With more than 25 years of successful broad-based corporate management experience, Ray Belford has formed Belford Consulting to provide services to area businesses and non-profit organizations.
Belford is offering business advisory services in the areas of: strategic planning, turnaround strategies, financial management, accounting, leadership, ethics, risk management, and human resources.
Belford is the former vice president for finance and administration for AL-KO Kober Corp. which consolidated all corporate-level functions to Elkhart, Ind. last year.
“I was asked if I would move to Elkhart a few years ago and I turned down the opportunity,” Belford said. Last November the owners of the company made the decision to finalize the consolidation of corporate operations.
“After reviewing my resume and broad-based experience, several employment professionals suggested I look at consulting,” Belford said.
Belford said with the current economy there are very few jobs out there for someone who has been at his level.
“There comes a time in life where gray hair just isn’t what most companies are looking for,” Belford said.
Another consultant in Oklahoma City that Belford visited with said in the consulting business gray hair is considered an asset because people are looking for someone with experience who has been tested.
Belford’s background also includes a stint as chief financial officer for Wolverine Tube and vice president and chief financial officer for the former Hayes Axle, Inc.
He has also served as assistant professor in finance and management at the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University where he mainly taught in the Master of Business Administration Program. He was associate dean of the school for two years.
During his time at OCU he also published two case studies in strategy and policy that were selected for inclusion in the leading university text in corporate strategy and policy. The case studies were on Sonic and Bama Pies.
Belford is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Oklahoma City University.
He also has experience in journalism, including 18 months as a war correspondent in Vietnam. For the past 15 years he has also been a licensed minister.
Belford can be contacted at raybelford@hotmail.com or by phone at 833-2272.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
