OUR EXPERIENCE
ZELIA WILLIAMS is a visionary leader who has provided leadership, guidance, and innovation regarding long-term Careers, Business Services & Partnerships, Entrepreneurship, and Real Estate.
As a Rockefeller Fellows Finalist and executive strategist, Zelia has managed multimillion-dollar budgets regarding program/project administration and is known as a results-driven professional that empowers programs and stakeholders through all levels of an organization.
Zelia has been at the forefront creating innovative business solutions helping job seekers and career changers/pivoters connect and advance in careers that propel them into sustainable, high-growth, high-demand industries. Working collaboratively within multiple communities in the Gulf/West Coasts, Zelia is instrumental in bridging the gaps in public/private partnerships serving as primary liaison between local employers and the WIOA program.
In 2023, she played a key role in connecting business needs with program services that hugely contributed to project performance activities with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) slated for multiple workforce programs within 33 cities across America. To build a more resilient economy, Zelia provided business service consulting in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s LINE program, Good Jobs Great Cities Academy, and the National League of Cities in connection with the $1.2 trillion-dollar IIJA.
Zelia is an expert at maintaining operational compliance and is successful at providing advisement to City leaders, Commissioners, Political Officials, and Community Stakeholders.
In addition to maintaining critical relationships, she has overseen the disbursement of numerous HUD Housing programs providing technical assistance and program management guidance to 82 nonprofit organizations and over 9,480 program recipients utilizing funds from HUD, DOT, DOL, NIH, NSF, DOC, DOT, DOE, DOJ, DOS, TWC, LDH, DOL, to name a few.
She was recognized by three Executive Cabinet Members for translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes for homeless Veterans and was honored with others at a private ceremony at Minute Maid Park Stadium (now Daikin Park) in 2015. As quoted by a Veteran Services Officer in Texas, “Zelia is one of the most professional and knowledgeable individuals within her field.”
Zelia has extensive knowledge to present and train on 2 CFR Section 200 of the Uniform Guidance which establishes uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities, and was the sole presenter on the subject at the GPA Regional Conference held at United Way of Greater Houston in 2019.
As one who loves to bake, Zelia received the opportunity of a lifetime to package her mother’s secret delicious dessert at local grocers. She mentor’s other female entrepreneurs on how to successfully navigate business startups. During her spare time, she’s involved in real estate investments, and volunteers once a month teaching Homebuying and Financial Literacy classes on “Building an Economic Legacy.”
In 2022, she was the creator and author of panel discussion questions for the Louisiana Department of Health entitled, “Achieving Health Equity Through Community Engagement” for the Essence Festival in New Orleans that had an estimated attendance of over 500,000.
She excels in the development, design and delivery of best practices for businesses while advancing the quality of life for everyone.
Zelia graduated from college in three years, was on the Dean’s List, and has served on numerous committees, boards, and advisory councils. She was speaker on disaster recovery at the Louisiana Presbytere State Museum, nominated for the L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award, featured in Ebony magazine, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., author, and owner of Who Made The Pie.
