Ray S.

Experience

• 

  University of Texas, McCombs School of Business

  Lecturer Faculty

  Aug 2022 - Sep 2025

  A major state university in Texas conducting teaching and research activities.

  • Taught advanced corporate and commercial real estate finance courses.

• Nodal Properties LLC, Austin, TX

  President

  Sep 2018 - Sep 2025

  Real estate developer - residential and multi-family properties.

  • Acquired properties - commercial and residential, in Austin metro area for development. Completed seven projects. Handled all aspects including acquisition, planning, development, financing, and disposition.

• Kohana Coffee LLC, Austin, TX.

  CFO, COO, CTO

  May 2014 - Sep 2018

  High growth cold brew coffee products manufacturer. Produced shelf stable cold brew and sold it through large national grocery chains and bog box retailers. In addition to its own brand, Kohana also private labled its products.

  • As CFO, COO and CTO, managed operating, accounting, and finance functions including banking relationships.
  • Increased sales three-fold to $25 million. Led $5+ million expansion for beverage cans with automated canning line (over forty machines). Secured financing and supervised entire project.
  • Managed the sales team adding marquee big box retail and grocery chain customers while maintaining fifty percent gross margin.
  • Led negotiations with large CPG private equity firms and managed pricing, inventory, and customer onboarding functions.

• Alliance Abroad Group LLP, Austin TX.

  CFO, COO, CTO

  May 2014 - Dec 2017

  Kohana group company that sponsors international guest workers under J-1 visa serving the hospitality industry.

  • Increased operating margins from under 10 to 35+ percent with 12+ percent sales CAGR.
  • Turned company into a positive operating cash flow entity generating surplus cash.
  • Developed CRM platform (MS Dynamics) to automate workflow management, and enhance cost efficiencies.
• 

  • St. Edwards University, Austin, TX - Bill Munday School of Business

  Associate Professor

  Aug 2008 - May 2015

  A private university offering MBA and undergraduate business and finance courses.

  • Taught capital markets, bond and equity portfolios, global finance, foreign currencies, securities valuation, investments, investment banking, financial options and derivatives, corporate finance, hedge funds and private equity
  • Taught undergraduate and MBA finance courses.

• Finsage Inc., Austin, TX.

  Founder & Chief Executive Officer

  Aug 2000 - Sep 2018

  Developed portfolio management and trading software.

  • Developed financial portfolio management and AI based hedge fund trading and analytical software.
• 

  Kaplan Inc., New York, NY (Schweser division)

  VP Internet Technologies

  Jun 2000 - Aug 2003

  Provider of training materials for Wall Street finance (CFA) certification.

  • Led development of e-learning system for global financial certification programs as well as e-Commerce solutions that tripled sales.
  • Delivered global seminars in North America (Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse First Boston), Europe, and Asia for financial analysts.
• 

  Ernst & Young, Houston, TX

  Valuation & International Tax Consultant

  Jul 1998 - Jul 2000

  Big Four accounting company providing auditing and consulting services to Fortune 500 and other large clients - international and domestic.

  • Assisted clients in oil; chemical; manufacturing; service; fast food; pharmaceutical; and software industries to create efficient tax strategies in transfer pricing. Also supported SALT planning from a valuation perspective.
  • Assisted clients in oil; chemical; manufacturing; service; fast food; pharmaceutical; and software industries to create efficient tax strategies in transfer pricing.
• 

  • Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN.

  Professor/Associate Professor - Finance

  Aug 1992 - Aug 2000

  A state university in Minnesota offering graduate and undergraduate degrees.

  • Published or presented over twenty research papers in areas of mergers and takeovers, managerial incentives, dividend policy, equity issues, stock splits and share repurchases, IPO bid-ask spreads, financial analysts' recommendations, corporate restructur
• 

  • University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

  Assistant Professor of Finance

  Aug 1987 - Jun 1992

  A major Big Ten university engaged in education and research.

  • Conducted research and taught finance courses. Published papers in dividend policy, equity issues, stock splits and share repurchases, IPO bid-ask spreads, financial analysts' recommendations.