Paul Williams Deputy Chair, Class C Director

Paul Williams is president and CEO of Project for Pride in Living (PPL). Headquartered in Minneapolis, the $50 million nonprofit serves low-income families and individuals by providing job training and affordable housing.

Prior to joining PPL, Williams was deputy mayor of the City of St. Paul. His career has included leadership in a variety of fields, including government, nonprofits, foundations and real estate, serving in positions at both the local and national levels.

Williams currently serves on the boards of Minnesota’s Destination Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, and HealthPartners. He is an active member of the Itasca Project and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs Dean’s Advisory Council. He 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 co-chaired the 2022 Governor’s Council on Economic Expansion and served on the 2018 Governor’s Task Force on Housing. Williams holds a master’s degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in government from Saint John’s University.

*eligible to serve another term