A-P-T Research, Inc., welcomes Ms. Lisa Williams as its newest Board of Directors (BOD) member. As a new Director, Lisa brings new perspective and business knowledge to the board as part of our effort to add outside talent to help shape the company’s future. Most of the APT BOD and many of our employees have known and worked extensively with her through the years and we have previously teamed with companies she founded. She brings exceptional experience and thoughtful, articulate, and principled business leadership to APT.
Lisa was the co-founder and president of 3D Research Corporation from 1997-2006. The success of 3D Research was evident by their ranking in the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies in America three years in a row. 3D Research had 18 sites across the U.S. and internationally prior to its acquisition by the Schafer Corporation in December 2005. After the sale of 3D Research, Lisa took over as president of Systems Dynamic International in February 2011 after their president unexpectedly died. She was able to put the company back on track for success and left SDI in March 2012. She is currently the president of Soldier 1 Corporation.
Lisa was born in Saigon, Vietnam, on the 4th of July. She came to the United States at the age of six.
Lisa received her BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She received an Honorary PhD from the UAH School of Business in 2004. She worked as a production engineer for Morton Thiokol on several rocket motor systems, as a Systems Engineer for Wyle Laboratories supporting the International Space Station, and as a test engineer for TASC and Schafer on several missile systems before starting 3D Research Corporation in 1997.
Lisa was awarded the Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Alabama by the Small Business Administration, and was also awarded Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs of America, as well as the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce’s Executive of the Year. The Women’s Economic Development Council honored her in the technology category at their Women Honoring Women awards ceremony. The University of Alabama in Huntsville awarded her the UAH Business Fellow Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award. She was also named as one of the Women Who Shape the State of Alabama. And she was just recently awarded the Women of Impact Award.
Lisa is active on many boards and councils. She is on the boards of the Tennessee Valley Corridor representing the 5th Congressional District, The Committee of 100, Still Serving Veterans, the Liberty Learning Foundation, and Leadership Huntsville/Madison County. She was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission. She is very active in mentoring and counsels many small businesses in Alabama. Lisa resides in Huntsville with her husband, Phil Williams, and son, Tyler.