The University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions had a strong showing on the 2026 Gator100 list, with six alumni recognized in the UF Alumni Association’s annual program recognizing the world’s fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UF alumni.
In their own words, Maxwell Anderson, Ryan Cave, Melisa Cere, D. Rob Haley, Terrance McGowan and Chris Simms share some insights about their success.
Maxwell Anderson, Master of Health Administration ’13
Co-founder and co-owner of Anderson Event Design, a full-service event planning and design studio based in Charleston, South Carolina.
When and why did you decide to start your business?
My wife, Samantha, and I founded Anderson Event Design in 2015. We moved to Charleston from different states without any local professional connections, driven by the belief that we could turn her passion into a sustainable career. With my undergraduate degree in business from UF and hers in event management from UF, we felt confident that diligent planning and hard work would lead to some success.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
As a service industry business, our people are our product. While hiring is a careful process, we have learned that cultivation, refinement and empowerment are the true keys to continued success. It is imperative that we provide our team with everything they need to perform at their best. Additionally, we’ve always believed in the power of over-delivering and doing so with kindness, two qualities that we find are rare but highly valued.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
Some of my more impactful experiences came from Friday Class Seminars. The seminars introduced me to action-oriented leaders who challenged traditional thinking and possessed the business acumen necessary to sustain a vision. I don’t think I was ever attracted to a traditional ladder-climb profession, and thankfully UF PHHP has many alumni who have maybe felt similarly, and were able to share their experience at the seminars.
What does being on the Gator100 list mean to you?
I have a deep appreciation for the University of Florida. It provided the foundation for my professional development and surrounded me with impressive peers, including my wife, whom I met while enrolled at PHHP. Being recognized on the Gator100 list is something tangible our three children will be able to see and appreciate, and will hopefully begin their interest in attending the University of Florida themselves one day, giving us a reason to come back to Gainesville more often.
Ryan cave, master of health administration ’99
President of Sunbelt Business Brokers of South Florida, one of Florida’s most accomplished business intermediaries.
Previous Gator100 recognitions: 2022, 2023, 2025
When and why did you decide to start your business?
I entered business brokerage because I wanted to buy a business and believed the best way to learn was to be in the middle of transactions. As the 2008 recession approached, I chose to stay in brokerage instead of buying. I took over the firm at the bottom of the market. Since then, our team has helped close nearly $1 billion in small business transactions, something I could not have done alone. I am grateful for them every day.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
Early on, I was cautious about spending on the best tools or people. My startup experience taught me to protect every dollar. Over time, I realized the right investments bring far more than they cost. The biggest lesson was that being too conservative can limit growth. I still have to manage that instinct. It is easy to focus on protecting what you have instead of building what could be.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
At PHHP, I learned that research and analysis can continue indefinitely if you let them. I discovered I am motivated by projects with a clear beginning and a defined end. That mindset carries into our work today. Every transaction is complex and personal, but it needs structure, steady progress and a clear goal that can be celebrated.
It means a lot to be recognized by UF. I am a Gator through and through. Plus, the ceremony takes place in the same place where I graduated and where my daughter, Eliza, graduated in 2025. I remember taking graduation photos outside the O’Dome, just as she did last year. Sharing Gator connections with her makes this recognition even more meaningful. Go Gators!
Melissa Cere, Master of Physical Therapy ’02
Owner of Kinetix Physical Therapy, a physical therapy practice based in Gainesville.
Previous Gator100 recognitions: 2019, 2021
When and why did you decide to start your business?
My husband and I are both physical therapists, and we knew very early on in our relationship that we wanted to open our own clinic one day. We opened the doors to Kinetix Physical Therapy in early 2008, which, honestly, was a tough economy in which to start a business, but we dove in headfirst together and opened our third location in the Gainesville area in August 2023. Over the past 18 years, we have stayed true to our initial goals: One, to make a greater impact in our community by exceeding patients’ expectations with the innovative care and culture they would experience at Kinetix, and two, to build a team who works together like a family to inspire growth and excellence in others.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
You can’t coast in your business. You always have to keep your foot on the gas pedal and constantly look for opportunities to improve. At times that means you add a new line of service to better serve your patients, but it could also mean coaching a struggling team member or reassessing workflows for optimal efficiency and patient outcomes. You have to stay ahead of the curve.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
While at UF, I learned not only the clinical skills I needed to excel as a physical therapist but also the art of communication to educate, motivate and inspire patients to reach their potential in PT. I knew I had to be an all-star clinician before I would feel confident leading a team of physical therapists in our business. I have been privileged to keep in touch with many of my professors from PT school even to this day and their continued mentorship and encouragement to me over the years speaks volumes of them.
What does being on the Gator100 list mean to you?
Being on the Gator100 list for the third time is truly an honor. To me, it means that you can be recognized as a successful business while staying true to your values of humility, hard work and compassion for others.
D. Rob Haley, Ph.D., Master of Health Administration ’93
Co-founder and CEO of StrategyGen, a national health care strategy firm focused on improving health care quality and system performance.
When and why did you decide to start your business?
After graduating from the University of Florida with my M.H.A. and M.B.A. in 1993, I began my career as a hospital administrator at Martin Memorial Health Systems in Stuart, Florida and later earned a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I then led the primary market research capability at Florida Blue before founding StrategyGen in 2009. Since 2011, StrategyGen has supported the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal partners, improving quality of care and reducing hospital-acquired infections in more than 500 hospitals and benefiting more than 64 million Americans nationwide.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
One lesson I’ve learned is that health care strategy ultimately comes down to people and trust. When organizations build the right partnerships and teams, the result is not just better strategy but better care for patients.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
UF’s M.HA. program taught me to think about health care as an interconnected system and how leadership, policy and operations work together to improve outcomes. That perspective has guided my career and continues to shape the work we do at StrategyGen.
What does being on the Gator100 list mean to you?
Having StrategyGen recognized on the Gator100 list is a tremendous honor because UF taught me how to lead and approach health care with integrity, empathy and a commitment to improving people’s lives. I’m also grateful for the faculty and mentors at UF who continue to guide me in my career. It’s especially meaningful that my son, Jack, will be entering UF’s M.H.A. program this fall and continuing our family’s connection to the program.
Terrance McGowan, Master of Health Administration ’13
Co-founder and the CEO of Welltality, a health care technology platform helping primary care providers and commercial health organizations close care gaps.
Previous Gator100 recognition: 2025
When and why did you decide to start your business?
I started Welltality after recognizing a clear gap in health care — preventive services like Medicare Annual Wellness Visits were widely underutilized despite their proven impact on patient outcomes and overall system costs. I’ve always had a personal passion for health and wellness and a strong belief in preventive care — that it’s far better to prevent issues early than to treat them once they become more serious or chronic.
After graduating from the University of Florida, I spent about two years working within the UF Department of Urology and the Department of Dermatology. That experience gave me a firsthand look at how care is delivered and where gaps exist, which ultimately led me to build a solution focused on helping providers deliver better preventive care at scale.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
Clarity beats complexity. As a founder, it’s easy to overbuild, overexplain and overcomplicate. What I’ve learned is that the businesses that win are the ones that can clearly define the problem, communicate their value in simple terms and execute consistently across the board.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
PHHP gave me a systems-level understanding of health care — how clinical care, population health and financial incentives all intersect. It trained me to think in terms of outcomes, not just activity, which is core to how we’ve built Welltality. It also reinforced the importance of solving real-world health problems at scale, which is exactly what we aim to do as a company.
What does being on the Gator100 list mean to you?
It’s an incredible honor. I’m a lifelong Gator and very proud of my time at the University of Florida — it’s a world-class institution that played a major role in shaping both my personal and professional path. To be recognized as one of the fastest-growing Gator-led companies is meaningful not just for me, but for our entire team. It reflects the work we’ve put in and the impact we’re striving to make, and it’s a reminder that we’re just getting started.
Chris Simms, Doctor of Physical Therapy ’08
Founder and owner of Choice Rehab Connections, a contract therapy provider connecting physical, occupational and speech therapists with home health agencies throughout Florida.
Previous Gator100 recognitions: 2023, 2025
When and why did you decide to start your business?
After graduating from UF’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, I began my career practicing in traditional clinical settings. Those early years were invaluable. They helped me understand not only patient care, but also the operational realities of health care delivery.
Over time, I became increasingly interested in the business side of therapy, specifically how systems, leadership and culture impact both clinicians and patients. I saw an opportunity to create a model that prioritized therapist autonomy, strong relationships with home health agencies and high-quality patient outcomes.
I started Choice Rehab Connections in 2016 with a simple goal: Build a therapist-centered company that values flexibility, accountability and growth. What began as a small operation has grown into a network of over 100 therapists serving patients across the Tampa Bay area.
What is something you’ve learned since becoming a business owner?
Becoming a business owner has reinforced that leadership is less about control and more about trust. In health care, especially, you quickly realize that culture drives everything from retention and patient satisfaction to long-term growth. Building systems matters, but building people matters more.
I’ve also learned that growth requires discomfort. There are seasons of uncertainty, tough decisions and rapid change. The key is staying grounded in your core values and being willing to adapt while remaining mission-focused.
How did your time at PHHP prepare you to lead a business?
PHHP prepared me in ways that extend far beyond clinical skills. The program instilled discipline, evidence-based thinking and accountability — all essential traits in business leadership. We were trained to evaluate problems critically, make decisions based on data and communicate effectively with patients and peers. Those same skills translate directly to running an organization.
Perhaps most importantly, PHHP emphasized professionalism and ethical responsibility. In health care entrepreneurship, those values are non-negotiable. Whether treating one patient or leading a team of 100 clinicians, integrity remains the foundation.
What does being on the Gator100 list mean to you?
Being named to the Gator100 is both an honor and a reminder of responsibility. It represents the collective effort of our therapists, administrative team and agency partners. On a personal level, it’s meaningful to return to the university that shaped my professional foundation and contribute to its legacy of innovation and leadership. The Gator100 recognition reinforces that health care professionals can lead, build and innovate while staying rooted in patient-centered care.