Susan Gravely

Susan Gravely is the Founder and CEO Emerita of VIETRI, a lifestyle brand offering handcrafted Italian tabletop and home and garden accessories. Susan grew up in eastern North Carolina, and due to her father’s international business, her family hosted his visiting colleagues from around the world for wonderful dinner parties. From her earliest days, Susan helped set the table for those dinners, appreciating the varied wonders of the world and gathering together.

In 1983, Susan took a trip to Italy with her mother and sister. The three women fell in love with the colorful handpainted dinnerware they discovered on the Amalfi Coast, and they decided to build a wholesale company to share it with their friends and family back home. Since then, VIETRI has grown to become America’s largest importer of Italian ceramics. VIETRI products can be found in more than 2,000 specialty retailers and department stores in all 50 states and internationally.

Since retiring in 2024, she has devoted her time to writing, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. She lives in Chapel Hill, NC with her husband, Bill, and dog, Franco.