I am both excited and sad to announce that I am leaving Econsult Solutions to become the Economic Development Director for the City of Montgomery, Alabama. In my new role, I will be responsible for implementing long-term economic development strategies, including attracting new businesses, revitalizing downtown, marketing the city, increasing minority business participation, and overseeing special projects, among other duties. I was not actively seeking to leave ESI, as I hold the organization in high regard and enjoyed my time at the firm. However, I was recruited for this position and found the opportunity to be timely and aligned with some exciting new initiatives that the City of Montgomery is pursuing.
I joined ESI at the height of the pandemic, which forced me to make a difficult decision to close my business of nearly ten years. All of my committed projects were eliminated, and I was informed they would not restart. A good friend shared the opening for a director position at ESI. Having attended a few charrettes hosted by the firm and knowing Stephen Mullin and hearing a lot about Lee Huang, I was eager to apply. I am grateful that the principals took a chance on me and hired me. Working at ESI has been beneficial both professionally and personally, as I transitioned from entrepreneurship to a leadership role at a national boutique consulting firm.
Econsult Solutions is a great place to work, and I have enjoyed the people and the work we do. I appreciate the organization’s commitment to its clients and colleagues. I have had the privilege of working on numerous interesting projects that have positively impacted various communities. Some of my most memorable projects include economic development plans for Delaware County, PA, and the Three Rivers Economic Development Plan for the 2nd Senatorial District in Delaware. I also enjoyed working on economic development plans for airports, disparity studies for cities to advance minority participation and projects supporting the justification of initiatives like the City of Philadelphia’s Taking Care of Business Program. ESI often serves as a catalyst for projects that significantly impact many communities in diverse ways.
Philadelphia will continue to be my home. I take Philly with me! I have all my Philly gear and will not miss a single Eagles game, and I will go to Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles games when they play in the Southeast. I just learned that Wawa is expanding to Alabama, so I will take advantage of that when it happens.
I look forward to staying connected with good people doing good work.
Frank Robinson, Vice President
Mr. Robinson has been a leader in the economic development and sustainable development industries for over 20 years, working with corporate, government, and nonprofit clients, banks and credit unions, as well as community development financial institutions and small businesses. With a knack for creatively engaging clients and re-envisioning possibilities, he enjoys hammering out logistics and bringing forth new realities.