Gail Ann Williams
Life Objectives: Adventure, community service and cultural influence.

  • Jan 2000 to present: Director of Communities, Salon.com
Directing the community group for Salon.com, home of The WELL and Table Talk, two vibrant and complex discussion communities, running with different revenue models, different platforms and different demographics.

  • May 1998 to Jan 2000: Executive Director at The WELL.
Oversaw policies and operations of this legendary online community site, a challenging and rewarding adventure. Highlights of 1999 included participation in the sale of the company, strategic management of community communications and briefings during the transition to Salon.com's ownership, continued recognition as an industry leader, the complex successful separation from an antiquated legacy ISP relationship and upgrades to Y2K ready and more scalable hardware and systems. Enjoyed primary responsibility for product development, hiring, technical management, community & customer issues, characterized by a hands-on approach as needed.

  • Dec 1991 to May 1998: Conferencing Director at The WELL.
Served as the primary online innkeeper, responsible for the company's core offering. Managed the WELL's more than 200 volunteer conference hosts. Selected and trained hosts and conferencing team department members, approved conference proposals, coordinated and managed programmer and user-initiated modifications to the WELL's conferencing software, assisted hosts in online conflict resolution and intermittent special guest programming.

  • Spring 1991: Online Arts Project Coordinator, CompuMentor.
Part time. Connected Bay Area arts groups in a project with this non-profit organization dedicated to supporting other nonprofit organizations in computer use. Served as online host and live tutor in online communications for Bay Area arts administrators.

  • 1988 through 1990: Community Relations Coordinator, A Traveling Jewish Theatre.
Designed community outreach program for acclaimed San Francisco based touring ensemble. Managed donor community relations, volunteer recruitment and coordination, donor database and direct mail design, newsletter production and coordination of Friends of ATJT special events program.

  • 1978 through 1988: Administrative Director and Ensemble Member, The Plutonium Players.
Co-founded and administered an internationally known political satire troupe. Created and oversaw programs for booking, guerilla marketing and promotion, fundraising, and donor development. Over this decade-long stint I combined or alternated arts administration and artistic duties. Co-directed, co-wrote and performed in the group's award winning Ladies Against Women show. Wrote satirical essays and cartoons, spoke on political humor. Taught satire and improvisation workshops on tours.

Education and Training:

1978: University of California at Berkeley, Bachelor of Science degree, with honors. Major in Conservation of Natural Resources, with a media and communications special emphasis.

Significant additional course work:
  • Commercial photography at Laney College, and Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite.
  • Therapeutic psychodrama direction with the Berkeley Institute for Psychodrama.
  • Management and marketing with The Support Center, San Francisco.
Interviews, honors and presentations:

Over the years, I have spoken at numerous events including Computers Freedom and Privacy, South By Southwest Interactive, IEEE Community Networking, Earth To Avatars, Mac World and VirComm.

Please see my speaker pages for details.