Passion in Helping Others

Helping people is the top priority for one Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce employee who has worked for the chamber for almost 20 years. Pauline Williams has worked at the chamber as an Information Specialists since 2000. There, she has helped hundreds of professionals and business owners navigate the world of business and economics in Gainesville. Williams was born and raised in Trenton, Fl and moved to Gainesville after she graduated high school. During her career, each job she worked for had a common theme—helping others.

Williams volunteered at Metcalfe Elementary School and was offered a job as a teacher’s aid for six months. Afterwards, she worked as a bank teller for four years at what used to be known as ‘Citizens Bank’ (and is now SunTrust) helping people with financial spending and mortgage lending.

After working at Citizens Bank, Williams worked for First Federal Savings & Loan as a teller and a loan closing processor for eight years. She later worked at Humana Health Plans for eight years until the office closed in Gainesville. The Chamber of Commerce was in the same center as Humana Health Plans and she knew someone that worked there and they came down and asked her, “I hear the office is closing, do you want a job?” Williams sent in her application and the rest was history. “I started working here and 19 ½ years later, I’m still here,” Williams said

“The reason I’ve stayed here for so long is because I like what I’m doing. I like people. I talk to a lot of people on the phone from all over the United States of America and the world.” Williams said the chamber serves as a business advocate for businesses in the community. She said the chamber currently has over 1,300 members and she loves connecting business owners to other like-minded individuals. “As the businesses join the chamber, I process their applications,” Williams said. “That gives me a chance to know exactly what they do so that way I can tell everybody else. If someone called in, I can refer them.” In addition to helping businesses, she also has the opportunity to assist individuals on personal matters as well. 

Williams remembered when she helped a family member reunite with another family member who was in a nursing home. She received a call from someone who had a brother in a nursing home and he knew that he had a sister living in Gainesville. They had not seen one another in years and when he told Williams who he was looking for, Williams knew the person he was talking about. “I contacted her and she and her brother connected,” Williams said. ”That made me feel good. I like helping people. I’ll go out of my way to try to find people in situations like that.” Williams has a place on her desk where she stores notes and letters from people she has helped. “In all the positions I’ve had, I’ve always given 100%,” Williams said. “I love people and I love helping people.”

During her years at the chamber, Williams has seen many people come and go but she said she will remain the same. “People ask me, ‘When are you going to retire?’” Williams said. “It’s not in my vocabulary right now. I’m in pretty good health.” Williams said she loves the staff at the chamber and that the job is a great motivation for her to get up every day. “It gives me a reason to get up in the morning knowing that I’m going to come here and maybe make somebody’s day,” Williams said.