CORPORATE bio
Dee is an entrepreneurial 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 growth by integrating a deep understanding of customers, operations and untapped opportunities. She is lauded for creating value, developing talent as a strategic asset and driving social impact. Drawing on her varied experience in food & beverage, retail, consumer products, advertising and banking, in 1995, she founded Robinson Hill, Inc. a concessions management firm specializing in retail and restaurants at airports and other non-traditional venues. She is also founder of award-winning Good Trouble Bourbon. Dee scaled operations while forging successful joint ventures and partnerships that now encompass over 60+ airport restaurants and retail stores. Brands and partnerships include Hudson Group, Frontera Grill, Ben & Jerry’s, Farmer’s Fridge, Potbelly and Lettuce Us Entertain You. As a former casino and video gambling industry regulator, she has deep expertise in compliance and governance.
Dee serves as a board director for Accel Entertainment (NYSE: ACEL), and as a member of the Nominating/Governance, Gaming and Compliance committees, Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp. SPAC (NYSE: ACAQ- UN) and on the Audit committee, and Wintrust Bank and its Audit and Risk committees. Her appointments include the EXIM Bank’s Council of Advancing Women in Business. She is co-chair of PGA WORKS and trustee of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America; board director for the Gaillard Performing Arts Center ; and a Senior Advisor to Golf Nation. Dee serves on the advisory boards of Revieve, AllCampus and Women Business Collaborative. Previous board experience includes the Illinois Gaming Board, Meridian Health Care, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Committee of 200 and Fetzer Institute. 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 Most Influential Corporate Director and Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 Women of Influence. She received the Fellowship Open’s National Civic Award and was honored by AMAC with the Catalyst Award.
Dee has been appointed to as CEO of Robinson Hill, she deploys, allocates and manages assets, building necessary capacity vis-à-vis capital, talent development and training for successful market presence. Tailoring comprehensive go-to-market strategies for key audiences has driven business expansion. She spearheaded multiple capital development efforts to fund growth and penetration. Dee is also known for providing clear leadership and cultivating a mission consistent with organizational values. As such, she is recognized as an outstanding operator who drives sales, operational efficiency, innovation and management performance.
Prior to launching 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.
Throughout her career she has authored multiple articles including features in Forbes, WayMaker and Enterprising Women Magazine; and books: Snap It! Leading Forward, Living Bravely; and bestseller Courage By Design. Her memberships include NACD, Women Corporate Directors, C200, The Chicago Network, the Chicago Economic Club, and Illinois and National Restaurant Associations.
Dee earned an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business Building a High Performing Business Executive Education Program.