Her Story
About Shannel
Shannel Gray is an accomplished hospitality and sales professional who serves as Director of Sales at SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Denton, Texas. With five years of experience in hospitality, she previously spent four and a half years as Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn in Longview, TX where she developed expertise in revenue generation, strategic sales, client relationship management, and business development. Before transitioning into hospitality, Shannel built a 14-year career in the medical field and earned two associate degrees focused on Health Information Management and medical billing and coding. She also holds a Hilton Sales Management Certification and is nearing completion of her Marriott Sales Certification. In addition to her hospitality career, Shannel is an accomplished entrepreneur and the owner of ShaeGray Photography, a business she has operated for 15 years. Her photography expertise includes wedding, corporate, and bridal photography, and her work has been published in magazines 13 times, including a cover feature in 2020. Shannel is also actively engaged in professional and community organizations, including the Denton Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association of North Texas, Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce, and Collin County Black Chamber of Commerce. She serves as a sponsored ambassador for the University of North Texas and as a board member of Born 2 B Free Inc., an organization dedicated to empowering young people ages 7 to 18 through counseling and community service. Shannel attributes her success to her upbringing, the guidance and example of her parents, her faith, and the resilience she has developed throughout her career. Her parents instilled in her the importance of hard work, independence, supporting others, and remaining true to her values. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her career in the medical field, she embraced change and successfully transitioned into hospitality while continuing to grow her photography business. Today, she brings together her leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and commitment to community service to build meaningful relationships, create opportunities, and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shannel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my upbringing, my parents, my strong relationship with God, and the values they instilled in me from an early age. They taught me the importance of a strong work ethic, independence, supporting other women, and always doing things the right way. Resilience has also been a defining part of my journey. When COVID-19 disrupted my career in the medical field, I chose not to let the setback define me. Instead, I transitioned into hospitality while continuing to grow my photography business, adapting my services during the pandemic by offering outdoor sessions that allowed me to continue serving clients safely. These experiences strengthened my ability to embrace change, overcome challenges, and turn obstacles into opportunities for growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my parents, who taught me the importance of working hard, being independent, supporting others, and remaining true to myself. Their example shaped my approach to both my career and personal life and taught me that success is about more than individual achievement. I believe true success comes from creating opportunities, uplifting others, and using your experiences to make a positive difference.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the hospitality industry to be authentic, work hard, and remain true to their values. Support and uplift other women rather than viewing them as competition, because collaboration can create opportunities for everyone to succeed. I also believe it is important to embrace change and remain open to new possibilities. My own transition from the medical field into hospitality taught me that an unexpected career change can lead to an entirely new and rewarding chapter while allowing you to build upon the skills, knowledge, and experiences you have gained along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see the biggest opportunities in hospitality as building strong business relationships, responding effectively to changing customer needs, and using creative strategies to drive revenue. In my current role, I focus on analyzing revenue performance, identifying new business opportunities, managing hotel sales, and cultivating lasting client relationships. As an entrepreneur and photographer, I also see significant opportunities to expand beyond traditional portrait photography into corporate headshots and bridal photography. With 15 years of entrepreneurial experience and a history of having my work published in magazines, I have a strong foundation for continued growth. I am equally passionate about using my professional experience to make a positive impact in the community, particularly by empowering and supporting young people.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value authenticity, loyalty, transparency, faith, independence, and hard work in both my professional and personal life. I believe meaningful relationships are built on honesty, genuine care, and mutual respect, and I strive to lead with integrity in every interaction. I am also passionate about supporting other women, serving my community, and creating positive opportunities for those around me. Above all, I believe in staying true to myself, working with purpose, and treating others with genuine love and compassion.
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