Raymond grew up in Folsom, California, where he spent much of his childhood outdoors at the local lake or camping with the Boy Scouts of America. His passion for plants only expanded as he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth, and he moved to the Central Coast to study Agricultural and Environmental Plant Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He worked in different horticultural settings throughout college, such as greenhouses and landscaping, but his interest in conservation efforts attracted him towards restoration employment with the Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve State Park. After graduating with a B.S. and a minor in Fruit Science, Ray returned to the State Parks for one more season before joining the CSLRCD. He plans to pursue higher education in environmental science and dedicate his career to the study and implementation of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Outside of work, you might find Raymond relaxing at the beach, riding his motorcycle, bicycling to the gym, hiking, getting friends together for games, or trying new hobbies such as surfing.