HCA Floridas former construction manager, Thomas W. Koulouris, has partnered with Coty L. Fournier, one of South Floridas most prolific construction executives, to launch a new program management consulting firm, dedicated 100% to healthcare design and construction in Florida. Strategically positioned as a certified women-owned business enterprise (WBE), Xielo was formed to service the aggressive needs of Florida hospitals and healthcare providers facing major expansions and renovation projects, as well as new facilities fueled by rapidly growing healthcare demands. 
With over $1 billion in Florida AHCA-governed healthcare projects to his credit, all from the hospital owners perspective, Koulouris leads the (relatively small) pack of qualified program management specialists working in Florida. Complimenting that large volume of work are highly desirable performance measures derived from his career project portfolio, such as a less than 1% budget-to-actual cost variance, and an average target-to-actual occupancy variance of 10 days early.
As senior vice president of Miller Construction Company (1997 2004), Fournier rallied a business development campaign that placed Miller in the forefront of local healthcare contractors, achieving active working status inside nearly a dozen South Florida hospitals – including several HCA-owned hospitals – where she developed a successful working relationship with Koulouris back in 2002. “I had been working in the construction industry for 15 years, and I had never interacted with a more effective and responsible program manager with such impressive results.” Fournier said, “I knew he was the right person to lead operations in a healthcare program management firm, particularly one dedicated to healthcare in Florida, where I have yet to identify anyone with comparable credentials.”
The combination of Koulouris and Fourniers qualifications and existing relationships landed Xielos first contract in July of 2004, less than 60 days after their resignations from HCA and Miller, respectively. After interviewing several local and national competitors, Xielo was engaged by world renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, to serve as their program manager for the planning, design, and construction of their new ophthalmologic surgical center and clinical care buildings, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Ground-breaking was held earlier this year, and grand opening celebrations are scheduled for early summer of 2006.
Xielo is an alternate spelling of the Spanish word “cielo” which means sky. Although such a creative name is inspiring in and of itself, when asked why the name was chosen, Koulouris offered the following practical application, “Good program managers must fly at 35,000 feet, where a comprehensive view of project activities and consequences can be fully analyzed from the hospital owners perspective. It is appropriate to descend to 10,000 feet to examine the details as required, but our name serves as a constant reminder to ascend back up to 35,000 feet quickly, where the most informed decisions are made.”
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