As DC Water’s Director of Compliance and Business Development, Korey Gray leads the Authority’s supplier diversity program. With over 15 years of experience in the field of supplier diversity and inclusion, Korey is never satisfied with the status quo.  His relentless pursuit of improved diversity and inclusion demonstrates leadership in advancing DC Water’s innovative approach to building relationships with diverse suppliers in every aspect of its purchasing of goods and services.

Under Korey’s leadership, DC Water’s Board of Directors recently approved a major overhaul of its Business Development Plan, the first of its kind since 2009.  The Board’s approval was the culmination of two years of developing a foundation that will foster a new standard of doing business with DC Water. To ensure the transparency of this process, Korey led an ambitious public engagement process that involved listening sessions with the community and recommendations from DC Water staff, diverse suppliers, prime contractors, government agencies and advocacy organizations.

The revised Business Development Plan formalizes the Authority’s best practices for monitoring minority- and women-owned businesses; creates new opportunities for certified local small business enterprises; and adds additional protections for certified firms that are performing on DC Water projects. Two critical initiatives are introduced in the Plan: The Local Small Business Reserve (LSBRP) and the Disadvantaged Business and Women-owned Business Enterprise (D/WBE) Programs.   The LSBRP, based upon a pilot initiative that was launched in November 2019, opens new pathways for certified local small businesses to develop partnerships with DC Water’s Departments. The D/WBE Program applies to non-federally funding architectural /engineering, construction and goods/services projects. The goal of the program is to increase the number of certified disadvantaged and women-owned firms who are eligible to compete and perform on DC Water contracts. Further, the revised Business Development Plan places a strong emphasis on effective prime contractor engagement with diverse suppliers and establishes a mentor-protégé program. 

To make certain that the concerns of certified firms are heard, Korey was instrumental in ensuring that DC Water’s supplier diversity and inclusion efforts were placed directly within the Office of the CEO and General Manager. This alignment assures the diverse supplier community that the implementation and accountability measures of the Business Development Plan are unencumbered. The position alignment has led to the Business Development Program’s increased visibility within DC Water and among its industry peers.

Also among his key achievements, Korey successfully created and launched DC Water’s Apprenticeship Program, which launched in 2019.  The multi-trade training program focuses on five (5) high demand careers:  Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Quality Assurance (Fleet Maintenance), Water Utility Services and Wastewater Operator Training. 

As an industry leader in the water utility industry, Korey is highly sought out for his strategic insight and successful innovative business practices.  Korey is a native Washingtonian and a proud Howard University alumnus. He enjoys spending quality time with his family and engaging in robust conversations regarding current and historical news events.