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About Us

Transforming the future of lifestyle and longevity medicine.

Blue Zones Center is the world’s newest and most comprehensive hybrid healthcare and hospitality destination with the latest innovations in preventive and predictive medicine utilizing advanced diagnostics, AI enhanced DNA/genome mapping, and world-class medical care. This transformative approach can help optimize disease management outcomes and inspire advanced patient well-being and longevity.

The Blue Zones Center is being expertly built by a joint venture between a renowned development company and global well-being leader

Royal Palm Companies

Royal Palm Companies, one of South Florida largest developers, focuses on the trifecta of location, design and delivering a superior product. The company with its unique vision can conceptualize the feel of an interior space and its related amenities that ultimately create a "lifestyle” that RPC is known for delivering. Recognizing the dramatic growth of medical tourism, RPC’s Legacy Hotel & Residences is bringing a new vision of hospitality to life at the Blue Zones Center in Miami.

1978

RPC Founded

6,000

Units Delivered

3.5

Real Estate Assets Developed

12,000

Global Broker Networks

50

Developed / Repositioned Assets

15M

SQ. FT. of Development

RPC's Legacy Hotel & Residences

Miami, Florida — The Legacy Hotel & Residences project at the Blue Zones Center in Miami is elevating hospitality and well-being to new heights. Miami-based Royal Palm Cos. (RPC HOLDINGS), led by Daniel Kodsi, is building the 50-story Legacy Hotel & Residences with 310 branded condos available for short-term rentals, a 219-room hotel, numerous restaurants, and special Deep Blue Residences™ integrated with the Blue Zones Center.

Seeing the growing demand for wellness and preventative medicine since the pandemic, the RPC team led by Dan Kodsi and Stephen Watson wanted to bring the world’s first Blue Zones Center to the new Worldcenter in downtown Miami as an integral part of the $4 billion mixed-use project. The Legacy Hotel & Residences, which broke ground in August 2021, is a key component of the Blue Zones Center — a futuristic well-being center being built in partnership with Blue Zones.

950,000

Total Square Feet

39

Stories

255

Hotel Rooms

278

residences

1

Acre of pools

6

Story Atrium

The Blue Zones

Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder, is a National Geographic Fellow and multiple New York Times bestselling author. He discovered five places in the world—dubbed blue zones—where people live the longest, and are healthiest: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. Blue Zones is now dedicated to creating healthy communities across the United States. The first effort, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, was a “stunning” success, and formed the blueprint for the Blue Zones Project. For over 20 years, they have been on the ground in hundreds of American cities co-creating and implementing evidence-informed Community Well-Being programs to create sustainable, system-level solutions that improve population health and economic vitality.

A few examples of the success

In Albert Lea, MN

7.5

Million in savings in annual health care costs for employers.

2.9

Years added to lifespans

In Beach Cities, CA

68

Drop in childhood obesity rates at Redondo Beach K-5 schools.

15

Drop in adult obesity and overweight rates.

36

Drop in smoking.

Fort Worth, TX

31

Drop in smoking.

9

Point increase in exercise

31

in the country for healthy city rankings

Meet Our Project Leadership Team

Stephen Watson

With over two decades of building, innovating, and leading healthcare, marketing, and community projects, Steve brings a breadth of experience that originates from working across numerous industries, innovative start-ups, and mature organizations looking to design better experiences. Steve has owned and operated successful healthcare-related businesses through a laser-focused dedication to innovation and improvement; is active on the speaking circuit and is passionate about health and wellness.

Randi Gold

Randi Gold, a seasoned EVP-GM with over 20 years of experience in the broadcast media industry, is currently the EVP- Chief Public Relations Officer at the Blue Zones Center. Her expertise includes problem-solving, negotiation, and executing multimedia strategies such as cross-platform launch strategies, media relations, customized campaigns, partnerships, cause marketing, PR, social media, content management, and SEO writing.
Passionate about telling compelling stories, Randi highlights change agents, unsung heroes, and those working to make the world a better place. Having collaborated with top news directors, broadcasters, sales teams, and journalists, she is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that embraces change and innovation.
In her present role, Randi provides strategic direction for daily PR and media coverage, breaking news announcements, special projects, public speaking events, industry events, community activation, and special events coverage. She oversees the planning and execution of all campaigns, ensuring a balanced and ethical presentation in accordance with company policies and standards. Additionally, Randi works on brand vision and identifies opportunities for modernization, innovation, and next-generation storytelling.
As a dedicated team player, Randi collaborates with ecosystem leaders to develop community education partnerships and create a pipeline for the future. She also serves as an Executive Board Member of the American Heart Association. With her strategic approach and extensive global media relationships, Randi brings enthusiasm and excitement to the Blue Zones Center, upholding the highest levels of journalistic integrity for its mission and partners.

Meet Our Board of Advisors

Calvin Glidewell

Calvin Glidewell is widely recognized as a highly accomplished healthcare executive with over 30 years of advancing positions of effective leadership. He possesses a unique ability to transform struggling organizations into highly productive, award-winning corporate cultures.

Most recently, Glidewell served as the CEO of Broward Health Medical Center & Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, a nationally recognized $1.1 billion fully integrated system of care facilities. In his executive role, he led a major cultural transformation resulted in impressive increases in physician satisfaction, patient experience, and employee engagement scores.

Prior to that, Mr. Glidewell also served as the CEO of Broward Health’s Imperial Point Medical Center where he managed development and construction of an $18 million Emergency Department addition to the hospital and a 68,000 square foot Medical Arts Pavilion with a hospital-based Ambulatory Surgery Center. Even with double-digit volume increases, Mr. Glidewell maintained patient satisfaction scores which ranked among the highest in the county.

A significant part of his career is also associated with University Community Health in Tampa where Mr. Glidewell commenced his employment as a VP of Marketing and advanced his position to the CEO of University Community Health - Medical center and later their Carrollwood facility.

Mr. Gildewell demonstrates a strong civic engagement. He served as Chair of the Board for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, President of The Tower Forum, Chair of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, Chair of the Broward County Leadership Board of the American Diabetes Association. He is also a member of the Florida Hospital Association Legislative Policy Committee and Certificate of Need Committees.

In 2013-2014, South Florida Business Journal recognized Mr. Gildewell’s outstanding achievements and have added him to the list of “50 Power Leaders in Healthcare”.

Mr. Glidewell earned a Master’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tulane University.

John Giordano

Doctor Of Humane Letters, CCJS, MAC, CAP
Mr. John Giordano is an expert in the treatment of addiction, mental health, and the founder of The National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies (NIFHAS). He is the author of “Proven Holistic Treatment For Addiction & Chronic Relapse”, “How To Beat Your Addictions And Live A Quality Life'', and his most recent book is the acclaimed: “The Kid From The South Bronx Who Never Gave Up,” and is the co-author of “Molecular Neurobiology of Addiction Recovery: The 12 Steps Program and Fellowship.” Over twenty years ago Giordano founded the prestigious G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center in North Miami Beach, Florida — a 62 bed in-patient/out-patient JCAHO accredited addiction treatment facility. Mr. Giordano has contributed to over 79 peer-reviewed medical publications related to addiction and recovery.

Richard Klass

Mr. Klass has 30 years of national and international management consulting, strategic planning, and market research experience. This experience encompasses every major healthcare setting including high technology medical devices, bioscience organizations, hospitals, managed care organizations, nursing homes, medical practices, life care/retirement developments, and associations.

Mr. Klass is a founder of 2CY, Inc. and co-founder of KCI Partners, Inc, a leading provider of strategic consulting, business analytics and market research in the medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare provider markets. Founded in 2001, KCI’s works with start-up organizations to help get them on the path to success, and the largest multinational companies in the world to assure their continued success.

Mr. Klass also has served as the Senior Vice-President, Chief Strategy Officer for Jackson Health System, Worldwide Director for Market Research for Johnson and Johnson, and as a consultant with Price Waterhouse.

Mr. Klass is a frequent lecturer on business topics, he is well authored, and served as faculty at the University of Miami School of Business. His famous book ‘Strategic Planning in the Real World’ blends consultant and thought leader best practices with theory to create the authoritative professional reference guide for organizational leadership, boards of directors, aspiring executives, consultants, and college level educators.

Mr. Klass holds both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in business administration from the University of Miami. He is also a licensed real estate broker.

Max Reiboldt

Mr. Reiboldt provides sound financial, strategic, and tactical solutions to hospitals and health systems, medical practices, and other healthcare entities through keen analysis and problem-solving. His expertise encompasses physician/hospital alignment initiatives, hospital service line development, clinical integration initiatives, ancillary services development, PHO/IPA/MSO development and practice appraisals. He also performs financial analyses for healthcare entities as well as mergers and acquisitions, hospital and practice strategic planning.

Under the strong leadership of Mr. Reiboldt since the late 1990s, Coker Group was recognized as one of the leading healthcare consulting firms in the United States and abroad. Working with organizations of all sizes, Mr. Reiboldt engages in consulting projects with organizations nationwide. He also leads a team of senior executives representing comprehensive healthcare consulting services, financial advisory services, healthcare information technology, executive search and strategic capital assessment and solutions.

Mr. Reiboldt is a prolific author and an accomplished public speaker on multiple healthcare management topics, partnering with highly regarded national associations and publications to provide relevant and timely insight on a multitude of topics.

Mr. Reiboldt has authored many of Coker Group’s more than fifty books. Recent titles include Physician Entrepreneurs: Strength in Numbers – Consolidation and collaboration Strategies to Grow Your Practice (HealthLeaders Media, 2018) and Physician Entrepreneurs: Going Retail – Business Strategies to Grow Beyond Traditional Practice models (HealthLeaders Media, 2007).

A graduate of Hading University, Mr. Reiboldt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Healthcare Financial Management Association, and American Society of Appraisers.

Meet Our Medical Advisors

Dr. Shurney

Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, Blue Zones Institute
• Immediate Past-President, American College of Lifestyle Medicine
• Former faculty at Vanderbilt University
• Former Chief Medical Director/Executive Director of Global Health and Wellness at Cummins, Inc.
Experienced innovator in driving digital health solutions and technology lead interventions
Dr. Dexter Shurney is Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Community Wellbeing and the Blue Zones Institute for Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 80 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii. The Blue Zone Institute is a “Living Lab” to create, study, and codify best practice, including a lifestyle medicine approach to care, that can be replicated across regions and communities of greatest need. Previously, Dr. Shurney held the position of Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs at Foodsmart by Zipongo, where he led a national food as medicine strategy employing telenutrition solutions to address poor nutrition and food insecurity.
Dr. Shurney is the immediate Past-President for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and continues to serve as board member and in a leadership role in ACLM’s work to address health disparities. He serves on numerous other boards including the Bon Secours-Mercy Health Foundation, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP), and the Population Health Alliance (PHA).

Dr. Gurley

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.