Gary Williams, Icma-Cm Email & Phone Number

Us

Effective 5/1/2024, I will begin my new role at the Rend Lake Conservancy District

Oversee a centralized office of Economic Development, lead Carbondale’s economic and community development activities, and administer special projects as assigned by the City Manager of Carbondale which has 260 FTE’s, a $25MM annual general fund budget, and $26MM in enterprise and special funds. ♣ Negotiate $MM redevelopment agreements on behalf of City and regularly offer policy advice to City Council.♣ Brokered the sale of various city-owned properties, including the final sell-out of the Bicentennial Industrial Park.Refocused attention to this area and established strong relationships with business and real estate community, resulting in 36% of total acreage of this 38-year old property being sold in my first 3 years.♣ Led pre-development and due diligence to secure $25MM commodity/transport facility along Mississippi River. ♣ Assisted in preparation of budget/financial forecasts, administered Tax Increment Financing Districts, Enterprise Zone, Revolving Loan Funds, and lead planning phases of projects as part of the City’s community investment plan.♣ Represented City on multiple local and regional Boards, and provide primary source of communication at public meetings, community events, and civic and social organization meetings. ♣ Serve as business ombudsman within City government, assisting new and existing businesses to develop and maintain positive relations with the City of Carbondale. ♣ Serve on planning committee of Southern Illinois Healthy Leaders Forum to host annual event bringing together community, medical, and health education leaders from the southern Illinois Delta region.♣ Co-Chair Jackson County Health Department Built Environment Action Team task force, a collaboration which has resulted in adoption of a "complete streets" resolution for City of Carbondale, and facilitated a 20% expansion in bicycle infrastructure throughout the community.♣ Co-created and co-anchor “Talk of the Town” weekly community radio show on WDBX 91.1 FM.

BUSINESS RETENTION PROGRAMThe creation of a Business Retention Program was an important strategy in creating a more business-friendly perception of the community. By becoming increasingly proactive in initiating relationships with the diverse groups that exist in Carbondale, we have developed stronger relationships with community groups and convene regularly with Carbondale Community Arts, Food Works, Carbondale Main Street, social service agencies, interfaith groups, and various SIU departments.Impact: City Council has adopted/amended legislation to help remove obstacles to development. Now serve on the City's Development Review Team to liaise with developers and assist them in navigating City processes.Aggressively sought grant funding to enhance economic development, and initiated Champion Community Investment's application to become a Community Development Financial Institution. Requested and received technical assistance from the USDA for provision of architectural services to design year-round Farmers Market structure. Co-wrote Frontier Communications'​ ABC Grant, and was a member of the grant team seeking funding from Governor Pat Quinn’s "gigabit challenge"​.Impact: Awarded certification in 2012, we received a $600K unrestricted grant, with a portion used to create the region's first equity fund. Awarded $1.5MM from the "gigabit challenge", and partnered with Frontier Communications to use the funds to deploy the first gigabit fiber to residential neighborhoods in the southern Illinois region. Awarded $50K from Frontier Communications’ ABC Grant in April, 2015.

Previously worked at SRW from 1996 to 2000 when I was recruited to assist in expanding the commercial division. In 2009 I launched a new commercial masonry division where I was majority owner. Supervised foreman and construction tradesmen ranging from 5 to 20 at times. Reported to the Owner/President with accountability including hiring and termination of employees, financial responsibility, and contract negotiations. My ability to connect with people and cultivate and establish relationships helped grow the company and build a brand within the region. Key Initiative: As SRW was a small general contractor at the time, with annual revenue of just $600K and mostly involved in residential projects, the owner asked me to lead the launch of a new commercial division in 1996. Performed all business development activities and ran all daily operations of the new divisions. Initiated and cultivated relationships with architects to receive notification of project bid openings. Managed crews that self-performed civil, concrete, and masonry phases of construction. Impact: Grew annual sales to $2MM+, and developed client relationships with Wal-Mart, BP Oil, Illinois Capital Development Board, and Dairy Queen. In 2009 I launched a commercial masonry division with myself as majority owner.

Broomfield, Co, Us

Hired to lead the development and construction of a 250,000 square foot mixed-use development at the base of Breckenridge Ski Area, a $100MM a year operation routinely servicing 20,000 skiers daily. Due to its unique components and location, the project was very high profile, and to this day it remains the largest single project built in Summit County, Colorado. Bringing a broad range of development expertise which allowed me to effectively communicate with sales and development staff, I reported to the Vice President and was the Director of the project, with financial accountability and authority over construction and development. Supervised the Project Administrator, Director of Construction, Financial Analyst, and the Marketing Director.♣ Working with such a broad group while keeping a $130MM project on budget meant both my team-building skills and ability to remain politically neutral were paramount in successfully completing the project.♣ Plans needed to be compliant with the many regulations administered by US Forest Service, the EPA, the State of Colorado, and the City of Breckenridge. Project Excellence: Developed and maintained the project schedule, and led weekly meetings with all business units and the design team to ensure we reviewed and accounted for every department’s requirements. Negotiated $89MM general contract for construction, and developed all-inclusive project budget and presented monthly financial reports to senior management. Cultivated relationships with the Town of Breckenridge, US Forestry Service, and US EPA to ensure compliance with necessary regulations and to garner timely approvals to expedite the project efficiently. Impact: Most successful sales launch in company history, setting an all-time sales record for initial offering price. Managed construction logistics, without incurring a single lost ski day.

Fort Washington, Pa, Us

A publicly traded Fortune 500 company Toll Brothers is a $5B national luxury home-builder operating in 19 states. The Illinois Division had around 200 employees and closed on approximately 400 homes annually for total revenue of $250MM+.As a Project Manager - reporting to the Senior Vice President-Illinois Division - I was given a great deal of autonomy and was treated as the builder of each project and given a budget maximum to operate within; then empowered to choose project vendors and contractors. Although given a great deal of autonomy, I was equally accountable and charged with full profit/loss responsibility. Made personnel decisions and supervised 9 employees: Construction Manager, Assistant Construction Manager, (2) Administrative Assistants, Assistant Project Manager, Customer Service Manager, Sales Manager, Assistant Sales Manager, and a Greeter.

Dekalb, Il, Us

Taught Interior Finishes courses part-time in the evenings for 2 semesters each year.Volunteered my experience to help the program and organization, the Residential Construction Employers Council. This was an opportunity to help train a new generation of managers, while at the same time providing my employer with greater exposure throughout the Chicagoland region.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Reporting to the Area Production Manager I came onboard as Pulte was rapidly growing and were looking for key people with experience to lead larger developments. Supervised Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Customer Service Manager, and Assistant Customer Service Manager.In my first year I worked on a development that closed 221 homes, as well as receiving the highest customer service ratings in the division. The following year I started a 1090-unit subdivision that closed 400+ homes annually. A key requirement to be successful was to adopt the corporate culture of providing excellent customer service. Pulte focused on constant process improvement so being able to accept and integrate changes was important. Pulte set high production demands so it was also important to be able to manage effectively in a chaotic, stressful environment.

Dallas, Tx, Us

Responsible for all construction of 223 unit apartment community and 374 unit community. Solicited all bidders, wrote scopes of work and negotiated contracts. Managed all land development activites that included off-site reconstruction and restoration. Successfully closed clubhouse and 274 units in last 6 months of employment. Coordinated all unit turnover with property management to insure quality assurance guidelines were met.

Responsible for Business Development, estimating and project management for small general contracting firm specializing in restaurants and retail. Led staff of in-house Union employees that self-performed all excavation, concrete and masonry scopes of work. Tripled the amount of annual revenue during tenure at firm.

Certificate, Public Works Management Institute

Executive Academy Fellow

Master Of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Public Administration

Ba, Political Science And Government