Raymond (Ray) A. Peters, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Ray Peters has over 40 years of professional experience with private and multi-national organizations. He is presently MBA Director at Nicholls State University, also teaching Leadership in the MBA program. Additionally, he is the principal consultant for Peters Leadership Consulting LLC, focusing primarily on organizational and leadership development.
Previously, Ray served as Vice President of Human Resources & Marketing for RoyOMartin, a privately held forest products company headquartered in Alexandria, La., retiring in early 2018. He directed corporate-wide human resources, employee benefits/health & wellness, and product marketing activities. Before RoyOMartin, Ray spent the majority of his career in manufacturing-related industries. A career highlight was an assignment as Corporate Management Development Officer for Royal DSM N.V. in the Netherlands.
Ray earned a B.A. in Communication Arts from Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, and an M.S. in Human Resource Education & Leadership Development from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. He completed a select number of professional development programs, including DSM’s Corporate Management Course and LSU’s Executive Program. Ray holds lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through HRCI and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from the Society of Human Resource Management. He received the “World of Difference” award for outstanding leadership to DSM Engineering Plastic Products in North America (1995). Ray was twice named RoyOMartin’s Strategic Action Leadership Team (SALT) Member of the Year (2005 & 2011).
Ray has a considerable breadth of experience in human resources and organizational leadership. He is a recognized expert in organizational design, leadership development, and performance management. He has served as a chief spokesperson in labor negotiations. Commercially, Ray is skilled in corporate communications, advertising, and product merchandising. He has represented RoyOMartin and the wood products industry on product-related matters at the state and national levels. He served on the Marketing Advisory Committee of the APA-The Engineered Wood Association.
Married with two grown children, Ray served on the United Way of Central Louisiana board of directors from 2001 to 2006, serving as Chairman of the Board in 2005 (during Hurricane Katrina). Ray served on the board of directors (charter member) for the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum (2007-2013), serving as President in 2012. In February 2012, he was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council and reappointed by Governor John Bel Edwards in 2017. Ray also served on the Board of Trustees of BLUEPRINT Louisiana. His off-hours are generally spent reading, cooking, and listening to smooth jazz.
