TRUETRAC Blog

Ray Connelly, President & GM - TRUETRAC

This time around on Meet The Team, we went all the way to the top to find our subject — Ray Connelly, president and general manager of TRUETRAC, a man who grew up in a farming family and has spent his entire career in the fresh food industry.

TRUETRAC: What is it exactly that you do here at TRUETRAC?

Ray Connelly: I manage a phenomenally motivated team of industry experts. We have people here who are results orientated and — along with their current and previous careers in the fresh produce and high-tech industries — have a deep sensitivity to make solutions that work. We’re not tech for tech’s sake, but rather, we like to solve real-world problems and truly enjoy seeing solutions come to life. It makes my job easy. I just put fuel in the tank, chart direction and manage the people, customers and vendors who make up the TRUETRAC engine.

TT: What did you do prior to coming to work for TT?

RC: I’ve spent my whole career in the fresh produce industry. I recently had the opportunity to work for Famous Software in Fresno, Calif., where I played a key role with sales, consulting, management and strategic planning. That position gave me the opportunity to combine tech and agriculture, two aspects of my career that I love. That, and having the opportunity to be involved with hundreds of fresh produce companies across the western hemisphere. It brought to me an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of all aspects of the fresh produce supply chain. I was able to gain firsthand knowledge of the internal workings of growers, shippers, brokers, distributors and wholesalers with all commodities from companies large and small.

TT: What attracted you to come to work at TRUETRAC?

RC: I like challenges and I enjoy solving problems. I saw that the fresh produce industry is facing major obstacles, and I have friends who grow spinach and tomatoes and I watched in horror as the national media and others threw my colleagues under the bus in 2006. During that time, I felt there must be a better way. When the opportunity presented itself to take on the management of a solutions-orientated company geared to attack these exact issues, it was a natural fit for me.

TT: Where did you go to college and what did you major in?

RC: Growing up within a farming family I spent many long hours running water, driving tractors and helping my father and family grow produce. I attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where I graduated with a degree in crop science. After working several years for a large grower/shipping organization, my career intersected with the fledging high-tech industry. Since then, I have combined my love for agriculture, business management, science and high tech, and applied it to the fresh produce industry.

TT: When you’re not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?

RC: I have two passions in addition to my wife and two beautiful daughters. I love to ride road bicycles and enjoy the rush of downhill skiing. These two activities allow me to stay in shape and enjoy a healthy life, but with the skiing I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve transformed a recreational passion into a volunteer position with the National Ski Patrol.

TT: What’s your all-time favorite fruit or vegetable and why?

RC: I like it all, but I’d have to say that summer fruit is my favorite. It’s not only sweet, but fruit is hardwired in my head in relation to summer vacations, warm weather and being outdoors.

TT: If you could take a one-year paid sabbatical from work to set-up your own farm, what would you call it and what would you grow?

RC: First — and don’t misunderstand me here — I do like farming. But I’d have to be much smarter, more of an artist and a little crazier to actually consider doing it. When I was a grower, I was constantly tweaking inputs to increase yields while balancing Mother Nature’s assaults and of course, fighting to keep costs down. Those people who farm well are truly artists. If I did farm, I would likely leverage cost-effective technologies to help me.