Ray Jimenez
Los Angeles,United States
Summary
Fueled by a passion to elevate conscientious voices and diverse creators and entertainers, Ray helps guide the careers of top talent as a personal manager and also creates meaningful content as a producer. As an active member of the community, Ray supports political causes and non-profit organizations that make the world a better place.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Commissioner
The City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
07.2021 - Current
- Ray was appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, to the Cultural Affairs Commission. This commission helps to oversee the approval of arts and architecture for the city.
- As a leading, progressive arts and cultural agency, the department of cultural affairs empowers Los Angeles' vibrant communities by: supporting and providing access to quality visual, literary, musical, performing, and educational arts programming; managing vital cultural centers; preserving historic sites; creating public art; and funding services provided by arts organizations and individual artists.
- In June of 2022, Ray was asked by the Mayor to serve a second term.
- Prior to his work as a Commissioner, Ray collaborated with the Mayor on a number of projects including the creation of female homeless shelters (inclusive of all female-identifying individuals) and a number of celebrity PSAs.
Talent Manager/ Producer/ Department Head
Zero Gravity Management
Los Angeles, CA
06.2016 - Current
- Zero Gravity Management's television productions include OZARK on Netflix, which was the most viewed original show of 2020. The firm's film productions include THE ACCOUNTANT, THE MARKSMAN, HONEST THIEF, BLACKLIGHT, and COP SHOP.
- Ray's client list includes top actors, news hosts, commentators, and alternative television stars/brands. He has also runs point on major business development and content strategy accounts for clients, including global 500 companies. For this work, he spearheads the client relationship, the activation business strategy, and the creative development. Ray has international expertise and is able to manage an efficient workflow among offices in different countries on a single activation. For example, with the Mercedes-Benz Group AG, he worked with teams in Germany, China, and the U.S. to develop a product that cohesively resonated with their diverse cultures and markets.
- In addition to his traditional entertainment work, Ray was brought in to run the digital department at Zero Gravity. He works with a number of creators and brands with video views in the multi-billions and hundreds of millions.
- With a great interest in politics and civic engagement, Ray represents a number of prominent news hosts/analysts and has produced political programs for broadcast television and leading online news outlets. He also created a joint venture between the top online news network in the world and the top daily Spanish language news publisher in the country, and he also served as an Executive Producer and Showrunner for two of their limited series. He currently works with the top two progressive/ left-leaning digital news shows in the world (THE YOUNG TURKS - TYT/ Ana Kasparian and THE DAVID PAKMAN SHOW) as well as THE MAJORITY REPORT WITH SAM SEDER), the fourth largest progressive/left-leaning digital news program. The TYT Network now has over 20 billion views. They also recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Ray secured the largest and longest-running ad sales relationship with a brand that TYT has had. He also led the initial activation between TYT and this brand (on the business and creative end) and helped the brand achieve the most productive activation they had had by three times. In 2020, Ray helped create and produce, EN CONTEXTO, a political news show starring David Pakman on Estrella TV, one of the top Spanish-language broadcast networks in the country. Prior to this show, David Pakman had never done political analysis in Spanish.
- In addition to managing Jaime Camil, Ray also advises and assists him in his producorial endeavors at his company, ECABA, as a producing partner. ECABA currently has a top-line first-look with Paramount+ and Viacom International Studios. Jaime led two of the top three Mexican novelas and has achieved great crossover success in the U.S. as well. He starred in JANE THE VIRIGN as 'Rogelio de la Vega' across 100 episodes, a role which garnered him multiple awards, include Best Comedy Actor on television at the 2018 and 2019 Teen Choice Awards. In 2022, he played Antonio Rivas, the lead villain, in Academy Award winning director, Steven Soderbergh's, KIMI. Most recently, he can be seen leading the Netflix limited series, EL REY: VICENTE FERNANDEZ, which reached the #2 position in the U.S. and #1 in 11 Latin-am countries. He will next host and produce the CBS prime-time show, LOTERIA LOCA, and host and produce the Mexican documentary series DESDE LA RAÍZ for Roku.
- In addition to Jaime, Ray represents a number of other international clients with strong global followings including Manu Bennett and some of the biggest names in Latin America including Stephanie Cayo, Cristián de la Fuente, and Marimar Vega.
- Ray's current development slate for production is highly focused on the international market. His international focus is part of why he decided to begin his program with TRIUM: The London Schools of Economics, HEC Paris, NYU Stern (please see education).
Instructor
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
09.2015 - 12.2019
- Ray taught a highly popular course, "Building Your Career in Traditional, New, and Emerging Media" for four years. In this class, students learned about film, television, digital, and interactive media.
- Ray took the last several years off due to COVID-19 and work obligations, but at some point will likely return to teach a new class centered around talent management.
Board Member (Executive Commitee)
Communities in Schools Of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
05.2018 - Current
- CISLA helps students in select public schools transcend personal challenges in their lives, in order to optimize their potential. The Los Angeles chapter of this organization was founded by Creative Artists Agency. The organization provides the services of social workers and leadership programs to keep optimize student outcomes and keep them in school. In addition to serving on the board generally, Ray is a part of the Events and Governance committees where he has helped to significantly diversify the board.
- In 2022, Ray was appointed to the Executive Committee.
Member
The Pacific Council on International Policy
Los Angeles, CA
01.2020 - Current
- The Pacific Council is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to global engagement and international relations.
National Committee Member
Latino Victory Project
01.2017 - Current
- Co-founded by Eva Longoria, LVP is a progressive organization, which strives to grow Latino political power by increasing representation at every level of government.
Board Member
The Talent Managers Association
Los Angeles, CA
09.2015 - 08.2021
- The TMA is a national organization, which advocates for ethical business standards among talent managers. Additionally, it provides resources and a supportive community for its members. Ray was formerly 1st Vice President of the Board. He he also headed industry relations.
Founder/ President
Embolden Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA
07.2014 - 07.2017
- With a focus on digital media, Embolden represented top internet creators. Embolden also worked with reality, alternative television talent and actors. Additionally, Embolden produced digital content and provided business development and branded content solutions for a number of companies. Ray has garnered millions of views on individual branded content videos that he personally produced, wrote and directed.
- Embolden produced the first major branded scripted Instagram story of its kind.
- Embolden's talent content strategy included helping a client raise her top video view count from 10,000 to over 100,000,000 on a single video.
- In one year, Embolden had a client deliver a keynote speech and another client deliver the headlining performance at Vidcon, which is widely regarded as the most prominent digital video conference.
- Embolden secured a headlining position for one of their clients on the first all-female nationwide influencer tour. She was also the sole
musical act. - With an eye to the future, Embolden also represented media technology pioneers, including one of the companies behind the 2Pac hologram at Coachella.
Board Member
United LatinX Fund
Los Angeles, CA
01.2016 - 03.2017
- The ULF of greater Los Angeles is a philanthropic resource created to transform, uplift, and empower the Latino community.
Producer/Writer
The Imagen Awards
Los Angeles , CA
02.2014 - 07.2014
- Ray served as one of the producers and script writers for this leading Hispanic award show. It was televised on PBS.
Administrative Assistant/ Business Development
Creative Artists Agency
Los Angeles, CA
06.2010 - 07.2014
- CAA is widely regarded as one of the two largest talent agencies in Hollywood.
Other Work Experience
Various Employers
Los Angeles, CA
06.2005 - 06.2010
- Ray's other prior experience includes working for legendary manager John Hartmann, as his leading consultant during college. With this role, he also supervised a group of college level interns.
- Ray also produced a variety of events during college, including a youth mobilization fundraiser for then Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, during the Democratic primary, which garnered broadcast news coverage. His first event, Nuvo Blanc, broke attendance records at Boardners in Hollywood.
- He also worked at NBC-Universal as a production assistant and at The Firm as an intern for CEO, Jeff Kwatinetz.
Education
TRIUM - Executive Global Masters in Business -
The London School of Economics/HEC Paris/NYU Stern
07-2026
High School Diploma -
Campbell Hall School
Los Angeles05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Film (Screenwriting)
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles05.2010
Financial Accounting
Harvard Business School (online)
09-2024
Management Essentials
Harvard Business School (online)
Digital Marketing Strategy
Harvard Business School (online)
Negotiation Mastery -
Harvard Business School (online)
Leading With Finance
Harvard Business School (online)
Entrepreneurial Essentials -
Harvard Business School (online)
Alternative Investments
Harvard Business School (online)
Skills
Talent management, talent relations, content development and production, teaching, business consultation and development, client acquisition, corporate and non-profit talent acquisition, marketing, relationship management, governance, board and commission work, negotiation and contracts, branded content activation, talent booking, team building and leadership, commercial endorsements and ad sales, public speaking, writing, and international business
Speaking Engagements
- Ray's speaking engagements include being the key-note speaker at a high-school graduation (with an audience of over 800), the key-note speaker at a multi-school year-end leadership event for the XY Zone, a speaker at a Hamilton High School power lunch (which was the most popular engagement by the students in the program that year), a speaker at LAUSD's International Student Leadership Conference, a panelist at multiple National Association of Hispanic Independent Producers events, a panelist at a Talent Managers Association event, and the host/MC at a gala which was hosted by the top Chinese private real-estate developer and his partner, in order to promote synergy between Chinese and American business
Awards/Honors
- Hollywood Radio and Television Society Member Profile. 2014
- National Hispanic Institute LDZ Youth Legislative Session - Lieutenant
Governor (2nd highest position out of 500). 2004 - National Hispanic Institute Lone Star CWS Collegiate World Series MVP
(the top honor of the program). 2005 - Loyola Marymount University Leadership Scholarship. 2006-2010
- Campbell Hall School Student Champlain (elected position). 2006
Hobbies
In his personal time, outside of spending time with his loved ones, Ray enjoys writing music. Ray first developed a strong affinity for music as child when he was a member of the Paulist Boys Choristers. With this group, he toured America and Europe, sang on multiple soundtracks including for the film, GOOD WILL HUNTING. He performed many times with the L.A. Philharmonic, sang with popular acts such as Little Richard and 98 Degrees, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and contributed to recordings, which were broadcast on radio and that were available for purchase as CDs/records.
Timeline
Commissioner
The City of Los Angeles
07.2021 - Current
Member
The Pacific Council on International Policy
01.2020 - Current
Board Member (Executive Commitee)
Communities in Schools Of Los Angeles
05.2018 - Current
National Committee Member
Latino Victory Project
01.2017 - Current
Talent Manager/ Producer/ Department Head
Zero Gravity Management
06.2016 - Current
Board Member
United LatinX Fund
01.2016 - 03.2017
Instructor
UCLA
09.2015 - 12.2019
Board Member
The Talent Managers Association
09.2015 - 08.2021
Founder/ President
Embolden Entertainment
07.2014 - 07.2017
Producer/Writer
The Imagen Awards
02.2014 - 07.2014
Administrative Assistant/ Business Development
Creative Artists Agency
06.2010 - 07.2014
Other Work Experience
Various Employers
06.2005 - 06.2010
TRIUM - Executive Global Masters in Business -
The London School of Economics/HEC Paris/NYU Stern
High School Diploma -
Campbell Hall School
Bachelor of Arts - Film (Screenwriting)
Loyola Marymount University
Financial Accounting
Harvard Business School (online)
Management Essentials
Harvard Business School (online)
Digital Marketing Strategy
Harvard Business School (online)
Negotiation Mastery -
Harvard Business School (online)
Leading With Finance
Harvard Business School (online)
Entrepreneurial Essentials -
Harvard Business School (online)
Alternative Investments
Harvard Business School (online)
Similar Profiles
Erika MayErika May
Senior Personnel Analyst at City Of Los Angeles - Los Angeles World AirportsSenior Personnel Analyst at City Of Los Angeles - Los Angeles World Airports
Noel BustamanteNoel Bustamante
Barback at Death and Co Los Angeles, City Of Los Angeles, CABarback at Death and Co Los Angeles, City Of Los Angeles, CA
Cariza Geovana LewisCariza Geovana Lewis
Administrative Clerk at The City Of Los AngelesAdministrative Clerk at The City Of Los Angeles