User:Lesgray

Leslie Gray is Managing Director of Morgan Group LLC, a consulting group, which works with technology-driven companies in solving strategic and tactical business issues. Les consults in the areas of technical management, particularly in the areas of new business formation. He teaches courses in Intraprenurship, and provides due-diligence review of opportunities.

Les taught courses on Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, and Sales and Communication, at MIT from 1997 to 2002, sponsored by both the MIT Ocean Engineering Department, and the MIT Sea Grant College program (and continues to teach for private clients). Les also helped start the Brown University Entrepreneurship Program and Business Plan Competition.

In 1981, Les founded the firm Airflow Research and Manufacturing Corp, making radiator-cooling fans for the Automotive Industry, employing technology developed under government sponsorship for quieting propellers on submarines and torpedoes. As President and CEO, Les led the company through rapid growth and expansion into world markets. By 1990, the firm had captured most of the business at Ford and Chrysler, had a >10% market share in Europe, and significant presence in the Korea, Australia and Brazil markets.

In late 1990, Les sold Airflow Research to the Robert Bosch Corporation. After the sale, Les continued to lead Airflow for Bosch, and was responsible for all new business and company growth. By 1997, when Les stepped down from active management, Airflow had annual sales of over $150 Million, manufacturing plants in 4 North American locations, and direct supply capability or licensees in most automobile producing countries. Today, the fan technology that Les pioneered is in well over half of the world's new automobiles.

Prior to starting Airflow Research, Les worked for 9 years at Bolt Beranek and Newman, as a Senior Scientist, consulting to the US Navy. His areas of technical research included airborne and undersea acoustics and signal processing. Les is the author of over 60 papers, reports, and articles in these areas.

Les has a BS degree in Naval Architecture from Webb Institute, and an MS in Ocean Engineering from Catholic University. After university, Les was an officer in the US Coast Guard, Naval Engineering Division, in Washington, DC.

Les has served on a variety of Boards - corporate, advisory, non-profit, and governmental. Les is married, lives in Bristol RI, and has two adult sons. His passions include sailing, boating, skiing, and biking.