Williams Named Director of Ohio Department of Commerce

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jacqueline T. Williams was appointed Monday by Gov. John R. Kasich Monday to lead the Ohio Department of Commerce. Williams was chief of the Minority Business Development Division in the Ohio Development Services Agency. She replaces Andre T. Porter who Kasich appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Feb. 20.

As chief of the Minority Business Development Division in DSA, Williams has led Ohio’s minority business development initiatives and worked with minority businesses to help them identify and apply for financial incentives. Her efforts contributed to state agencies’ successes in rising to Gov. Kasich’s challenges of improved compliance with Ohio’s minority purchasing requirements for state government.  Last year more minority-owned businesses did work for the state of Ohio than ever before, according to the announcement from Kasich’s office.

Williams previously served as executive director of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, and as executive director of the Tuition Trust Authority. And she served was Chief Administrative Officer for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation where she over-hauled the employee training division.

Williams received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, and her master of science in administration from Miami University in Oxford.

She starts her new position April 11.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.