Please give a warm welcome to Women United Mission and Volunteerism Chair, Carrie Williams.

Growing up on a farm in North Dakota taught Carrie the value of community, partnership and hard work. So, it seemed fated that Running Valley Farm would serve as the namesake for her financial coaching and tax preparation business – Running Valley Financial Associates. A CPA for more than 20 years, as well as a certified financial coach, Carrie received a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from USF.

Her first job out of college was at Cargill (now Mosaic) where she became involved with the annual United Way campaign. As she opened her company, she was looking for ways to give back to the community and the opportunities presented to support United Way’s financial stability work were a perfect fit.

As Carrie will tell you, “I am great at crunching numbers, but it’s not a love for numbers which drives my work; it’s a love for people. Whether helping hard-working people get the most from each dollar they earn through financial coaching or offering small business owners peace of mind that their tax preparations are done right, I seek to leave a positive imprint on the lives of others.”

That desire to help others drives her volunteer efforts. Whether working as a VITA volunteer to help individuals and families maximize their tax refunds or serving as a Financial Coach teaching community members how to create budgets, debt management plans, and more, Carrie is committed to creating a more financially stable future for as many people as she can.

At the office, she works with many clients who are earning good money but can’t seem to make the progress they would like toward reducing their debt or increasing their savings; helping them to create security to deal with life’s unforeseen expenses while staying on the right financial track.

When not helping people maximize their financial resources, Carrie loves helping her community by volunteering with United Way and Feeding Tampa Bay. She also enjoys traveling, the great outdoors, and, most importantly, spending time with family including supporting her children’s sporting events. Traveling to Europe for more family adventures is on her bucket list.

We are grateful to have Carrie as a Women United member and a volunteer sharing her acumen with those who wouldn’t typically have access to a financial professional.