Media Relations Agency President Robin Kocina is one of nine inspirational women leaders to be added to a very elite group. She will be inducted into the Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame during a gala event held on May 1, 2018 at the Golden Valley Country Club. This year’s honorees will join close to 70 previous inductees including Marilyn Carlson, Leeann Chin, Rhoda Olsen and Marilyn Dahlquist. This year’s theme is, “Lighting the Way.”
“It is incredibly humbling to receive this huge honor and to be included among this amazing group of women,” says Kocina. “I am deeply grateful to God that I have been given so many opportunities to give back by mentoring and assisting other women entrepreneurs.”
Kocina’s passion for lifting women up is evident in the impact of her community involvement as well as how she supports her own staff’s personal and career development. She is known for committing tireless hours to local organizations. She is a past board member and chairman of the board for WomenVenture. She was also an active member of the Women’s Presidents Organization for 14 years. She currently serves on the Leadership Board for the National Federation of Independent Business. Kocina also serves as chairman of the board for Depart Smart.
Kocina received NAWBO’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also recognized as a Top Women in Finance Circle of Excellence as well as a Top Women in Finance by Finance & Commerce. Additional honors include the Dakota County Exceptional Businesswoman Award; Volunteer of the Year, Bloomington Chamber of Commerce; 25 Women to Watch, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal; Upside Lifeline Award, Upsize Magazine; Standing Ovation Award, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine; and NAWBO’s Luminary Award.
“People find this event so inspiring because these women had beautiful dreams, and achieved them through sheer determination and grit. People love stories of others who survive despite all the odds,” comments Mary Quist-Newins, president of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-MN). “When many of these women started their businesses, there were no women role models. Even today, only 7.5 percent of working-age women in Minnesota own a business.”
More about the Minnesota Business Owners Hall of Fame
The Minnesota Business Owners Hall of Fame was established in 2013 to honor women who made substantial and lasting contributions to Minnesota’s entrepreneurial community, and specifically a major impact on women’s entrepreneurial development in Minnesota. Additionally, they must have:
- A meaningful connection to Minnesota (such as place of birth, education, and/or business location)
- Demonstrated leadership qualities or a spirit of entrepreneurial innovation that can serve as an inspiration to future generations of Minnesota entrepreneurs,
- Been publicly acknowledged for their accomplishments by winning a major business award and/or receiving similar recognition from their industry
Register for the 2018 Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame Event here.
