Robert M. Williams
I am the current Chairman of Genova Products, Inc. a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic plumbing and building products serving the professional and Do-It-Yourself industry segments worldwide. Although I represent the second generation in this family owned company, I have been involved in it since its founding in 1962. Being the first of the Williams' family to be born in America, my career course followed a well worn path of offspring of immigrant families. Apprenticed in the plumbing trade as a teenager, I acquired my Journeyman Plumber's License in 1962 and achieved my Master Plumber's License in 1964, becoming the youngest holder of a Masters license at that time in the state of Michigan,….. a license that I still hold today. -- Robert M. Williams
Before becoming formally active in Genova Products Inc., a company founded by my father in 1962, I was president and managed the forerunner company, Genesee Plumbing & Heating Supply Company from 1962 to 1964. In 1964 in left Genesee Plumbing & Heating Supply in the hands of another member of the family and joined Genova. I was responsible for managing and developing Genova’s fledgling manufacturing operations through 1969, at which time I was elected Executive Vice President of Genova Products. I assumed the presidency of Genova Products in 1972 and assumed the additional positions of Treasurer and CEO in 1981. I was elected Chairman of the Board in 1992. I hold eleven (11) industry Letters of Patents for products and processes that I have developed during the 40 years that I have been associated with the plastics industry.
I have been active in industry and public affairs for many years. Included in my past and current activities are:
The American Hardware Manufacturers Association
__Member: Board of Directors
__Member: Membership/Member Services Committee
__Member : Packaging and New Products Committee
__Member : Government Relations Committee
__Member : Hardlines Conference Management Committee
__Member and function speaker: Advisory Board of the American Hardware
__Manufacturers Association/Home Center New Industry Conference
Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA)
__Founding member, past President and Director
__Chairman : Third Party Certification Committee
Other Industry Affiliations:
National Retail Hardware Association
_ Member : Board of Directors – Russell R. Mueller Foundation _ Member : Industry Committee on Consumer Marketing and Merchandising,
Member : Show Committee of the National Wholesale Hardware Association
Member : Hardware Industry President’s Council
Member : Hardware Marketing Council
Member : World Wide DIY Council
Member : Industry Advisory Council of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
Charter Member: Presidents’ Round table
In addition to the above,
I have been a member of the Industry Development Committee of the National Wholesale Hardware Association and am a retired member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO).
I have also served on the following community organizations:
Chairman : Davison-Richfield Area Business and Industrial Development Committee
Chairman : Kearsley Creek Preservation Council
Board Member: Davison Area Economic Development Association
Member : Flint Chamber of Commerce and the Davison Chamber of Commerce
I have also served on the following associations:
Board Member and officer: Fairport West Condominium Association – Charlevoix, MI
Board member and President: Fairport West Yacht Club Association – Charlevoix, MI
Board member and President: Sunset Beach Homeowners Association – Longboat Key, FL
I also hold the British manorial lordship title of “Lord of Allerby” which I inherited upon the death of my father, Robert F. Williams.
I am currently a member of The Explorer’s Club headquartered in New York City, NY and have served as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees of Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL.
On a personal note, I have been married to Jill L. Williams for forty three years and have two married daughters and two grandchildren. My wife and I now reside in Longboat Key, Florida and Bay Harbor, Michigan and hold active memberships in the Great Lakes Cruising Club, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, and are Life members of the Sarasota Yacht Club and Mote Marine Laboratory , both headquartered in Sarasota.
Both Jill and I have been active boaters for over forty years and I am a USCG licensed Captain, currently holding a 100 Ton Masters U.S. Merchant Marine Officer’s Certificate. I participated in the 2001 expedition and and made a 12,500 ft. dive to the wreck site of the RMS TITANIC on board the Russian submersible MIR I. In 2002 I dove in the MIR II submersible to the Hydrothermal Vents located on the Mid-Atlantic Rift 280 miles off the Azores archipelago. In 2003, I recently participated in a second dive to the Titanic wreck site, again aboard the MIR I submersible.
Most recently, I joined the 2005 Deep Ocean Expedition to the German Battleship BISMARCK and completed my deepest dive to 15,300 feet. I have and continue to relate my and other deep ocean diving experiences through numerous lectures to schools, service and civic organizations, educational groups, and clubs. My Titanic adventures have been featured in major city newspapers and national publications and have been chronicled in the October 2001 issue of “Forbes Global” magazine and the Spring 2003 issue of “Forbes FYI” magazine. Impressions of my 2001 Titanic visit are also contained in the recently released Forbes book, “To The Limits – Pushing Yourself to the edge – In Adventure And In Business” written by James Clash. I was accepted as a full member of The Explorer’s Club on December 6, 2003.