Ray is originally from Manitoba, where he attended the University of Manitoba. Ray's academic background included study in the Faculties of: Commerce (Management Information Systems), Science (Zoology/Botany), Agriculture (Soil Science), and a MSc. in Soil Chemistry and Fertility from the department of Soil Science. Ray's graduate work included the development of copper recommendations for Manitoba Agriculture.
Ray started work in the fertilizer industry with Sherritt Fertilizers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and later included a move to Edmonton, Alberta, with Sherritt Fertilizers. Sherritt evolved into the fertilizer/supplier/manufacturer, Viridian, which later merged with Agrium.
Ray currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, where he continues work in the areas of fertilizer research and development, education and extension. Ray practises in the broad area of soil and crop fertility, and specifically in field scouting and crop diagnostics.
Ray helps to support Agrium's efforts into general agronomic issues and questions, trains retailers (classrooms and field) in fertility issues, conducts farm meetings on behalf of retailers, attends field calls on behalf of retailers and their customers, and supports the extension effort through research and agronomic publications on fertility issues. Ray also supports Agrium through regular contact with both federal and provincial agricultural agencies, and industry groups. Most recently, Ray was a member of the Prairie Region CCA examination committee, and aided Agrium's efforts to support retailer training in this endeavor.