JAMES M. McCRAY
PRINCIPAL
Jim McCray has extensive experience and knowledge in national fundraising and development. McCray is also a Managing Partner at Highwood Capital – a national political, business, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit consulting firm headquartered in Washington D.C. Through his consulting work, McCray has worked with such significant non-profits as the PGA Tour’s First Tee and Birdies for the Brave organizations, Bipartisan Policy Center, The Eno Transportation Center, Washington-Ireland Program, Thanks-USA (veterans), American Tort Reform Association, Monique Burr Foundation, Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, and the Workforce Fairness Institute.
He has also hosted an event for Pope Benedict, XVI during his U.S. visit. McCray actively advises or has advised numerous U.S. Senators, Governors, presidential campaigns, national coalitions, and corporations in the business and political arenas, including Gov. Jon Huntsman, U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Bob Bennett (R-UT), John McCain (R-AZ), among many other statewide politicians and candidates. Previously, McCray served as the Deputy National Finance Director for John McCain’s presidential campaign, where he actively managed a 50-state finance strategy. Prior to a brief stint at the National Republican Senatorial Committee running the major donor program, McCray served on the Senior Staff of U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) as General Counsel and as a Strategic Advisor for the Senator’s reelection campaign. McCray actively advised the Senator on legislative strategy and served as a principal liaison to industry groups. McCray developed deep connections with the majority of the Republican Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Senators, and he established significant contacts nationally with industries across the board. McCray has set historic fundraising records in Montana, Kansas, Utah, and North Dakota.
Before working for Senator Burns, McCray practiced corporate law in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP and in Washington, D.C. at the law firm of Dow Lohnes & Albertson, PLLC in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity/Finance - advising senior corporate executives, management teams and boards of directors on corporate governance, acquisition guidance, and private equity and venture capital financing arrangements.
Originally from a cattle ranch in Geyser, Montana, McCray attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Speech Communications, both with Highest Honors. While at MSU, Jim served as MSU’s Student Body President and the President of the Montana Associated Students, representing all public universities in Montana and actively working with the Montana Board of Regents, the State Legislature, and Montana Governor Marc Racicot. In addition, McCray founded the MSU Leadership Institute dedicated to developing students’ leadership, management, and communication skills. McCray earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law, in Nashville, Tennessee.