Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association Appoints Executive Director

Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association appointed Gay Williams as its new executive director, effective Dec. 3. Longtime executive director Bill Stalter retires Feb. 29, 2008, allowing for a 90-day transition period.

Williams comes to ONLA with more than 20 years of business and management experience, including expertise in the areas of finance, human resources, training and organizational development and business process improvement. More than 12 years of her career was spent at FedEx Logistics (formerly Roadway Logistics) in Hudson, Ohio.

Her subsequent experience includes more than six years in association management where she has served a diverse group of industries through her work as meetings manager for the American Chemical Society – rubber division in Akron; as the director of education and events at the Arizona Multi-housing Association in Phoenix, Ariz.; and,  most recently, as training manager for the Northwest Public Power Association, based in Vancouver, Wash.

Williams is a native of Akron and received a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Akron.

The ONLA search committee, appointed by the ONLA president, began meeting in September 2006 and concluded the process with interviews in June 2007.