Steve Wray

Steve Wray is a Vice President and Director at Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI). Joining ESI in July of 2017, Mr. Wray leads projects focused on regional economic competitiveness and civic strategy and policy. He brings to ESI’s clients extensive experience connecting the public, private and non-profit sectors with analysis and strategy development of economic growth, talent development, infrastructure and governance issues. Mr. Wray is a creative project leader and manager, and is skilled at conceiving and managing complicated research, campaign and strategy initiatives. He is a national and internationally recognized expert and speaker where he excels at translating complicated issues and concepts to diverse audiences. From 2006 to 2017, Mr. Wray was the Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, a regional civic catalyst that works at the intersection of the private, public and non-profit sectors in the tristate Greater Philadelphia region. He led the League’s emergence as a crucial centerpiece and partner in regional economic growth and opportunity initiatives. Mr. Wray conceived of and developed the Economy League’s World Class Greater Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange programs, which became the focal points of the Economy League’s activities and engaged hundreds of Philadelphia leaders on an annual basis. Mr. Wray was also the managing director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, Inc., where he was responsible for oversight of the Economy League’s corporate parent organization, its statewide activities, and for coordination of activities with affiliate offices in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Wray was the deputy director and director of research from 1995 to 2006 for the Economy League in Philadelphia, where he was the lead developer, project manager and researcher for the League’s policy and research initiatives. He led numerous major initiatives, including analyses of the region’s healthcare, arts and higher education industries; strategic analysis of Penn’s West Philadelphia economic development strategy; a feasibility study of Philadelphia’s potential to host the Olympics; and numerous economic impact and regional development projects. He also created and managed IssuesPA, a first-of its kind political communications campaign that was recognized both in the state and nationally as a cutting edge political education effort. Mr. Wray served as policy director and Pittsburgh representative for Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor from 1992 to 1995. He also worked as a real estate investment research consultant with the international partnership of Jones Lang Wootton from 1989 to 1991, where he led regional economic and asset diversification analysis for the firm’s global clientele. Mr. Wray earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a Master of Science in Public Management and Policy, with a concentration in Urban Planning and Economic Development from Carnegie Mellon University. He also attended the Executive Program in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management at the Harvard University Business School. Mr. Wray lives in Newtown, PA with his wife and 2 daughters. He is also an active civic leader, and is the Board Chair of the Health Care Improvement Foundation; a member of the Board of Trustees for the Bucks County Historical Society overseeing Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle; a member of the Governor’s Early Learning Investment Commission; an executive committee member of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau; and an Executive Fellow of Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Economic Development at Heinz College. Mr. Wray is a board member of: Health Care Improvement Foundation Bucks County Historical Society Governor’s Early Learning Investment Commission PHLCVB CMU Center for Economic Development