Alumna Wendy Gray is an “out of the box” thinker. She is the founder and visionary of Gray Design Group who presses the limits for new ideas and trends as a designer and successful entrepreneur. Under her leadership, Gray Design has grown the architectural segment of its business to include turnkey services for its corporate, industrial and real estate clients.
With a fresh degree in interior design and an idea born at her Kirkwood dining room table 33 years ago, Gray started her company as its sole employee and began taking on tenant planning work. She built her portfolio by knocking on doors and her work ethic and persistence paid off. Wendy built Gray Design Group into one of the largest interior design firms in St. Louis. Gray Design Group has since designed office space in over 100 buildings in the St. Louis metro area, stretching from downtown to west St. Louis County and is now licensed in 25 states. Gray’s long list of clients include corporations, real estate developers and brokers, non profits, universities and general contractors. Gray’s outstanding design work and business recognitions include: St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women, University of Missouri Alumni Award and Top Design Giants – Interior Design Magazine.
Wendy Gray
Interior Designer, CEO/President
What helped you from MU’s Architectural Studies?
“The education I received from Mizzou was the launching point to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship with my alma mater. The benchmarks in my life are intertwined with my love for MU. These benchmarks follow the year when my Chicago high school counselor told me the best interior design school in the Midwest was the University of Missouri, Columbia; . . . the month that my father flew me in his private plane to Mizzou for me to begin my college education; . . . the day I met a fellow student and business partner;. . . and the hour I committed myself to helping the Department enrich its program.
Now I am enjoying this time when I can give back to Mizzou’s Architectural Studies Department and interact with students. It is a joy to participate in student critiques, host students in the ’Day in the Life of a Designer’ program and coach very talented alumni in our firm. The faculty and students are top notch!”