Glenn miller
Businessman by day,
night musician
A specialist in corporate financial restructuring, private asset-based lender, coach, mentor and patron, Glenn Miller has many strings to his bow, and his career is enough to impress more than one. But despite his busy schedule, the businessman finds time to indulge in his passion: music. More than just a hobby, it leads him to perform in concert more than 80 times a year as part of the group Ford-Miller & Co, which he formed with his friend Keith Ford.
President and founder of MBG Finance, Glenn Miller has specialized in bridge asset financing and business turnaround for over 25 years. In Quebec, his name and reputation are well-established. During COVID-19, his asset-based lending firm was in high demand by companies from all kinds of industries. “It wasn’t just retail businesses and restaurants that were affected. Many companies saw their revenues decrease or were trying to survive,” he explains. The businessman notably had to turn around three large companies for a total of approximately $250 million in debt. This period was exhausting, mentally and physically. Fortunately, he was able to hold on to what he loves to do most in the world: playing music. “It helped me rebalance my life during this very difficult time,” says the percussionist and singer.
A DECISIVE MEETING
It was precisely at the beginning of COVID-19, in 2020, that he met Keith Ford, the musician with whom he would form a duo. Passing by a café terrace, Glenn Miller and his wife, the painter Lisabel, were attracted by guitar tunes and a captivating voice. "At one point, the singer asked if anyone wanted a particular song. Since he had only performed covers of well-known songs until then, I asked him to sing one of his compositions." Immediately seduced, Glenn Miller introduced himself to him as a percussionist and invited him to come and meet him at his home. A few days later, the two men played together for the first time. The chemistry being there, they quickly multiplied concerts on café terraces during the summer of 2020. "I told Keith, I'll come play with you, but you keep the fee. For my part, I'll just have a few beers!"
Over time, their rendezvous became a regular occurrence. The duo happily reunited every week, and the crowd continued to grow. “People would bring their folding chairs and sit across the street to keep their distance. One time the police had to come and disperse the crowd because it was too big,” Miller recalls with a laugh. Thanks to meeting Keith, the “COVID years” were mellowed, and “something magical came out of it.”
A DUO WITH THE WIND IN THEIR SAILS
Today, the Ford-Miller & Co group performs more than 80 concerts per year. They perform at festivals, private events, at Club Med, and at the renowned La Maison du Jazz in Laval. The group covers classics from the 70s, 80s and 90s in pop-rock, blues, soul and new country and arranges them in their own way. Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, The Beatles, Chris Stapleton, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley are part of their repertoire. The group also performs original compositions by Keith Ford. Now a business partner of Glenn Miller, the latter plans to release his first album in 2025. Recently, Jean-Christophe Germain, a violinist who has toured the Caribbean and Europe, also joined the duo. "My career as a musician is totally integrated into my schedule. It is part of my happiness," says Glenn Miller.
PROJECTS GALORE
Considering the businessman's extremely busy schedule, it's no small feat. Because in addition to his work at MBG Finance, he is also a shareholder in several companies, involved in a foundation, a speaker, a mentor to entrepreneurs and a member of the advisory committee of McGill University's Faculty of Education. His secret: time management. "There are two things you can control in life: your time and your energy. I manage these two elements obsessively," he admits. He adds: "The important thing is to maintain a balance. And then, my happiness comes a lot from my three children and my relationship with the painter Lisabel, with whom I have been living a great adventure for 26 years."
In addition to being her husband, Glenn Miller is also her agent. Located in Pointe-Claire, the Lisabel gallery can also be rented for private events. Next August, it will move to the waterfront and become the first event space accessible by boat in Montreal. Always full of ideas, Glenn Miller and his wife Lisabel have just opened a second Lisabel gallery in Madrid, based on the same concept. "I love what I do. At 61, I don't want to slow down," concludes the businessman. In short, you get the idea, don't talk to him about retirement!