GrayMatter Systems

GrayMatter Systems, established in 1991, is an industrial technology firm providing services in process automation and data management. The company was co-founded by James Gillespie and Carson Drake. Gillespie, who serves as the Chief Growth Officer, has a background in leading industrial digital transformations and holds degrees in Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from Duquesne University. His focus has been on curating technology to make industrial assets and personnel more intelligent and visible.

Headquartered near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with offices across the United States, Canada, and India, GrayMatter has expanded its footprint and capabilities through a series of strategic acquisitions. These include E-Merge Systems in 2020, HTSE LLC in 2022, and both Phantom Technical Services and Automation & Control Concepts in 2023. This growth strategy was accelerated by a partnership with private equity firm Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners in late 2017 and a subsequent strategic partnership with Tailwind Capital in May 2024, which brought on Paul Galeski as CEO.

The firm operates as a services-first company, developing custom solutions for complex industrial challenges. Its business model is centered on co-innovation with clients to deploy the most suitable processes and technology for digital transformation. GrayMatter serves a diverse client base in sectors such as manufacturing, water/wastewater, food and beverage, energy, and consumer packaged goods. The company's core offerings include Advanced Industrial Analytics, Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity, Automation & Controls, and its "Brilliant Operations" strategy, which helps clients either initiate or enhance their digital transformation journey. By connecting and protecting critical assets, the company empowers operators and bridges the gap between real-time manufacturing data and corporate business information systems.

Keywords: industrial technology, operational technology, process automation, data management, OT cybersecurity, advanced industrial analytics, digital transformation, system integrator, manufacturing technology, water/wastewater automation, food & beverage automation, energy sector technology, industrial IoT, supervisory control, MES, HMI/SCADA, predictive analytics, asset connectivity, brilliant operations, control systems engineering