Speaker: Deborah L. Williams

About Deborah Williams

New Member of the Rotary E-Club of Tampa-South
Past District Governor, Rotary West Florida/Tampa (2021-22)

The DGND that was selected is Deborah L. Williams, from the Rotary Club of FishHawk Riverview. She was immediately asked to move forward one year and serve as DGN. And to her enormous credit, three days after being selected, Deborah had her bags packed and arrived in Atlanta, Georgia for the Zone 33/34 Leadership Summit and District Governor Training. She was immediately embraced by her District Governor Nominee Classmates from both zones and made fast friends, which she will no doubt cherish for a lifetime. As the DGN, Deborah serves as a Board Member of Rotary Camp Florida 2019-2020.

Deborah is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Law Enforcement and Corrections and also a Master of Science degree in Administration of Criminal Justice. She is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College of Military Science and Armed Forces College. She served in the United States Army and retired in 2005 with the highest honors and distinction after 27 years of service.

After moving to Florida, Deborah owned a business called Bellafia Chocolate Boutique and now is in direct sales with Jewels by Park Lane, Inc. She has been very active in the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, her church Rivers of Life and many other community organizations including the Winthrop and Bloomingdale Area Council and the Black Women Business Owners, Executives and Entrepreneurs, who bestowed the honor of Businesswoman of the Year on Deborah in 2009.

Deborah became a Rotarian in 2007 and became a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Bloomingdale-FishHawk in 2008. She served as the club President in 2009-2010 but, approximately 2 years later the RC of Bloomingdale-FishHawk merged with the RC of Riverview. A new club emerged as the Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview and Deborah has served in many capacities with her club including Service Project Chair, active with S4TL and initiated an Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration Program. She is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute and has also served the District as Assistant Governor for four years. She has been recognized as Rotarian of the Year by her club and led the Strategic Planning Committee for the District in 2017-2018. She was also recognized as Assistant Governor of the Year in 2018-2019.

Deborah is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Major Donor, Paul Harris Society Member and a Polio Plus Society Member. Her club knows Deborah as someone that never says no and will do anything for Rotary and her fellow Rotarians.

She is married to husband Duane who is a former member and past president of the Rotary Club of FishHawk Riverview. He is currently a member of the newly chartered club (Rotary E-Club of Tampa-South). Duane is a retired Military Intelligence officer and was self-employed with D & T Associates-Investigations, a private investigative company, which he started in 2005.

Deborah loves sports (NCAA/NFL), interior decorating/crafts, event coordinating/planning and mentorship for children and young adults as well as caring for seniors. She is humbled and blessed in so many ways by becoming a first-time grandmother to a precious granddaughter.

Finally: One of Deborah’s biggest accomplishments during her year as District Governor on 1 June 2022 Deborah chartered a club in her District. On 21 June 2022, prior to Deborah becoming an Immediate Past District Governor, she transferred her membership to the new club (Rotary E-Club of Tampa-South) to assist them in becoming fully operational.