About Purple - Communication Services for the Deaf

Versatile VRS solutions

Fastest connection times

24/7/365 service

Industry’s best interpreters

300+ Deaf employees

Established in 1982

Our Leadership

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."

Sherri Turpin
Chief Executive 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.

Bill Billbrough
Chief Information Officer

Chris has been a member of the ZVRS Executive team since 2007, where he oversaw multiple teams, including marketing, sales, Enterprise solutions, field operations and customer experience. He brings over 25 years of management experience to ZVRS and is a nationally recognized leader in organizational management and board development. Chris served as president of the National Association of the Deaf, a civil rights organization for Deaf and hard of hearing Americans from 2012 to 2016, as well as Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Board of Trustees and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Foundation Board.

Chris received his degree in Social Work from Rochester Institute of Technology and his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Colorado State University. During his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family on the Florida beaches and is working toward his goal to build a retreat cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains.

Chris Estrin
Chief Marketing and Experience Officer

Driven, results oriented executive with a proven ability to develop highly productive cross functional teams. Successfully identified, planned, developed, and executed the product roadmap, resulting in several new products in the marketplace. Uniquely skilled in business process vision, identifying and streamlining "white spaces" between individual functional processes. Understands symbiotic relationship between IT and operational organization, delivering value through innovation and profitable growth. Analytical thinker from big picture concepts down to finely-tuned execution. Pragmatic approach in addressing operational issues that affect value of effort or revenue potential

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York College at Oswego.

Melissa Safford
Vice President, Application Systems, Product and PMO

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.

Zarko Roganovic
Chief Technology 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 and Marketing. Since joining ZVRS, Caryn has learned American Sign Language. Caryn relocated from Florida to Rocklin, CA and in her free time enjoys exploring with her husband Cleveland, all that the west coast has to offer in nature, music and art.

Caryn Diaz Bain
Chief Administrative Officer

Executive Services Administrator Kama Clippard

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.

Kama Clippard
Executive Services Administrator

Greg joined ZVRS in 2016 following his position as the Chief of Disability Rights at the Federal Communications Commission. He was responsible for administering a wide array of disability rulemaking proceedings and policy matters, including advancements of relay service and 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. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Lexington School for the Deaf and Center as well as Gallaudet University. He is known for his leadership role during the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University in 1988. Greg lives in Ellicott City, MD with his wife, Charmaine and four children. Greg manages to make time out of his busy schedule to enjoy traveling with his family- camping and scuba diving, and attending as the #1 fan at his kids’ sports games/concerts.

Greg Hlibok
Chief Legal Officer

Tim joined ZVRS in 2006 and has enjoyed a 20+ career combining his love for advocacy with business. He comes from four generations of deaf family members and is known for his leadership and support of Deaf President Now (DPN). Prior to joining ZVRS, he worked with Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) as vice president supporting community interpreting and video relay services. He currently leads residential sales with focus on expanding access for deaf people nationwide through video services.

Tim received his B.S. degree in Government from Gallaudet and began his first career as a staff assistant advising Senator John McCain on disability and ADA issues. During his leisure time, he enjoys cooking, navigating the waters and traveling internationally. Tim along with his wife Brandi and their four children reside in Austin, TX.

Tim Rarus
Vice President, Inside Sales

Vice President, Residential Sales Norman Chan

Norman joined the leadership team in 2018 where he is responsible for leading and supporting a nationwide sales team. With over 10+ years in VRS industry, he has a track record of successfully leading teams through strategic planning initiatives to drive maximization on revenue, productivity and execution. Prior to his current role, Norman worked with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Resources Analyst.

Norman holds his B.A. degree from Gallaudet University in Communication Studies. When not on the computer or videophone, Norman and his family enjoy adventures especially traveling, camping, and exploring nature. He currently lives in Roseville, CA with his wife and two children.

Norman Chan
Vice President, Residential Sales

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 Chester, Vermont and take every minute to spend time with their children and grandchildren as well as traveling, snowshoeing and hiking.

Phil Bravin
Vice President, Product Strategy and Innovation

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.

Fran Cummings
Chief Operations Officer, 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.

Greg Camp
Vice President, VI Operations

Diversity and Inclusion

People First

At Purple Communications, we value culture and community. Together, we are building a bridge that connects us to one another and to our customers. We strive to create workplaces that reflect the communities we support and celebrates the authenticity and diverse perspectives of our employees.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

News & Press Releases

Purple Communications, Inc. welcomes media inquiries about our products, services and community advocacy. Please send your individual requests to media@zvrs.com. A representative from Purple will respond to your inquiry. If you are not a member of the media but would still like additional information about Purple, please Contact Us.

ZP Better Together Launches E911 Geolocation Services With Innovative Mobile Solution, Advances Communications Equity, Safety for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

11/29/2023

AUSTIN, TX (November 29, 2023) – ZP Better Together (ZP) announced today that it has launched an innovative mobile app solution that makes E911 geolocation services available to the deaf and hard of hearing community. ZP, a leading provider of video relay and interpretation services, is among the first providers to deliver E911 geolocation services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Read More

SXSW Panelists Discussed Deaf Representation, Communication and Technology Access and the Power of Human Connection for Social Change

3/21/2022

AUSTIN, Texas (March 21, 2022) - Social impact leaders Alexis Kashar, Storm Smith and Warren “Wawa” Snipe joined Austin-based technology CEO Sherri Turpin at SXSW 2022 to deliver a powerful panel presentation: “Big Bold Brave Ideas for a More Inclusive World.” The March 17 panel centered on a thought-provoking “What If You Were Deaf” video and discussion, spotlighting the critical need for greater awareness and understanding, the many every day inequities the Deaf community continues to face today Read More

ZVRS, Purple Communications Announce Innovative Collaboration with Meta to Advance Access to Video Communications for the Deaf Community

12/16/2021

Austin, TX (December 16, 2021) - ZVRS and Purple Communications (ZP) today announced a new innovative collaboration with Meta (the new name of the Facebook company) to bring its popular Z5 and P3 apps and video relay services (VRS) to the Portal family of products. As part of its pledge that “Every Conversation Matters” and “Connection is Everything,” ZP will also begin offering Portal to eligible deaf and hard of hearing individuals beginning December 16th. Read More

ZVRS and Purple Communications' 100% DEI Score

07/13/2021

Austin, TX, July 13, 2021 - Once again, for 2021, ZVRS and Purple Communications are proud to have earned a 100% on #DEI for #DisabilityInclusion! Read More

Authority Magazine Interview with Sherri Turpin

07/06/2021

Austin, TX, July 6, 2021 - ZVRS/Purple Communications CEO, Sherri Turpin, was recently featured in Medium’s The Authority Magazine as part of its ongoing Q&A series: “Inspirational Women Leaders of Tech: Sherri Turpin on the Five Things You Need To Know In Order to Create a Very Successful Tech Company.” Read More

ZP, Leading Technology Solutions Company for the Deaf, Relocates to Austin with Innovative DeafSpace Headquarters

01/28/2021

Austin, TX, January 28, 2021 – ZVRS and Purple Communications, divisions of ZP Better Together, LLC (ZP), a leading provider of communication solutions for the deaf and hard of hearing community, announced today the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Austin, TX, from Rocklin, Calif. Effective January 28, 2021, ZP’s headquarters move will expand its workspace presence in dynamic and fast-growing northwest Austin and features an innovative DeafSpace design and architecture that puts the deaf community and the deaf experience front and center. Read More about Austin

New App Bridges Communication for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Callers

11/17/2020

Rocklin, CA., November 17, 2020 – ZVRS and Purple Communications releases sivo®, a revolutionary, new app which enables a three-way video connection between Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, sign language interpreters, and hearing individuals–all on the same phone call. Read More

ZVRS and Purple Communications' 100% DEI Score

7/15/2020

Rocklin, CA., July 15, 2020 – We are proud to share after a year-long project, ZVRS and Purple Communications are being recognized as a “best place to work” after scoring a 100% on the Disability Equality Index (DEI)! The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN. Read More

ZVRS Applauds FCC’s Announcement on Rates for VRS Providers
Result Will Bring Greater Competition and Consumer Choice
7/10/2017

Clearwater, Fla., July 10, 2017 – ZVRS, Inc., a leading provider of video relay services to the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard-of-Hearing communities, today applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its decision to set reasonable reimbursement rates for video relay service (VRS) providers. ZVRS believes that this decision will positively impact the market by creating greater competition amongst VRS providers, thereby creating more consumer choices. Additionally, ZVRS is excited to partner with the Commission to help bring innovative communications services and technologies to the community and to bridge the communication gap between hearing individuals and the community. Read More

Ditto® Wearable Partners with Purple Communications to Provide Purple VRS Customers with Exclusive Enhanced Service, Accessibility and Value
11/16/2016

SANTA MONICA, Nov. 16, 2016—Ditto®, the smartphone notification wearable, today announced an exclusive partnership with Video Relay Service (VRS) provider, Purple Communications, Inc. This partnership uniquely and exclusively integrates Ditto with Purple’s P3 Mobile app to make Purple VRS communication easier and more effective for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Purple is now the only Video Relay Service provider that works with Ditto to notify its users of incoming calls and messages. Read More

Purple Communications teams with LIFX to deliver “POP” light for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals
11/01/2016

Rocklin, Calif., November 1, 2016 - Today, Purple Communications, Inc., pioneers in Video Relay Service (VRS) technology, announced a new partnership with LIFX, makers of the world’s brightest color Wi-Fi-enabled smart light bulbs, to deliver an exciting new product—"POP"—that visually notifies deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals of incoming calls. Read More

Purple Communications Maintains Advocacy for Equal Access in Correctional and Rehabilitation Settings
9/22/2016

Rocklin, Calif., September 22, 2016 – Purple Communications, a leading provider of communication solutions for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, is recognized as a long-standing advocate for equal access in all settings and situations, including correctional and rehabilitation environments. Its active partnership with GTL ensures prison inmates have the same communication opportunities as hearing individuals. Read More

Purple Communications Awards Tech Grants to Fund Technology Needs for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students
4/10/2016

Rocklin, Calif., April 10, 2016 – Purple Communications, Inc., a leading provider of innovative communications and an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing communities, has announced the first winners of Purple Tech Grant program, the company’s latest commitment to serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Read More

Purple Communications Launches Education Grant Program to Fund Technology Needs for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students
11/18/2015

Purple Communications, Inc., a leading provider of innovative communications and an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing communities, today launched its Purple Tech Grant program, the company’s latest commitment to serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The Purple Tech Grant will fund technology and tools for K-12 deaf residential schools, day schools for the deaf and mainstream programs that serve deaf/hard-of-hearing students. Read More

Purple Communications Receives National Award for Commitment to Hiring Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students, Graduates
11/16/2015

Rocklin, Calif., November 16, 2015 – Purple Communications, Inc. was recently honored with the 2015 Outstanding Employer Partner Award in the small-to-mid-sized company category from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Center on Employment for its dedication and commitment to employing deaf and hard-of-hearing students and graduates. Read More

Purple Communications Enters New Era, Unveils #PurpleTruth Campaign
6/23/2015

ROCKLIN, CA - New Initiative Aims to Redefine How VRS Providers Operate, Combines With Regional Approach to Provide Deaf Community With Personalized, Genuine Customer Service and VRS. Read More

VRS Providers Present FCC with Joint Proposal to Improve Service and Expand Offerings
4/9/2015

WASHINGTON, DC – A delegation representing all six U.S. providers of Video Relay Service (VRS) today presented a Joint Proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would enhance telecommunication services available to deaf consumers who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate and uphold the Americans with Disabilities Act mandate of functionally equivalent telecommunication services. Read More

Purple Communications Announces Purple President Robert Rae as New CEO
2/10/2015

Rocklin, Calif., February 10, 2015 — Purple Communications, Inc., the leading provider of innovative communications for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, has appointed Robert Rae as CEO. Rae previously was Purple’s president and brings decades of experience in leading advanced technology organizations specializing in telecommunications, marketing and education. Rae will succeed former CEO John Ferron, who has been appointed as chairman of the board of directors. Read More

Policies & Service Announcements

Purple is committed to protecting your privacy and your personal information. Please review the following privacy policy statements, terms and acceptance criteria. If ever you have a question about these policies, please contact us directly at 1-800-900-9478 Ext. 6914

Product Agreement

Privacy Policy

Copyright Notice

Website Terms

Relay Terms

Relay Terms (Español)

Service Announcement

User Notice