DECATUR, Ill. – Todd Ray has been named Chief Human Resources Officer, replacing long-time ¼ϲʹٷվ Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Diane Lane, who will retire in July. Ray’s new role is effective July 1 and he will serve as the lead officer, advisor, and strategic partner to ¼ϲʹٷվ’s administration.
Ray is originally from Decatur and has deep family connections with ¼ϲʹٷվ. Ray’s grandfather worked in the Maintenance Department, and he recently had two nieces become Big Blue graduates.
“I am very familiar with ¼ϲʹٷվ. I remember growing up and being able to visit Kirkland Fine Arts Center on a class field trip. My grandfather Leonard Knabel retired from ¼ϲʹٷվ and worked in the Maintenance Department for years,” Ray said. “My nieces, Madelyn and Gabrielle Yeakley, just graduated from ¼ϲʹٷվ in May. I was there and heard (Commencement Speaker) Jodi Benson break into a song, which was pretty neat. I have been associated with ¼ϲʹٷվ in one form or another, personally or professionally, all the way through. ¼ϲʹٷվ has a great reputation, and it has a lot of good people. I am excited about joining them.”
Ray has more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources and comes to ¼ϲʹٷվ after servings as the Vice President of Human Resources at Decatur Foundry, Inc., where he was responsible for the daily human resources, safety, and environmental functions for 125 employees. Todd has previously served as Human Resources Director at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, and Greenville Regional Hospital in Greenville, Ill.
“(At Decatur Foundry, Inc.,) we are a manufacturing facility, and we make a really good product and have really good people. I feel like I can successfully transition to ¼ϲʹٷվ, and I really focus on employees,” Todd said. “At the end of the day, HR is meant to be an advocate for the team. Whether you are in manufacturing, higher education or healthcare, the employees need someone they can trust. I feel like I can bring that to the table for them.”
Ray earned his undergraduate degree at Eastern Illinois University in Political Science and has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois-Springfield. He also holds certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Ray plans to continue his role as a hands-on leader in his new role and looks forward to continuing an already strong relationship with ¼ϲʹٷվ’s HR Department members.
“I’m excited about working with the HR team, which was one of the things that drew me to the positions. I know them through our local HR chapter and have been associated with them professionally for a long time,” Ray said. “I like to spend a lot of time making rounds and meeting people, and I anticipate doing that often at ¼ϲʹٷվ. Working with Diane and her team, understanding their approach and ¼ϲʹٷվ’s culture. I want to ensure that HR continues to be seen as a department of collaboration that is approachable, fair and consistent.”
