Media Consultant and Buyer

Ray joins ELA as a Media Consultant bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in Media Buying, Copywriting, event organizing, and more.

Ray was born in Troy and moved to Pittstown when he was 9 years old. He remains in that small rural town to this day, with his wife Ann. They have a son and granddaughter also in Pittstown, and a daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and grandson residing in California.

Ray’s career in Advertising began almost by accident. In his role as Retail Sales Manager at Berns Camera & Video, the area’s premier photography store, he began examining the company’s ad campaigns and the message they were trying to convey. He then presented his ideas for a few radio ads to the owner. The owner, surprisingly, turned the reigns of their advertising over to Ray. The Berns campaigns went on to win Local Radio Campaign of the Year and were recognized by companies like Canon, Fuji, and JVC.

From there, Ray worked for Paul Barry and Associates where the biggest client was Taft Furniture- Upstate New York’s biggest furniture store. The writing was on the wall so to speak and soon Ray was brought under the roof of Taft, where the President’s dream of having an in-house agency could finally be realized. Ray worked one on one, with Taft’s President, planning, developing campaigns, producing, executing them, and doing POP and graphics in the showrooms. During his tenure, Taft expanded and realized record business despite increased competition. Ray was with Taft for 27 years until it was sold to Raymour and Flanigan Furniture in 2022.

Ray then worked for KJ Electric, as Marketing Coordinator, until the opportunity to join the ELA team presented itself.

In his free time Ray can be found biking in the hills of Pittstown and Grafton, kayaking, or working on one of the many Saabs in his driveway. He’s also been a professional photographer since he was 18.

Favorite Writers: reads mostly non-fiction

Favorite bands: Beatles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Outlaws, Molly Hatchet. Currently: Luke Combs, Jason Aldean

First concert: Eric Clapton at SPAC, followed by Alice Cooper and Grand Funk Railroad.

Favorite TV Show: As a kid, The Outer Limits, Combat, The Rat Patrol. Now, For All Mankind, Mayor of Kingstown, Your Honor, Yellowstone and its many offshoots, Godfather of Harlem.

Favorite movies: ET, Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, The Town, The Departed, Wind River