Jim Ray, Principal

James F. (Jim) Ray is a principal of Ray Associates and specializes in public management and intergovernmental cooperation. He previously served as Executive Director of the Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, the Texas Constitutional Revision Commission of 1973, the Texas Urban Development Commission, and as Assistant Director of the Institute of Urban Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington. He was also Director of the Division of Planning Coordination (local government affairs) in the Office of the Governor of Texas, and he served as Management Assistant in the Office of the City Manager, Austin. Mr. Ray’s consulting assignments include general management, executive search, development of governance policies for policy boards, organizational plans for private and public entities, and preparation of strategic business plans. Mr. Ray has been responsible for applied research projects on behalf of state and local governments covering such topics as cost reduction measures, productivity improvement, interlocal contracting, annexation policies, regional cooperation, and the impact of state and federal legislation on Texas governments. In addition, Mr. Ray serves as Executive Director of the Texas Association of Regional Councils under contract, providing representation with state and national agencies on behalf the association as well as overseeing all day to day operations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Trinity University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.