Celebrating my Dad's Retirement

2023 started with a significant transition for our family. After 50+ years at Williams Distributing, my dad, Jim Williams, officially retired! With the recent sale of Williams Distributing to Daikin, a longtime manufacturing partner, he hung up his hat as the Chairman of the Board and is beginning his next chapter.

If you know my dad, you know he’ll stay busy and keep his calendar full of lunch meetings, volunteering, scheming his next fishing trip, babysitting his grandkids, putting his “grand dudes” to work, or hitting up all his local favorites (keep an eye out, Sugar Momma's Bakery and Cafe!). Along with my mom, Sue Williams, he will continue to be engaged in the local philanthropic community and probably have to pick up a couple more shifts in the barn.

I wanted to share this big news because there are so many reasons I’m proud of my dad and this is a milestone worth celebrating! When he joined the family business in 1971, shortly after graduating from Michigan State, there were only six people at the company. After his decades-long career, things look a little different. Thanks to his leadership, and an amazing team at Williams, including my sister Amanda for the past 10+ years, they have grown to 32 locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, and a team of nearly 600 employees.

Now that I have kids, I can really see how valuable it was to have a parent that demonstrated how to love a job and the people you work with. I don’t remember ever hearing him say, “ugh, gotta go to work today…” He was fully committed. Since he worked so many Saturdays, occasionally he would bring my brother, sister and I along so we could help calculate his receipts, use the intercom to page made up people, or just run around the warehouse. (Usually followed by a trip to F. David Barney clothiers, Bixby’s or Otto Poppers.) Through those visits, in addition to part-time jobs in different areas of the business, we got to know the Williams Distributing team and witnessed how people stick together through the good times - and the tough ones.

We also saw early-on the importance of businesses supporting their communities. It was rare to go to a play, a museum, or a luncheon without seeing the Williams Distributing logo as sponsor.

The generosity of the business strengthened many of my own friendships through the unique opportunities those relationships provided. From an elementary school “job shadow” at the Capital, to MSU games, shows at Circle Theatre, special events at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, and countless lunches and dinners with impressive speakers. My life, and many of my friends' lives, have been so enriched by my dad’s gift for connection, community building, and giving back.

Thank you, dad, for all you did at Williams. For building on the foundation your own parents paved. We will carry the torch forward in our own unique ways.