2113 S 3rd Ave, Union Gap, WA 98903
Our Team
President : Bryan Shuel
Growing up with a dad that owned a meat company, one of Bryan’s favorite things to do was to get to go to work with his dad Ray on Sundays. As a young boy Bryan felt lucky getting to make carryout boxes, change sawdust underneath the cutting blocks, sweep floors, take out the trash, and just spend the day with his dad.
At the age of 13 Bryan began the start of his official employment at Ray’s Wholesale Meats. Earning $2.90 an hour he worked on weekend’s holidays, school breaks, and summer vacations in the production facility on the ground beef line stuffing bulk hamburger and running the patty machine. He also learned how to drive forklifts, rotate freezer product, and clean the production facility, until the age of seventeen. From that point he steadily increased his worked hours and was working forty hours per week while still going to high school. The first fall season after he graduated, he learned and worked in the custom retail area of Ray’s cutting and wrapping locker beef.
In January 1987 Ray sold the retail side of the business to the shipping/receiving manager at that time. Bryan then replaced the position as the new manager of shipping and receiving. He worked on the shipping floor for 10 years checking in and unloading trucks, rotating blast and freezer products, pulling orders, loading trucks for delivery and helping customers. He was also learning about purchasing product. In 1995 Bryan married Tracie (Pettijohn) and a couple of years later they started a family with two daughters. In 1999 Bryan was promoted to Plant Manager and continued learning the business. In 2007 Bryan and his wife Tracie bought the company from Ray and Dolores when they retired. Today Bryan is the president of the company.
Controller & Project Manager : Carlie Shuel
Carlie started at Ray’s in 2013 working in production, packaging product and filled in where otherwise needed in the production facility. In 2019 she graduated with her Bachelors Degree in Business Management. In the front office Carlie helps serve our valued customers, markets our newest products, oversees accounts payable’s/receivables. She also markets our newest products, and has designed/ updates our company website and social media pages.
General Manager : Jim Laurent
Jim started at Ray’s in 2005 as a director of food service; he worked on putting programs together for the food service side of the business and purchasing department. In 2012 Jim was promoted to general manager. His responsibilities are to report to the president and put his goals and requests into action, as well as overseeing managers of other departments in the company such as sales, production, and shipping/receiving.
Sales Manager - Yakima Area Sales Representative : Doug Hay
Doug started working for Ray’s in 1990, in the sales department. He was promoted and has been our company’s sales manager since 1992.
Tri- Cities Sales Representative : Jeff Ashbaugh
Jeff started at Rays in 1986 cleaning up around the plant. He then relocated to the shipping/receiving department, consisting of stocking freezers and pulling product for orders. A few years later Jeff started assembling and learning the routes, and became a full time driver. Then in 1998 he was promoted to being a sales representative for the tri-cities area. Today that route has grown adding the Walla Walla and Hermiston area and along the Columbia to the Dalles.
Tri-Cities Sales Representative : Todd Nevand
Todd is one our newest Salesmen to join the Ray's Meats Sales Team in 2018 as a Sales Representative for the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Pendleton market areas. Todd brings a background in marketing and many years of experience in food service sales to Ray’s Meats.
Wenatchee Sales Representative : Roger Guzman
Roger was hired at Ray’s in 1990. He started out being part of the utility crew in the production facility, and eventually became a journeyman meat cutter. After nine years he moved to shipping and receiving, and delivering locally in town and eventually took over the Basin route. After six years, he applied for a sales position and has been in sales for the last ten years. Today Roger is a sales representative for the Wenatchee, Moses Lake area, and north central Washington.
Wenatchee Sales Representative : David Hobbs
David is one of our newest Salesmen to join the Ray’s Meats Sales Team in 2018, working in the Wenatchee market area. He has a lot of knowledge and comes from a background in the food industry. Ray's Meats is excited to have him be a part of the team. When speaking with David he believes "The good life is sharing great food with great people!”
Lower Valley Sales Representative : Sheila Ryan
Sheila started at Rays in 1992 in the production facility running the multi-vac machine and filled in for other areas as needed in the production facility. In 1998 she began working in the office helping customers at the front counter as well as making sales calls when salesman weren’t available and filled in for office personnel. Ten years later in 2008, Sheila took the job as a sales representative in the Lower Valley. Her sales route consists of the entire Lower Yakima Valley area.
Ellensburg / Seattle Sales Representative : Tami Jo Pillow
Tami Jo was hired at Ray’s in 2013 as a sales representative. She covers the Ellensburg, Cle-Elem, Roslyn, Seattle and Easton area supplying our customers with only the best products and service.
Yakima Area Sales Representative : Lorna Shuel
Joining our team in January 2022, Lorna brings over 28 years of sales experience to Ray’s Wholesale Meats. With a passion for client interaction and a knack for customer care, Lorna has quickly become an invaluable asset in our local Yakima/Town area. In her short time with us, Lorna has thrived in the foodservice industry, continuously growing and learning along the way. Her hard work ethic and outgoing personality make her a standout member of the Ray’s Meats team. When it comes to serving our valued customers, Lorna is dedicated to ensuring every interaction is exceptional. We're proud to have her representing Ray’s Meats in the Yakima area!
Distributor Accounts Sales Representative : Shaun Drake
Born and bred in Union Gap, Shaun has been a lifelong supporter of Ray's Meats. With a culinary background and experience in our own Yakima Valley restaurants, he seamlessly transitioned in 2022 learning the ins and outs of the meat business from the ground up. Along the way, Shaun had the privilege of training alongside industry veterans absorbing their knowledge and expertise. Now, with a wealth of experience under his belt, stands your trusted point of contact for all distribution needs, ensuring that Ray's Meats reaches your shelves promptly and seamlessly.
Yakima Area Sales Representative : Juan Murillo
Meet Juan, our dedicated Sales Representative covering the Yakima area. With a wealth of experience spanning over 15 years in management roles, Juan brings a depth of expertise to our team. His journey to Ray's Wholesale Meats began serendipitously in November 2019. Seizing the opportunity, he joined Ray's Wholesale Meats, initially starting in shipping and receiving. Through his dedication and hard work, Juan quickly ascended the ranks to become the Shipping and Receiving Manager. At the onset of this year, Juan transitioned seamlessly into a sales role, focusing on the Yakima Area. His diverse background and hands-on experience in various industries underscore Juan's ability to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments. With a passion for building relationships and exceeding customer expectations, Juan is committed to delivering top-notch service and ensuring the success of our clients in the Yakima rea.
Tri Cities / Walla Walla Sales Representative : Calvin Gagnon
With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the foodservice industry, Calvin Gagnon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. His extensive background in management and marketing has equipped him with a deep understanding of the industry's dynamics and customer needs. Having worked as a distributor of Ray’s products through various wholesalers, Calvin excels at helping customers find the perfect products to meet their unique requirements. He takes pride in delivering tailored solutions that highlight our company’s commitment to exceptional service. As a resident of the Tri-Cities community for over 30 years, Calvin is excited to continue his journey with Ray’s, eager to further support and enrich the local communities of Tri Cities and Walla Walla.
Happy Retirement, Mike Menard!
Mike was hired in 1981 and started out in Ray’s production facility at the utility level. He then completed a three-year apprenticeship program earning a journeyman meat cutters card. Twelve years later he moved to the Sales Department covering the Seattle area for ten years. For the past twelve years Mike has managed 30 Distributors, from Alaska to Southern Oregon, and was a part of Ray’s purchasing team. Congratulations on your retirement of 42 years from Ray's Wholesale Meats, Mike!