Mr. Leone serves as CEO of the 128-year-old, privately held Breakers Palm Beach, Inc. and its parent company, Flagler System, Inc. The Breakers is the only large, historic luxury resort in the country still in the hands of its original owners and is one of the longest continuously operating businesses in the state of Florida. Leone was exposed to the hospitality industry at a young age, working in his family’s motels and restaurants. He went on to earn his BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and became a licensed CPA. He practiced public accounting for four years with the Big Eight accounting firm Coopers and Lybrand. In 1985, he joined The Breakers as hotel controller, rising to the position of president in 1994 at age 36. In 2016, he was appointed CEO, the first non-family member in the history of the company to hold this post. Since his appointment, Mr. Leone has been credited with engineering and sustaining the turnaround of one of the greatest resorts in the world by creating and fostering a unique company culture and achieving best-in-class employee fulfillment, guest satisfaction, community service and financial performance. He is actively involved and widely recognized for his work with numerous civic and professional organizations, and he and his wife, Kathy, have four sons.

Photo: LILA PHOTO