Ralph leads MDC's Family Economic Security practice, which equips communities, leaders, and institutions to change systems and policies for empowering people and their families to stabilize finances, increase economic security, and improve economic mobility (towards MDC’s vision of shaping a South where all people thrive). Current projects include the Build Up Initiative, which seeks to bring an innovative approach called Integrated Services Delivery (ISD) Networks to local communities. This approach deploys a “front door” technology portal combined with community-based structure and equity-focused practices to “flip” the traditional services model (fitting people to programs) to make human, health, and workforce services more equitably accessible and more effective.ISD Networks also bridge the gap between healthcare and social safety net programs and enhance health outcomes for people by improving social determinants of health. MDC is partnering with local communities to establish ISD Networks, currently including the Guilford Success Network in North Carolina and the Saint Paul Economic Mobility Hub in Minnesota.MDC also serves as a national partner of the Southern Partnership to Reduce Debt (SPRD) to support reducing debt burdens on households and to close racial wealth gaps across the South. Ralph’s team is now developing a student debt relief outreach plan to advance that agenda. MDC worked with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) and the Region 4 Office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to design a learning community for human services teams that is now working on strengthening recruitment and retention within the human services workforce. Past projects include co-founding and supporting The Benefit Banks of North and South Carolina, the NC Get Covered Coalition and the NC Navigator Consortium, the NC VetsCorps program, and the Virginia Financial Success Network.

Ralph came to MDC as a Senior Fellow to bring to other states The Ohio Benefit Bank model, which facilitates outreach and enrollment activities by community-based organizations using The Benefit Bank to connect low-income families with resources in the form of tax credits, public benefits, student financial aid, and other work supports. Ralph and MDC helped to establish outreach and enrollment initiatives using The Benefit Bank in North Carolina, South Carolina, and other states. During Ralph's tenure as a Senior Fellow at MDC, Ralph led the fundraising effort to launch The Benefit Bank of North Carolina and then to operate the initiative, securing more than $10 million for this cause. The Benefit Bank of North Carolina has helped low-income families apply for more than $70 million in work supports since 2010. These supports, when secured, are proven by research to reduce poverty, homelessness, and incarceration rates; improve education, employment, and health outcomes; and boost local economies as dollars are spent to meet critical family needs.

Ralph co-founded, helped to launch, and then directed a statewide initiative called The Ohio Benefit Bank, which combines grassroots outreach, expert technology, and policy change to connect low- and moderate-income Ohioans with government-provided work supports, in the form of tax credits, public benefits, student financial aid, and disability assistance. Working in the Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Ralph organized the State of Ohio's support for The Ohio Benefit Bank, including fundraising, lobbying, expanding the initiative's reach, and managing a contract to implement the initiative with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. In its first two years of operations, the public-private partnership grew to include more than 700 community-based sites and more than 2,500 trained counselors across Ohio. According to an Ohio University report, under the leadership of the Governor’s Office and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, The Ohio Benefit Bank in its first two years of operations generated economic impacts exceeding $60 million—consisting of more than $38 million in work supports, over $25 million in multiplier effects, $2.5 million in new state and local tax revenue, and 450 new jobs. The Ohio Benefit Bank is now the largest effort of its kind in the United States. Over its first 10 years, the statewide effort has served 775,000 Ohioans, completed 407,024 tax returns, 55,420 nutrition assistance applications, 3,791 student financial aid applications,14,272 home energy assistance applications, and trained 8,258 counselors who have helped Ohioans apply for more than $1.5 billion in work supports.

Prior to joining Governor Strickland’s staff, Ralph was a law firm Partner with Porter Wright Morris and Arthur from 1999 to 2007, Senior Associate from 1996 to 1999), and Associate from 1991 to 1996. During his legal career, as a litigator, Ralph represented clients, including Fortune 500 companies, in state and federal court litigation. He managed teams of up to 30 attorneys and support staff in complex litigation cases. He represented a client in legal and public relations with the Mayor of Columbus and City Council. He served as lead counsel in one of the largest product liability suits ever filed in New Jersey. He litigated many complex cases involving legislative, contract, insurance policy, and regulatory interpretation. He served on several management committees, including the recruiting and technology committees, and he chaired the litigation support practice.

Ralph served as law clerk to a federal judge. He researched legal issues, prepared draft opinions, and participated in pre-trial conferences. He supervised interns in cases involving statutory and regulatory issues.

Ralph served as campaign's first Issues Director, before enrolling in law school. He advised the candidate on policy issues and development and prepared policy briefing book used extensively during the campaign.

Ralph served on the legislative and political staffs of Congressman Bob Edgar, who represented a district south of Philadelphia and ran for the U.S. Senate in 1986. As a legislative staffer, Ralph briefed Congressman Edgar on issues; met with constituents and stakeholders; and prepared briefing papers, speeches, and legislation. Ralph organized the successful U.S. Senate primary campaign field operations; and secured labor endorsements and contributions in both the primary and general elections.