About Us

About Michael

 

Michael was raised in a close-knit, faith-based, three-generation Lebanese-Italian family, where he learned the values of service, compassion, and keeping loved ones at home as long as possible. Those lessons became deeply personal when, at the young age of 10, he cared for his father during a long battle with lung cancer, and later for his grandmother as she aged in place. These formative experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for improving care, accessibility, and quality of life for seniors, veterans, and families.

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Career Highlights & Accomplishments​​

Michael’s career spans decades of leadership, innovation, and advocacy in healthcare, senior living, and housing. His standout achievements include:

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•Corporate & Financial Leadership​

• Became the first under-25 Corporate Vice President at Shearson Hayden Stone (later Shearson American Express).

• Negotiated $90 million in leases, totaling 450,000 sq. ft. across the U.S.

• Opened Shearson/American Express’s first international banking office in Miami.

Senior Living & Aging at Home Innovations

• Owned and operated nine Assisted Living Facilities (1,500 licensed beds) and three Medicare-certified agencies, providing over 50,000 annual clinical visits.

• Developed the first SCI/TBI unit in an ALF in partnership with the State of Florida and Tampa General Hospital.

• Pioneered Florida’s first integrated ALFs with home health services and was the first to accept Medicaid Waivers for ALF residents.

• Created a proprietary Learning Management System (LMS) for over 600 staff, implementing a Medicare-approved compliance program where every team member became a compliance officer.

• Served as Corporate VP for Almost Family (AFAM), scaling new market operations from $0 to $9 million in 18 months and achieving the company’s three-year growth targets in just 18 months.

Advocacy & Policy

• Served on multiple Florida rule-writing committees, including the Ambulatory Health Care Facilities “SicTax” regulations.

• Co-authored the Interagency Task Force Committee Report on Assisted Living Facilities for Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

• Approved Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, training professionals in the Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program.

Awards & Recognition

• Award of Merit – National Association of Housing and Redevelopment (NARHO) with Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (Cleveland, OH)

• Best Practice Award – Broward County Housing Authority

• Special Contribution Award – Veterans Affairs (VISN 8 Home & Community Care Services) for developing the first Assisted Living Program exclusively for Veterans

Grants & Partnerships

• Partnered with the Tampa Housing Authority through HUD’s Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program, operating wellness centers in multiple communities.

• Collaborated on programs funded by FTA/FDOT, including New Freedom (FTA Section 5317) and JARC – Job Access and Reverse Commute.

• Partnered with the State of Florida Department of Health on scalable healthcare initiatives.

Industry Thought Leadership

• Michael has been a sought-after speaker at national and regional conferences and has testified before Senate and House committees. His advocacy has focused on accessible healthcare, transportation, and strategies for client and team member retention.

The Fun Side

• Beyond his professional achievements, Michael hosted a live local access talk show, “Senior Talk,” and continues to embrace lifelong learning and hands-on innovation. He has also maintained FBI Level Two Clearance throughout his career — a testament to his integrity and trusted leadership.