Self-made millionaire talks at Pitt

When Farrah Gray was 6, he lived in South Chicago, where he heard gunshots daily. When his… When Farrah Gray was 6, he lived in South Chicago, where he heard gunshots daily. When his mother had a heart attack, Gray started selling handpainted stones and hand lotion to pay for her medical bills. Now he is a multi-millionaire philanthropist and spokesperson for the National Coalition for the Homeless. Gray, who made his first million 10 years ago at the age of 14 when his company, Farr-out Foods, processed more than $1.5 million of orders, was the keynote speaker Saturday at the seventh annual Minorities in Pittsburgh Conference in the Athletic Association building, organized and hosted by Pitt’s Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. Gray spoke to nearly 200 business students, most of them from Pitt. He reinforced the theme of the conference ‘mdash; ‘Celebrate LIFE: Leadership, Innovation, Fellowship, Equity’ ‘mdash; and told students to use entrepreneurship not only to amass wealth but also to help impoverished communities. ‘It is a crime if we do not plant a seed in our community,’ said Gray. ‘Remember that as the leaders of today it is our duty to pull people up.’ John Delaney, dean of Pitt’s business school, introduced Gray with a short speech that emphasized President Barack Obama’s often chanted motto, ‘Yes we can.’ Applying the simple mantra to the ill economy, both Delaney and Gray told students that misfortune brings opportunity. ‘The economic disaster is your chance to find a place in the economy,’ said Gray. ‘What do you do easily and enjoy that comes harder to everyone else?’ he asked students, emphasizing the connection between success and passion in entrepreneurship and work. The conference was also an opportunity for students to spend a few hours in the corporate world. Donning suits and ties, students spent Friday and Saturday courting the conference sponsors, such as Aldi, PNC, Target and UPMC. PNC recruiters hosted a workshop called ‘Decisions, Decisions,’ an exercise in maximizing profits and increasing customer satisfaction. Acting as the managers of a safari excursion company facing crisis with high-profile clients, students at one table deliberated whether to compensate a wealthy businesswoman’s complaints about her train delay and lost suitcase. They decided that she would never be satisfied and denied her the money. Shaina Ramsey, a sophomore accounting major, said she found the workshops helpful and Gray’s speech inspiring. She wants to work for the FBI or IRS and said she is more likely to pursue her goal after being encouraged by Gray’s example. At the conclusion of the conference, the recipients of six scholarships were announced. A Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association committee chose the winners, all Pitt students, from about 50 applicants based on their personal essays and grades, said Theresa Forrest, the association’s co-chair of public relations. Abasifreke Ekpe and Emani Harris each won a $1,000 scholarship from UPMC, and Darshan Patel won a $500 scholarship from UPMC. Elizabeth Duan and Aster Teclay both won $1,000 scholarships sponsored by PNC, and Shekeria Chisolm won a $500 scholarship from MEDRAD.