2014 Most Influential Women Honoree: Victoria Williams

Victoria Williams is part bona fide sales professional, part talented trainer and part civic superhero.

She currently serves as Internet director for auto dealer Reliable Chevrolet Inc., but her charitable focus and leadership as business development center manager has left a mark on The Big Lot.

Working with the company since April 2011, Williams’ responsibilities include Internet marketing, management of five websites, oversight of nine employees and their sales development, tracking all sales activity to maintain a usable database, social media updates and corporate compliance regarding Web content delivered by in-house and vendor marketing.  

But Williams, who brought 13 years of local sales and management experience to Reliable, has done more for the car dealer than develop a robust online marketing presence.

The former vice president of Drury Property Management, marketing specialist with Mid-West Family Broadcasting, and Internet and new car sales manager with Pinegar Chevrolet, Williams has led Reliable’s community outreach efforts and served as a trainer impacting all areas of the business.

“I can modestly say leadership is what I do in every aspect of my career and civic work,” Williams says.

As a trainer at Reliable, she’s promoted 13 employees from under her management to spread their wings from sales, to service, to finance departments.

“I have helped create a daily training regimen for all of the sales force and teach a couple of the classes each week,” Williams says.

“This has allowed me the opportunity to form mentor relationships with several of the staff, and I enjoy watching them make progress through their careers and take pride in the fact that I helped that individual to achieve his goals.”

As a female in a male-dominated industry, she has had many obstacles to overcome, but with a team-focused approach, she’s earned the respect of her peers.

“What I have found is that it takes a mindset that I do make a difference, and I am a viable part of my team,” Williams says.

“Hard work and dedication will pay off.”

Apart from raising her four children, the 1988 Kickapoo High School graduate and former Drury University student is most proud of her charitable accomplishments.

“My proudest moment, career and civic, was when I was selected in 2012 to be a chair for the charity event Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” says Williams, who at the age of 9 lost her mother to a short battle with breast cancer. “I am a big believer in giving back when you can.”

At Reliable, Williams helped form the community outreach department she now leads. During the past three years, the company raised roughly $61,200 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer with her championing the efforts.

Annual fundraising events with the car dealership led by Williams have raised more than $40,000 for Mercy’s neonatal intensive care unit.

An avid runner, she’s also a supporter of the annual Dash for Down Syndrome, and she’s dedicated her time to the local Girls on the Run program, which helps build self-esteem and promotes team involvement among young girls through fitness and other activities.[[In-content Ad]]