BARBARA GRAY:
 
BARBARA GRAY




 
 
 
 
 
Executive Director of Leadership Detroit at the Detroit Regional Chamber. Leadership Detroit is a regional community leadership program founded in 1979. Its mission is to provide the foundation for a lifelong commitment to leadership by creating awareness of key issues that affect the Detroit region and to challenge emerging and existing community leaders to bring about positive change through informed leadership. About 65 individuals annually participate in the program, representing a cross section of the community. Gray has served on the boards of the Metropolitan YWCA and the Families with Children from China. She also served two terms on the Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education. An expert in diversity programs, she previously worked at Henry Ford Health System managing diversity strategies and was the program director for the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. Gray received her associate degree from Muskegon Community College, her bachelor’s in social work from Western Michigan University, and her master’s of arts and education from Central Michigan University


WHERE BORN: "Escanaba."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "I've been very fortunate in having many people throughout my life influence me in the way I think and how I view the world. It is particularly true in my current role with Leadership Detroit."

LAST BOOK READ: "The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Intense, serious, and funny."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "Leadership development and training in general is a part of lifelong learning that more and more people recognize as necessary in this economy. Hopefully, at the same time, they find it personally enriching."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "My laptop."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Wherever my daughter is and being with friends."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Reading (I enjoy my book group), playing with our new puppy. I’d like to get back to playing tennis."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Variety of ethnic fares – Chinese, Middle Eastern, Mexican."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "Not a talent yet, but I’m in Chinese school with my daughter on Saturdays and I’m trying to keep up."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "As a good mother, daughter, and friend who worked toward creating positive change."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2009, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.