Retail Management and Operations expert. To include: merchandising, purchasing, marketing and advertising, sales and sales management, showroom layout and displays, bookkeeping and accounting, tax issues, human resources - hiring, firing, compensation, employee benefits, service department management, store maintenance, leasing - real estate and auto, purchase of land and buildings and capital equipment, franchising. Owned retail floor covering store; Owned wholesale floor covering business. Operated retail floor covering store for 42 years. Company became an early member of Carpet One. Opened a Prosource Wholesale Floor Covering Franchise that presently has locations in Louisville and Lexington, KY. Was an Armstrong Floor Fashion Center member and served on National Council. Served 2 years on active duty with U.S. Air Force as an accounting and budget officer.

Fouteen years with Reader's Digest as Senior Operations Director. Managed Department with responsiblities in Marketing, Printing, Purchasing, Direct Mail, Logistics. Twenty Five years in several senior management positions at the largest magazine printing company in the USA, known as McCall Printing Co. and later as Dayton Press.(no longer in existence). Served in Air Force for 28 years mostly in reserves. Retired as Colonel. Headed reserve unit to counsel young men and women who had interest in the Air Force Academy.

Ray's prior experience includes 33 years with First Union National Bank/Wachovia Bank, retiring as Executive Vice-President and Senior Credit Officer. Ray was involved in working with high net worth individuals and large business entities for most of his career. His career took him to 6 different locations in North Carolina and Virginia. After retiring from banking, Ray earned his Certified Financial Planner designation and then started a second career in personal financial planning that would enable him to help clients achieve success in their financial life.Rays practice was a Fee-Only business. He provided comprehensive personal financial planning advice on an hourly or set fee basis. Ray was a financial planner 2002 through 2008; at which time he sold his business. Ray is a registered member of the National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA), which is the most selective national association of FEE-ONLY financial planners. He was also a member of the Financial Planning Association, a national association of personal financial advisors. Ray specialized in educating and empowering his clients to define and reach their financial goals. Ray has been quoted in a number of publications. . Ray is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Economics. He has graduated from several banking schools. He earned the Financial Planning Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University. He received his Certified Financial Planner designation in 2002. He volunteers in various capacities at his church, neighborhood association, country club, Score, and the First Tee. 

Due to my work schedule I must limit my mentoring at this time to retail stores already open! Startups will be considered once a business plan is completed. 

Have worked for RMSA, Retail Solutions, LLC, since 1980. Have worked with retailers in nearly every industry segment. I specialize in helping retailers improve profitability through better inventory control. Faster turnover, increased margin, strengthened cash flow, sales increases, and expense control are my main objectives. 1969-1979, worked in a family-owned department store chain in the Midwest. My responsibilities ranged from mens buyer to general merchandise manager in charge of womens, mens, childrens, furniture, cosmetics, accessories, gifts, housewares, shoes, lingerie, domestics and furniture.