Ruth Herdan

Ruth brings a rare blend of hospitality excellence, property management expertise, and deep Florida Keys market insight in launching her real estate career. Originally from Central New Jersey, Ruth earned her B.S. in Marketing from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, beginning her professional foundation in marketing leadership roles with MetLife, AIG, and AI Advertising in Philadelphia.

After nearly a decade in corporate marketing, Ruth followed her passion for cooking and hospitality and graduated with an A.A. in Culinary Arts from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. She went on to open and operate a successful boutique gourmet market and catering business in Center City Philadelphia for over a decade—an experience that sharpened her business acumen, client service, and operations management skills.

Her next chapter took her into private chef and estate management roles in Philadelphia and Nantucket, where she gained firsthand experience overseeing luxury homes, coordinating high-touch services, and understanding the nuances of elevated client expectations.

In 2016, Ruth relocated to Key West, discovering her true home and the lifestyle that perfectly aligns with her passions. For the past decade, she has been deeply embedded in the Florida Keys hospitality and luxury property market, managing premier vacation homes and curating immersive guest experiences. Most notably, as the General Manager and Retreat Ambassador for Azul Retreats, Ruth has led day-to-day operations, supervised all interior and exterior renovations, guided owners in the acquisition of vacation rental properties, coordinated teams, and ensured each guest a seamless 5-star stay.

These combined experiences naturally guided Ruth toward real estate—where her eye for design, deep local knowledge, and unwavering commitment to exceptional service hope to create a powerful advantage for her clients. Whether assisting buyers in finding their perfect island home or helping sellers position their property for maximum value, Ruth will strive to bring professionalism, authenticity, and a concierge-level approach to every transaction.

Outside of work, Ruth enjoys cooking, interior design, fishing, entertaining, and exploring the islands she proudly calls home. Her passion and love for the Florida Keys lifestyle shines through in everything she does—and she looks forward to helping you find your own piece of paradise.