Staff &

Board

Executive Assistant: clara.boyum@ppl-inc.org

Paul Williams, President and CEO, is deeply rooted in our community. Raised in the heart of Saint Paul, his strong connection to the Twin Cities region, its neighborhoods and its people, fuels his work. PPL’s fourth executive director in its history, he managed all city operations as Deputy Mayor of his native city before joining PPL in April 2014.

Paul has spent his career creating partnerships and building community. While spearheading community development locally and directing operations in 30 cities nationwide for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), he developed an unparalleled understanding of the opportunities and challenges around affordable housing and community development. With compassion and a sense of what works, Paul has served as a grantmaker for The Minneapolis Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation and the United Way of the St. Paul Area. He has also contributed to the leadership of a wide range of community boards. His spirit of collaboration, connection to our communities and commitment to amplifying PPL’s impact energize our work.

Executive Assistant: Danielle.Gharineh@ppl-inc.org

Andriana is an executive leader in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors with over 25 years of experience in advancing public-private partnerships, supporting capital investment strategies, and enhancing organizational change, leadership development and creative problem solving for complex issues.  This includes recently serving as a senior advisor and Co-Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program—one of four Change Leadership Programs supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). For nearly two decades at the nation’s largest community development intermediary, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Andriana led investments in place- and people-based strategies to promote physical, economic, human and social capital development in neighborhoods and communities. She joined PPL in April 2021.

Executive Assistant: Danielle.Gharineh@ppl-inc.org

Antonio Cardona leads PPL’s workforce and education programs, including its adult and youth career pathways training programs and its two alternative high schools. Cardona previously served as Director of the Office of Public Charter Schools for Pillsbury United Communities, where he oversaw Pillsbury’s 20 charter schools, helped create its Urban Institute for Service and Learning, and served as Director of the Oak Park Community Center in North Minneapolis. He also led in the creation and expansion of the Twin Cities site of Public Allies. He joined PPL in February 2021.

Executive Assistant: clara.boyum@ppl-inc.org

Scott Cordes joined PPL in March 2017. Most recently the Director of Budget & Innovation at the City of Saint Paul, Scott was a leader in the city’s finance function for 12 years, including serving as Mayor Coleman’s Budget Director for 7 years. Under his direction of the Saint Paul Innovation Team, Saint Paul became a nationally-recognized leader in change management and service transformation for government programs. Scott’s significant strategic finance skills are complemented by deep experience in multi-year financial planning, true-cost analysis, capital/facilities planning, and a strong background in information technology and human resources. Scott has a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Executive Assistant: clara.boyum@ppl-inc.org

Amanda Herbst has worked for PPL for 15 years. During her time at PPL, she has provided direct service, program development, supervision, and management. Her current responsibilities include oversight of organizational impact data and evaluation strategy, including management of PPL's participant database.

Amanda champions PPL's evaluation capacity building efforts by supporting staff to utilize data in effective program management and design. Amanda celebrates learning and encourages others to ask courageous questions. Amanda holds a BA in Social Welfare from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.