Douglas G. Williams

Vice President

Mr. Williams joined Voorhees Associates in 2010 and has been assigned to both executive search and general management consulting projects with a specialization in municipal utilities.  Mr. Williams has a total of 36 years of city management experience by serving three municipalities:  Winnetka, Illinois, Ellensburg, Washington, and Highland, Illinois.

From 1992 to 2010, Mr. Williams served as Village Manager for Winnetka Illinois, a residential suburb located along Chicago’s north shore.  Upon his retirement in June 2010, the 5 Village Presidents who worked with Mr. Williams published the following letter in the local newspaper:

“After 18 years of service to the Village of Winnetka, Douglas G. Williams retires this week as our Village Manager.  Many residents do not know who the Village Manager is or what he does, and when things run as smoothly as they do on most days in our village, that’s as it should be – services are delivered efficiently and in a cost effective manner.

“When Doug started with the Village this was not always the case.  Our infrastructure was in need of updating, and major challenges in the delivery of water, electric, public works and public safety services were in need of a top-down evaluation.  Doug took on all of these challenges and more.  He inaugurated a comprehensive long range planning process that continues today.  He implemented a robust infrastructure investment plan that is the envy of our neighbors.  He led the plans and execution for updating our public safety, public works and water and electric facilities. He helped Winnetka prevail in front of the US Supreme Court on a major challenge to our refuse handling strategies.  He strengthened relationships with the leaders of our intergovernmental colleagues, both locally and statewide.  And he reduced the Village’s staff from 178 to 156.  All of this was executed with great vision, tough critical thinking, grace and good humor. . . .”

As a city manager, Mr. Williams acquired 36 years of experience in the management of electric utilities as Winnetka, Ellensburg, and Highland operated municipal electric systems.  He served as the President of the Illinois Municipal Utility Association and spearheaded a successful effort to enact a state law which created the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, a joint action agency that now provides wholesale electricity to 33 public power systems.  Mr. Williams also has extensive management experience with other municipal utilities:  water, sewer, natural gas, and refuse.   

Throughout his municipal career, Mr. Williams was active in intergovernmental affairs by serving on various committees and partnering with nearby municipalities to provide various municipal services at a reduced cost.  The Winnetka Chamber of Commerce named him as Man of the Year in 2000.

Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration degree, both from the University of Colorado. 

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