About This Speaker: Becky McCray
Becky McCray is a lifelong rural entrepreneur, cattle rancher and co-founder of SaveYour.Town. Her own hands-on successes and failures as a retail business owner, city administrator, nonprofit executive and community volunteer—all in small towns—make her a passionate and sought-after expert on rural community and economic development subjects.
An empowering and interactive public speaker on rural and small-town development topics, she has presented at over 290 events and conferences in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. The broad variety of events and audiences range from major conferences like the International Economic Development Council and Main Street America, to local events held in rural firehouses, to an international TEDx focused on Rural Communities.
She often collaborates on rural publications, initiatives, advisory boards, listening sessions and advocacy events, including Oklahoma State University’s Rural Renewal Initiative, the American Independent Business Alliance, and the Harvard Kennedy School. She has served as a volunteer on community boards and committees, from local groups to state and national organizations, including entrepreneur events, professional associations, and regional initiatives. Known for communicating with simplicity and clarity, her expertise in rural business issues has been featured on radio and tv, in over a dozen books, and over 500 other mentions and interviews in international newspapers, magazines, reports, academic research papers, blogs, video shows and podcasts.
McCray created the influential Survey of Rural Challenges, analyzing over 1700 responses since 2015. The results are used by agencies, educators, governments and businesses, and have been presented to events and cited in academic research. Her Idea Friendly Method has been implemented internationally, and rural people credit this method for creating significant change such as new art shows, tiny business incubators, library expansions and beautification projects.
Becky has her BS in Business Administration, completed the Oklahoma Governing Officials Institute and earned certificates in Facilitating for Results and Workforce Quality Leadership. She makes her home in Hopeton, Oklahoma, a community of 30 people. Her goal is to deliver practical steps you can put into action right away to shape the future of your town.
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