Speakers:
Ray McGury, Executive Director of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), possesses a wealth of leadership experience gained through decades of providing strategic direction to influence organizational growth. Prior to joining CVMA in early 2022, Ray administered top-level direction in the law enforcement and parks and recreation industries. Additionally, he is the President and Founder of RJM Strategy Group, a company based in Naperville, Illinois, that provides comprehensive security strategy, expertise, and leadership to a wide variety of organizations and businesses. Ray's credentials include over 30 years of law enforcement and executive-level leadership experience, with tenure at the Naperville and Bolingbrook police departments, where he served as captain and chief of police, respectively. He also actively served as a SWAT member, Commander of the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force, and an undercover operative for the State of Illinois and DEA Task Forces. Following his career in law enforcement, he served as the Executive Director of the Naperville Park District for nearly 14 years- an organization that serves the recreation, leisure, and park services needs of a community of approximately 150,000 residents. Ray's leadership at the District was instrumental in the organization's successful planning, development, and completion of multiple community facilities, in addition to attaining initial CAPRA national accreditation and renewals through the National Recreation and Park Association. Based on his decades of demonstrated expertise and leadership in law enforcement, criminal justice, community focus, and safety best practices, Ray has been a sought-after educator by some of the most well-known institutions, including Northwestern University, Lewis University, Marquette University, and College of DuPage. He has served as an instructor and facilitator for the Department of Homeland Security. Ray holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from St. Xavier University and a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University also is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Rocky Mountain Executive Management Program.