The rise of a finance influencer : William M. Webster

Get to know William M. Webster IV and some of his thoughts: Billy Webster has served the public by fighting for voting rights, educational opportunity and quality healthcare. As a White House Fellow, Billy Webster was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as an Assistant to the Administrator, Agency For International Development. From there, he served as Chief of Staff of Presidential Personnel during President Clintons transition, Chief of Staff at the United States Department of Education and Assistant to the President, Director of Scheduling and Advance for President Bill Clinton.

William M. Webster is a American business leader & entrepreneur that has served in government at the highest levels and is active in community and philanthropic endeavors. When he was a junior at Washington and Lee, Billy Webster, of the Class of 1979, ran in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. As it turns out, he was just getting warmed up. A story in Billy’s hometown newspaper, the Spartanburg Herald Journal, last Saturday chronicles his career as a marathon runner over the past 35 years and notes that when he runs in the Paris Marathon on April 7, it will be his 100th race. When he finishes Paris, Billy will have raced 2,620 miles or, as the Herald Journal writer figures, one-tenth of a trip around the globe. And that, of course, does not count the miles and miles of training.

William M. Webster IV announced he had donated funds to The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina (TNC), before delivering a prepared address to the conservancy board and audience at this year’s fall meeting. His remarks outlined both what TNC had accomplished in its long history, and explored planned goals for the future of the organization in S.C. – which he called “bold, specific, and measurable.” Billy Webster is an active member of TNC, as well as a noted American entrepreneur who has served in government at the highest levels. He currently participates in a wide variety of community and philanthropic endeavors like fighting for voting rights, educational opportunities, and quality healthcare for all. “We are connected to everything else, and your support here will help to secure a sustainable legacy for our natural world.”

Appointed by President George Bush at the recommendation of the non-partisan President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. Worked as Special Assistant to the Administrator, focusing on restructuring and reorganization issues at AID. Worked directly with Governor Richard W. Riley, Director of Presidential Transition Personnel. Responsible for coordination and administration of sub-Cabinet appointments in the Clinton Administration. See even more info on William M. Webster.

William M. Webster, IV, 62, is co-founder and CEO of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, the rapidly growing Spartanburg-based company that celebrated its eighth anniversary Friday. As of last month, the company operated 2,595 stores in 35 states, and the number of stores continues to grow. In the first quarter of this year, Advance America made 2.6 million payday loans; its net income of $19.7 million was up 31 percent over last year. The Greenville native’s road to Spartanburg has been filled with ambitious jobs and achievements, any one of which might qualify for “career pinnacle” status. He’s held several high-profile Washington jobs — for a year in the mid-1990s, he was in charge of coordinating President Clinton’s schedule, from major events to daily exercise. Before that, Webster was president of Greenville-based Carabo Inc., the largest franchisee of Bojangles restaurants.