President of Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Selected for Leadership America Class

Yvonne Williams, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts president and CEO, is one of 50 women leaders competitively selected from across the nation to participate in the 2013 class of Leadership America. It’s the longest-running women’s leadership development program in the United States.

Launched in 1988 as the first nationwide program for women’s leadership development, Leadership America is designed to allow women leaders the ability to expand their grasp and influence on national and international issues.

Throughout the year-long program, Williams will have the opportunity to broaden her perspective and enhance her recognized leadership skills as the program visits three key U.S. cities - Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Calif. and Detroit, Mich. to learn from their opportunities and challenges, said Martha P. Farmer, founding and executive director of Leadership America.

“Each city’s agenda will feature some of our nation’s leading decision makers and future-forward thinkers who will provide our participants cutting-edge information to inform their professional and community leadership for years to come,” said Farmer.

Former DeKalb County CEO Liane Levetan, who participated in Leadership America’s inaugural class, said “Yvonne is most deserving of this recognition of her leadership abilities and will not only be able to contribute to the program, but also will have the opportunity to glean information from other outstanding women in leadership positions in various disciplines.”

Williams was selected president of the newly formed DeKalb Perimeter CID in 1999, then in 2001 was appointed president of the joint DeKalb/Fulton PCIDs, which she helped organize.  She also has more than 25 years economic development experience with the Cobb, Athens Area, Madison-Morgan County and Americus-Sumter County Chambers of Commerce, the Bristol Tennessee/Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Georgia Chamber. 

Georgia Trend magazine honored Williams as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2013.  She also has been among a select group of nonprofit leaders worldwide chosen by the Harvard Business School to participate in two programs in the last few years designed to enhance the capacity and performance of nonprofit organizations.

The PCIDs are working on transportation and smart growth improvements for Metro Atlanta’s dominant office district and one of the region’s largest employment centers.