About

 Debra J. Williams is the President of Higher Ground International (HGI) management consulting firm and possesses over 25 years experience as an internal and external management consultant  providing training, business coaching, team building, and strategic planning  services. 

Over the past eighteen years she has consulted with large and small, for profit and not-for-profit, public and private organizations.  Debra has been a MBE/WBE independent consultant to the County of Los Angeles since 2000.  She has provided training to all departments of Los Angeles County, including diversity, sexual harassment prevention, employment discrimination prevention, culturally responsive healthcare, disability awareness, respect in the workplace and other civil rights-related issues.  She has conducted sexual harassment prevention, diversity, fair employment and cultural competency training workshops for many other agencies such as City of Thousand Oaks, San Diego Housing Commission, and many others.  

As a business coach and author she has published curricula to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.  Debra is the co-author of the Business Training School (BTS) curriculum.  BTS is a faith-based accelerated business school curriculum developed in collaboration with the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, educational and community based organizations, and corporations.  Local, national, and international churches use the curriculum to stimulate economic development through entrepreneurship in their communities.

She has served as a business coach and consultant for small business development and Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) technical assistance programs such as the Caltrans DBE Advantage program, LA County’s BOOST, FAME Assistance Corporation’s Leadership Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (LEAP) and the Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services (DBE/SS) Program.  

She has received numerous awards for her efforts in the community.  In 2017 Debra received the Volunteer Week award from the City of Chino Hills, the Woman of Distinction award from Senator Mike Morrell, 23rd District in 2016 and the Faith Based Organization Development Award, Small Business Administration & AmPac TriState CDC in 2015.

Along with her busy work life, Debra has been married to Russell for 34 years.  They have 14 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.