Pradip C. Patel Pradip C. Patel is the embodiment of the American Dream. Born in Zambia, Africa, and educated in India, he immigrated to the United States as a young man in 1973. Starting with a small 20 room motel, he steadily built a career that has achieved tremendous success in the hospitality, health insurance, and real estate industries. As Co-Founder and President of Wellcare HMO, Inc., Mr. Patel grew annual revenues of under $1 million to over $1 billion in a span of 10 years. Prior to being acquired by Soros Private Equity Group in 2002 for over $200 million, Wellcare was the largest Medicaid HMO in Florida and 5th largest Medicaid HMO in the United States. In 2002 Mr. Patel Founded Naidip Capital to invest in high-quality real estate opportunities. His holdings include hotel, office, residential and retail properties. Development projects he funds include luxury waterfront communities, and mixed-use projects with a completed value of over $1 billion. Currently he is providing funding and a lifetime of experience to his vision for Solimar Beach Club + Spa, the preeminent residential development in Florida’s Panhandle region. Last year, Mr. Patel and his wife founded the Pradip C. & Naini Patel Foundation, and the ACE Endowment Fund to create Athletic, Cultural, and Education initiatives for less fortunate children. Currently, the ACE Endowment Fund supports after-school tennis, music education, and academic scholarship programs for deserving children in the Tampa Bay area. To find out more about the ACE Endowment Fund visit www.ACE-Fund.org. Mr. Patel received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He earned his MBA from Eastern Michigan University. |