Economic Developer Receives State Honor

Washtenaw County Deal-Maker was Filling in for SPARK Director
Ann Arbor News – August 28, 2006

By Mike Ramsey

For nine years, Tim Robinson did the nitty gritty.

He went to meetings, collected data, wrote up proposals and tax credit applications. He was part of the economic development team at Washtenaw Development Council while his colleague, Susan Lackey, headed the group.

With Lackey's departure last April to head up the Washtenaw Land Trust, Robinson, 43, had the chance to step in as the lead deal-maker, at least temporarily, until Michael Finney took over the top spot in the organization now known as Ann Arbor Spark.
His success during the past year led the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to honor him as Partner of the Year, his first such honor by the group after nine years.

"The award is wonderful and I am not going to give it back, but individual recognition in this profession isn't really fair,'' said Robinson, who is vice president of operations for Ann Arbor Spark.

Robinson had a big part in deals to bring Advanced Photonix Inc. to Ann Arbor and expansions at Xoran Technologies Inc. He worked on the Hyundai-Kia Technical Center Inc. expansion and the recent announcement that Martinrea Industries Inc. would expand in Manchester.

Ann Arbor Spark has replaced the development council and has a dual focus on tech business development and traditional functions that WDC handled.

"I think Tim did a wonderful job filling in prior to my coming here,'' said Finney, who started in November. "I think the recognition he is getting is peer recognition and that's really one of the highest recognitions you can get.''

Robinson didn't start his career in economic development. He first worked as an auto technician in Charleston, S.C. after graduating with an associate's degree from Ferris State University.

He moved back to Michigan to court his future wife and landed at Michigan Automotive Research Corp., which is now Lotus ... on North Main Street as a dynamometer technician. Then he went to work at JP Industries in the sales and marketing department, using his technical background to help answer customer questions about the auto parts supplier's products.

After eight years, and changes in the company's ownership, he went back to Eastern Michigan University to get a bachelor's degree in business.

He was interested in a job posting with the Washtenaw Development Council because it appealed to his civic-mindedness.

"I knew I wanted to do something in community service,'' he said.

He joined WDC in 1996 and has been with the group since. He is a certified economic developer.

Jeffery Wallace, village manager for Manchester, said Robinson is a frequent visitor to the village.

"Tim's worked on a lot of projects, some come to fruition, some don't, but the best thing about him is that he is a tireless communicator,'' said Wallace. "That's really important when you are trying to work with a company and find out what they need.''
Mike Ramsey can be reached at mramsey@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6864.

©2006 Ann Arbor News. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.