Ray Neilsen was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation in 2006. During his tenure, the Foundation has grown to North America’s largest private funder in the world of spinal cord injury.  The Foundation supports scientific research, community programming as well as education for individuals living with spinal cord injury.  Ray is actively involved in setting the Foundation’s long-range vision, overseeing the investment of the Foundation’s assets and determining the strategic direction.

In addition to his work with the Foundation, Ray is President of Neilsen and Company, a real estate development company responsible for a number of major commercial, residential, educational and municipal buildings. Originally founded and operated by his grandfather in the 1960s and led by his dad for the next three decades, Ray continues the Neilsen family legacy of creating exceptional real estate projects.

Ray’s professional career began as a busboy at Ameristar Casinos, Inc., the company founded by Craig H. Neilsen. His father insisted Ray immerse himself and learn all levels of the organization, so he worked through the ranks and was with the company for 20 years. Ultimately, Ray served as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Ray earned a Bachelor of Science in history from the College of Idaho and a Master of Business Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.