Jerry M. Ray Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Md

Synchrony helps organizations use network and communications tools to promote public policy, manage public debates, protect brands, stimulate innovation, expand markets and reduce costs to produce a measurable impact and grow bottom lines.For corporations, this often means developing policy strategies and leveraging relationships. In many cases, it also means building new relationships with other organizations to create constituent networks, secure alliances and win new customers… Show more Synchrony helps organizations use network and communications tools to promote public policy, manage public debates, protect brands, stimulate innovation, expand markets and reduce costs to produce a measurable impact and grow bottom lines.For corporations, this often means developing policy strategies and leveraging relationships. In many cases, it also means building new relationships with other organizations to create constituent networks, secure alliances and win new customers. For organizations, our work is focused on advancing agendas, extending reach and increasing impact in highly targeted and measurable ways, in Washington and around the world. For governments, we focus on stimulating economic development. That often means opening markets, developing infrastructure and attracting investment. For all our clients, we seek innovative, disruptive opportunities to stimulate growth and address problems that could inhibit it. Contact us at JerryRay@Synchrony.Net Show less

Ray was most recently senior vice president, external affairs at The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), one of the largest landowners and real estate developers in Florida. At St. Joe, Ray developed and implemented strategy to bring expertise, capital and shareholder value to St. Joe’s extensive land holdings located primarily in Northwest Florida. He led a staff responsible for corporate communications, public debate management, government relations and economic development. • Corporate… Show more Ray was most recently senior vice president, external affairs at The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), one of the largest landowners and real estate developers in Florida. At St. Joe, Ray developed and implemented strategy to bring expertise, capital and shareholder value to St. Joe’s extensive land holdings located primarily in Northwest Florida. He led a staff responsible for corporate communications, public debate management, government relations and economic development. • Corporate Strategy As a member of the St. Joe senior executive and disclosure committees, Ray provided senior leadership for the multi-billion dollar, publicly traded company. He handled relationships and communications strategy in concert with shareholders, government officials and strategic partners. He developed message strategy to optimize investor presentations with major shareholders, financial analysts and investment bankers. He has managed messages for media interviews with journalist for the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, Bloomberg News, CNN and Fox News.• Change-Agent Communications Ray managed the intensive public debate associated with St. Joe’s role as a large-scale developer and change agent for a broad region of Florida. He strengthened relationships between St. Joe and a wide range of stakeholder audiences, including shareholders, customers, strategic partners, environmental organizations, public officials, community leaders and the media. Ray was instrumental in the planning, entitlement, approvals and funding of the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport now being completed near Panama City Beach, FL. Ray led a region-wide effort to bring Southwest Airlines service to the new airport. Southwest begins service at the new facility with eight daily flights beginning May 23, 2010. Show less

As JOE’s business model matured and later, in response to the economic downturn, Ray developed and managed a complex message platform. When JOE shifted its business model from an end-to-end developer to a strategic alliance partner, Ray led the development of successful relationships with a broad range of strategic partners.

Ray managed intense media coverage of the regional impacts of JOE’s unprecedented development plans for Northwest Florida, including over 50 resort, residential, industrial, office and retail projects. In addition, Ray played a leadership role in:• Investor Relations• Large-Scale Entitlement and Infrastructure Approvals• Corporate Rebranding

Ray joined a new executive team recruited to transform an aging industrial conglomerate into a dynamic real estate developer. He was the company’s communications architect, creating an broad external-affairs infrastructure for a company seen as a change agent for a large area of Florida.• Corporate Repositioning Ray was instrumental in all phases of the repositioning of the new JOE from the company that had been making paper to an extraordinary “place maker.” Every aspect of… Show more Ray joined a new executive team recruited to transform an aging industrial conglomerate into a dynamic real estate developer. He was the company’s communications architect, creating an broad external-affairs infrastructure for a company seen as a change agent for a large area of Florida.• Corporate Repositioning Ray was instrumental in all phases of the repositioning of the new JOE from the company that had been making paper to an extraordinary “place maker.” Every aspect of corporate mission, identity and culture were transformed. Ray played a leadership role in the effort to redefine JOE’s vision, corporate name, brand and environmental culture. • Intensive Public-Debate ManagementAs company spokesperson, Ray managed messages and messengers during intense media coverage. Show less

Ray was a founder and a senior vice president of Washington’s most prestigious public affairs firm, Powell Tate. Ray grew his practice to be the firm’s largest, with clients that included Delta Air Lines, General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, and The Walt Disney Company. • Coalition DevelopmentRay led the creation of a broad coalition that supported a new bilateral aviation treaty with Japan and opened additional airline service between the U.S. and Japan.… Show more Ray was a founder and a senior vice president of Washington’s most prestigious public affairs firm, Powell Tate. Ray grew his practice to be the firm’s largest, with clients that included Delta Air Lines, General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, and The Walt Disney Company. • Coalition DevelopmentRay led the creation of a broad coalition that supported a new bilateral aviation treaty with Japan and opened additional airline service between the U.S. and Japan. His team created the Submarine Industrial Base Council, designed to protect the U.S. nuclear submarine industrial base. The coalition became instrumental in the congressional debate on the future of the U.S. Navy’s Seawolf nuclear attack submarine.Ray developed messages and organized a broad coalition to support an international antitrust debate on behalf of Travelocity (Sabre Holdings), Netscape and Sun Microsystems. The coalition successfully stimulated a public debate that called into question antitrust regulation of software standards.• Crisis ManagementRay managed crisis communications for Avions de Transport Regional (ATR), the French aircraft manufacturer, when an ATR-72 aircraft crashed in Indiana with 68 fatalities. He also managed crisis communications regarding e coli 0157:H7 hamburger contamination for Jack in the Box, and later, for Hudson Foods. • Media and Congressional Testimony PreparationRay led Powell Tate’s media training and congressional testimony preparation practice. He coached corporate CEOs and senior corporate officials in the airline, defense and telecommunications industries before intensive media interviews and congressional testimony. In addition, he provided media training for larger professional groups. Show less

At Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations and communications company, Ray developed messages and prepared messengers involved in crisis situations, congressional debates, major financial transactions and international initiatives. He organized and led media relations campaigns for high profile issues and clients.• Crisis Management Media Training • Coalition Development• Congressional Testimony Preparation

From 1981 to 1988, Ray was press secretary to U.S. Senator Howell Heflin (D - AL). He developed communications strategy and managed international and national media relationships. He served in communications positions for hearings conducted by the U.S. Senate Committees on the Judiciary and Ethics, as well as the U.S. Senate Iran-Contra Committee. Ray also participated in the proceedings of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittees on antitrust and intellection property rights. •… Show more From 1981 to 1988, Ray was press secretary to U.S. Senator Howell Heflin (D - AL). He developed communications strategy and managed international and national media relationships. He served in communications positions for hearings conducted by the U.S. Senate Committees on the Judiciary and Ethics, as well as the U.S. Senate Iran-Contra Committee. Ray also participated in the proceedings of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittees on antitrust and intellection property rights. • Communications InnovationRay implemented the first satellite feed from a U.S. Senate office to a constituent television station, later broadly adopted by other senate offices and party caucuses. • Campaign ManagementRay also managed communications for Senator Heflin’s successful 1984 reelection campaign. He served as communications director for the “Keating Five Hearings” conducted by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. Show less

Ray managed message development for the full range of university stakeholders. He served as the university’s spokesperson, overseeing its news bureau and broadcast services. He worked with members of the faculty to promote new research initiatives. Ray developed messages and produced materials for a statewide campaign in support of higher education funding. He was a member of an administration team that managed a presidential succession at Auburn.

As broadcast editor, Ray developed and produced broadcast material for a wide variety of critical audiences, including the state legislature, alumni, athletic constituencies, prospective students and faculty. He produced award winning video presentations and films.

Ma, Mass Communications

For his graduate degree, Ray focused on message development, public opinion research, and rhetorical theory, along with organizational.

Ba, Speech Communications

Ray concentrated on communication theory and broadcast production in his undergraduate work. While a student at Auburn, Ray held.

As, Communications