Founder, BW Consulting Services and Solutions
Former President & CEO, Roxbury Technology Corporation
Beth Williams is the Founder of BW Consulting Services and Solutions which assists small and start-up businesses with back office advisory services and short-term financing. And, former President and CEO of Roxbury Technology LLC (RTC), a long-time Boston-based manufacturer and distributor of re-manufactured toner and ink cartridges.
After graduating from Brown University, Beth began her career working as a Production Control Manager in Freedom Electronics, a family business. After 3 years of training and guidance from her father, she joined Raytheon Company’s Missile Systems Division as a subcontract administrator and small minority business liaison officer. After 5 years at Raytheon, she joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts procurement team, and soon thereafter became the Director of Business Diversity. Upon her father’s sudden death in 2002, she succeeded her father as President and CEO of his 8-year-old distribution business Roxbury Technology Corporation. And, set about the business of fulfilling her father’s vision of turning his family-owned distribution business into a real manufacturing business in the inner city of Boston.
In 2004, Beth opened Roxbury Technology’s remanufacturing plant with 15 employees, peaking in 2009 to 65 employees with $16m in revenue. Over her 16 + years at RTC’s helm, she positioned RTC to become one of, if not the largest black-owned and operated manufacturing business in New England – with average annual sales of $10 million. And a strategic diversity partner of Staples.
Most importantly, however is Beth’s commitment to being a “socially responsible entrepreneur” – providing “good”, wage-earning jobs to people who are far too often left out of the system. She is strongly committed to providing second chances to people. A long-time supporter of CORI reform, more than 20% of her RTC workforce were ex-offenders, former gang members, disconnected youth – many of whom successfully used this hand up to become self-sustaining and productive members of their community. Beth’s perspective: “Desperate people do desperate things. We all deserve a second chance, and unless given an opportunity to change, we only perpetuate a cycle of dysfunction that ultimately wastes a life and costs us all. We either pay them or pay for them.”
She continues to stay active on several community and business boards. Some highlights of Beth’s many achievements and awards include being awarded ICIC and Inc magazines fastest growing inner-city business 3 years in a row and becoming an ICIC Hall of Fame business; recognized as one of the 50 fastest growing women businesses by American Express and WPO; a WBENC shining start awardee; the President’s award from GNEMSDC; the Presidents and community leadership award from the Eastern Massachusetts Urban League; and the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year for New England – a prestigious Global business award recognizing her social responsibility.
Yet, her greatest pride and accomplishment is her son’s academic and business accomplishments which far surpass any job, award, or recognition she could ever receive.
