Talk of the Town
Joe Gray wears many hats: husband and father, civil engineer, volunteer and downtown investor among them.
Born and raised in Butler County, Gray, 47, is working through both his professional expertise and his volunteer efforts to ensure a continually improving Butler.
Gray graduated from Butler High School in 1982, moving on to earn his associate degree in pre-engineering from Butler County Community College before graduating with a bachelor's in engineering from Youngstown State University in 1989.
“It's sort of natural for me. I was good at math, and (engineering) fits my personality and abilities very well,” he said.
Gray struck out on his own in 1997, forming Gray Engineering Corp., headquartered in Mount Chestnut.
“I felt it was time (to be more independent) and that I could do it,” he said.
In 1999, Gray bought Warnick Engineering to create Gray-Warnick Engineering, doubling his firm's size from eight to 16 employees.
Eager to return to Butler, Gray bought the building at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets, home to the vacant Cornerstone Commons, in 2004.
He renovated the building to be a modern banquet hall, the Grand Ballroom, as well as his office space.
In 2005, Gateway Engineers bought Gray-Warnick Engineering, and Gray stayed on as a partner until last year, when he sold his partnership in the firm. He now is a consultant to Gateway Engineers.
Gray-Warnick's move downtown in 2004 represented Gray's first foray into the real estate business, one he has continued, acquiring part ownership in the buildings at 232 to 240 S. Main St., including the Common Court building, as well as the Butler County Historical Society's Heritage Center, 119-123 W. New Castle St., which he bought in October.
“It kind of came naturally. It wasn't a big step,” said Gray of the transition from civil engineer to real estate mogul.
“I'm going to be declared either a genius, an idiot or crazy,” he said of acquiring downtown properties.
“I think there are good buys in town, and I'm hoping the city is on the right track and working in the right direction. That's one reason I am on all the committees”
That doesn't mean Gray doesn't have suggestions. Although real estate prices are good, he said, Butler's business privilege tax must be lowered to encourage development, and downtown's image must be improved.Before his financial investments, Gray invested a significant amount of time in downtown,He was Butler Downtown's president in 2009, and has served on Butler Downtown's economic restructuring committee for about five yearsGray also has served on organizational and executive committees for Butler Downtown.“Nothing gets done if people don't (serve),” he said.“I see these committees actually making a difference.”Currently, Gray volunteers as a committee member for the Jeep heritage festival Aug 12-14, helping organize the parade.But between business dealings and volunteer work, Gray has found less time for the activities he truly enjoys, including golf, boating, water skiing and hunting.“We were at the river twice last year,” he said with a wry grin.Of course, his hobbies have rubbed off on his children.Gray's eldest son Conner, 17, is an avid hunter who insists his father come along when he can, Gray said. His younger son, Evan, 15, was one of only two freshman last year to make the Butler High School varsity golf team.But Gray sees his sacrifices as both worthwhile and necessary.He is renovating the buildings from 232 to 240 S. Main St. to include upscale apartments on the top floors with the belief that city living will once again become attractive as baby boomers tire of mowing their lawns and the younger generation either does not want to bother with the upkeep of a house or just wants the convenience of living at the heart of the action.“Everything has cycles. What was good for your parents may not be good for you,” Gray said.Those buildings both are undergoing full renovations, the one at 234 S. Main St. receiving a stair tower, elevator shaft and sprinkler system in anticipation of eight upscale apartments to be built there.Although the building is gutted, Gray wanted to leave one relic from the 1920s there intact, something that would have been impossible without installation of sprinkler systems due to building codes.“We took great pains to save the tin ceiling in here,” he said.Gray, a civil engineer, specializing in land, roads, bridges and storm drains, said building renovation isn't exactly his area of expertise.“In this scenario, I'm more an owner/developer,” he said.“I'm just a little more hands-on in the design.”Of course, just like the student who was good at math in school, the adult Gray takes a calculated approach to his work.“I'm a believer that form follows function. You have to work with what you have,” he said.For example, the Grand Ballroom at Cornerstone Commons, now run by Gray's wife, Jackie, was not part of his initial plan for the building.“I had no aspirations of being a banquet hall owner but, that space, that's what it had to be,” Gray said.“I can't imagine doing anything else with what we had.”
<b>Age: </b>47<b>Address:</b> Dutchtown Road in Butler Township<b>Family:</b> Wife Jackie and sons, Conner, 17, and Evan, 15<b>Employment: </b>Consultant, Gateway Engineers<b>Education: </b>1982 Butler High School graduate, associate degree in pre-engineering from Butler County Community College, bachelor’s degree in engineering from Youngstown State University in 1989<b>Interests: </b>Hunting, golf, boating, water skiing
