Entrepreneurial leadership in action: Luis Aguilar’s vision for Elavo

The strongest business platforms begin with more than an attractive market. They begin with a capable operator who sees an opportunity, develops a clear vision and has the determination to turn that vision into an enduring company.

Luis Aguilar, CEO of Elavo, exemplifies the kind of entrepreneurial leader Talus Holdings seeks to support. In a recent two-part profile published by American Laundry News, Luis discusses his path into commercial laundry, the growth of Elavo and his ambition to build a leading regional—and eventually national—linen and laundry services platform.

His story demonstrates what can happen when an entrepreneurial CEO is empowered with meaningful ownership, permanent capital and practical resources to build.

Above: Luis Aguilar (second from left) with members of the Ser-Clean team

Luis did not begin his career in commercial laundry. After studying at Virginia Tech, he worked as an industrial engineer at General Electric and gained experience in private equity. Throughout that journey, however, he remained focused on a larger goal: acquiring and operating a business of his own.

That opportunity arrived in 2022 with the acquisition of Cy’s Linen, a South Florida company whose roots date back to 1945. Luis saw both the strength of the established operation and the potential to build something larger around it.

He subsequently expanded the business through four additional acquisitions. Today, Elavo encompasses five facilities operating through three customer-facing brands: Cy’s Linen, SerClean and Florida Keys Linen. Together, these businesses serve restaurants, hotels, resorts, spas and other customers across South Florida.

Part one of the American Laundry News profile explores Luis’ entrepreneurial path, the heritage of Elavo’s operating companies and the development of a regional platform serving customers from Key West to West Palm Beach.

Above: Luis Aguilar (left) addresses colleagues at Keys Linen

Elavo’s progress reflects a principle that Talus shares across its platforms: growth should strengthen successful businesses without discarding the people, relationships and legacies that made them valuable.

Under Luis’ leadership, Elavo evaluates each business and brand individually. Perfect Linen was integrated into Cy’s Linen, while SurGlobal became part of SerClean. Florida Keys Linen retained its name because of the deep recognition and customer trust it holds in the Keys.

This flexible approach allows each operation to benefit from shared purchasing, systems, expertise, capacity and back-office support while maintaining the local strengths that matter to its customers and employees.

The goal is not simply to assemble a collection of companies. It is to create an integrated platform that helps strong local businesses become even better—improving resilience, expanding capabilities and creating new opportunities without losing their identity.

The conclusion of the American Laundry News series examines that strategy and Luis’ vision for expanding Elavo into a leading national commercial laundry and linen services organization.

Talus was founded by entrepreneurs to support entrepreneurs. We seek driven, early-career executives who want more than a traditional management role. We look for people who are ready to take ownership, build teams, make difficult decisions and create platforms in fragmented service markets with durable long-term demand.

Luis’ success illustrates the potential of that model.

The operator provides the leadership, industry thesis and commitment required to build the business. Talus provides aligned capital and practical support across corporate development, finance, business improvement, marketing, human resources and administration. This gives platform CEOs access to the specialized capabilities needed to pursue acquisitions, integrate companies and scale with greater discipline.

Just as importantly, Talus gives operators room to lead. We believe the people closest to a business are best positioned to understand its customers, employees and opportunities. Our role is to support their judgment, strengthen execution and help turn a compelling vision into a durable platform.

Luis’ vision for Elavo extends well beyond its current South Florida footprint. Over the coming years, the company intends to partner with other well-run independent laundry and linen service businesses as it develops a regional and ultimately national presence.

That growth will remain grounded in the values that have brought Elavo this far: consistent service, operational discipline, respect for employees and long-term stewardship of the businesses joining the platform.

We congratulate Luis and the entire Elavo team on the recognition from American Laundry News. Their achievements demonstrate the value of pairing entrepreneurial ambition with aligned ownership and systematic support.

For aspiring executives, Luis’ story also presents an important possibility. You do not need to wait for someone else to build the company you want to lead. With a compelling market thesis, the drive to operate and the right partner, you can build a platform of your own.

If you are an ambitious operator with a vision for a fragmented business services market, connect with Talus Holdings. We are always interested in meeting the entrepreneurs who will build what comes next.