Kim Williams
I have been legally blind since birth. I am a graduate of the Tennessee School for the Blind where I excelled as a competitive swimmer winning medals even against sighted challengers. That competitive spirit has served me well in the business world. I currently manage the vending facility at the Tennessee Valley Authority Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Chattanooga. This is a challenging opportunity due to the high security access and the number of buildings I and my employees have to cover, along with the high expectations of my customers. It is those high expectations that motivate me. My goal is to provide a high quality service and to satisfy my customers every time they patronize my facility.
I serve as the Secretary for National Association of Blind Merchants and President of the Tennessee Association of Bind Merchants. I have been involved with National Federation of the Blind for over 12 years and now serve on the board of the state affiliate. If you ask me why I joined the NFB it would be because I am a mover and a shaker and I like to get things done. The NFB is the one organization, of and for the blind that gets things done. I am very active in women's issues and understand the unique challenges women face in the Randolph/Shepard Program. I try to make myself available to help other women cope with the challenges of running their own business and balancing the demands of their business and personal lives. In addition, I serve as Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Committee of Blind Vendors and as Chair of the State Rehabilitation Council.
I have been married for 27 years to my high school sweetheart Ricky Williams. Ricky is also a Randolph/Shepard vendor. We have two children and a beautiful granddaughter.
There are barriers which often prevent blind people from creating real business opportunities; and we know there are still barriers in the path of women. I am a blind woman and, with the support of my husband, my family, the National Federation of the Blind, and a program mandated by Congress, I’ve been able to create opportunity for myself. I’ve achieved a measure of independence and I’ve been able to give back to others.