Gayle Williams is the founder and current CEO/President of Apollo Design Services, Inc. She started the company in Haverhill, Massachusetts in September of 1983 to provide companies (primarily aircraft/aerospace/defense firms) with highly skilled contract engineering and design personnel. Today the company is robust and vibrant with outstanding staff members and offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Prior to starting Apollo, Gayle worked for a national technical services firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Beginning as a technical recruiter, she worked her way up being responsible for the management of the sales activities pertaining to a number of large client companies. Gayle previously held a position with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, MA. Her position at Smithsonian provided her with the opportunity to attend business classes at Harvard University.

Gayle currently resides in Salem NH with her husband Sam and their two dogs.

Involvement in Open Door: Stephanie Skinner (current board member) was so enthusiastic about the work that is being done by the Open Door Foundation. I had dinner with Stephanie one night and she asked me if I would be interested in working on the board. I decided that I would love the opportunity to do something that can have such an impact on our country. Providing young people with educational resources for computer science can make such a difference for their future.

Mentors: The people I worked with at the technical services firm in Cambridge. They were my 1st introduction into a world that evolved around an entrepreneurial spirit.

My husband has been a good mentor – we have distinctly different ways of handling things, but he can always play the devil’s advocate and get me to see another side.

Outside Activities: I’m a real outdoor enthusiast – Hiking, biking, running, tennis and skiing. Also a Boston sports fan (which can be more frustrating then enjoyable, at times). And, I’m a food fanatic. I love to cook at home and also love to try all different kinds of restaurants.