Gray Plumbing Inc

Jeff Gray: Pipeline to Success

By Matt Solis, Editor

Economic factors may have forced Jeff Gray’s hand when it came to switching careers in the early 2000s, but instead of getting discouraged, he used that turbulent time as an opportunity for growth. “I got into the plumbing industry during the dot-com bust after the birth of my youngest son,” he explains. “I had the choice of becoming either a stockbroker or a plumber, and when I talked to my parents about it, they said, ‘If you become a plumber, you’ll always be able to feed your family.’ I took their advice and nothing has ever been truer.”

In 2016, Jeff branched out on his own and founded Gray Plumbing Inc—an inevitable move when you consider his background as a small-business owner. “I come from a long line of entrepreneurs—my grandfather owned a mimeographing company in Berkeley for 50 years and my father eventually took it over—so I’ve never been a believer of working for other people,” he says. “I started this company so I could provide better service and dictate my own path. The goal has always been to provide my community with quality plumbing work.”

A Bay Area native, Jeff spent many years in the Oakland/Richmond area before eventually settling in Fairfield, where he appreciates the natural splendor of life in the North Bay. “I love watching the seasons change—I think it’s beautiful,” he says. “Also, the people here are very diverse, so it’s just a friendly place to be.”

Outside of work, Jeff devotes much of his free time to his family. “We’re extremely close,” he says. “My wife, Patricia, and I have three sons—the oldest, Robert, is earning a doctorate in biochemistry, and the other two, William and Jonathan, work at Gray Plumbing with me. We have a close extended family as well. Every year, Thanksgiving is at my house and Christmas is at my sister’s house.” When he’s not enjoying family time, Jeff likes to unwind by watching sports and movies, and as a longtime musician, he also finds opportunities to play his drums, bass and piano.

When asked what his life might look like if he retired tomorrow, Jeff says he would start things off on the right foot by having the perfect day. “First, I would play 18 holes of golf. After that I would get in the hot tub and take my wife out to a nice dinner.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Golden State Warriors and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Q: What’s your favorite band of all time?

A: Parliament-Funkadelic. I think a lot of their music was genius. 

Q: What’s your favorite genre of movies?

A: Drama.

Q: If you could immediately master a musical instrument, what would you choose?

A: Piano. I’ve played piano off and on for 20 years but I’m nowhere near a master. 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Egypt to see the pyramids and Tahiti to see the blue ocean.