Ray French Email & Phone Number

Ray French is the Regional Economic Development Director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation serving seven counties in Western Wisconsin. Prior to joining WEDC, he was a Regional Associate with WiSys, the technology transfer organization serving the UW System campuses in the region. During that time he helped establish the first WiSys VentureHome in partnership with UW-Eau Claire and CoLab in downtown Eau Claire. Ray previously worked with small businesses and entrepreneurs for the City of Eau Claire and Downtown Eau Claire, Inc., where he also managed the Revolving Loan Funds and the Jump-Start Business Competition. He got his first experience in economic development with the City of River Falls as a Management Analyst. In River Falls he supported the development of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center and established the foundation of the Kinni Corridor Planning Process. Ray also spent 5 years on the Board and 2 years as President of the Chippewa Valley Innovation Center, a manufacturing incubator. He received a Juris Doctor in 2012 and Master of Public Administration in 2013 from Hamline University in St. Paul and earned his Economic Development Finance Professional certification in 2018. Ray met his wife, who hails from Cumberland in Barron County, while they attended UW-Eau Claire.

Listed skills include Psychology, Development, Sociology, Science, and 4 others.