Raynese Edwards is the CEO and Chief Strategy Consultant for OutsideIn Consulting, LLC, an award-winning Public Engagement and Community outreach company. A Houstonian, by way of Joliet, Illinois, she has lived in the Houston area for more than 25 years. Raynese leverages her 30-year career to make communications seamless for the businesses she serves.
From designing, developing, and implementing community relations and outreach plans to mapping out emergency communications strategies, Raynese has direct experience in planned, proactive, and even quick-turn messaging. She’s advanced her knowledge through several impactful roles, including her time as a Communications Consultant for several Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) $500+ million 2018 Bond projects. In addition to coordinating and attending community meetings on behalf of HCFCD, she’s honed around-the-clock readiness and preparation. She’s also developed strategies for public meetings, navigated and advised on engaging elected officials and corresponding commissioners, all while developing schedules for public engagements and equipping leadership with the appropriate communications tools to succeed. The ongoing positive rapport with community influencers and the public, led Blueridge Transportation Group to contract Raynese’s company – Outside In Consulting, to be the Public Information Officer for Texas Department of Transportation’s $817+ million SH 288 Express Toll Lanes project.
She firmly believes small businesses strengthen the power of any community. That’s why Raynese devotes considerable time managing small business opportunities, compliance, and outreach initiatives. Her work on the $900 million Houston METRO Light Rail Expansion consisted of DBE compliance and outreach for several phases of the project – including an awareness campaign to promote business opportunities for the METRO Solutions 2 LRT Project’s SBE/DBE program. She managed a database of more than 400 SMWDBE firms, used her strategic network to engage highly qualified vendors for products and services across industries including construction, infrastructure, transportation, and professional services.
Celebrated for her diversity and inclusion efforts, Raynese ensures that equity is at the heart of every strategy she champions. With more than 30 years of experience developing multi-dimensional teams, she is well-prepared to navigate the biggest barriers facing today’s workplaces. In fact, she has earned statewide recognition as one of Houston’s most respected and sought-after advisors based on her results-driven experience. Organizations of all industries and sizes look to Raynese for leadership when it comes to resilient workforces framed by targeted upskilling and engagement-driving tactics,
She’s won local and national awards for her work in the areas of communications, SMWDBE, and community outreach. Her recognitions include:
- Who’s Who in Black Houston
- Houston’s Top 50 Professionals and Entrepreneurs
- R.A. Wiltz Minority Business Advocate of the Year
- 40 Over 40 Influential To Watch Award
- Hermes Creative Awards – Gold Winner (3)
- Hermes Creative Awards – Platinum (2)
- Bronze Quill Awards
- Communicator Award
Raynese’s community commitments include working for the community, having sat on numerous boards. She continues to work with The World Youth Foundation where she is the Global Strategic Officer. She is very proud of recently completing the Yale School of Management – Executive Women’s Program.
Raynese is the proud mother of one son, Johnathan, and one granddaughter, Jasmine.
Raynese Edwards
CEO/Chief Strategy Consultant
OutsideIn Consulting
