Alaina D. Ray, AICP

Experience

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  State Farm Insurance Agency

  Jul 1988 - Dec 2003

  Office and Client Relations Manager

  · Office Management: Managed high-performance sales team in multi-million dollar producing agency. Responsible for hiring, training and supervising sales, customer service and administrative staff. Set goals and priorities for staff and identified staff development needs.· Insurance Sales: Marketed and sold all lines of property and casualty insurance, life insurance and liability insurance. Completed applications, submitted file to company, coordinated issuance of policy and delivered policy to customer.· Underwriting: Provided front-line underwriting support to determine eligibility of new business, including ordering and reviewing motor vehicle records and prior claim history.· Customer Service: Communicated with clients regarding insurance needs and policy provisions. Filed property claim reports, negotiated billing disputes, and provided other services as directed. Show less

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  Lee County, Florida

  Jan 2004 - Jul 2005

  Environmental Planner

  • Case Manager: Reviewed zoning requests and development plans for conformance with Comprehensive Plan and Development Code. • Environmental Compliance: Reviewed environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, protected species management plans and mitigation proposals. • Species Protection: Performed protected species surveys and site inspections on properties proposed for development. Surveys included, but were not limited to: bald eagle, gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker, burrowing owl, American alligator, indigo snake and wading birds. Responsible for oversight and enforcement of protection/relocation activities for protected species and their habitat during construction activities. Observed bald eagle nests during nesting season to document nesting success. • Native Vegetation Preservation: Identified areas of native vegetation to be preserved in perpetuity in conformance with county development regulations. Assisted developers, architects and engineers in revising development plans to accommodate preservation areas. Responsible for oversight of protection measures throughout construction activities. • Reports and Presentations: Composed staff reports and presented cases for County Commissioners and Hearing Examiner.• Agency Coordination: Coordinated environmental protection policies with other agencies, including Southwest Florida Water Management District, USACE, USFWS and FWC. Show less

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  City of Rowlett, Texas

  Aug 2005 - Aug 2009

  Assistant Director of Development Services

  • Responsible for administration and supervision of Planning and Zoning, Building Inspections, GIS and Code Enforcement. • Researched, proposed and implemented changes to Land Development Code, Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Master Thoroughfare Plan, Parks and Trails Plan and Waterfront Development Plan. Developed and/or revised ordinances relating to: Signs, Landscaping, Tree Preservation, Smoking, Non-conforming Structures, Building Materials, Telecommunications Facilities and Lighting. • Coordinated with Economic Development Department and private developer regarding development of $500 million waterfront project. • Successfully implemented ordinances for LEEDS compliance in municipal facilities and Energy Star compliance in residential development. • Chosen as panel speaker for 2009 Dallas/Fort Worth Best Practices Conference for implementation of Pro-Active Code Enforcement Program. Initiated Neighborhood Partnership Program to engage residents and business owners for the purpose of reducing crime and increasing property values.• Assisted with development and oversight of $2.3 million department budget. • Restructured development review procedures for Planning and Engineering Departments to create streamlined, customer-friendly process. • Acted as Case Manager for high profile Planning and Zoning projects. Reviewed site plans for compliance with city development codes and best planning practices. • Met with contractors, developers, engineers, architects and vendors regarding development projects. Composed staff reports and presented projects and ordinances to City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission. • Responsible for management and contractual obligations regarding 30 linear miles of lake shoreline. Show less

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  Atkins (Formerly PBS&J)

  Aug 2009 - Mar 2011

  Project Manager - Everglades Restoration

  • Coordinates Multi-disciplinary Teams: Coordinates interdisciplinary and multi-agency project teams comprised of USACE, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and many other agencies. • Provides Project Management Support: Identifies resources needed to meet project scope within schedule and budget. Documents project changes and progress through monthly assessments and updates, identifies potential project delays, and recommends solutions. • Provides Communication Services: Maintains open communications between teams, stakeholders, and chain of command through presentations and summaries.• Prepares Project Documents: Participates in project planning and decision document writing, including Project Management Plans, Capital Asset Plans, Environmental Impact Statements and other technical and scientific documents as needed.• Prepares Project Presentations: Develops presentations for various boards and agency groups, including local, state and federal agencies. Show less

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  Town of Orange Park, Florida

  Apr 2011 - Dec 2012

  Director of Economic and Community Development

  Responsible for administration of Planning & Zoning, Economic Development, Building Permitting, Floodplain Management, Code Enforcement, Business Tax Receipts, and Special Events.Significantly revised Land Development Code and Zoning Ordinance, including a Commercial Redevelopment Overlay.Streamlined outdated development review process to create “business-friendly” environment.Proposed and implemented new Economic Development program. Included development of business community committee, web-based Economic Development marketing tools, and actively marketing Orange Park as a destination for business relocation.Worked with Florida Department of Transportation regarding expansion of U.S. Highway 17.Implemented new commercial property standards to address condition and upkeep of property for the purpose of maintaining and increasing property values.Responsible for development and oversight of department budget.Restructured and renamed department to focus on primary goals of the community. Acted as Case Manager for all Planning and Zoning projects. Reviewed site plans for compliance with development codes and best planning practices.Served as staff liaison for Planning and Zoning Board, Economic Development Committee and Culture and Recreation Committee. Initiated and implemented pavilion rental program, providing healthy revenue stream for department.Acted as Town's Floodplain Manager. Coordinated with FEMA regarding flood map revisions.Successfully coordinated special events, including Fall Festival, Winter Holiday Events, Art Shows and Movie Nights. Expanded Fall Festival and attracted largest crowds in 29-year history of event. Show less

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  Town of Longboat Key

  Mar 2013 - Oct 2017

  Director

  Longboat Key is a barrier island community located on Florida’s west coast. The island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Sarasota Bay on the east. The Town lies within two counties. The northern portion of Longboat Key is in Manatee County and the southern portion is in Sarasota County. The area is popular among retirees and is also a popular resort and second home community. Longboat Key has a population of approximately 8,000 permanent residents and grows to approximately 20,000 during peak tourist season.FUNCTIONS:Manages functions within the Planning, Zoning and Building Department.Evaluates development projects for appropriate policy implementation of the comprehensive plan and reviews conformance with adopted ordinances and regulations.Reviews projects for compliance with environmental regulations, including: coastal construction, beach and dune erosion control, sea turtle protection, FEMA, etc. Responsible for the effective management and implementation of planning programs, including grant applications, and assists in the collection, compilation, and presentation of data related to ordinance administration, special projects, and long and short term plans. Performs research and development of elements relating to the Town's comprehensive plan; updates or compiles elements for the Comprehensive Plan; compiles reports concerning special problem areas where programs are to be developed; collects and analyzes data pertaining to specialized areas such as housing historical data, economics or related areas. Attends planning advisory board meetings and makes presentations; attends Town Commission and other meetings, makes planning presentations.Conducts land use inventory of the Town and maintains maps; may supervise technical employees in the maintenance and collection of planning data. Performs special projects Show less

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  Loudoun County Government

  Oct 2017 - Dec 2021

  Department Management: Management of over70 professional staff members, including the disciplines of Long-Range Community Planning, Legislative Land Use Review, Zoning Administration, Proffer Administration, and Zoning Enforcement. Resolve difficult administrative, technical, and personnel issues. Evaluate staffing levels and identify department needs. Participate in evaluation of potential new hires. Assist in development and implementation of department goals.• Department Budget: Development and management of approximately $10 million department budget, including annual revenue projections, operational expenditures, program and project narratives, and performance measures.• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement strategic plans for the department, including staffing and project work plans. Assist with Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan to ensure Board-directed initiatives are implemented. Coordinate with County Administration regarding organizational planning.• Department Representative: Serve as liaison between department and Board of Supervisors and County Administration. Show less Loudoun County is part of the Metropolitan Washington D.C. Area and is home to approximately 400,000 people. Loudoun has consistently been one of the fastest growing counties in the country and leads the nation with the highest median household income. Loudoun is the home of Dulles International Airport and is known for its beautiful scenery, rich history, high tech industries - including Data Center Alley, where 70 percent of all global internet traffic travels through, and high quality of life. Show less

  • Director of Planning and Zoning

    Nov 2018 - Dec 2021

  • Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning

    Oct 2017 - Nov 2018
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  City of North Port Florida

  Dec 2021 - now

  Director of Development Services at City of North Port, FL

  North Port is located on the Southwest Coast of Florida and is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with a population expected to exceed 100,000 within the next two years. It is home to CoolToday Park - the Atlanta Braves Spring Training facility, and includes Wellen Park, a 10,000-acre master-planned community ranked one of the best-selling communities in the U.S. Responsible for department leadership of multiple divisions: Planning & Zoning, Natural Resources, Economic Development, Building Permitting & Inspections, and Code Enforcement. Show less