Richard is the Founder, CEO and managing director of Phoenix3 Holdings LLC, a strategic growth partner that elevates lifestyle and distributive services companies in senior living, health care and corporate sectors. Richard launched Phoenix3 Holdings in the Fall of 2023. His experience building companies and expertise in the markets he is investing in chart the course of his strategic leadership at Phoenix3. His business philosophy is grounded in taking calculated risks, aligning companies around strong values on growth-oriented missions to achieve success and build shareholder value.

As the Founder and CEO of Unidine Corporation (est 2001), Richard established himself as a disrupter and insurgent within the senior living, behavioral health, corporate, and healthcare verticals. Unidine Corporation is a market leader and the first company of its kind to provide strategic dining management services, with chef-driven programs, strict quality standards with a strong emphasis on culture. Under Richard’s leadership, Unidine became a $800M+ managed volume company with over 7,000 team members. In the span of 20 years, Unidine grew from $0 to $700M+ in sales revenue. 

In 2017, Compass Group USA partnered to acquire Unidine, bringing it under its umbrella as a world leader in food service management. Richard led Unidine through the full life cycle of business development from privately funded, to private equity, to capital group. He calculated the pros and cons of IPO versus M&A in order to provide the best returns and maximize the profit for his investors and employees, resulting in a 9X multiple of invested capital (M.O.I.C) shareholder return from the transaction. In 2021, he created Compass Community Living, the largest senior living and support service company in the USA and globally. Richard served as the CEO of Compass Community Living, the parent entity of three unique brands: Morrison Living, Coreworks, and Unidine. Under Richard’s discerning leadership, Compass Community Living’s 15K+ employees provided hospitality and service excellence to more than 1400+ retirement communities, behavioral health facilities and acute care hospitals across the US, delivering $1.3B in revenue.

Richard strongly believes “Culture will always shape an organization”. His business philosophy is grounded in taking calculated risks, aligning companies around strong values on growth-oriented missions to achieve success and build shareholder value.

“The key to a successful business is creating a team that feels like family. Our performance is truly enhanced when
we are engaged on both personal and professional levels. Culture is imperative for helping define how organizations coalesce, incite growth, and increase profitability.”

Richard is a visionary who has been recognized by team members and industry leaders throughout his dynamic career. In 2011, Richard was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He personally received recognition from The Rodale Organization as one of the 100 people changing health and wellness throughout the world. Unidine was listed seven times prior to the acquisition by Compass Group on Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 list of fastest growing privately held companies. Unidine was also recognized by the Boston Business Journal Pacesetters as one of the fastest growing private companies in New England.

Richard sits on several boards and boasts a strong track record for active involvement in companies as a leader, mentor, and strategic industry disrupter. He brings capital, experience and passion to any project he is involved in. Richard was raised on strong values and an unrelenting work ethic. His commitment to delivering fresh, healthy food started early in his youth, born from experience working at his father’s luncheonette in Newark, NJ. He learned nothing comes easy, and that going the extra mile leads to future success.

Richard graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science degree and majored in Food Service Administration. After college, Richard worked at the executive level for industry giants Aramark and Marriott Corporation where he gained valuable industry experience laying the groundwork for his future disruption of the industry.

Richard and his wife live between Miami and the Massachusetts area. He enjoys skiing, biking, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is a collector of wine and enjoys traveling.