Founder and board members

Sylvia L. Daniels Ray is the Founder, President and CEO of InspireHER Community Development Corporation (InspireHER CDC). Her responsibilities include leading operations, providing strategic direction, and ensuring the success of InspireHER CDC programming and the collective.  She is passionate about creating lasting solutions for women that both empower and inspire women to reach their fullest potential.

Sylvia is the Healthcare Anchor Network's Sr. Manager for Impact Purchasing -  where she helps health systems to direct their spending locally to strengthen local economies, build community health, and address the community conditions that lead to poor health. 

Sylvia is also the owner of Advancing Strategies, LLC, a consultancy that provides community development and supply chain management solutions. Advancing Strategies helps companies reach their goals to uplift and empower businesses and improve community health through sustainable job creation. Sylvia has over 25 years of experience working with businesses and leading award-winning corporate supply chain programs for local, national, multinational, and global companies. Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development with a focus in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.

In her corporate career, Sylvia has been recognized by several organizations for her outstanding contributions: these organizations include Cardinal Health, Kaiser Permanente, The National Association of Women Business Owners, The Michigan Minority Business Development Council, The Great Lakes Women's Business Enterprise Council, The Western Region Minority Supplier Development Council, CORP!, Henry Ford Health, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Sylvia is also a published author and artist - believing that God has given her many things to do with her hands - all of which she endeavors to wholeheartedly serve God and love his people - whomever they may be.