Ray is an industry veteran and advocate for the skilled trades who has dedicated the latter part of his career to helping close America’s skills gap. He oversees the recruitment and training of approximately 1,000 skilled craft professionals across a dozen trades at Sundt. Ray and his team recently developed and implemented a successful workforce development partnership with Central Arizona College (CAC) and Tarrant County Community College that certify craft workers to NCCER standards and train students to become the next generation of construction professionals. The program includes four craft trade pathways: structural welding, heavy equipment operating, pipefitting, and industrial carpentry. Sundt and CAC recently received the 2020 Bellwether Award for their partnership.
The mission of NCCER’s National Workforce Development Committee is to lead the construction industry in the development, promotion, and provision of craft training. The committee works to ensure every craft professional using NCCER programs and processes has an equitable opportunity to learn, demonstrate competency in their chosen craft, and receive credentials appropriate to their performance.
Ray entered the construction industry in 1994 as a Pipefitter’s Helper and quickly advanced to Journeyman Pipefitter, Foreman, and quality control roles. He entered management in 2003 as a Superintendent and has served as Manager, Quality Manager, and Operations Manager. Prior to the construction industry, Ray served in the United States Navy as a Sonar Technician on the USS Vincennes, a guided missile cruiser. When not on watch hunting submarines, he was in charge of maintenance on cooling skids for the sonar system, marking his introduction to piping systems.
