Gretchen Robinson is Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Vice President and General Counsel. She was born in Arlington, VA, attended the University of Virginia, and graduated with a BA. She also received a Juris Doctor from the America University Washington College of Law.
Her law career started at the District Attorney’s Office in Queens. She worked there for many years but moved to the Administrative Prosecution Unit in the Civilian Complaint Review Board, conducting administrative trials.
In 2015, Gretchen Robinson joined the State Government and got a position as the Compliance and Internal Controls Officer of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. The State of New York created this corporation to help maintain and improve the people’s lives on Roosevelt Island.
It is responsible for planning, designing, developing, and maintaining the island, with numerous projects building new structures and renovating old ones.
They also initiate projects like the learning lab at Sportspark to boost education. The program, conducted in conjunction with the Learning bridges Initiative, offers up to 200 seats and provides free academic enrichment and support to families.
RIOC also approached the New York Community Trust, asking for public purpose grants. This resulted in the creation of the Roosevelt Island Public Fund, which awarded $150,000 to 13 nonprofits.
Gretchen Robinson also landed a position as the Senior Counsel at the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development at the Empire State Development Corporation.
Gretchen Robinson has received several recognitions throughout her career. However, during an interview with Principal Post, she said her latest recognition was as a competent and smart attorney with numerous career successes.
She also said she continuously works to develop her career, which led her to take the Dale Carnegie Managerial training course. Although she has attained a lot of success in her career, she said it was a big leap for her to change from being a criminal prosecutor to civil practice and become better and general practice. Although she is known for her law career, her first job was as a tennis instructor assistant.
Besides her career, she loves cooking, watching movies, reading, entertaining, traveling, shopping, and trying new restaurants.