Paul WilliamsChair, Class C Director

Paul Williams is the founder and principal consultant at Williams Community Supports, a consulting practice providing real estate development, organizational assessment, and executive leadership services. He previously served as president and CEO of Project for Pride in Living (PPL) until his retirement in January 2025. Headquartered in Minneapolis, PPL, a $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, where he provided operational leadership for Minnesota’s second largest city. Williams also led field operations for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a Community Development Financial Institution serving over 30 urban and rural communities. His career has included leadership in a variety of fields, including government, nonprofits, foundations, and real estate.

Williams currently serves on the board of Minnesota’s Destination Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, and chairs the board of HealthPartners Inc. He is an active member of 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, as a commissioner of both the Minnesota Ballpark Authority and the St. Paul Port Authority, and a member of the Itasca Project. 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.