Herb Gray - Life Enhancement Services

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Life Enhancement Services

There aren’t many places one could go in Charlotte, NC, where Herb Gray isn’t known. The philanthropist, community leader, and entrepreneur has made it his life’s mission to serve. Whether it be through his company, Life Enhancement Services, or simply being present in time of need, Herb has consistently answered the call.

Since 2011, Herb has owned and operated Life Enhancement Services, a nationally accredited behavioral healthcare agency with offices in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, Dallas, and Houston, TX. Serving over 3000 people yearly, Life Enhancement Services provides diverse services for trauma, grief, depression, and anger management. Their programs offer individual, family, and community-based support to enhance mental well-being. Herb says, “The vision to start LES came from my desire to help people in need who suffered from mental health issues. We help teens, young adults, adults, and their families overcome challenges with substance use, addiction, and mental health conditions. Our holistic approach integrates therapy, counseling, and community engagement to foster growth and resilience.”

Examples of their services include Day Rehab, which is a family-focused, culturally competent, and community-based model that provides time-limited, intensive services to help improve the lives of children with complex needs. This also reduces the need for more restrictive settings, including and especially out-of-home placements. They also offer Diagnostic Assessment, which is an intensive clinical and functional face-to-face evaluation of a client’s mental health, developmental disability, or substance abuse condition. This results in the issuance of a Diagnostic / Assessment report with a recommendation regarding whether the recipient meets entrance criteria and includes an order for Enhanced Benefit services that provides the basis for the development of an initial person-centered Treatment Plan. Additionally, LES offers substance use disorder rehabilitation, medical interventions that include assessments, prescriptions, supervision or administration of mental-health-related medications, and monitoring and interpreting results of laboratory diagnostic procedures that are related to psychotropic medications. Their TIP rehab often refers to Targeted Interventions Program (TIP) rehabilitation, to name a few.

A native of Charlotte, NC, Herb is happily married to Felecia, and they have one daughter, Bailey Gray. Herb is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and has received many awards and accolades, which echo and confirm his commitment to serving and helping others. These include the 100 Black Men Philanthropic Advocate Award, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte Service Award, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen Of The Year Award (NC/SC), The Good Scout Award by the Mecklenburg County Council Boy Scouts of America, Johnson C. Smith University Presidential Award of Distinction, President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., HBCU Living Legend award, District of Columbia Housing Authority Excellence Award, Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Texas.

When asked what he loves most about what he does, Herb says it’s the opportunity to employ people in careers that are meaningful to them and impactful to the community. He also loves how LES contributes to the community by supplying clothing, school supplies, meals, educational services, housing resources, and job readiness through its monthly community events. “I have a desire to help others and a longing to fight for mental, social, and economic change. Talking to the underprivileged, understanding their behavioral and mental concerns, and working at the grassroots move me to achieve more in life,” Herb shares. “LES provides me with opportunities to give back to society and a chance to pass on lessons learned through experience and art.”

Herb says that societal influences and economic factors have impacted his life and career. He shares that these are people who gave him many gifts of understanding, empathy, and kindness, all of which he tries to model. These also include friendships that he’s developed over the years, which have shaped who he is now. These are those who, Herb says, listened and encouraged him as he evolved.

Like most businesses, there are challenges that will present themselves at one time or another, and for LES, this has been the case as well. There has been the challenge of navigating increased competition and ever-changing rules and regulations from government agencies and insurance providers. Yet, Herb has never lost focus on why he started. He says, “The ability to obtain and maintain adequate funding for marketing operations, clear market segmentation, sufficient systems and staying abreast on policies and procedures has helped me manage the roller coasters of business.”

While there have been a few ups and downs along the way, Herb says each experience has helped shape his career decisions. “I believe that all things work together for my good.”

Looking ahead, in addition to leading LES into greater endeavors, Herb will spend his time focusing on his love of art. He is an avid art collector, and he has built the Gray Art Collection, which was born from his passion for art. “I am looking forward to continuing to collect art and to use art as therapy in schools and education to enhance the educational environment and cultural vibrancy of my community,” he says.

To learn more about Life Enhancement Services or The Gray Art Collection, please visit their websites. h

www.lesgroup.com