Brian Elias is a lifelong entrepreneur and brand builder whose career has been forged through grit, risk, and an unrelenting obsession with doing things better than the industry norm. With more than 40 years in home improvement, Brian has built companies from the ground up, scaled them nationally, and reshaped how consumers experience home services through disciplined execution and customer-first leadership.
His entrepreneurial journey began in 1988 with just
$5,000 and a belief that the industry could be run with more integrity, accountability, and customer focus. That belief became 1-800-HANSONS, which Brian grew into an $80+ million enterprise employing more than 500 people. In 2017, after decades of disciplined growth, he successfully exited the business to private equity and remains actively involved at the board level.

Rather than slowing down, Brian applied those hard-earned lessons to his next venture, Refloor, a next-generation flooring company built to challenge the inefficiencies of traditional retail and in-home sales models. Under his leadership, Refloor has become one of the fastest-growing home improvement companies in the country, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies list, ranking #34 on Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500, and being named a USA Today Top Workplace.

His broader portfolio spans technology, financial services, hospitality, entertainment, manufacturing, and real estate.

Brian actively supports organizations including The Jewish Federation, Yad Ezra, Corewell Health Foundation, American Cancer Society, Soul (Source of Universal Love), and multiple other organizations. His approach to giving mirrors his approach to business: build things that last and leave people better than you found them.

Known for his candid perspective, creative vision, and intolerance for mediocrity, Brian is a sought-after voice on leadership, branding, sales execution, and entrepreneurship. At his core, he is a builder who believes success is earned through hard decisions, disciplined systems, and people who care deeply about the outcome.