Ray has an extensive background in economic development, both as an entrepreneur and as a business development service provider. He has run and/or managed numerous small businesses during his career, including a roofing business, chimney sweep, towing company, first aid, arts and crafts store and a specialty cake business, to name but a few.
Ray was with the Canadian Armed Forces for six years, at which time he was honoured to be part of the Canadian contingent in Doha, Quatar during the Gulf war. His work history includes six years in the military, six years in a sawmill, eight years as a part-time ambulance paramedic, fire boss with the BC Forest Service, manager of a Woolworths department store, construction and logging. For the past fifteen years Ray has worked in the field of economic development, most recently as President/ CEO of the Aboriginal Business Development Centre in Prince George.
Ray is very active in his local community, as well as with many provincial and federal boards or advisory groups. He is Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for the College of New Caledonia, sits on the Board of Directors for the Northern Sports Centre at the University of Northern BC, as well as the Board of Directors for the Nechako Kitimaat Development Fund. He is former Chair for the Aboriginal Business Services Network Society of BC, is a founding board member and past Treasurer of the Log Building Industry Association of BC and is a former Chairman of the Native Economic Development Advisory Board for the province of BC. Until recently he was also the Chair for the Counsel for BC Aboriginal Economic Development for Indian Affairs.
