When Cassandra Brown Ray became the first African-American woman named chief financial officer at the Saint Louis Zoo earlier this year, she described it as “one of those cup-running-over” moments.
“First woman. First African-American. I stand on a whole lot of shoulders,” said Ray, who also serves as a vice president.
“Many, many prayers support the intentions to get me a seat at the table. For so long, many blacks and women have desired and prepared for a role at the top or a seat at the table, but were never given the opportunity. When young people seeking a profession look at the leadership of the Saint Louis Zoo, they will know that this place is progressive and inclusive.”
Jeffrey Bonner, Dana Brown president and CEO of the Zoo, knew immediately that Ray was the right person for the job.
“Cassandra is the perfect CFO – she’s smart, number-savvy, and has a questioning mind,” he said. “The best CFOs know what’s important, but more importantly, know the right questions to ask and when to ask them.”
Ray began her career at the zoo in 1992 as a staff accountant and later became controller/director of finance. She also contributes to the strategic and master planning for the future of the zoo and works on revamping the zoo’s value statements.
“When I accepted the position (in 1992), I was deathly afraid of being bored – doing journal entries month after month until I retired,” Ray said.
“I had no idea of the richness and depth of a career in the nonprofit industry. I bring a lot to this position: 27 years of zoo finance knowledge; the knowledge of where we have been as an organization and where we want to go; the ability to listen and not prejudge; the ability to develop an incredible finance team; and strong work ethic and resounding integrity.”
The Saint Louis Zoo attracts nearly 3 million visitors annually and has been voted Best Zoo and America’s Top Free Attraction. Maintaining that status requires strategic thinking by zoo leadership, members of the St. Louis Zoological Park Commission, and Zoo Association board members. As a nonprofit organization, it also requires raising significant funds.
“We have an amazing development team, who are experts at establishing relationships and cultivating many that donate their time and their treasures,” Ray said.
“Forward-thinking donors, some we know and some we do not know, leave the zoo in their wills and have placed us in their estate plans. So many give to current projects like Grizzly Ridge and others. My team ensures that the donors’ gifts are properly recorded and invested. We also make sure that their restrictions for use are properly documented and followed.”
A major project that Ray will be involved with is planning for the new Conservation and Animal Science Center in North St. Louis County, made possible by passage of Proposition Z last November.
“Zoos serve as places where conservation education and research is performed to ensure that the animals and the places they live do not disappear. This is both our greatest challenge and greatest opportunity,” Ray said.
“Zoos need space to breed animals and to do research. One opportunity we have here at home is to begin the work of creating our Conservation Animal Science Center and public attraction. This will give us space to breed animals and an incredible opportunity to experience species in habitats that may be incredibly similar to going on safari. There is so much work to be done. I work with a team of incredible leaders, and they all want to do so much to advance conservation right in line with our mission.”
Ray also leads the zoo’s diversity and inclusion team.
“Since we started, the sensory-friendly work has exploded, and we have been intentional about embracing opportunities that will increase the diversity of our staff, our visitor and our governance by asking great questions and trying new things,” Ray said. “We have really focused on building a stronger community, ensuring that we celebrate individual diversity within our internal community.”
A St. Louis native, Ray grew up in Velda Village Hills and graduated from Normandy High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her MBA from Lindenwood University. Before joining the zoo, Ray worked for General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas.
Her parents, she noted, set the example for work ethic and leadership. Ray’s father worked at General Motors for 38 years, and her mother served as a vice president in banking and later in mortuary services. Her siblings also have achieved career success in their chosen fields.
“I have always been a leader. Whether it was president of my high school class, the Black Business Student Association at Mizzou or of my college sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, I wanted to be at the top helping the team make a difference,” Ray said. “My mantra these days is: ‘Be a boss in whatever you decide to do in life.’”
In addition to her duties at the zoo, Ray is a wife and mother of two adult children who has always made time in a busy schedule to get involved in the community. She began volunteering for her young children’s school and church activities. As they became more independent, Ray has volunteered for the St. Louis County Library Foundation, the Normandy Schools Collaborative, the Francis Howell School District, the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and St. Patrick’s Center.
Ray also is a graduate of FOCUS St. Louis, which she described as “yet another incredibly exciting time in my life.” Her FOCUS Impact Fellows group used the 2015 Ferguson Commission report to address and implement solutions to issues like reducing out-of-school suspensions, racial equity, and closing wage gaps by creating opportunities in the skilled trades – in under one year.
“I really woke up to what was going on around me and came to the realization that I can help work toward solutions and it does not have to take forever,” Ray said. “A key tool I learned is to not be afraid of the ‘unreasonable ask’ – get your data together and get out there. More people are willing to help than you ever realized.”
Ray’s newest volunteer endeavor is serving on the Board of Directors for Duo Dogs, an organization that helps individuals with disabilities by providing fully trained support dogs at no cost. It also provides support dogs to schools for literacy – the youngsters actually read to the dogs. Dogs also are trained to support children that have to take the witness stand in court.
“It is so important to participate in community activities,” Ray said. “We are our community, and we are responsible for what happens in our community. Participation lends your voice, your time, your talents and your treasure to impact change.”
