Echoing Hills is excited to welcome our new Executive Vice President/Chief Program Officer, Ray Schmidt. Ray brings many years of professional and personal experience, all with an eagerness to contribute to the ministry immediately.

While working his way through college Ray started helping in group homes, falling in love with both the work and the people. He continued his work in the industry after graduation as a Case Manager for a county board, a Program Director for an ICF, and as a “Q” for several group homes. After their son, Jon, was diagnosed with autism, Ray and his wife, Mary, made the decision to have Ray take an opportunity with a local manufacturer, allowing Mary to stay home to care for their growing family. While with this manufacturer, Ray invented the Cyrano Communicator – one of the first hand-held communication devices for people who had difficulty speaking. This project came to mind as a way to help his son and ended up helping close to 900 people gain a voice!
About 10 years ago Ray had the chance to come back to the field, he and Mary jumped at the opportunity. He worked as a manager of the habilitation center for the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities, then as the Director of Quality, Innovation, and Planning. While there, they experimented with some innovative technology: a fully automated robot, developing mapping software for community integration, and virtual reality. Ray expresses, “I hope to bring some of that technology to Echoing Hills.”

This is the first time professionally that Ray has worked for a ministry, something that really excites him. This ministry drew Ray to Echoing Hills, but the decisive factor was seeing the organization lead and guide by the Fruit of the Spirit. He was familiar with this passage from Galatians; however, had never considered what it would mean to run a business that way. He states, “For me that’s such an inspiration. It just made me feel like I’m home.”

Ray and Mary have been married for 38 years. Ray met his wife in college and shares, “She is the smartest person I know. In every job I have ever had, Mary has been my partner. I call her my research department.” They have four children: Sarah, Jon, Rob, and Anna, and enjoy going to Florida every few years as a family. They also enjoy trips to Frankenmuth, Michigan, Mary’s favorite location.

When asked about hobbies and interests, Ray expresses his love for creating things. He has a woodshop where he makes everything from cabinets to music boxes; plays a few musical instruments, including piano; and enjoys computers, reading, and photography. This passion for creating will serve him well as he oversees Echoing Hills’ five regions and the Residential, Adult Services, and Educational programming designed for individuals served. Ray will work with the teams of each region and states, “Together, we will further develop the ‘Echoing Way.’”