Our Leadership Team

Gordon McDougall Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer

I had a passion. I created a goal. Today, that goal is a reality called youPlus. 

It became a calling for me when I watched several close friends and family members engage with a personal coach and go from a place of being frustrated in their lives to living lives full of purpose and reaching their goals and being happy. That inspired me to become a coach myself, and take the training provided by The Coaches Training Institute in San Francisco. I was training with 20 other new coaches and fell in love with these incredible people. They have such incredible belief in people and are gifted in how they help people get to their goals. My youPlus business model brings together highly-trained coaches and clients, to the benefit of all.

Before coaching I was the founder of two oil and gas exploration companies. Along with the management teams I put together, we grew the companies to a combined value of over $70 million. I firmly believe that personal coaching is part of the next big shift in human thinking and beliefs and I’m eager to apply my business knowledge and expertise in this arena. Personal coaching is the only personal development work where people change behavior and stay on their new path. And, as for the impact coaching has personally had on me, I say, “My life is amazing!"

Mai Vu Co-Founder, Chief Inspiration Officer

As the CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer), I inspire the team to be our best and to build meaningful relationships in every interaction—whether it is with each other, our clients, our strategic partners or our potential competitors. I am also the heart and soul of our coaching quality and product delivery.

Trained by The Coaches Training Institute, and also one of their senior trainers, I am a walking, breathing practitioner of the co-active way.

Coaching isn't just a luxury to be experienced like a weekend spa treatment, but one of life's necessities. It is the way to create the meaningful and successful life that you deserve.

Personal coaching is all about creating a space in the world for all of your light to shine and your possibilities to bloom. I continuously trumpet, "Coaching works. And it's for all of us!"

Are you ready?

Chris Stringer Co-Founder, Chairman

Way back before the term “maid service” was coined, my wife and I founded and developed a company called Molly Maid. Our baby has now grown to over 600 franchises in four countries. My past has also involved helping ServiceMaster build its operations in Canada serving as President in Toronto in 1986 and in Vancouver in 1993. Prior to this I headed the expansion operations of Loomis Courier Services into Eastern Canada and New York.

My proudest moment, however, came on the day that I was honored with the prestigious Paul Harris Award from Rotary International in recognition for my contribution to Rotary’s mission of Service above Self.

I am excited to be part of the youPlus, Inc team and look forward to feeding my passion for contributing to the growth and development of people. As Chairman, I intend to provide well-grounded leadership to our dynamic management team and team of committed coaches.

Phil Durnford Vice President, Coaching Process and Quality

I love the moment of shift, that point in a conversation when both of you realize that nothing can ever be the same again. Everyone should be able to experience that, and youPlus is the vehicle for making more coach time available to more people than any coaching business I've encountered in my 5 years in the profession; I could not walk away from their invitation to join.

It's been an 18 year, international odyssey, though naval, academic and corporate life. I've travelled across the world from Europe to Canada and the US and then Asia as a employee, project manager, leadership coach and following spouse. Even my study of Aikido, a Japanese martial art and subsequent work in the "front line" with homeless people; all of it, in retrospect, has been about the art of listening and the art of appreciation: How could I serve my engineering team and serve our mission? How could a business succeed in a transformation project without trampling a bitter path through its employees? How would I have to change in order to end homelessness? What does it take to win without fighting?

I'm delighted to be working with our amazing coaches on our products and quality; youPlus is a powerful vehicle for "being-the-change"; isn't this what everyone deserves?

Jonathan Troen Vice President, Public Relations and Business Development

Early in my career, I interviewed rock stars. People who were living their dreams. It was inspiring. As an Internet entrepreneur and television producer, it was my job to motivate people, to find the best in them and make that best shine brighter than the brightest star. What if we lived in a world where everyone lived their dreams, where everyone shined? The time came when asking "what if?" wasn't enough for me anymore. I lived my dream, and it was time to give back to the universal energy and help others re-discover their dreams and turn those into realities.

Here's a story: I made a new years resolution one year to smile at more people. All of sudden, people all around me were smiling as well. For a moment, their lives seemed a little bit brighter, happier. With just a simple smile! How could I take this momentary gift of joy and make it last longer, I thought. It was a thought I tucked away in my brain for many years. Until now. Until youPlus.

I live to discover the passion inside of people and make it real. So what do you dream? Tell us, and let's make it happen together!