Ray Kinney Elected Chair of North Central College Board of Trustees

Naperville businessman J. Raymond “Ray” Kinney III H’10 has been elected to serve as chair of the North Central College Board of Trustees. He replaces Michael Naset, who served a two-year term as board chair. Naset will remain an active member of the board.

“North Central College has long been and continues to be an economic engine within the Naperville community and across the region,” said Kinney. “The opportunity to serve as board chair of Naperville’s University is an honor. I am excited to work with the College’s leadership, my fellow trustees, and our many partners and supporters to ensure that North Central College is positioned to thrive for generations to come.”

Kinney joined North Central’s board in 2001 and most recently served as chair of the board’s Enrollment Management & Marketing Committee, and as a member of the Executive Committee and Honorary Degree Committee. North Central College awarded him with an honorary degree in 2010.

Kinney has deep ties to the local business community. He is a founder and partner of Blooming Color, one of the Chicago area’s leading commercial printers, based in Lombard, Ill. He is also a founder and partner of Maclyn, a creative and marketing agency, headquartered in Naperville. He has worked with and hired numerous North Central College graduates.

“A North Central College education is one of the best investments a student can make in themselves,” said Kinney. “The College’s foundation in the liberal arts enriches every academic program while preparing students to think critically, communicate effectively, and lead with integrity. I am incredibly excited about North Central’s future as we continue to invest in and expand nationally recognized programs in health sciences, engineering, business, and other high-demand fields, ensuring our graduates leave with not only an outstanding education, but the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue a lifetime of opportunity. Success will be measured not simply by the degrees we award, but by the lives our graduates build, the communities they strengthen, and the impact they make throughout their careers.”

“Ray is an experienced and collaborative leader, a creative thinker, and above all, someone who is deeply devoted to North Central College’s mission and values,” said North Central College President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá. “It is a pleasure working with Ray as we continue to move North Central College forward in service to our students.”