Dee M. Robinson

Dee is a leader who leverages strategic and analytical thinking to find innovative solutions that scale businesses. The common thread throughout her career is the ability to drive sustainable growth by integrating a deep understanding of customers, operations, and untapped opportunities. She is lauded for creating value and leveraging talent as a strategic asset. Drawing on her varied experience in food and beverage, retail, consumer products, advertising, and banking, she founded Robinson Hill in 1995, a concessions-management firm specializing in retail and restaurants at airports and other nontraditional venues. She successfully turned concepts into sustainable revenues and led the organization from 0 to over 500 people. Dee has scaled operations while forging successful joint ventures and partnerships that now encompass over 60 airport restaurants and retail stores. Brands and partnerships include notable companies such as Hudson Group, Ben & Jerry’s, Frontera Grill, and Potbelly Sandwich Works.

As CEO of Robinson Hill, Inc., she leverages comprehensive go-to-market strategies tailored to key audiences to drive business expansion. She spearheaded multiple capital-development efforts to fund growth and penetration. Dee is also known for providing clear leadership and promoting diversity and a team culture consistent with organizational values. As such, she is recognized as an outstanding operator who drives sales, operational efficiency, innovation, and management performance.

Prior to her tenure at Robinson Hill, Dee worked as an associate product director with Johnson & Johnson and subsequently with Leo Burnett. Prior to this, she worked as a commercial loan officer with AmeriTrust Bank and financial analyst with Northern Trust.

As a highly-engaged board member, she is committed to strategic growth, solution-based guidance, and value creation. She has been recognized as a HistoryMaker, Chicago United Business Leader of Color, Private Company Director magazine’s Director to Watch, WomenInc.’s 2019 Most Influential Corporate Director, and named Top 100 Women of Influence.

Dee earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business “Building a High-Performing Business Executive Education Program” and coursework in “Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application” at MIT Sloan School of Management.