Ray Schnell

BIOGRAPHY

PUBLIC LIFE

Council Member Ray Schnell, elected to office in November 2022, has lived in Orange County for 20 years and is a long-time Tustin resident.  His priorities while on City Council include keeping Tustin:

• SAFE (pro-public, fire, and school safety)
• ACCOUNTABLE (honest, ethical, and transparent government)
• AFFORDABLE & PROSPEROUS (preserving the economic vitality of Tustin. Focus on increasing attainable housing and keeping energy costs, fees, and taxes low.

Council Member Schnell currently represents Tustin on the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency and is an alternate for the Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee, the Orange County Library Advisory Board, and the Senior Fund Board of Directors.

This is Council Member Schnell’s first time in public office, but prior to being elected he served the community in a variety of roles.

• Tustin Public Schools Foundation – Board Member
• Tustin Schools Superintendent Advisory Council – Member
• Peter’s Canyon Elementary School Site Council – Member
• El Dorado HOA – Board Member
• Chapman University MBA Alumni Association – President & Board Member

PERSONAL LIFE

Professionally, Council Member Schnell works in financial services, focused on M&A transactional risk and capital intermediary services for Private Equity, Hedge Funds and Venture Capital firms. He helps large corporations solve risk related issues by leveraging insurance and alternative capital to expand enterprise value.

Council Member Schnell and his wife Cheryl live in Tustin and are the proud parents of two teenage daughters.

EDUCATION

Council Member Schnell holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Rochester and a Master of Business Administration from Chapman University, graduating Beta Gamma Sigma.