Gus Halas

I came to the U.S. when I was 11 years old from Greece. My father left Greece when I was nine months old to work in the US and send money back to us because everyone in Greece was literally starving. This was as a result of a bloody civil war that raged after WWII and when the insurgents realized they could not win they devastated the countryside by adopting a “scorched earth” policy. In Athens,  where we lived, people were actually dying of starvation.

I only saw my father three times for short visits until I was 11 years old when my parents decided it would be best if we were together in one place.

We came to the US and settled in Washington DC. School was a challenge because I spoke no english but math was easy since I’d already taken geometry, calculus, trigonometry and algebra. At that time, based on some research, I have since found out our school systems in the US were substantially behind Europe.

In any case the next year I was placed in the “slow learners” class. That was very problematic with my behavior because, although not diagnosed, I feel I have ADHD.

Once I picked up the language school came easy but not challenging enough. I found passion in building cars and motorcycles. I loved speed and I loved building machines to be admired. In my mind that was going to be my vocation and avocation. I met no opposition from my parents because they only had a third grade education. However, my mother’s brother, who was someone I loved and admired called me and asked me to come to Washington DC where he lived; to discuss my future. When I mentioned my “grandiose” plans of becoming the next Carol Shelby he told me those should not be my plans. He said I needed to go to college and become a successful businessman.  Even though that’s not what I wanted, my adoration for this man I said yes.

Since I was offered academic scholarships because of my grades and I was not going to be a burden on my parents, I decided to double major in Physics and Economics. Not because I thought that would be a great career decision but because those were two of my favorite subjects.

I tried different jobs in banking, flipping houses and real estate but I found a wonderful opportunity in centrifugal pumps for applications ranging from water treatment plants to nuclear power plants. I thought I found my calling but the job  was still not challenging enough.

I kept getting promoted but I was still not challenged. So when I was asked if I would be interested in running a division that was in trouble and not making money, I jumped at the opportunity. After 2.5 years sales had tripled and profitability had quintupled. I finally found my calling. I found a bigger division and repeated the process and once that became boring I got involved with a stand alone company and continued to repeat the model and my success. In short, I took my problem to having the attention span of a gnat, to a wonderful and successful career.

My malady is still driving me to being involved in business. As we speak I sit on five boards, chairman of four of them, partner in a private equity group and outside advisor to JP Morgan’s high-yield and distressed debt group.

And I haven’t lost my passion for motorized vehicles. I have a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, a couple of Harley Davidson motorcycles to which my wife says I drive too fast. But, most of the time I spend time on a little island called Bald Head Island where the residents can only drive golf carts and bicycles.