20 Questions with Freddy Williams

President, CEO

Boys and Girls Clubs Suncoast

Freddy Williams is a Florida native and proud Boys & Girls Club alumni. He was named president and chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast in 2016. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast serves more than 20,000 local youth each year and is one of the fastest-growing Boys & Girls Club affiliates in the nation. Additionally, he serves as the chairman of the national board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Professional Association.

Williams is on the board of governors for the Pinellas Community Foundation and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. 


1. College alma mater? University of Florida, B.A., political science; Florida International University, MBA, finance and accounting; graduate certificates from Harvard University, performance measurement; Indiana University, fundraising management; and Arizona State University, nonprofit innovation.

2. Last show you binge-watched? Ted Lasso. 

3. Favorite place for a business meeting? Karol Hotel. 

4. iPhone or Android? iPhone (recently switched after having an Android for 10 years and I am trying to convince my wife to switch!)

5. What time do you wake up on workdays? 7 a.m., unless one of my three kids decides to wake up earlier. 

6. What part of your morning routine can you not miss? Reading the news. 

I think we were all traumatized by this one…

7. What movie terrified you as a child? The Exorcist. 

8. Proudest moment? Getting married. I definitely “married up!” 

9. Dream dinner companion? Steve Harvey or Kevin Hart. 

10. Biggest business failure? I don’t believe in failures. They are opportunities to learn and grow. I have had my fair share of learning over the years. Especially since I became a CEO of a multimillion-dollar business at 27 years old. 

11. Best concert you’ve ever seen, live? Linkin Park at the Tampa Amphitheater. 

12. What is your cellphone wallpaper image? My family.

13. Most famous person you’ve ever met? I’ve met three presidents (Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Barack Obama). I’ve also met Denzel Washington and I had a few classes with Tim Tebow, while in college. 

Yummmm…

14 What is your go-to drink order? It depends on my mood. Either a Cabernet Sauvignon (Caymus is my favorite!) or an Old Fashioned. 

15. How do you manage the volume of emails you receive? My assistant is a lifesaver with helping me sort, prioritize and manage my emails. 

16. Last thing you ordered from Amazon? Wine decanter. 

17. Emojis in the workplace, yay or nay? Nay. 

18. Charity you support? Boys & Girls Clubs, Pinellas Community Foundation and the St. Pete Arts Alliance.

19. Favorite childhood memory? I grew up in the country in Northwest Florida. I loved my summers fishing, riding four-wheelers and building treehouses in the woods. 

20. Best advice ever received? That my mouth was either going to get me in trouble or do good in the world. 

You May Also Like
20 Questions with David Blackwell of University of South Florida

Lynn Pippenger Dean for the Muma College of Business and a professor of finance
University of South Florida

Read More
david-blackwell-usf
20 Questions with G. Scott Goyer

President & CEO, YMCA of the Suncoast

Read More
20 Questions with Cherisse Ponraj

Ponraj is owner and operator of GirlsSailing.com.

Read More
20 Questions with Scott Kramer

President & CEO | Spartan Contracting Corporation

Read More
Other Posts
New IICF chapter takes shape in Tampa Bay, with statewide philanthropic goals

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is expanding its reach in Florida, thanks to the efforts of Maggie Potter and Misty Carson — two Tampa-based professionals who are leading the

Read More
Fifth Third Bank names Florida market president and commercial banking head

Fifth Third Bank has tapped industry veteran Marty McAndrew to lead its commercial banking efforts across the state of Florida; a newly created role to accelerate growth in both the

Read More
BayCare partners with Northwestern Medicine to expand academic health care in Florida

BayCare is partnering with Northwestern Medicine in a collaboration aimed at expanding BayCare’s development as an academic health system in West Central Florida. The partnership will focus on expanding access

Read More
Metropolitan Ministries names next CEO

Local community leader to step into the role as Tim Marks prepares for retirement.

Read More