THE WILLIAMS AGENCY & OUR PARTNERS

NICOLA WILLIAMS President

Photo Credit: Adam Detour

Nicola Williams founded The Williams Agency in 1995. Nicola, with over 30 years of industry experience and international respect, is recognized for superior problem-solving, project management, relationship building, and strategic planning skills. She has a strong marketing background in marketing management, market research, brand development, advertising, public relations, sponsorship development, and event promotions. She is passionate about making a difference and is constantly sought after for public engagements. Williams was the producer and one of the founding organizers of the Boston Local Food Festival, Boston’s premier food event and top 10 food events in the City. She is the brainchild of Boston JerkFest and Vermont JerkFest, Caribbean-style foodie events that launched in 2013 and 2015 respectively, and Rhythm N’ Spice Hot Sauce Festival launched in 2024. Nicola was instrumental in building Cambridge Carnival International into the largest festival in Cambridge and one of the top 10 festivals in Boston. Nicola has also worked internationally. She led an international team in developing a sustainability action plan for London’s Nottinghill Carnival. Williams is a recipient of many awards, and she has been featured in Black Enterprise magazine, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Boston Business Journal. Nicola Williams currently serves on the board of Sustainable Food and Culture, Inc. The Community Arts Center, Wells College Board of Trustees, North American Marine Alliance (NAMA), Harvard Square Neighborhood Association, Harvard Square Business Association, and Cambridge Carnival International, Inc. Nicola is the co-founder and Facilitator of the Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network and Chair of the Harriet Jacobs Legacy Committee. She recently served on the board of The Sustainable Business Network of Boston. Nicola can be found at a local farmers market, at a local concert, in her urban garden or in her or someone else’s kitchen improving upon her culinary skills for one of her favorite passions- cooking.

KATHRYN FATEMI Events and Marketing Manager

Kathryn Fatemi is a senior staff member at The Williams Agency, responsible for event coordination, vendor and volunteer management, and support team oversight. She also leads communications campaigns, social media strategy, and content development to enhance public engagement and event visibility. Most recently, she served as Marketing & Events Manager for the 2024 Community Canvas Pop-up Series, a program by the City of Boston’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, featuring 18 pop-up events in Mattapan Square and Nubian Square from June to September. Kathryn also played a key role as Co-Production Manager for Boston JerkFest 2024, leading vendor and volunteer management, zero-waste initiatives, and street team supervision.

ROLAND COOPER RC Productions

Roland Cooper, owner of RC Productions, brings over 25 years of experience in event production, sound engineering, and stage management. His company has partnered with The Williams Agency for four years, providing technical direction for major events such as Boston JerkFest, the Community Canvas Series, the Local Food Trade Show, Boston Local Food Festival, Rhythm N’ Spice Festival, and Cambridge Carnival International. As a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Roland combines technical expertise with strong industry relationships, ensuring seamless execution for large-scale public events. His proficiency in sound design, production management, and stage logistics guarantees high-quality technical operations for our events.

OLAWUMI (OLA AKIN) AKINWUMI AfroDesiaCity Productions

Olawumi Akinwumi is a seasoned event producer, cultural strategist, and community engagement leader based in Boston. With over two years of experience collaborating with The Williams Agency, she has served as Co-Production Manager for Boston JerkFest, helping to shape and execute high-impact cultural events. Previously, as Programs Coordinator and Circle The City Manager at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Ola played a pivotal role in managing Boston’s first Open Streets initiative. She worked closely with key stakeholders to transform public spaces into vibrant cultural hubs, curating live music programming for CTC’s Blue Hill Avenue activation. Her efforts united thousands of participants in an interactive, car-free community experience featuring music, fitness, arts, and social engagement. Ola specializes in fostering inclusive and dynamic cultural experiences, ensuring that events authentically engage local communities and amplify diverse voices.

AMINAH NUNES Production Manager, Event Design & Décor

Aminah Nunes is a Boston-based production expert and longtime collaborator with The Williams Agency for over a decade, specializing in program development, production management, event execution, and décor. She has played a key role in event design, décor, and production for major events, including Boston JerkFest, the 2024 Community Canvas Series for the City of Boston’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, the City of Boston’s Returning Citizens Awards (2023), Boston Local Food Festival, Rhythm N’ Spice Festival, and Cambridge Carnival International. Her creativity, strong community connections, and keen eye for design make her an invaluable asset to our team for small and large-scale cultural initiatives.

NICOLE MAXEY Maximize PR

Nicole Maxey is a seasoned public relations strategist, event advisor, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advocate, with over a decade of experience in media outreach, community engagement, and high-profile publicity campaigns. As the founder and principal of MaxeymizePR, a Boston-based MBE/WBE-certified public relations firm, she has successfully secured major media placements for clients, including front-page newspaper features, magazine covers, and television interviews. Nicole has organized press conferences for critical community issues and served as a publicist for the New England Urban Music Awards, earning the Best Publicist Award. She is an active board member for Family Movement (FM) and the Boston Association of Black Journalists (BABJ), reinforcing her deep ties to Boston’s media landscape and community networks. Nicole has led high-impact publicity campaigns for nonprofit organizations, major events, and celebrity-driven fundraisers, including those affiliated with NFL athletes and charitable foundations. Her expertise in multicultural outreach and media relations makes her an asset in promoting Open Streets events to diverse communities and media outlets. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University, along with advanced PR training from the Publicity Club of New England. Nicole’s ability to elevate public awareness, engage media stakeholders, and amplify diverse voices will plays a critical role in reaching a broad audience while maintaining strong community alignment.