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88 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 7 Women In Business Melia H. Gregory The Frame Game / Gregory Gallery 4524 Forsyth Road, Suite 106 | 478.405.0012 theframegame.gallery@gmail.com framegamegregorygallery.com *** How did your career path lead you to your current profession? As a little girl I was always drawing, coloring and painting. My father was a contractor and very creative. I spent many hours building make believe homes with the old linoleum tile samples. My mother loved to decorate and keep up with the current colors and styles, so I had her influence of design and color knowledge from a young age. I started taking private art lessons while in high school, then continued studying art at Wesleyan College, and then on to workshops all over the world. Custom framing my own art had a large part in my decision to own my own frame shop and continue to further my art career. What are your biggest career challenges? There have been many over the course of 30 years in business i.e. ups and downs in the economy, having to relocate the business, and employee changes. I have had some great employees, but as life changed for them, whether getting married or going back to school, it was always a challenge to train someone with all the aspects of my business. I set the bar high with every employee to produce high quality workmanship. I feel extremely blessed now in our new permanent location. Customers love the convenient shopping area, our huge selection to choose from, including a variety of artists, and a fantastic group of employees! Who influenced you the most to pursue your career goals? In the past 20 years, my husband, Randall, has been the main person to influence me. When times have been hard, he has encouraged me to be strong, keep the faith, chin up and keep going. Randall has been instrumental in helping me maintain a level of excellence in the framing side of my business and in growing and excelling in my art career. What is most rewarding about your job? Interacting with customers without question! Customers who allow me to be creative are so much fun. Their excitement to see the finished framing job makes the hard work worth it! In selling one of my paintings, the reward is that my art has touched their inner being - that they have been moved not by just the colors, design or subject matter, but in their spirit. Where do you envision yourself five yars from now? As the old saying goes, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" I will be doing the same thing, but on a more worldwide scale. I plan to utilize social marketing more in order to continue to expand the framing division and gain exposure for my art as well as other artsists I represent in the gallery.