“We work really well together because we know each other’s strengths. And with more than 30 years of EAM experience between us, we know what we’re doing.”
If you’ve ever walked down Stephen Avenue in Calgary with Brian Gorsline, you’ve seen firsthand evidence of his long and prolific career. Brian has gotten to know a lot of people from working in Alberta for the last 35 years -so many, in fact, that as you’re strolling alongside him in downtown Calgary, you may find he can hardly take a few steps without running into a former colleague or client. Without fail, Brian will stop to chat and catch up, approaching each person like an old friend.
Brian’s ability to build enduring relationships with people, as well as his decades of technical, business, and operations experience, are just two of the many reasons he’s the perfect fit as True North Solutions’ new Business Manager.
Brian’s entire career has revolved around software and implementation support. As a young man in the 1980s, he was fascinated with a new industry — computer programming. But after working in the area for a short time, Brian quickly realized programming wasn’t his calling. “I can’t sit behind a screen,” he says. “I like working with people to identify their needs and requirements, and then tying that in with applications.”
In the 1990s Brian discovered Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). EAM combines systems, services, and software to control and maintain operational equipment and assets for mid- and large-scale industrial companies. Brian recognized the potential of EAM immediately. In fact, back in 1999, he was one of the first in Canada to start providing the early EAM tools to companies needing to track their assets. Brian had found his niche. For the next two decades, he consulted on the implementation of EAM solutions for companies and projects all over the world, including Canada, the United States, Ireland, and Australia.
“EAM was very immature at that time, so many companies didn’t understand it,” Brian reflects. “I’d get them to define their requirements, and then we’d find software that would best match those requirements and their budget.”
During this time, Brian’s professional career wasn’t the only thing rapidly growing. He and his wife welcomed triplet girls into their family. Brian decided to re-focus his efforts locally, and support companies with their software implementation in his hometown of Calgary.
Throughout his career, Brian has worn many hats. Having been a client, consultant, business owner, and manager, he knows what it’s like to be on all sides. This makes Brian uniquely positioned to understand his clients’ business strategies, day-to-day operations, and everything in between.
“Enterprise asset management is a big beast. It touches every part of an organization: operations, production, health and safety, I.T., and accounting,” Brian says. “You have to understand the needs and requirements, prioritize, and then work with the client to help them build the roadmap of where they want to go.”
Brian’s ability to build strong relationships is best exemplified by his lasting connections with Brad and Gerry, two EAM Solution Architects who followed him to True North. He’s worked with Brad for 12 years and Gerry for 15. That history makes them an unstoppable team.
“We work really well together because we know each other’s strengths. And with more than 30 years of EAM experience between us, we know what we’re doing.”
The team started building EAM as a new service offering at True North in April 2022. Brian anticipated needing a few months to build the department but, because so many companies are recognizing the need for EAM, they hit the ground running.
“It’s been unbelievable. I mean, we just had this conversation last week, Brad, Gerry, and I. Gerry said, ‘I wake up and I can’t wait to get back to the office because I’ve got all these ideas.’ We’re all really excited for the future here.”
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