Ellijay’s Kyle Ray is set to lead the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.
Ray was selected by the chamber’s board of directors, and he will serve as the president and chief executive officer of the business organization.
“I’m really humbled and grateful for the opportunity,” Ray said Monday afternoon. “I’ve had so many people reach out to me and congratulate me, and it’s just a great opportunity that I have to serve my community, and I’m just very thankful for that.
“This is an opportunity to get back home and try to make a difference in my hometown. It’s intriguing to try and work with businesses and help our community grow in the right way. That was attractive to me.”
Ray is a veteran banker and has spent 27 years in the industry. He currently serves as senior vice president, director of branch services at Chattanooga’s Builtwell Bank, where he has been employed for 14 years. He previously held senior level positions at First Bank of Dalton, Bank of Ellijay, Appalachian Community Bank and Santek Environmental.
He believes his track record has prepared him for his next professional endeavor.
“For community banks, our goal is to make sure our businesses have finances and resources and that our families are able to buy their first home, dream home or whatever that is,” Ray said. “The chamber parallels that because we need our businesses to be successful. They’re providing the jobs in our community and are the economic engine that makes everything roll.”
In addition to his professional background, Ray has continually served the community in a multitude of roles. In 2002 and 2003, he was president (now chair) of the Gilmer County Chamber. He was involved with the Gilmer Education Foundation for 24 years and served as its chairman for 21.
His service further extends to local and statewide organizations, including, the Gilmer County Recreation and Park Department’s Board, Community Bankers Association’s LEAD division, Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewer Authority, Gilmer County Economic Development Authority, Rotary Club of Gilmer County, Relay for Life, Appalachian Domestic Violence Task Force, 515 Fellowship of Christian Athletes and East Ellijay Baptist Church.
“Some of my first priorities with the chamber are to reach out to our members first to really see what needs they have,” Ray said. “We want to make sure we’re doing things as a chamber to help them succeed. We want to make sure we’re doing everything possible to make that happen. We want to be active and visible in the community. We’re obviously not going to put on every single event that comes to town, but we want to be a partner with the things that bring us visitors.
“Of course the tourism piece is a big part of that between our apple houses and wineries. I want to make sure as a chamber we’re doing everything to present our community in the most positive light to our visitors and to make our businesses successful.”
Ray is a 1985 Gilmer High graduate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management and finance with a concentration in accounting from Kennesaw State University. He completed many of his undergraduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Ray raised his three children in Ellijay and was heavily involved with athletics. He assisted with park and rec football, baseball and basketball for 20 years. Ray founded and coached North Georgia Summit travel basketball teams that fed GHS basketball players for eight years. Ray was an officer in the GHS Tip-off and TD Club and a 515 FCA board member.
He was recognized for his service to the county’s athletics and inducted into the Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame last year.
As chamber president, Ray will oversee all operations of the chamber and report to the board of directors through the annually elected chair. He will serve as the chamber’s primary spokesperson, advocating for the chamber’s interests with media, elected officials and community stakeholders.
“One of the challenges in our community is how do we grow responsibly,” Ray said. “As a community, we’re going to grow, but I want to preserve the integrity of Gilmer County, Ellijay and East Ellijay. I don’t want us to be an Atlanta. If I wanted that, I’d live in Atlanta. Parts of that make our town attractive. We want to manage the changing environment and economy to help our businesses.”
Ray will settle into his new position Monday, Dec. 2.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the staff and understand how the chamber itself is working, and I want to get grounded in the operation of what’s going on. That’s my first order of business,” Ray said. “I want to understand what they’re doing and learn from them. I’m not there to make wholesale changes on day one. I want to get to know them and understand what they’re doing because it’s the people who are important, and people who are going to make a difference in what we’re doing.”