Ray is a hobbyist of 48 years, a 4-star breeder in the Breeders Award Program and a Grand Master Horticulturist in growing aquatic plants. His past experience includes founding and leading a number of clubs and organizations. He was President of the Western New York Aquarium Society; founder of Southtown's Fish Fanciers of Hamburg, NY; founding member of the Allegheny River Valley Aquarium Society and the Chautauqua County Aquarium Society; president of the Canadian Association of Aquarium Clubs (CAOAC); member of many societies around the US and Canada; chair of the 1986 CAOAC Convention; chair of the 1988 Federation of American Aquarium Societies (FAAS) Convention. He was elected into the FAAS Hall of Fame in 1992 and worked for the Aquatic Maestro Program with Paul Spiece for several years.
In 1990, he started Kingfish Services, an education and promotional company helping aquarium societies and manufacturers. Ray has been a member of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, both in the US & Canada. Ray keeps both aquariums and ponds. Ray is the owner of Kingfish Services An Educational Promotional Company representing Aquarium Technology Inc (Hydro Sponge Filters), Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Aquarian Flake Foods, Pond Care, Rena Products, Python Products Inc, Finley Aquatic Books, The Fish Factory, Cichlid News Magazine, Diskus Brief Magazine, Hans Discus USA, and Eastern Aquatic Blackworms. Bringing these great items to a show near you soon.