What does it mean to live as a modern gentleman? In this issue, we asked men from all walks of life to reflect on identity, ambition, resilience, and legacy. Their answers cut through the noise—honest, grounded, and unapologetically real. In a time when definitions are shifting, these conversations remind us that character, purpose, and connection never go out of style.
Hugo Pereira
Tell us about yourself/your business. Can you share a bit about your journey—what led you to where you are today?
*
I have 25 of experience in Radiation therapy, during grad school I wrote a paper on the feasibility of implementing new technology in the dermatologist office to treat skin cancer giving patients an alternative to Mohs surgery.
What’s your relationship with ambition? Has it shifted over time?
My goals keep getting bigger and I keep raising the bar.
What’s one professional risk you took that paid off—not just financially, but personally?
Opening my own company, it gave me satisfaction and the freedom I always wanted.
What kind of legacy are you building, whether or not your name is on it?
Helping people in need has always been my focus in life.
How do you hope to impact the community?
Bringing new options for cancer treatments feels amazing.
What kind of man do you hope people remember you as?
Humble, driven, honest and loving
What values do you hope to pass on—whether to your kids, your peers, or your circle?
Always do the right thing… even when no one is watching.
If you could master any skill overnight, what would it be?
The ability to never give up and push forward regardless of challenges.
Blaze Zdravev
Tell us about yourself/your business.
I am a dedicated Real Estate broker based in beautiful Naples, Florida. My journey began when I moved from Eastern Europe, specifically Macedonia, on December 15, 2011, with dreams of building a successful life in the U.S. Since then, I have cultivated nearly a decade of experience in the real estate industry. From the very beginning, I joined a reputable brokerage and quickly earned recognition as a rising star in my first year. Over the years, I have consistently broken personal records and achieved significant growth, which I attribute to my passion for helping others. I take great pride in assisting clients in finding their dream homes and embracing the vibrant Naples lifestyle. Real estate isn't just a job for me; it’s a fulfillment of my desire to make a positive impact in people's lives while enjoying the stunning surroundings of this wonderful community.
What’s one professional risk you took that paid off?
One significant professional risk I took was investing in myself mentally, physically, and emotionally without worrying about the cost. By engaging in coaching programs and wellness activities, I enhanced my skills and built resilience. This investment transformed my approach to work, leading to stronger client relationships and greater fulfillment in both my career and personal life.
What kind of legacy are you building, whether or not your name is on it?
My legacy is centered around my family and the three wonderful children that God has blessed my wife and me with. I strive to instill values of love, integrity, and hard work in them, ensuring that my impact extends beyond my name and resonates through their lives and future generations.
What kind of man do you hope people remember you as?
Legend—a great father, brother, and son, a loving husband, true friend, and supportive neighbor, as well as a loyal business partner. I aspire to be recognized as the best real estate broker who ever lived, and the most joyful and humble person to walk the earth, known for my great personal taste, charm and character.
Dr. Andrew Rudin
Tell us about yourself/your business.
Mindful Living Solutions.
What’s your relationship with ambition? Has it shifted over time?
My ambition since my teenage years has been to help others. Started out as an EMT in NYC, that grew into becoming a captain for the volunteer fire department on Long Island, and then off to medical school leading to becoming an Emergency Medicine physician. Now, my ambition is to stop treating people’s symptoms by getting to the root cause of their medical problems and treating that, thereby relieving them of what ails them permanently.
What’s one professional risk you took that paid off—not just financially, but personally?
I gave up my role as the vice president for a large consulting firm to attend medical school in my 40’s. This road has brought me to Naples and to my new role in concierge and functional medicine.
What kind of legacy are you building, whether or not your name is on it?
My legacy will be the lives I’ve saved in the emergency department. This has led my daughters to a life of helping others as well, with my oldest being a therapist and my younger being in medical school.
How do you hope to impact the community?
Modern medicine has “a pill for every ill”. I want to help our community realize that through lifestyle and dietary changes you can obtain vitality and longevity, and shed many of the daily prescriptions.
Jonathan Kassolis
Tell us about yourself/your business.
I began my career as a tax attorney in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2012, I had the opportunity to join what would become Oxford Capital Partners. Alongside three others, our first venture was developing and operating Tide Cleaners in South Florida. Robert Lyons and I personally operated the first store for two and a half years. We launched an aggressive growth strategy, and today, we operate 34 locations across four states. In addition to Tide Cleaners, we are also active real estate developers. We’ve developed and owned over 700 multifamily units in Texas and Florida, as well as several retail centers ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet—many of which feature Tide Cleaners as a tenant. During COVID, I was fortunate to meet Rebecca Maddox, and together we decided to scale Three60 Wine—a retail wine store offering the best pricing in town, a curated and distinctive selection, and an experiential shopping environment that stands out in Naples, especially beyond Bayshore. We currently have three locations, with a fourth set to open in late 2025.
Have you had any mentors or role models who shaped your path?
My father, Duke Kassolis, has always been my greatest mentor and guiding light. His influence on my life has been profound, and I’m deeply grateful for it. It’s no exaggeration to say he’s been the most impactful person in my life, especially when it comes to business. I also want to recognize my business partner, Robert Lyons, whose role in helping me grow and evolve professionally has been nothing short of transformative. I truly can’t overstate how much he’s contributed to the person I’ve become in business.
What kind of legacy are you building, whether or not your name is on it?
First and foremost, it’s not me building the legacy—it’s the key members of our companies, Robert Lyons, Jason Parsons and Mariel Licausi to name a few, who deserve the credit. That’s not false humility; it’s simply the truth. That said, my mission is to leave future generations of my family not only with financial security, but with the knowledge, drive, and ambition to surpass the generation before them. I want them to carry forward the hunger and fire that are absolutely essential to succeed in today’s business world.
Adrian Potoczak
Tell us about yourself/your business.
Here at Freedom Technologies we are a local provider for Smart Home/Security systems. What makes a Smart Home a Smart Home? Smart homes can range from very complex systems that can automate your everyday tasks without you having to think twice about them, or can even be designed as something as simple as security and temperature control. The key components of a Smart Home typically consist of Security, Surveillance, Audio & Video, Temperature and Lighting Control. Naples as we know it is home to many seasonal residents. And while having a home in paradise is a luxury, it does come with its own set of challenges. That is why we offer simple, easy to use systems that make controlling your home easy whether you're home or away. My journey begins in Northeast Pennsylvania at the age of around 13. At this point, my father already had an established Audio & Video/ Security company. Every chance I could get I would ask to go to projects to see how everything works. Many weekends consisted of being at the showroom and fiddling with the electronics on display. The love of electronics only grew and almost became an obsession. Naturally being curious I just wanted to see how everything worked. While we all had very humble beginnings in Pennsylvania, as time went on, (and few visits to Naples later) we realized that we are selling ourselves short on what we can actually provide to residential and commercial clients based on our market in Pennsylvania. Decisions were made and in 2017 we moved to Naples to start a new life and business from scratch.
What kind of legacy are you building, whether or not your name is on it?
I firmly believe that every generation should have it better than the last. A very simple equation of determination, will power, and having the right people in your circle equals success for any venture you do. Instilling this amongst the business and personal side of my life, the legacy I hope to achieve will speak for itself.
Cole Messner
Tell us about yourself/your business.
My path into real estate was rooted in a lifelong interest in design, architecture, and entrepreneurship. I’ve always been drawn to the idea of building something from the ground up — whether that’s a business, a brand, or helping someone find the perfect home. Growing up in Naples and being around entrepreneurs, especially my dad, I learned early on the value of hard work, vision, and taking risks. Today, I work in the luxury real estate market in Naples, Florida, alongside one of the top agents in the state. Our focus is on providing a highly personalized experience — blending market expertise with a deep understanding of what our clients are really looking for. It’s not just about selling homes; it’s about building long-term relationships and being a trusted resource through one of the most meaningful investments in someone’s life. My journey has been shaped by curiosity, persistence, and a passion for delivering results — and I’m just getting started.
Have you had any mentors or role models who shaped your path?
Absolutely — my biggest role model has always been my dad. Watching him build multiple successful companies from the ground up gave me a front-row seat to what entrepreneurship really looks like. It wasn’t just about business success — it was his work ethic, vision, and ability to lead with both grit and integrity that left a lasting impact on me. He showed me that creating something meaningful takes both resilience and creativity. That foundation has shaped how I approach real estate and business today — with a deep respect for the process and a drive to build something of my own that’s just as lasting.
What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself?
I’d say: don’t be afraid to take bigger risks early on. The fear of failure can be paralyzing when you’re just starting out, but some of the best growth comes from putting yourself out there before you feel fully ready. Believe in your instincts, surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you, and always stay curious. The rest will fall into place.
Veljko Pavicevic
Tell us about yourself/your business.
I'm the co-owner of Sails Restaurant, Butcher Private and the soon to open Omasava and Sava with my wife, Corinne Ryan. I grew up in Serbia and Montenegro, aka the "land of hospitality," where our culture is defined by service and welcoming people into the home. My grandmother was the ultimate host and her warmth and decorum inspired me from a young age. I first came to Naples as a high school junior and immediately loved the American way of life along with this town - Naples was special. After living in New York and attending Florida Gulf Coast University, I spent nine years at The Ritz-Carlton Naples learning the essential steps of service, a lineage of European hospitality training that is the cornerstone of impeccable, five-star provisions. I built my craft there, along with other entrepreneurial ventures in logistics and buying-selling-trading-export business. All of these experiences gave me the skills I needed to become a restaurateur. In 2018, Corinne and I opened Sails, followed by Butcher Private in 2023 and now are working on two more concepts for 2025, Omasava and Sava. Naples has so much growth and opportunity - we love being a part of it.
What’s one professional risk you took that paid off?
One of the biggest professional risks I took was insisting on being genuine, and challenging the existing mindset in hospitality. Luxury service is not just a job, it is a craft! I believed — and still believe — that pride in service craft, genuine kindness and respect are the foundation of luxury hospitality. “Craftsman will stand before kings.“ I insisted that we are a dream team, hospitality Olympians, and that everyone is to be treated as a professional, with purpose and dignity. It was a risk because it meant investing heavily in recruiting, culture, training. Financially, of course paid it paid off. But personally? It gave me a tremendous sense of pride. It is deeply fulfilling to see people grow; people like me that maybe never had someone believe in them before. With pride in my work, I became a leader, built my career, had chances for success and advancement. We built a culture of respect, humanity, genuinely connected with our guests, and connect our guests into community of business Olympians. That, to me, is the real reward.