The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, named Robin Kocina, President of Burnsville-based Mid-America Events & Expos, Inc. and Co-Owner/Chief Operating Officer of Kocina Branding & Marketing Companies, as the recipient of its 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award. The award recognizes an individual who demonstrates a long-standing commitment to volunteerism and civic participation as well as inspires others to serve by example.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is one of the 7th Annual WOW Achievement Awards, honoring individuals who have contributed to the success and empowerment of women.
Robin Kocina has a longstanding goal of improving the lives of women in business. Her passion is helping women to achieve their full potential, something she does through her extensive volunteer work. In doing so, she has become an empowering role model for those around her.
Her primary focus is on helping people reach their full potential by working within their strengths. She is a hands-on mentor, encouraging employees to set and achieve personal and professional goals, implementing a popular book club to help employees improve their leadership and team-building skills, and creating incentives for people to surpass their personal best. Robin’s strengths-based management, which is now used by the entire management team, is instrumental to the companies’ efficient workflow, and key to its long-term growth strategy.
Robin is a past board member and past Chairman of the Board for WomenVenture. She also serves on the Leadership Board for the National Federation of Independent Business, and is an active member of the Women’s Presidents Organization. She was honored in 2008 as one of the 25 Women to Watch by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and with the Upsize Lifeline Award, in 2006 with Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine’s Standing Ovation Award, and is the recipient of the 2005 Luminary Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners, Minnesota Chapter.
