William J. Simmons is a native of Bronx, New York and has lived in Syracuse since 1975. From 1986 to 1994, Mr. Simmons was the Director of Airport Services at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. He served on the Syracuse City School Board as Commissioner of Education for eight years, empowering others to make a difference in the Syracuse City school system. He also served as a 5th District Common Councilor from 2000 to 2008, in addition to working full-time in a production/supervisory position at New Process Gear. During those years, he attended and graduated from Syracuse University and received his Juris Doctor in 2004. He has been a member of the New York State Bar Association since 2006.

In 2006, Mr. Simmons served for one year as the Assistant Director of Syracuse Housing, and in 2007 became its Executive Director. Mr. Simmons is responsible for overseeing 2,440 public housing units, 184 tax credit units, 97 units of affordable housing, and the administration of contracts for approximately 3,600 rental units as part of the Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). His mission is to provide quality, safe, and affordable housing those in need.

Mr. Simmons serves as the President of the New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association (NYSPHADA). By promoting public good through programs designed to support education, health, safety, and welfare, NYSPHADA can help provide relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged. Mr. Simmons strives to empower individuals to create an environment wherein everyone wants to live, work, and build communities.