# Ray Washburne > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ray_Washburne > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ray_Washburne.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Washburne > Source revision: 1334631910 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American businessman (born 1960)}} {{For|the baseball player|Ray Washburn}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Ray Washburne |image = Ray Washburne in 2021 (cropped).jpg | caption = Washburne in 2021 |office = President and CEO of the [Overseas Private Investment Corporation](/source/Overseas_Private_Investment_Corporation) |president = [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) |term_start = September 5, 2017 |term_end = March 1, 2019 |predecessor = [Elizabeth Littlefield](/source/Elizabeth_Littlefield) |successor = [David Bohigian](/source/David_Bohigian) (acting) |birth_name = Ray Willets Washburne |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}} |birth_place = [Dallas](/source/Dallas), [Texas](/source/Texas), U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) |education = [Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts)) }} '''Ray Willets Washburne''' is an American businessman, political fundraiser, and government official. He co-founded the M Crowd Restaurant Group, which owns [Mi Cocina](/source/Mi_Cocina) and other restaurants. He served as President and CEO of the [Overseas Private Investment Corporation](/source/Overseas_Private_Investment_Corporation) from 2017 to 2019 and as a member of the [President's Intelligence Advisory Board](/source/President's_Intelligence_Advisory_Board) from 2019 to 2020. Previously, he has served as an [adjunct professor](/source/adjunct_professor) at [Cox School of Business](/source/Cox_School_of_Business).{{Cite web|url=https://www.smu.edu/News/2020/Featured-News/Washburne-gift-setting-pace-for-future-athletic-achievements|title=Setting the pace for future athletic achievements|website=www.smu.edu}} ==Career== === Business === Washburne is a co-founder of the [M Crowd Restaurant Group](/source/M_Crowd_Restaurant_Group), owning forty-six restaurants, including the [Mi Cocina](/source/Mi_Cocina) and Taco Diner restaurant chains.{{cite web |last1=Guinto |first1=Joseph |date=October 21, 2010 |title=The New Emperor of Highland Park Village |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2010/november/ray-washburne-the-new-king-of-highland-park-village/ |access-date=April 25, 2017 |website=[D Magazine](/source/D_Magazine)}}{{cite web|last1=Auer|first1=Tonie|title=Q&A With Highland Park Village Owner Ray Washburne |url=https://www.bisnow.com/dallas-ft-worth/news/mixed-use/qa-with-highland-park-village-owner-ray-washburne-56398|website=Bisnow|access-date=April 25, 2017}} He also has real-estate developments in several states and is the CEO of Charter Holdings. In 2009, Washburne and his family bought the [Highland Park Village](/source/Highland_Park_Village), an upscale shopping center in Dallas, for $170 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=170000000|start_year=2009}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}). In December 2020, Washburn'e HP Village Management was contracted by the owners of Knox Street District in [Dallas](/source/Dallas) to assist with the leasing, marketing, and management of their property.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2020/12/02/billionaire-michael-dell-investors-in-dallas-knox-street-hire-ray-washburnes-highland-park-village-team-to-lead-redevelopment/|title=Billionaire Michael Dell, investors in Dallas' Knox Street hire Ray Washburne's Highland Park Village team to manage it|date=December 2, 2020|website=Dallas News}} In April 2022, Washburne's HP Village Management acquired a stake in the shopping center Phillips Place, located in [Charlotte, North Carolina](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina).{{Cite web|url=https://www.peoplenewspapers.com/2022/04/27/hp-village-owners-buy-stake-in-charlotte-shopping-center/|title=HP Village Owners Buy Stake in Charlotte Shopping Center - People Newspapers|date=April 27, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2022/04/26/highland-park-village-owners-buy-a-stake-in-charlottes-upscale-shopping-center/|title=Highland Park Village owners buy a stake in Charlotte's upscale shopping center|date=April 26, 2022|website=Dallas News}} In the same month, Washburne's Charter Holdings acquired Watters Creek shopping center in [Allen, Texas](/source/Allen%2C_Texas).{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2022/04/07/highland-park-village-co-owner-ray-washburne-has-bought-allens-watters-creek/|title=Highland Park Village co-owner Ray Washburne buys Allen's Watters Creek|date=April 7, 2022|website=Dallas News}} In July 2019, Washburne’s Charter DMN Holdings purchased an 8-acre campus that was home to the iconic [Dallas Morning News](/source/Dallas_Morning_News) "Rock of Truth" building for $28 million and announced development plans that included a boutique business hotel and entertainment amenities that would complement the city's new convention center that was under construction.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Candy |date=2019-08-21 |title=What's Up Ray Washburne's Sleeve? Big Plans for the Former Dallas Morning News HQ |url=https://candysdirt.com/2019/08/21/whats-up-ray-washburnes-sleeve-big-plans-for-the-former-dallas-morning-news-hq/ |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=CandysDirt.com |language=en-US}} In February 2025, he announced that the bulk of the property had been sold to an undisclosed entity that was planning to build a data center on the site, which he said was caused in part by the city's lack of communication about its development plans.{{Cite web |title=Developer scraps plan to rework Dallas Morning News building - CultureMap Dallas |url=https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/dallas-morning-news-ray-washburne/ |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=dallas.culturemap.com |language=en}} Two months later in April 2025, he sold the property to the city of Dallas for $51.5 million.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Dallas to buy part of old Dallas Morning News property for $51.5M |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-county/dallas-buy-part-of-old-dallas-morning-news-property/287-7c751c47-5190-47c9-84b6-59cfca77d53a |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=wfaa.com |language=en-US}} In June 2024, Washburne's HP Village Management acquired [Country Club Plaza](/source/Country_Club_Plaza) in [Kansas City](/source/Kansas_City) from [Macerich](/source/Macerich) and [Taubman Centers](/source/Taubman_Centers).{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2024/07/01/dallas-investors-plan-to-restore-historic-shopping-center/|title=Dallas investors plan to restore historic shopping center|date=July 1, 2024|website=[Dallas News](/source/Dallas_News)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/its-official-kansas-citys-country-club-plaza-under-new-ownership|title=It's official: Kansas City's Country Club Plaza under new ownership|date=July 1, 2024|website=KSHB 41 Kansas City News}} The acquisition followed a discussion at an [Urban Land Institute](/source/Urban_Land_Institute) conference in May 2024, where Nuveen, a lender associated with Highland Park Village, approached Washburne about a new project. Washburne, who had previously invested over $100 million in [Highland Park Village](/source/Highland_Park_Village), would make a substantial investment in the Missouri complex with Nuveen remaining involved. The redevelopment plan for Country Club Plaza includes its division into several districts, each dedicated to contemporary [fashion](/source/fashion), [food](/source/food) and [beverage](/source/beverage), and luxury and designer goods. Washburne is currently the Chairman of the Board of [Sunoco, LP](/source/Sunoco).{{Cite web|url= https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/announcements/new-members-adrienne-arsht-latin-america-centers-advisory-council/ |title=New members to the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center's Advisory Council|date=November 10, 2022 }} He is also a member of [Council on Foreign Relations](/source/Council_on_Foreign_Relations) and a board member of [SMU Cox School of Business Executive Committee](/source/Cox_School_of_Business).{{Cite web|url= https://www.dallaschamber.org/consuls-46-countries-meet-dallas-fort-worth-event-european-trade-mission-details-emerging/ |title= Consuls from 46 Countries Meet for Dallas-Fort Worth|date= February 14, 2018}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2009/08/16/smu-alum-ray-washburne-has-left-his-mark-around-dallas-with-ventures-in-real-estate-restaurants/|title= SMU alum Ray Washburne has left his mark around Dallas with ventures in real estate, restaurants|website=Dallas Morning News|date= August 16, 2009}} === Government === On June 5, 2017, President Trump nominated Washburne as president of the [Overseas Private Investment Corporation](/source/Overseas_Private_Investment_Corporation).{{cite web |last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |title=Trump taps Dallas businessman Ray Washburne for administration post |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/05/trump-nominates-another-texan-his-administration/ |access-date=June 5, 2017 |website=[Texas Tribune](/source/Texas_Tribune)}} The [U.S. Senate](/source/U.S._Senate) confirmed him by voice vote on August 3, 2017.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Caroline |date=August 3, 2017 |title=Senate confirms Hutchison for NATO, Washburne for investment office |publisher=Dallas News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/08/02/senate-poised-approve-hutchison-nato-ambassador-washburne-overseas-investment-office-head |access-date=August 7, 2017}} He worked to increase the OPIC's funding and activities despite the Trump administration's previous plans to shut down the agency.{{cite news |last=Saldinger |first=Adva |date=August 20, 2018 |title=Opinion | Poor Countries Have an Unlikely Ally Close to the White House |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/opinion/ray-washburne-opic.html |via=NYTimes.com}}{{cite news |date=September 25, 2018 |title=U.S. development agency looks to boost funding to $60 billion |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-development-opic-idUSKCN1M501M |via=www.reuters.com}}{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Garrett |date=October 24, 2017 |title=Head of OPIC says it's here to stay |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbyist-profiles/356791-head-of-opic-says-its-here-to-stay |website=TheHill}} In 2018, Washburn led the effort to create the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) which replaced OPIC with a merger of entities from USAID, State Department, and OPIC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dfc.gov/media/opic-press-releases/opic-president-and-ceo-ray-w-washburne-addresses-organization-american|title=OPIC President and CEO Ray W. Washburne Addresses the Organization of American States on Women's Empowerment | DFC|website=www.dfc.gov}} In February 2019, Washburne announced he would resign as OPIC's head on March 1.{{cite web |date=2019-02-10 |title=Washburne Resigning From OPIC After Restructuring of Agency |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-10/washburne-is-said-to-resign-from-opic-march-1-amid-restructuring |access-date= |publisher=Bloomberg}}{{cite web |title=Ray Washburne steps down as US development finance head |url=https://www.ft.com/content/43ae3c2c-2f09-11e9-8744-e7016697f225 |website=[Financial Times](/source/Financial_Times)}} In 2019, Washburne was appointed to the [President's Intelligence Advisory Board](/source/President's_Intelligence_Advisory_Board).{{cite web |last1=Ferran |first1=Lee |date=August 28, 2019 |title=Trump's secretive intelligence advisory board takes shape with security pros and GOP donors |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-secretive-intelligence-advisory-board-takes-shape-security/story?id=65222244 |access-date=April 14, 2020 |work=[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))}}{{cite web |date=May 20, 2019 |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-personnel-key-administration-posts-26/ |access-date=April 14, 2020 |work=[whitehouse.gov](/source/whitehouse.gov) |via=[National Archives](/source/NARA)}} In 2019, Washburne was appointed to the advisory board of the [US Military Southern Command](/source/United_States_Southern_Command).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntcarhalloffame.org/|title=NTCAR Hall of Fame Home Page|website=ntcarhof}} === Political fundraising === Washburne was actively involved in raising money for [George W. Bush's](/source/George_W._Bush) presidential campaigns in both [2000](/source/George_W._Bush_2000_presidential_campaign) and [2004](/source/George_W._Bush_2004_presidential_campaign), and in the following years continued to raise money for the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)).{{cite news|last1=BARBARO|first1=MICHAEL|last2=HABERMAN|first2=MAGGIE|title=Bush Campaign's Demand for Fidelity Ruffles Some Republican Rivals|work=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/us/politics/jeb-bush-campaigns-demand-for-fidelity-ruffles-some-republicans.html?_r=0 |access-date=April 25, 2017}} In 2011, he became finance chairman of Governor Tim Pawlenty bid for President.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/10/13/141303832/romney-camp-is-slow-to-attract-former-bush-donors |title= Romney Camp Slow To Attract Former Bush Donors|website=NPR}} Later, in the [2012 presidential election](/source/2012_United_States_presidential_election), he backed [Mitt Romney](/source/Mitt_Romney), the Republican Party's nominee, and became [the campaign's](/source/Mitt_Romney_2012_presidential_campaign) Texas co-chair, while also raising money.{{cite web|title=Romney Camp Slow To Attract Former Bush Donors|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/10/13/141303832/romney-camp-is-slow-to-attract-former-bush-donors|website=[NPR](/source/NPR)|access-date=October 13, 2011}}{{cite web |last1=Gillman |first1=Todd |title=Chris Christie nabs Ray Washburne as finance chief for 2016: report|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2015/01/12/chris-christie-nabs-ray-washburne-as-finance-chief-for-2016-report|website=The Dallas Morning News|date=January 12, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2017}} Following the 2012 election, in which Romney was defeated, Washburne became the finance chairman of the [Republican National Committee](/source/Republican_National_Committee), during which he raised $160 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=160000000|start_year=2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) for the party.{{Cite web|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-ray-washburne-is-top-candidate-for-energy-secretary/ |title= Ray Washburne is top candidate for energy secretary |website=CBS News|date= December 7, 2016 }} In 2015, he became a part of [Chris Christie's](/source/Chris_Christie) [2016 campaign for president](/source/Chris_Christie_2016_presidential_campaign), serving as the finance chairman. Christie subsequently conceded in the race, and after [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) emerged as the Republican front-runner, Washburne raised money for [Trump's campaign](/source/Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign) and became the vice chairman of the [Trump Victory Committee](/source/Trump_Victory_Committee), which acted as a bridge between the campaign and the RNC.{{cite web|last1=Svitek|first1=Patrick|title=With Some Uncertainty, Texas Donors Begin Pitching in for Trump|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/06/texas-republican-donors-begin-coalesce-around-trum/|website=[Texas Tribune](/source/Texas_Tribune) |date=June 7, 2016 |access-date=April 25, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-09/trump-seeks-to-install-christie-ally-as-top-republican-party-fundraiser |title=Trump Seeks to Install Christie Ally as Top Republican Party Fundraiser |work=Bloomberg |date=March 9, 2016 |access-date=June 25, 2016}} After Trump's victory, he was the head on the Trump transition team for the Commerce Department.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/21/president-elect-donald-trump-considering-ray-washburne-for-secretary-of-interior.html|title=President elect Donald Trump considering Ray Washburne for Secretary of Interior|website=[CNBC](/source/CNBC) |date=November 21, 2016 }} In 2020, Washburne played a role in convincing Trump to call for restoring a tax break allowing corporations to fully deduct restaurant meal and entertainment costs.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-tax-policy-idea-wasnt-on-the-table-then-famous-chefs-called-the-president-11585879311|title=This Coronavirus Tax Policy Idea Wasn't on the Table. Then Famous Chefs Called the President.|first=Richard Rubin, Andrew Restuccia and Rebecca|last=Ballhaus|newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=April 3, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}}{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/4b50dd9806e6d31607b23dfe38df4408|title=Calling Trump: When connections help steer virus supplies|date=April 11, 2020|website=AP NEWS}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/dr-anthony-fauci-tells-tucker-carlson-hes-certain-efforts-to-slow-coronavirus-spread-are-having-an-impact|title=Dr. Anthony Fauci tells Tucker Carlson he's certain efforts to slow coronavirus spread are having an impact|date=March 19, 2020|website=Fox News}} ==Personal life== Washburne was born in [Dallas, Texas](/source/Dallas%2C_Texas) in 1960, and was raised in [Highland Park](/source/Highland_Park%2C_Texas), later graduating from [Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University). In 1997 he married Heather Hill, a descendant of [H. L. Hunt](/source/H._L._Hunt). In 2021, Washburne committed $5,000,000 to SMU to construct the new Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/washburne-stadium-dedication-april-2022|title=Making new strides with Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium|website=www.smu.edu}} The facility has been recognized as one of the finest facilities for college soccer and completed the urban design of the campus. ==Awards and recognition== * Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame (2023){{Cite web|url=https://www.peoplenewspapers.com/2022/12/08/ray-washburne-to-join-north-texas-commercial-real-estate-hall-of-fame/|title=Washburne Joining North Texas Commercial Real Estate HOF|date=December 8, 2022 }} * North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors Hall of Fame (2023){{Cite web|url=https://www.ntcarhalloffame.org/past-inductees-2006-2022|title=PAST INDUCTEES (2006 - 2023)|website=ntcarhof}} * Distinguished Alumni of the Southern Methodist University Award (2023){{Cite web|url=https://www.smu.edu/alumni/events/distinguished-alumni-awards/recipients/2023/ray-w-washburne|title=Ray W. Washburne '84|website=www.smu.edu}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.opic.gov/who-we-are/people/ray-w-washburne Biography at OPIC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201010/https://www.opic.gov/who-we-are/people/ray-w-washburne |date=September 28, 2018 }} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Washburne, Ray}} Category:1960 births Category:Businesspeople from Dallas Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign Category:Living people Category:Overseas Private Investment Corporation officials Category:People from Highland Park, Texas Category:Texas Republicans Category:First Trump administration personnel --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ray Washburne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Washburne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Washburne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.