Public and private companies of all sizes sometimes have a chief executive officer. A few industry associations do, too.

Count the American Recovery Association in this group, as well.

ARA president Todd Case announced on Tuesday the creation of the CEO position, and the association board immediately filled it with Wayne Ray, who already was its first director of commercial operations.

Beginning in that role in 2024, Ray was responsible for managing and optimizing ARA’s key commercial activities, expanding revenue streams through innovative products and services, and ensuring alignment with ARA’s mission to enhance member value while driving financial growth and sustainability.

Ray also served as a member of ARA’s technology committee, helping to advance innovation across the association.

Ray already was a CEO, as he’s the top executive of Romans Adjusters, a family and veteran-owned asset recovery and transportation company servicing the north Texas area since 2012.

So, why take on this additional responsibility for ARA?

“What’s become clear is that the industry is changing. Expectations are higher, and the need for better systems, stronger consistency, and clearer direction is becoming more evident,” Ray said via social media.

“There’s an opportunity to improve how this industry operates at a foundational level, and a lot of that work is already in motion. This next phase is about building on it with more focus and more structure,” he continued.

Case also mentioned other ways ARA is bolstering its structure.

The association said executive director Todd Squires will continue to play a “critical leadership role,” with an increased focus on executing and advancing key organizational priorities, including:

—Development of long-term initiatives such as the pooled employer plan retirement program

—Strengthening committee infrastructure and enhancing coordination across state and national associations

—Expanding member value while building scalable systems to support sustained growth

Furthermore, Case highlighted another move meant to strengthen execution and operational consistency of ARA, which also created the position of operations manager.

Case announced JoAnna Deaver, who joined ARA last year, will serve as operations manager, reporting directly to the CEO.

In this role, Case said Deaver will oversee day-to-day operations, ensure consistent execution of workflows and processes, support staff accountability and productivity, and help implement the strategic priorities set by the board and CEO.

Case also said Deaver will be involved improving operational efficiency and ensuring alignment across teams, partners, and initiatives.

“This enhanced leadership structure positions ARA to operate at a higher level, accelerating the initiatives that shape our future while strengthening our impact across the industry,” Case said. “The board remains fully engaged and confident in this direction, and we are energized about what lies ahead.”

Ray echoed a similar outlook.

“At the end of the day, the goal is pretty simple. We want ARA to be an organization that operates at a high level and helps move the industry forward in a meaningful way,” Ray said in the post.

“This industry has never lacked hardworking people or great ideas. What comes next is bringing them together with purpose, direction, and execution,” he continued.

“I’m confident that together we can build an industry that is stronger, more unified, and better than it has ever been.”