For more information, contact:
Trisha Riggs at 202-624-7086
Robert Krueger at 202-624-7051

WASHINGTON (September 16, 2013)  — The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and building thriving communities, has selected Jason L. Ray as its new chief technology officer. An innovative global information technology (IT) and business leader, Ray will drive ULI’s technology strategy to support both distributed and centralized business operations, oversee enterprise-wide IT operations, and direct the institute’s web and network infrastructure.

“We are excited to have Jason lead technology at ULI,” said ULI Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. “He has a proven track record of using technology to build smarter businesses and managing complex programs for large organizations. In this role, Jason will be critical in providing ULI with a global technology vision and leadership in delivering both products and services to our members around the world.”

Prior to joining ULI, Ray served as the head of technology for The GAVI Alliance, a public-private global health partnership originally chaired by Nelson Mandela and established with a $750 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Ray pioneered the technology and information strategy for GAVI, along with designing and building its private network and core data centers across multiple continents. As a result of his initiatives, GAVI has successfully raised $7.9 billion which it has committed to vaccinating over 370 million children in 73 countries. Prior to GAVI, he served as the senior director of web marketing for the internet service provider (ISP), PSINet, where he built the global web and online marketing infrastructure and transitioned content to Akamai for the first geographically distributed online content for a global ISP.  Additionally, he served as the director of web services for InfoPro, a company that provides advanced IT services to federal government agencies and private businesses across the country.

In his new role, Ray will lead the development and implementation of ULI’s long-range plans for IT, oversee the institute’s IT projects, and be responsible for the planning and design of system architecture. He will be responsible for ensuring that ULI’s hardware, software and web systems are reliable and efficient. In addition, he will be tasked with maintaining system security and ensuring optimal customer service by overseeing the institute’s staff response for technical assistance and support to users.

“I’m very enthusiastic about my appointment as chief technology officer, and I look forward to delivering value to all ULI members and staff through the smart use of technology.  Building upon the lasting ULI heritage of knowledge sharing and relationship building, technology will play a vital role in connecting members and staff in new and meaningful ways,” said Ray.

The ULI IT department functions to provide the institute and its global membership with database and product support, operating systems, data communications, network infrastructure, web infrastructure and architecture as well as web technical support.   As the preeminent, multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI leverages its IT unit to help facilitate the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local, national and international industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute (uli.org) is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.