Paul Williams
MISSION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRACK
President & CEO, Project for Pride in Living
Paul Williams will lead the track session on structuring board for mission outcomes, driving performance through board alignment and commitment to serving audience in a way that matters to those served. Paul Williams is President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living, Inc., one of Minnesota’s premier multi-service community development organizations. A St. Paul native, Paul brings an extensive background in affordable housing, economic development, education, and diversity, equity and inclusion to PPL. PPL provides affordable housing to over 3,500 individuals and families on a nightly basis and delivers employment training and education to close to 8,000 individuals annually. Prior to coming to PPL, Paul served as St. Paul’s Deputy Mayor, where he led a wide range of community initiatives as well as directing day-to-day operations of the City. Paul also spearheaded community development investments for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), first as Twin Cities LISC’s Executive Director, and then for five years as LISC’s national Senior Vice President for Field Strategies, directing LISC’s operations in 30 cities across the country. Prior to his work at LISC, Paul served as a grant maker with the Minneapolis and Saint Paul community foundations, as well as Vice President of Allocations for the United Way of St. Paul. Paul is active on numerous community boards, serving on the boards of Minneapolis’ 9th District Federal Reserve, HealthPartners, Inc., and the Destination Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Paul previously served as the board chair of the F.R. Bigelow Foundation and as a Commissioner of both the Minnesota Ballpark Authority and the St. Paul Port Authority. He is an active member of the business-led Itasca Project and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs Dean’s Advisory Council. Paul holds a Master’s Degree from the Humphrey School and a B.A. in Government from Saint John’s University.