Our Team

It is our goal to partner with competent, caring, and well-trained individuals who are responsive to the needs of our children, their families, and the communities we serve.
Dr. Marlon Gray, smiling man in burgundy blazer with navy blue button up
“Our challenges don’t define us. How we choose to respond, in understanding that it is our choice, can.”

Dr. Marlon W. Gray, MS, EdD

Founder & Managing Partner

Department:

Management & Leadership

Education:

  • BA – Organizational Leadership – Fordham University
  • MS – Management, Strategy, Leadership – Michigan State University
  • EdD – Organizational Change & Leadership – University of Southern California

Certifications:

  • Entrepreneurship – University of Pennsylvania
  • Artificial Intelligence – MIT & Northwestern

Bio:

Passionate social entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience as an entrepreneur in the behavioral health sector. Over this period, Dr. Gray has led two successful behavioral health startups and consulted a few others. Through his creativity, collaboration, and leadership, Dr. Gray has managed an ecosystem of behavioral health service units including in-home counseling for at-risk youths and their families, Applied Behavior Analysis, therapeutic respite care for children on the autism spectrum, and private practice for individuals of all ages, families and couples.

Dr. Gray is responsible for the innovative direction of Empower U. as well as the direction of its buy and/or build strategies for expansion. He is passionate about promoting conversations around BIPOC mental health and resilience, cultural and experiential relatability in mental health, and entrepreneurship as a means of economic empowerment. Dr. Gray is a proud member of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs Access Network, ForbesBLK, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Above all, he’s most proud of being a father to his teenage son.

Joined: 2015