“ When we began our work with Gary, I didn’t realize the extent to which he would be helping us re-launch our brand. I had thought of him as a destination and experience focused designer, but he turned out to be much more. Not only did he design a space that told our story and defined our brand (something I had not thought possible), but he followed through on his commitments all the way to end, showing up consistently during the first several weeks of opening festivities. Along the way, we did have our disagreements, although I have to say, most of the time, when it came to design, Gary did turn out to be right. More importantly, he listened to us, and made adjustments when need be. When we explained to him our desire to steer away from being too opulent or ostentatious, he managed to pivot and provide us with the subtle elegance we were looking for at the price points we found to be reasonable. Beyond that, he provided training and helped our staff get ready for a transition from a small farmhouse that seats 25-30 people to a hospitality center able to accommodate over 80 people at any given time. It is a great feeling to see the “wow factor” in people’s eyes when they walk in, but what was done beyond just the decor was equally important. Finally, he mentored and coached me personally as I went through a transition of my own, and for that I will always be grateful. John Michael Sweazey, GM, Anaba Wines CA ”