CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – More than 60 Leadership Clarksville alumni members gathered at Office Now Wednesday for a reception to welcome the new organization’s Executive Director, Yolonda Williams.

The announcement of Williams came in April of this year, shortly after she had graduated from the programs 35th class. Williams is the third Executive Director in the organization’s history and had this to say when asked what it means to be the leader of Leadership Clarksville.

Jimmy Terry, Shannon Kitchen, Katherine Meeks, Rose Melton & Sherry Pickering at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
O’Neal Wiggins, Dr. Carol Clark, Jimmy Terry, Catherine Meeks, Rose Melton, Sherry Pickering, Dr. Angela Huff, & Walt Lord at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Runyon’s join Leadership Clarksville at a reception to welcome Yolonda Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kimberly Wiggins & Sydney Greene at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Ross Hicks, Jack Turner & Jim Mann at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Dee Boaz, Kimberly Wiggins & Yolonda Williams at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Yolonda Williams speaks to Leadership Clarksville alumni and guests at a reception to welcome her as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Alumni & guests at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Judge Joel Wallace speaks to Leadership Clarksville alumni and guests at a reception to welcome Yolonda Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Yolonda Williams and Andral Dawkins at the Leadership Clarksville reception to welcome Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Erika Wolfe, April Consulo, Yolonda Williams, Karissa Poe, & Julie Tarrents, at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Joe Shekeenab, Erika Wolfe, Merriel Bullock-Neal, & Yolonda Willams at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Dr. Andrew Kester & Sherry Pickering at the Leadership Clarksville reception to welcome Yolonda Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
O’Neal Wiggins & Yolonda Williams at the Leadership Clarksville reception to welcome Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Jasmin Linares, Dr. Andrew Kester, Yolonda Williams, Sydney Greene, Jimmy Weisner, & David Ulford at the Leadership Clarksville Reception to welcome Yolonda Willaims as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Walt Lord, Ashleigh Travis, Dr. Carol Clark,, Betty Burchett, Kimberly Wiggins, Shannon Kitchen, & Catherine Meeks at the reception welcoming Yolonda Williams as the new Executive Director of Leadership Clarksville on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Dr. Carol Clark, Betty Burchett & Kimberly Wiggins at the Leadership Clarksville reception to welcome Yolonda Williams as the new Executive Director of the program on Jun. 21, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

“It means opportunity. It means the opportunity to share the greatness of Leadership Clarksville across our entire city. One of the biggest things I have learned is the inclusion of this program, and I want to share that. I want to take that and expand it. I want our alumni to be engaged and be involved, and take Leadership Clarksville to the next level,” Williams said.

Williams is a veteran with 25 years of service in the U.S. Army, and most recently worked as the National Commander of Women Veterans of America. She is a graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee, Clarksville Police Academy and is President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

For more about the program visit the Leadership Clarksville website or call 931-645-3322.