According to Dr. Ann Hutchinson Meyers, “As board chair of SAMMinistries, I know I speak on behalf of the entire organization in saying how excited we are to have Navarra join our team. He brings amazing talents to the organization as well as a heart for the homeless and a strong faith that believes in giving back to the community. We provide services to the least, the last and lost of San Antonio, and we feel blessed to have Navarra leading the Ministry into our next quarter century,” she says.

Williams adds, “I am thrilled to be joining SAMMinistries during such an exciting time. We will serve as the flag ship non-profit emergency services provider on the new Haven for Hope campus. But in addition, SAMMinistries will continue to provide a wide variety of programs such as transitional and supportive housing outside of the Haven for Hope campus, in the way SAMMinistries has done for almost 25 years.”

It should be relatively easy for Williams to move from the private sector to the non-profit arena, plus he brings more than 30 years of leadership and business experience. He has chaired numerous boards and committees for the betterment of the city of San Antonio and the community.  From 2001 to 2003 he served as acting president of the board for the Carver Academy and helped founder San Antonio Spurs David Robinson create an innovative school of excellence for underprivileged children.

As reported in a 2001 article in Cable World,  Robinson said, “Navarra is a man who cares about his community. He has selflessly devoted many hours and countless resources to ensure our success. If I am ever in a foxhole, I’d want him in there with me.”

In addition, Williams led the conversion of Kelly Air Force Base from a military installation to Kelly USA, serving as vice chairman and chairman from 1996-2000. The conversion led to the creation of 5,000 new jobs and attracted major corporations such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Williams graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore, and he holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Indianapolis.

SAMMinistries assists an average of 500 individuals including 200 children every day of the year with emergency services, transitional and supportive housing as well as an after-care program. Last year the agency cared for more than 4,900 individuals and provided more than 150,000 bed nights of shelter and services to the area’s homeless.