“In the future, I see Pine Bluff coming together and the people working collaboratively to rebuild it... This is an amazing city and the people here are priceless...”
Dr. Ann Williams, Ph.D., IOM, poses for a photo outside of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce Building
“I took a leap of faith, Williams said. “I knew I still wanted to work with people, but I wanted to do something different. I was happy at that front desk at the Chamber, and I learned a lot about people and what they really want.” The first promotion Williams received at the Chamber was to Director of Member Services. “When I started this job, I knew I would work my way up,” Williams said. “I believe that the knowledge I gained working that front desk is what helps me today. My job in the school district had me traveling through the community with testing, so I met some of the same people I help now. What made the promotion better was that I had the opportunity of meeting new people.” In 2001, Williams graduated from Leadership Pine Bluff, and five years later, Judy Norton asked Williams to take over the program. “I was supposed to shadow Judy for a year, but I helped with one session, Judy turned it over to me and it has been wonderful. Every year I get to see the city of Pine Bluff through 25 different sets of eyes.” In 2007, Williams started Junior Leadership Pine Bluff. This group of young leaders in training includes 10th grade students from all Jefferson County school districts, private schools and home school students. The program mimics the same training as the professional Leadership program and lasts from January to May each year. Every program offered by the Chamber promotes Pine Bluff.
“In the future, I see Pine Bluff coming together and the people working collaboratively to rebuild it,” Williams said. “We have so much potential here. Pine Bluff is the only city in the state to exceed United Way goals every year. We have the railway, airway, waterway and university to make it work. This is an amazing city and the people here are priceless, and we must continue to train people and let them know what we still have in Pine Bluff. People have to catch on to the pride of UAPB. It has been a secret for too long.” As a strong community leader, Williams is very active and is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class III and a 2011 graduate of the Jeff Ferris Leadership Academy. She serves on the Board of Directors West Pine Bluff Rotary, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Foundation Fund Board and the Southeast Arkansas College Foundation Board. Other memberships include the Pine Bluff Chapter, The Links Incorporated, Tau Beta Sigma National Band Sorority Inc., Junior League of Pine Bluff, Toastmasters Club and Family Church in White Hall, AR. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s double degree in education and child psychology from Elizabeth City State University, a master’s degree in rehabilitative counseling from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. FALL 2015
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