James Ray

Current

Senior Director, Strategy & Business Development at Manheim

Past

Vice President at Inforte Corporation
Founder and CEO at eReserve.net
Principal at Synectics, Inc.

Division Manager at AT&T
Senior Manager at Accenture

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Education

Pepperdine University, The George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management
Texas A&M University

Recommended

6 people have recommended James

Connections

365 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

James Ray’s Summary

As a consultant and entrepreneur my experience includes all facets of organizational transformation: business strategy, customer strategy, organizational strategy, organization design, change management, human capital management, organization development, and program management.

More recently, I have developed substantial expertise in the areas of Customer Strategy and Organizational Alignment - leading the formulation and execution of strategies to capture, grow and retain a firm's most valuable customers.

Prior to my employment with Inforte, I was an organizational change consultant serving clients including AT&T, Coca-Cola, Halliburton, NCR, and USAA. In each of these roles, I advised senior executives regarding organizational changes introduced by rapid growth, economic decline, and the implementation of information technologies.

James Ray’s Experience

Senior Director, Strategy & Business Development

Manheim

(Privately Held; Automotive industry)

November 2005 — Present (4 years 2 months)

OVE.com is a leading online marketplace for the wholesale exchange of vehicles within the automotive industry - enabling OEM, Captive Finance, Rental Fleets and Other Lenders to remarket vehicles to wholesale buyers.

I have been responsible for defining customer strategy of this "intra-preneurial" venture, and designing the organization and processes required to successfully capture the available market opportunity.
Vice President

Inforte Corporation

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; INFT; Management Consulting industry)

October 2000 — October 2005 (5 years 1 month)

Responsible for Inforte’s Business Services practice, accountable for market penetration, revenue growth, and delivery of Inforte services to clients in the Information Services, Business Process Outsourcing, and Travel & Hospitality industry sectors.
Founder and CEO

eReserve.net

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

September 1998 — October 2000 (2 years 2 months)

Co-Founder of this start-up Application Service Provider (ASP), successfully creating a marketing platform and business management toolset for small business owners.

I completed the Strategic Opportunity Assessment and Business Plan for eReserve.net and developed Strategic Alliances with emergent ventures (e.g., Vicinity) and established business leaders (e.g.,Sabre Holdings). After developing the beta platform and securing clients in the SF Bay Area, we were unable to secure institutional financing and I orchestrated a strategic business combination with another going concern.
Principal

Synectics, Inc.

(Partnership; 11-50 employees; Management Consulting industry)

April 1997 — August 1998 (1 year 5 months)

Principal with this creativity and innovation consulting firm, leading efforts to pursue emerging market opportunities for collaborative software platform extending the benefits of proprietary methods and process.
Division Manager

AT&T

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; T; Management Consulting industry)

January 1993 — March 1997 (4 years 3 months)

AT&T Solutions

Director of Professional Services for “start-up” professional services firm within AT&T, AT&T Solutions. Responsible for hiring and leading a team in the design and deployment of Professional Development programs and processes to achieve objectives for aggressive business expansion.

Global Information Solutions (NCR)

Co-founder of team supporting the transformation of the AT&T GIS Worldwide Services (formerly NCR) into an “Employer of Choice” in the global marketplace for professional services.
Senior Manager

Accenture

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; ACN; Management Consulting industry)

May 1986 — December 1992 (6 years 8 months)

Senior Manager in Accenture’s Change Management Services practice, focused on leading business transformation for clients in the Energy, Insurance and Telecommunications industries.

James Ray’s Education

Pepperdine University, The George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management

MSOD , Organization Development , 1994 — 1996
Texas A&M University

BBA , Accounting , August 1981 — May 1986