~Toby Tannas~

Photos by Lia Crowe

From his home tucked in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 south slopes, overlooking Okanagan Lake, Elroy Gust lives and works with gratitude for the life he香蕉视频直播檚 crafted. Getting to where he is today did not happen by accident. From the very early days of his career, this CEO had a clear vision of where his path would lead.

香蕉视频直播淭his is just where I always saw myself,香蕉视频直播� says Elroy, referring to his drive for success香蕉视频直播攕omething cultivated in his humble Manitoba farming family roots.

Happily married with three grown children, he香蕉视频直播檚 founder, president and CEO of Newlook Capital. The private equity firm is based in Ontario but now more than ever, Elroy manages Newlook from his home office three time zones away.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 mind the schedule, a lot of people in Kelowna have this schedule. You roll out of bed and by 6 am you香蕉视频直播檙e on your first call. Then by about 1:30 to 2:00 pm your phone stops ringing because the work day is over back east. I really like the lifestyle.香蕉视频直播�

Elroy香蕉视频直播檚 home office didn香蕉视频直播檛 always boast lake and mountain views. For more than 30 years, he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of city life. From his start in the commercial lending department of a Lower Mainland bank, to buying and selling multiple companies, to founding Newlook Capital, Elroy has learned important lessons every step of the way.

香蕉视频直播淲ith my first job as a commercial lender, I started to understand how things work from a lending perspective,香蕉视频直播� he explains. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I worked with my dad and my brother, we had a warehousing-logistics business in Toronto. I grew it, became president at 29 and then, when I turned 30, I decided it was time to sell and I made my first million.香蕉视频直播�

That taste of success香蕉视频直播攐f building something with your own grit, determination and wherewithal香蕉视频直播攗ltimately spurred Elroy to form Newlook Capital. Over the course of a decade, the company has grown to more than 700 employees in both Canada and the United States. Newlook owns more than a dozen companies and continues to have very active and strategic acquisition plans.

香蕉视频直播淭his year we will buy another four businesses and I would say we香蕉视频直播檙e talking to about 15 in total right now.香蕉视频直播�

Elroy has removed himself from daily operations, by design, working on select projects and dealing directly with the executive management team.

香蕉视频直播淭he business will continue to grow,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e really built the fly wheel, we香蕉视频直播檝e built the culture, we香蕉视频直播檝e built the machine. Now it keeps going, keeps growing whether I香蕉视频直播檓 involved more or less.香蕉视频直播�

Elroy is always ready and willing to fly back east if needed (he spends at least a few days a month in the Burlington office), but his days of being a regular, weekly commuter are done. COVID-19 played a hand in that.

香蕉视频直播淚 had already become intentional with my travel, but when COVID happened, I stopped travelling back and forth altogether. I got rid of the condo in Burlington and set up in Kelowna full time. So far it香蕉视频直播檚 worked out well using Zoom.香蕉视频直播�

COVID-19 hasn香蕉视频直播檛 had a huge economic impact on Newlook Capital香蕉视频直播檚 business holdings, as all were deemed essential services. In the early days of uncertainty, though, Elroy found himself in a new role香蕉视频直播攖hat of mentor. His knowledge and experience allowed him to guide and support operating partners who were nervous and overwhelmed with the rapidly changing business climate.

香蕉视频直播淭he biggest thing for me was changing their mindset from being defensive to offensive. For me to get engaged with the people who are at the ground level running the businesses and get their mentality to shift, that I could have that impact on someone, that was really cool for me.香蕉视频直播�

It also allowed Elroy to look at what香蕉视频直播檚 made him successful over the years and what advice he would give to young people working in any career field.

香蕉视频直播淩ecognize what you are good at. Really understand that and quantify it,香蕉视频直播� he says emphatically. 香蕉视频直播淚 recognize what I am not good at and then I partner with people who are good at those things to make sure that I香蕉视频直播檓 just working on my strengths.香蕉视频直播�

With four years of Okanagan living under his belt, Elroy is pretty comfortable in his new schedule and laid-back surroundings. He says the most notable difference between Burlington and Kelowna is how he answers the question, 香蕉视频直播淲hat do you do?香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲hen people in Kelowna ask you what you do, I had to recognize they香蕉视频直播檙e not asking you what you do for a living, they don香蕉视频直播檛 care. They香蕉视频直播檙e asking, 香蕉视频直播榙o you snowboard, do you ski?香蕉视频直播� That香蕉视频直播檚 the focus here,香蕉视频直播� he chuckles.

Elroy has become an avid skier (even though he almost threw in the towel during his first week of lessons). He spends summer afternoons on the lake and ample time socializing with friends.

香蕉视频直播淚 joined a business leaders香蕉视频直播� group and have met a lot of great people, many who are in similar situations, working remotely.香蕉视频直播�

Elroy seems to have achieved the perfect balance between work and lifestyle. It makes a final question about retirement almost unnecessary.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think I香蕉视频直播檒l ever retire. I can manage how many days I香蕉视频直播檓 working and how much effort I香蕉视频直播檓 putting in.香蕉视频直播�

That is a privilege that香蕉视频直播檚 earned through years of commitment and, in the case of Elroy Gust, one that will be savoured for years to come.