Ray was born in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, grew up in Wilkinsburg, PA and he lived for a few years in southern California. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in French with minors in Business, Chemistry and Biology. He originally worked in business banking where he was passionate in increasing the availability of commercial lending in eastern Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to working at FHP, he volunteered as a fair housing tester.