Travis Ray, associate managing director of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, was named to Gulf Coast Community Foundation's fall 2021 Gulf Coast Board Institute. Through this program, he is receiving high-level governance training during four training experiences over a four-week period in October.Participants for each session are selected through a competitive process with the intent of creating a group of individuals with a variety of experiences.

In addition to his role at WBTT, Ray is the owner of handcrafted bow tie and accessory brand called Dapper Bowtique. He was named to the “40 under 40” Class of 2020 by the Business Observer, awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Manasota Honors, and earned a “Business Cohort” entrepreneurship with the "Build Bradenton, Build Basics" program in Bradenton. He holds a MFA in theater management/arts administration from the University of Alabama; a B.A. in theater performance from Alabama State University; and obtained professional actor training at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film/Nebraska Repertory Theatre. He recently completed the Arts in Health Summer Intensive at the University of Florida.