JACKSON, Miss.- Craig Ray has officially been announced as the new Tourism Director with the Mississippi Development Authority.
Ray is returning after serving as the Tourism Director in 2004-2009. He will be taking the place of Malcolm White, who stepped down as director in November of 2015.
Ray was appointed by Glenn McCullough Jr., Executive Director of the MDA and will officially take over on July 18 2016.
During Ray’s time away from the department, he served as a partner with The Talon Group, a government relations advocacy firm. His background includes work in public relations, tourism, event management, partnership development, and entertainment and venue negotiations.
“This is not his first rodeo. He has done a great job for the Mississippi Development Authority and to promote tourism,” said McCullough.
Ray was also the co-executive producer of the Mississippi GRAMMY Celebration, executive producer of Mississippi Night at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, and producer of the Southeastern United States Canada Conference.
“I’m honored to be back to serve MDA, working with Glenn McCullough and Gov. Byrant,” said Ray.
Ray is a native Mississippian who received a bachelor’s in business at The University of Mississippi.
