Diane Jackson, director of production, Energy BBDO, Chicago
"I think he's an enabler of careers. You've only got to look at all the people that have been through his care and then gone on to greater things. Heads of production, directors... He fosters the growth of the individual as a mentor and manager. He once told me he'd rather have the best for a limited stay than the mediocre for life. Plus, if you're lucky enough, you'll get exposed to his surreptitious humor. He's a very funny man."

Chris Tardio, former founding partner, Whitehouse Post
"There is no more honorable person. Grant is so secure he's not threatened about hiring the really talented people - and there are some who won't. He manages them but doesn't micro-manage so they can do their best work. Consequently, he's got a great group around him. It's a rare thing. I didn't just work for him, I learned by watching him. He was always there as a safety net. He really cared about what he was doing. When I set up my own company, I used Grant's work and management style as the model."

Greg Popp, director, Supply and Demand
"Grant introduced me to the political world of ads: how everyone interacts and how to keep things moving. He puts his people in water just two inches over their heads. He stays close enough to save you but you have to learn for yourself and you learn quickly. He also has an incredible gift for celebrating the achievement of the people around him. And he does it at the expense of his own ego and self."

Neil Tardio Jr., director, Go Films
"I worked with him for three years. The highlight was that his door was always open. There was nothing that you couldn't approach him with. His openness and knowledge was and remains unparalleled. I was shooting in London last fall and he just happened to be there as well, picking brains and keeping an eye on new talent. But the coolest thing about Grant is his car. It's a perfect cherry 1972 Chevel SS. I think he got it for high school graduation and has kept it in great condition since. It's the last car you'd think he'd drive. I'm sure he drives something else for work."

Ann Rubenstein, head of broadcast production, Rethink
"Unlike most other shops, under Grant, producers are meshed in with the creative team. When you're there from the get-go and just another part of the team, it's more productive than being one producer in a pool of others and brought in later. Grant makes this workable - he's good at getting people to talk together and cultivating them. Working for Grant was great: he was right all along, every time. He knew better and that made me stronger. I learned most of my better behavior from Grant."

Shawn Tessaro, executive producer, Biscuit Filmworks
"He values relationships and cultivates them. It's a very special quality in the business. Consequently he's hired great people and has an amazing department. He still knows who the directors are and what's new. When you think of all that he does, you can have lunch with him and it seems like he doesn't have a care in the world. In a business filled with people with ADD, he's a breath of fresh air - for me included."

Dana Anderson, president and CEO, DDB Chicago
"Grant is sweet and companionate. The perfect person to go to for advice or explanations. He is unbelievably patient, full of empathy and creativity. I can attest to his talent nose; basically, it's unerring. Ask anyone. It's not just an ability to spot producers and directors though - he is pragmatic about the future. He sees what's coming."

Roy Skillicorn, partner/director of sales, Backyard
"He's a free spirit who allows people to do their jobs. He sponsors people to just be themselves. He promotes from within and that's a big aspect of why he's been successful. He sets a good example - as a leader that's important."

Tom Mooney, executive producer, The Mothership
"If a production runs into a problem, he'll come out and be there. He supports the team. If things get a little difficult, he doesn't immediately [blame] the production company. He makes it feel like we're all in it together, not looking to lay blame but rather looking to solve problems. That's incredible when you realize half the business is running around looking to blame people before things even happen."

Jules Daly, president, RSA
"He's got the combo of experience, openness and curiosity about the future - rare to find. You can tell he loves his job; in any career if you love it, you're good at it. He's open to pushing himself and the agency to explore new worlds. Lots of people at Grant's level don't have the time to look at new reels, but he's always interested in the future and knows who to take a chance on."

Bob Scarpelli, chairman of DDB Chicago and the chief creativity officer of DDB Worldwide
"Grant embodies the core values of our agency, creativity and humanity, as well as anyone in our network. And he's done it for over 25 years. Not only has he been an outstanding producer and a discoverer and nurturer of countless talented producers, his intuition and innovative thinking have always put us on the leading edge of where production is going. He's been a visionary for us."