Where Belonging Meets Purpose: Monique Johnson’s Story

A Journey Shaped by Responsibility & Resolve

Monique is Kentucky‑born and Chicago‑raised, returning to the Bluegrass State as a teenager and planting her roots here ever since. While studying sociology and psychology at Lindsey Wilson University in Columbia, KY, her world shifted when her mother fell ill. Monique made the difficult decision to pause her education and career to return home, caring for her mother while taking part‐time jobs to keep the household afloat. After her mother’s passing, she found herself navigating the challenge of seeking stable employment—a challenge that required resilience and adaptability.

After working a wide range of jobs, from landscaping to welding to call centers, Monique eventually landed at a local corporate travel agency, where she spent seven years absorbing everything she could. When it became clear that she was ready for a role with real growth potential, she partnered with a local recruiting agency to find her next opportunity. That’s when she met Conner, a recruiter she describes as “the biggest blessing for someone like me.” With Conner’s help, Monique stepped into a pivotal transition that she knew could change the trajectory of her life.

She didn’t yet know exactly what her next step would be, but she knew she wanted stability and a company that would value her as a person, not just a number. Before long, she was encouraged to apply for a temporary receptionist role at Gray, which would open the door to a future filled with possibilities.

From First Day to Lasting Impact

From her very first day, Monique could tell Gray was different. Greeted by Stephen and Jim Gray, she still fondly remembers the conversations they shared as they passed through the front doors. The longer she spent at Gray, the more she felt connected to something larger than herself. Once her initial contract ended, Conner soon found another short‑term opportunity for her within the accounting department to cover a team member’s parental leave. While the role was temporary, it immediately felt like a step in a new direction. Monique jumped at the chance, approaching the work with curiosity. By the time the assignment ended, she had built a strong foundation and without realizing it yet, found herself drawn to a kind of work that would later become a permanent home.

Monique’s hard work paid off when she accepted an administrative assistant position on a major project for a European customer seeking to build its first modern U.S. manufacturing facility. The hyperscale project presented no shortage of complex challenges, such as navigating a new joint venture, building a 1.7 million s.f. production plant, managing an aggressive schedule, and implementing extensive sustainability measures (including over 50,000 solar panels to power the 340-acre campus). Monique quickly acclimated to the fast-paced effort and spent the next year immersed in her work managing the project’s Procore profile which included submittal workflows, documentation, and submission of document releases. Monique oversaw contract execution for change and purchase orders as well as served as a liaison with the joint venture team to coordinate platform and program access.

When the accounting role she’d previously supported opened again, Monique seized the opportunity—and she’s been a steady, trusted presence on the accounting team ever since.

When The Details Pay Off

When most people think of construction, accounting isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But just as it is in personal life, keeping track of expenses and paying the bills is essential to keeping a business running. As an accounts payable coordinator, Monique manages all overhead invoices as well as utility and rent payments. In many ways, she’s the one keeping the lights on across Gray’s offices.

Recently, she’s taken on additional responsibilities while supporting a teammate on parental leave. “It forces me to stay organized,” she shares with a wry smile. Like many of us, Monique is still perfecting her approach to time management, often structuring her days around one primary task while fielding requests and ensuring every payment is processed without delay. It’s detailed, demanding work, and Monique handles it with steady focus and quiet pride.

Leadership Doesn’t Need a Title

Monique’s impact at Gray extends far beyond her day‑to‑day responsibilities. When asked about one of her most meaningful experiences, she points to her time at Gray’s Leadership Academy, a program designed for team members who demonstrate leadership potential. The experience resonated deeply with her, especially the principle that “everyone is a leader who defines, protects, and grows our culture.”

She didn’t wait long to put those lessons into practice. Shortly after completing the program, Monique was asked to mentor an intern—an opportunity she embraced wholeheartedly. Drawing on what she learned, she focused on building confidence through clear, positive feedback and creating an environment where questions weren’t just welcomed but encouraged.

“Our intern was kind of nervous,” Monique recalls. “I told her I’d rather she asks me a million questions than try to tackle this alone.”

That simple philosophy of support without judgment left a lasting impression. Her openness to coach and uplift others led to glowing feedback for her supervisor and offered a glimpse of the leadership path Monique is already walking, title or not.

Inclusion in Action

Monique speaks about inclusion with a depth shaped by her own experience as a Black woman in the workplace. She pays close attention to whether belonging is something a company simply talks about or genuinely practices. At Gray, she’s felt that inclusion in meaningful, everyday ways through her involvement with employee-driven cooperatives (EDCs). As she attended networking events and participated in volunteer opportunities with Emerging Leaders Group, Groundbreaking Women, and Moms in Motion, she saw that that Gray is a place where you matter, where your voice is welcomed, and where you truly feel part of something bigger than yourself. She describes Gray as an inclusive culture where different viewpoints aren’t just tolerated but encouraged.

That sense of belonging is reinforced by how accessible leadership truly is. Whether asking tough questions at a town hall or seeking clarity about how the company operates, she’s seen executives step forward and respond openly—no hierarchy, no closed doors. That transparency makes her feel valued and heard, and it’s why she believes Gray is a place where people can show up fully as themselves and know they belong.

Defining the Future on Her Own Terms

Monique’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience and adaptability can build a life you’re truly proud of. When people ask where her motivation comes from, she points to her daughter Sequoya—a soon‑to‑be graduate of Henry Clay High School whom she’s determined to show that anything is possible with hard work and belief in yourself.

Standing at the edge of a new season, Monique finds herself at an exciting crossroads. Her daughter’s upcoming graduation brings the opportunity for a new home, and her current role at Gray offers space for real growth. As she thinks about what comes next, she feels a sense of anticipation and unbounded potential.

Whether she chooses to reignite her love for cooking through culinary school or continue exploring her newfound passion for accounting by returning to college, one thing is clear: Monique knows the future is hers to shape— she’s stepping into it with confidence and purpose.