Surveyor launches family venture Gray & Associates LLC

Gray, along with his sons, Michael David Gray, PLS, and Matthew Gray, son-in-law Jerry Jezik and great-nephew Cody Blakemore, began providing services through Gray & Associates LLC on March 1.

“It truly is a family business,” Michael D. Gray said. “It’s really wonderful to work with your sons (and family) and see them day-to-day, but it’s got a little downside, too. You have to try to separate business from family. When you say something to someone, it’s easier to get your feelings hurt if it’s family.”

While Michael D. and Michael David Gray are the company’s only two registered professional land surveyors now, Matthew Gray, Jezik and Blakemore are all pursing licensure.

Gray & Associates maps land for construction projects, with services that include topographic surveys for architects and engineers, boundary surveys, identifying utility locations, construction staking, aerial mapping and land surveys.

The company assists with subdivision layouts and helps developers make sure they’re meeting zoning requirements.

Gray racked up his experience with 26 years of managing the survey department at Springfield-based Anderson Engineering Inc., including the last 18 years as a vice president.

“Running the survey department … it was like running my own business. I guess it was good practice and experience for what I’m doing now,” said Gray, who said he left Anderson as the result of corporate restructuring.

Grays family members had worked with him at Anderson, but they left and joined Gray & Associates as the business was able to support them.

Projects include working with Walton Construction and APAC on the terminal expansion at Springfield-Branson National Airport, and with Jerry Hagerman of Hagerman New Urbanism on the Finley River Neighborhood Devlopment District in Ozark.

Gray’s company already is turning a profit and has posted gross revenues of $150,000 since opening, Gray said.

“I hope to double it next year,” he added. “But … it’s based on economy, and you can’t make people get surveys.”

A learning curve

Based on his experience in the surveying industry, Gray was appointed in 2001 by Gov. Bob Holden to serve on the Missouri Licensing Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects. In 2005, Gov. Matt Blunt reappointed him to the board, for which he serves as board vice chairman and chairman of the land survey division.

In October, Gray was named the Surveyor of the Year by the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers at the group’s 50th annual meeting.

“I have the utmost respect for Michael,” said John Teale, PLS, who serves with Gray in the professional land surveying division of the state licensing board and is the president of Midland Surveying Inc. in Maryville. “He thinks through tough decisions (and) is well thought of within the profession. He is an outstanding professional.”

While Gray is familiar with the surveying industry, he admits he’s still learning about the details that come with running a company.

“Cash flow is a big deal – getting paid for the work you have already done, and then getting that in the door to help cover expenses,” Gray said.

Gray’s client base includes companies he’s worked with throughout his career, including Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. architecture firm.

“They are very good about getting things to you when they say they are,” said Jeff Smith, an intern landscape architect at BRP. Smith has worked with Gray & Associates since it opened.

“They provide accurate and detailed drawings,” he added.

New talent on the way

Gray notes that the fact that so many of his family members followed him into surveying was purely coincidence, though he is proud. “I didn’t pressure them,” Gray said.

“My son-in-law was dating my daughter, and he was going to school and waiting tables at Applebee’s, and he wanted out of that. His father was an architect in St. Louis, so it was something he wanted to get into.”

If a certain little boy gets his way, however, Gray & Associates will be in the Gray family for a long time to come.

“I’ve got a grandson who’s 5 years old. We got new business cards when we moved into our office … and when they came in, he was so disappointed he didn’t have one,” Gray said. “We had to get him some business cards that say ‘Ethan Michael Gray, future surveyor.’ He thinks this is his office, too.”

Features Editor Maria Hoover contributed to this story.