Gray Wirth — The Center Consulting Group

Gray Wirth, MBA, CEPA^®

Vice President of Business Consulting

Gray Wirth is a seasoned leader and advisor who brings more than 30 years of experience to help business owners, nonprofit executives, and boards accelerate growth, strengthen leadership, and navigate high‑stakes transitions with confidence. His career spans corporate, nonprofit, small‑business, and military environments, having led organizations ranging from 40 to 3,100 employees.

Gray has served as a CEO and has led both fiduciary and advisory boards, including chairing ESOP and nonprofit boards and facilitating five private‑company advisory boards. He is known for helping leaders sharpen strategic direction, unlock organizational value, and build governance structures that support long‑term health and clarity.

With deep experience in executive coaching, strategic planning, and value acceleration, Gray equips leaders to make better decisions and build organizations that thrive. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), he partners with business owners and their advisors to proactively prepare for transition, ensuring that business, personal, and financial goals align to create a legacy that lasts.

Grounded in Christian values, Gray approaches every engagement with humility, service, and commitment to integrity. He is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.B.A. from Harvard University, and an M.A.R. from Westminster Theological Seminary.

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Videos

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Unlocking Business Value: How to Elevate Your Company’s Worth [VIDEO]

A profitable business isn’t always a valuable one. There are hidden factors quietly dragging down your company’s worth. Here are three steps to unlock the value of your business.

Advisory Boards: Should Your Business Have an Advisory Board? [VIDEO]

You don’t have to lead alone. The smartest business owners surround themselves with wisdom. Here’s how an advisory board can benefit your company.

Exit Planning: The Challenge of Business Exit Planning & Why It Matters to You [VIDEO]

Most business owners delay exit planning until it’s too late. Here are the three essential pillars of a successful transition so you can plan to step away on your own terms and not leave it up to chance.

Leveling Up Your Leadership: Becoming an Effective Senior Leader [VIDEO]

As you move up through the levels of leadership, the way you lead needs to change as well. As it has been said, “What got you here, won’t get you there!” Here are three areas where you need to lead differently to be an effective senior leader.

Leadership Model: Are You a Cheerleader, Drill Sergeant, or Coach? [VIDEO]

What is your leadership model? Some see themselves as cheerleaders – encouraging their team. Others as drill sergeants – pushing their people. But what about a sports coach who encourages but also challenges? Here are five ways to get the most from your team.

Coaching: Leadership Coaching for High Performance [VIDEO]

Why do star athletes and CEOs have coaches when they are already at the top of their game? Because we all can benefit from someone helping us to achieve our full potential. Here are four types of leadership coaching and what you can expect from each.

Family Business: Stewarding a Family-Owned Business [VIDEO]

Family businesses represent about 90% of American businesses, yet many struggle to survive into the 2nd and 3rd generations. This is often due to unclear roles. Here are the 5 vital roles that work together to create a successful family business.

Meetings: 10 Ways to Make Your Leadership Meetings More Impactful [VIDEO]

Meetings can often be timewasters. Here are 10 tips that will save you and your leadership team hours in meetings by improving your productivity and helping you reach decisions faster.

Boards: How to Improve Your Board’s Effectiveness [VIDEO]

A well-functioning team, where everyone understands their role and works together, is a thing of beauty to watch. Sadly, we often see boards that do not function this way. Here are five ways to improve the effectiveness of your board of directors.

Strategic Planning: 4 Key Elements of an Effective Strategic Plan [VIDEO]

“Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction.” So how do you keep your organization headed in the right direction? With a clear plan. Here are 4 key elements of an effective strategic plan.

Blogs

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What Is Exit Planning and Why Should Every Business Owner Care?

Every business owner will transition eventually, yet 94% do not have a plan in place for their post-transition life and 75% regret selling their business just a year later! Creating an exit plan can help alleviate those anxieties. Here’s how.

“Silos Are Only Good for Farms!”

Growing up, I always loved silos – towers of strength across the landscape. But as a leader, I’ve learned that organizational silos are not towers of strength, rather signs of weakness that can fuel conflict. Here are five ways to prevent departmental silos in your organization.

As They Say, "It's lonely at the Top!"

“It’s lonely at the top!” – Why have people said this for years? Because it’s true! The weight of your responsibilities can be heavy without someone to talk them through with. You are not alone in feeling this way.

Why a Business Owner within Your Church May Need a Consultant

Leadership can be hard due to the many and varying challenges a leader faces, whether in a church or business context. Proverbs 15:22 reminds us to seek the counsel of wise people. And as a pastor, there may be business owners in your congregation that could be encouraged by the benefits of hiring a consultant. Here are the three main reasons why.

Panel Discussions

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Lessons Learned from Leading a Business

A business leader’s biggest breakthroughs often come from the moments that tested them most. Listen as our panelists discuss the hard-won lessons behind decades of leadership in business, from decisions they would take back to the ones that changed everything.

Current Trends Leaders Are Facing [VIDEO]

Our consultants explore the dynamic nature of trends leaders are facing today. From the urgency of succession planning amidst demographic shifts to the evolving impact of AI, they discuss into how leaders can adapt and thrive in an era of constant change.

Navigating the Challenges of a Family-Owned Business [VIDEO]

Here are the biggest challenges family businesses face, the mistakes they often make, what contributes to healthy dynamics, and how to improve the likelihood of a successful succession.

Why You Should Start Planning for Succession Now [VIDEO]

There are 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the U.S. This means there are leaders from every type of organization who will eventually need to hand over the reins of leadership to their successor. Here’s why some leaders avoid succession planning, when you should start, and how to do it successfully.

Trust Is Declining: Here’s How to Rebuild It [VIDEO]

Trust in many forms of authority has been deeply eroding. Listen as our consultants discuss the state of trust today, how leaders should approach the lack of trust, and how to begin rebuilding it.

How to Handle Stress & Burnout at Work [VIDEO]

Stress is a silent epidemic that has a measurable negative impact. Listen as our experienced consultants discuss how stress expresses itself and what leaders can do to address it.

How Emotional Intelligence Enhances Leadership [VIDEO]

We have seen many leaders fail or not reach their potential because they could not relate well to others. This is often referred to as lacking emotional intelligence or EQ. Here’s how to strengthen your EQ.

How to Attract & Retain Employees [VIDEO]

40% of employees are at least somewhat likely to leave their current job in the next 3–6 months. Here are the most important things you can do to attract and retain top talent.

Managing Conflict in the Workplace [VIDEO]

Conflict feels like it is everywhere right now, and many leaders are spending an excessive amount of time resolving conflict among their staff and customers. Listen as our consultants talk about the conflict trends they are seeing and how to best manage conflict in the workplace.