Grandee Ann Ray - President
Grandee launched Grand Ideas in 2001 with just a cell phone, a computer and the trunk of her car for storage. Seven years after its inception, Grand Ideas has 14 employees, a sister company - Palmetto Ideas, and loyal regional, national and international customers. The company's continued success is due to Grandee's entrepreneurial spirit, fervor for creative solutions and innovative approach to business.
Grandee is a "people person" and values relationships above all else. Her personal beliefs, coupled with her relentless energy, are translated into Grand Ideas' mission statement - "Growth through unsurpassed customer service." With this as the guiding principle, Grandee has assembled an incredible, all-female talent team - ultimately creating a promotions and branding company that provides service to the customer unlike any in the industry.
In 2003, Grandee recognized an ever-growing demand for South Carolina-themed products and saw a 'grand' opportunity to provide unique items to meet this demand. Thus began her second related, but independent, new business endeavor - Palmetto Ideas. Similar to its parent company, Palmetto Ideas has seen tremendous growth and now supplies over 200 South Carolina-themed products to retailers and wholesalers across the state.
Originally from Atlanta, Grandee has always been driven to succeed. She put herself through nursing school and college, eventually receiving both a Bachelors and Masters degree in nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and MUSC respectively. Her professionalism, drive and work ethic were rewarded when she became the youngest female and the first nurse to be named Clinical Services Administrator (similar to a COO) for a major academic medical center. Through a series of life changes, Grandee decided to go into business on her own, using her core talents and management experience to launch Grand Ideas.
Grandee has received awards of recognition from the Charleston Advertising Federation and the Charleston Regional Business Journal, including the CBJ's "The Roaring 20" award in 2006. Additionally, the SC Governor's Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance recognized Grand Ideas as a certified minority-owned small business, and specifically as an up-and-coming, female-owned company.
The success of Grand Ideas is not Grandee's only focus. Being a mother to her daughter, Aryn, an advertising major at Boston University, is by far her passion. When not working, Grandee enjoys the competition and physical demands of dragon boating, an ancient paddling sport which will be an exhibit event in the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is an active member of Charleston Surge, one of Charleston's two dragon boating teams. Other interests include involvement in organizations which promote women's issues, reading, sailing, hiking, kayaking, playing bridge and watching sports. She is a member of the Advertising Federation of Charleston, Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) and the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).