Tom Williams is Chief Executive Officer of North American Properties, a national real estate development company. He has been President and CEO of North American Properties since 1994 and served as Vice President from 1986 through 1994. He was an associate with the law firm Frost & Jacobs from 1983 through 1986.
Tom is Vice-Chairman and one of the principal owners of the Cincinnati Reds. He is a former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1996 to 2006 and, prior to that, was an owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
Tom is one of the principal owners and a board member of Skyline Chili, Inc. He completed a purchase agreement in December 2020 to assure this iconic Cincinnati brand will remain privately held by local ownership with deep Cincinnati roots, while simultaneously positioning itself for continued success and growth.
Tom is a co-founder of Nehemiah Manufacturing Co. Nehemiah was founded in 2009 with the mission to build brands, create jobs, and change lives. Nehemiah is committed to bringing manufacturing jobs back to the inner city of Cincinnati to stimulate community development and economic growth. Nehemiah is a second-chance company. Many employees who come to Nehemiah just need a chance to prove themselves.
Tom currently serves on numerous Boards including JobsOhio, The Western and Southern Financial Group, Skyline Chili, Inc., Nehemiah Manufacturing Co., The Cincinnati Equity Fund, The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), Cintrifuse and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. He is also a member of JobsOhio Executive Committee and Investment Committee. He is a member of Western and Southern’s Executive Committee and Finance Committee and is Chairman of the Western & Southern Foundation. He chairs 3CDC’s Development and Finance Committee, and he is a member of the Cintrifuse Executive Committee.
Tom is a member of the Commission for Inclusive Capitalism. He is a Co-Chair of the Child Poverty Collaborative. He is an advisory member of The Cincinnati Chamber’s Workforce Innovation Center. He is a member of the RESTART Task Force convened to lead the Cincinnati region through the COVID-19 economic crisis and a member of the RESTART Economic Development Subcommittee. He is a member (past Chair) of REDI (Regional Economic Development Initiative) Cincinnati, and he is Co-Chair of Build Our New Bridge Now Coalition.
Tom is a member and past Chairman of the Cincinnati Business Committee (CBC), Co-Chair of the CBC’s Economic Development Committee, and Co-Chair of the CBC’s Education Committee. He is one of the founding members and past Chairman (August 2012 – April 2015) of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee (CRBC) and serves on the Economic Development Committee, the Education Committee, and the Government Affairs Committee.
Tom is a board member of Accelerate Great Schools and Teach For America. He is Chairman Emeritus of the LISC Local Advisory Committee and a member of the Cincinnati Art Museum Nominating Committee. He is also a member of the World Presidents’ Organization and past member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (past president), and a member of the Chief Executives Organization. He is a member of the Commonwealth Club of Cincinnati (past president) and a member of the Commercial Club of Cincinnati (past President).
Some of Tom’s past activities include membership of the boards of AAA Cincinnati, the Children’s Home of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Zoo (past president), Downtown Cincinnati, Inc., Georgetown University’s Board of Regents, Leadership Scholars, PNC Bank Ohio, The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, St. Joseph Home, Summit Country Day School, and Xavier University.
Mr. Williams is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Tom Williams is married to Jenny Williams. The Williams have three children and two grandchildren.
