DCE Productions: The People-First Production Company Built on Excellence, Loyalty, and Uncommon Standards

The story of DCE begins with a bad event. A corporate program so poorly executed that it left its organizers frustrated, embarrassed, and convinced there had to be a better way. The production company they had hired delivered sub-par work, overcharged them, and ultimately made the client feel like a burden.

Most people would complain and move on. But not Andy Hafer and Paul Harris, the founders of DCE. Instead, they saw an opening.

If the industry was full of vendors who led with gear instead of service, who saw clients as transactions instead of partners, who hid behind technical jargon instead of delivering excellence, then there was room for a production company built on an entirely different philosophy:

• Lead with people. Serve with excellence.
• And exceed expectations every single time.

With that belief, DCE Productions was born.

From Humble Beginnings to a National Event Leader

When DCE first started, it was nothing more than a small, scrappy team with a truckload of determination and a belief that customer experience mattered more than equipment lists. They did not set out to become a multi-million-dollar production house. They simply focused on building trust, one event at a time.

They did not cut corners. They did not look for shortcuts. They did not hide behind excuses.

Instead, they built relationships. They showed up early. They stayed up late. They learned clients’ businesses until clients began calling them partners rather than vendors.

That approach began attracting the best freelancers in the industry; operators who could choose anyone to work with, but who recognized DCE as a place with high standards, clear communication, and leaders who actually cared. Many of those freelancers have now been with DCE for more than a decade.

The company grew. Then it grew again. Then it grew beyond anything the founders imagined.

Today, DCE runs more than 500 events per year, more than half of them outside Florida. Their team delivers multi-day conferences, national broadcast programs, livestreams, town halls, training events, in-house AV for major campuses, and high-end video production in markets across the country.

A Culture Forged in Crisis

The true character of DCE revealed itself in the spring of 2020.

On March 12th, DCE was running back-to-back events, preparing for what would be the biggest year in company history. On March 13th, the entire calendar collapsed. The pandemic wiped out every live event in the pipeline, a near-fatal blow for most production companies.

But DCE was not most companies.

Because DCE had already been producing virtual events for major enterprises, they did not waste a minute. They tore down their warehouse floor and converted it into a fully functioning virtual studio environment. Within weeks, the team was running up to 10 virtual events per day.

That season changed the company permanently.

Team members showed up not because they were asked to, but because they would not let each other carry the load alone. People walked into the shop, found a colleague already working, and stayed the rest of the day simply to help.

The founders watched all of it; the commitment, the camaraderie, the resilience and realized what DCE truly was. Not a production company. A people-first organization.

From that point forward, the company doubled down on culture. Not a culture written on posters, but one lived in actions: open communication, no silos, accountability, support, and a shared belief that excellence is not an act, but a habit.

People, Not Gear

If you ask DCE what makes them great, they will not show you a warehouse of equipment though they have one. They will tell you about their people.

Their network includes more than 300 elite freelancers, with a core group of 50 to 60 operators who form the backbone of DCE’s nationwide workforce. They are the people clients request by name. The people who solve problems before they happen. The people who turn stressful moments into seamless ones.

This belief attracts top performers in an industry where talent has choices. It is why clients repeatedly say the same thing after their first event: “You’re the best team we’ve ever worked with.”

Steady Growth Built on Trust

DCE’s growth story is exceptional. What began as a small operation grew rapidly into a regional force, then into a national brand trusted by major institutions including:

• University of South Florida (12-time award partner)
• Tampa General Hospital
• National healthcare systems
• Corporate headquarters across multiple industries

Those relationships did not happen through advertising.

They came one project at a time, through the kind of work that makes clients ask, “What else can you handle for us?”

From 2018 onward, the company’s revenue chart tells its own story:

A climb from small business to mid-market leader, reaching nearly $11.1 million after the pandemic. In July 2024, co-founder Paul Harris passed the role of CEO to former COO Steve Kyler. Under his leadership, DCE’s revenue projections push well in the mid $20 million range within a few years. Paul remains on the leadership team as a director.

And unlike many production companies, DCE grows without sacrificing quality. They do it by hiring intentionally, building leadership capacity, and raising the bar every year.

Standards That Set Them Apart

Inside DCE, excellence is not optional; it is the minimum.

Every client receives a white-glove service. Every operator knows the plan before they step onto a stage. Every project manager is accountable for every detail.

The company has internal phrases that guide them:

• “There are no operations problems, admin problems, or sales problems – only DCE problems.”
• “Exceed expectations.”
• “Do it right the first time.”

Those standards have built a reputation so strong that many of DCE’s largest clients began with small, single-day engagements that evolved into multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnerships.

Looking Ahead

As DCE prepares for its next chapter, the focus is clear:

Grow the team, expand national event coverage, strengthen the culture, and continue delivering the kind of work that makes clients trust them with their most important moments.

For a company that began because someone believed there had to be a better way, the mission remains unchanged:

Deliver experiences that elevate brands, inspire audiences, and reflect the highest standards of the industry every time, without compromise.

DCE’s legacy will not be measured by the number of events they complete but by the relationships they build, the expectations they raise, and the belief they have proven true for more than a decade:

The difference between a good event and a great one is the team behind it.

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GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch (FLCTW)

The Florida Companies to Watch program, hosted annually by GrowFL, celebrates top second-stage companies across the state for their impressive growth and entrepreneurial success. This prestigious program recognizes 50 standout businesses each year, chosen from hundreds of nominees. Honorees are celebrated for their innovation, economic impact on Florida’s economy, and the ability to scale effectively. Through FLCTW, GrowFL not only acknowledges these companies’ achievements but also brings them into a spotlight that enhances their visibility in the marketplace. The event offers an extraordinary opportunity for networking, sharing best practices, and gaining exposure to potential investors and partners, making it a cornerstone for fostering business growth and recognition within Florida’s vibrant business community.