Preparator at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, he also consults in the design of integrated handling/packing/storage systems promoting safe handling, shipment and storage of art and artifacts through a range of conditions with a long term logistical perspective in mind. He designs packing and crating solutions for individual objects as well as for entire traveling exhibitions. Art and Object provides staff training for museum staff and commercial art service providers and assists Institutions in updating equipment, the revision of procurement policies, and project management. During 5 years as a Lead Preparator for installation at the J. Paul Getty Museum he supervised the installation of exhibitions as well as overseeing the museum's local and airport art transport. Prior to working for the Getty McGrew was the Assistant Move Coordinator for Collections and Packing at the Smithsonian Institutions - National Museum of the American Indian. While there he oversaw the care of the Museums 800 thousand object collection which included its packing and relocation in what may be the most “Green” large scale move project on record. The innovative packing systems and characteristic materials utilized on this project are on the forefront of packing systems for transport and storage of art and artifacts being utilized today.
Prior to working for the Smithsonian he spend 5 years in the commercial Fine Art Services field in the largest and most diverse Art Market in the world where he worked as a head crate designer and packing/project supervisor in the New York offices of first - Fine Arts Express, and then ARTEX – Fine Arts Services.
His initial experience in the Collections care field was gained during 8 years as Chief Preparator at the University of Oklahoma Museum of Art after studying Photography at Arizona State University's School of Art and participating in the Northlight Gallery Program.
McGrew has consulted on major collections move projects, designing custom packing, storage, and transport systems, as well as providing training for permanent and temporary staff.
He is a board member of PACCIN - Preparation, Art handling and Collections Care Information Network a 501-C- 3 where he is also the Chair of Publications managing the website and moderating the list serve. He also serves as PACCIN's liaison to AIC's Collections Care Network and is on the editorial board of STASH - Storage Techniques for Art, Science and History collections.
He has presented in numerous sessions and workshops for the American Association of Museums, Western Museum Association, California Association of Museums, American Institute for Conservation and at International Preparators Conferences held in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
He has been a guest lecturer for the first three classes of the UCLA/Getty Graduate Conservation Program in Los Angeles California and his work has been included in JAIC – the Journal of the American Institute of Conservation,
As Assistant Move Coordinator for Collections and Packing at NMAI he authored the related section of the NMAI move manual as well as scripts and shot lists for related videos found on the website.
McGrew was a co-author of the Packing and Crating chapter of Museum Registration Methods, 5th Ed published in May of 2010.
He is included in a special edition of Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals focusing on collections move projects published in 2011. His designs for storage systems were recently included in a special poster session co-sponsored by the Journal of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (JAIC) on storage solutions presented at the 2012 annual meeting of SPNHC- The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections commemorating the 20 years since SPNHC's first publication of the seminal work "Storage of Natural History Collection: Ideas and Practical Solutions".