Ray was raised on a diversified Century Family Farm in North Carolina’s largest agricultural county. In his own words, that experience had more to do with his life path than any other opportunity he has had since. Growing up on a family farm meant long days and short nights, but more importantly it laid the foundation for Ray’s experience with faith, leadership, and work ethic.

He has spoken to hundreds of audiences across the U.S. about agriculture, leadership, and personal development.

Ray obtained a B.S. in Agricultural Education, magna cum laude, from NC State University. While at State, Ray also served as a National FFA Officer and was the student commencement speaker at his graduation. He has since been named a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Young Alumnus and more recently an Outstanding Alumnus (since he’s apparently not so young anymore).

Ray received his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served as the Chief Justice of the Holderness Moot Court Bench, graduated Order of Barristers, was the recipient of the James William Morrow, III Award, and was inducted into the prestigious James E. and Carolyn B. Davis Society. Ray is a member of the North Carolina Bar.

After law school, Ray clerked for a State Supreme Court Justice, practiced law at an international law firm, and became the General Counsel to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He was also a Marshall Memorial Program Fellow and later served as the General Counsel and agriculture policy adviser to the NC Speaker of the House.

In 2015, Ray moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as the Chief Counsel and agricultural policy adviser to United States Senator Thom Tillis and eventually became the Senator’s Chief of Staff. In 2017, Ray was tapped to staff the National Economic Council at the White House as the Special Assistant to the President for agricultural policy. In this role, he was the top agricultural adviser to the President at the White House. He left that post in mid-2018 to serve as Chief of Staff to United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, helping lead an agency with over 108,000 employees and a $140 billion annual budget. While in D.C., Ray and his family were active members of HTC McLean.

Ray returned to North Carolina in the summer of 2019 to serve as General Counsel to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce and as President of the NC Chamber Legal Institute. He also promotes Starling Farms sausage, made from pigs raised by his brother, Willi, on the family farm in Autryville. He and his wife, Dr. Tina Starling, have one daughter, and reside in Raleigh.  

Quick facts about Ray