Lisa Williams (Fayetteville, Tennessee)

Lisa Williams worked for the South Central Human Resource Agency in Fayetteville, Tennessee, for more than three decades, starting as a program clerk. The company, recognizing her talent, promoted her to accounting technician, a position in which she managed finance operations involving $7 million in revenues.

From there, Lisa Williams worked her way up to senior accountant and finally to assistant director of financial operations. In her leadership capacity, she was responsible for managing more than $20 million in revenues.

Beyond her experience at the Fayetteville human resource firm, Ms. Williams was active in her professional community as a fiscal specialist with the Tennessee Association of Human Resource Agencies for six years. Over her tenure, the association's fund balance rose by more than 30 percent.

In addition to her practical, on-the-job experience, Ms. Williams secured academic finance training at Motlow State Community College and later at Athens State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in accounting.