRS in 2006 and has held multiple roles with the company over the years. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Interpreting and Access to Communication has been the paramount driving force in his career and life. Prior to joining ZVRS, he worked with Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) as a Vendor Manager supporting the relationships and scheduling of interpreters and the interpreting needs for video relay services. He currently leads the Sales Operations team with the focus of supporting the Nationwide Account Management team whose primary responsibility is creating access for deaf people nationwide through video relay services.
During his leisure time, he enjoys cooking, spending time with family and traveling. Aaron along with his wife Paige and their four children reside in Florida.
Vice President, Product Strategy and Innovation
In his position with ZVRS, Phil focuses on the next “big thing” in communication technology for deaf and hard of hearing people. He helped pioneer the development of CSD’s (Communication Service for the Deaf) video relay service. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of the National Captioning Institute and worked for IBM for nearly 25 years in a variety of technical, management and marketing positions.
Phil holds a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University. He has served on Gallaudet University Board of Trustees for over 20 years, serving as chairman from 1988–1994. He is also a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Gallaudet University. He and his wife Judy reside in Washington, DC and take every minute to spend time with their children and grandchildren as well as traveling, snowshoeing and hiking.
Chief Operations Officer, VI Operations
Fran joined the Purple Communications team in 2008 and brings extensive experience in Operations Management, Business Development and Project Management. Fran is a collaborative executive leader who is driven by her commitment to service and passion to provide growth opportunities for her team through education, program offerings and director mentoring. Fran currently leads Video Relay Services, Video Remote Interpreting, Community & CART operations along with Community Business Development and Sales.
Prior to joining Purple Communications, Fran spent over 20 years in senior and executive positions in the health care, pharmacy and hospice industry. Fran holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College. Fran and her family who reside in Alamo, CA dedicate their time in supporting organizations such as Catholic Charities, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Down Syndrome Connection. When not participating in community efforts, they enjoy concerts, theater and traveling.
Vice President, VI Operations
Greg has been with Purple Communications since the inception of the company. Prior to his tenure with Purple, Greg served as the Director of Virginia Operations for Purple legacy company Sign Language Associates. In addition, Greg taught in the ASL and Interpreter Preparation Program at Reynolds Community College and served in variety of leadership roles with Virginia RID and RID Region Two. Greg embraces a leadership philosophy of “Keep moving forward,” seeking opportunities to advance interpreters as they commit to connecting people across cultures, languages, and experiences.
Greg has more than 28 years of professional interpreting experience after having been raised in the Deaf and interpreting communities. He holds a degree in Linguistics from Virginia Commonwealth University and has studied extensively with Dr. Carol Patrie and her Effective Interpreting Series. Greg currently lives outside of Richmond, Virginia with Ben, his partner of 25 plus years. Most weekends you can find the two of them out picking furniture and décor for their mid-century modern antique business.
Chief of Staff
Tyler serves as the Chief of Staff at ZP, and joined the company in 2022. Born in Seattle, Tyler brings a wealth of experience in corporate finance and corporate development, with a proven track record in driving strategic initiatives and optimizing financial performance. Prior to joining ZP, Tyler served as a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), where he played a key role in guiding the company through critical financial decisions. Tyler holds an MBA from the University of Texas, where he honed his expertise in business strategy and leadership. During his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and paddle boarding.
