Ray Waddell Joins Raiven Board to Scale AI Procurement for Trades

Waddell brings nearly two decades of experience in the specialty contracting sector, having built CEC Electrical from a startup into a national infrastructure powerhouse before its acquisition by Sterling Infrastructure. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to Sterling’s E-Infrastructure platform, maintaining a focus on the mission-critical facilities that define today’s industrial landscape.

Raiven CEO Manoj Puthenveetil noted that Waddell’s background in protecting margins and scaling operations aligns directly with the rollout of Raiven 2.0. The platform utilizes proprietary technology to evaluate purchasing decisions based on factors beyond simple price, such as supplier reliability, freight times, and local availability. Waddell, who also leads the investment firm Firefly Capital, intends to leverage this role to bridge the gap between complex field operations and modern digital procurement tools.