Pictured Robbin Burr
Robbin Burr, well known around the U.S. for her work as an American Airlines diversity marketing executive, has been named executive director of Center on Halsted/Horizons. She starts June 1.
Acting Executive Director Modesto 'Tico' Valle, who did not seek the top post, will become senior director of operations.
Burr is frequently in Chicago for area benefits, including for non-profits which American Airlines has partnered with, including the Lesbian Community Cancer Project.
She has been a pioneer in LGBT programs during her 24-year career with American Airlines. She is an original member—and the first woman—to serve on the American Airlines Rainbow TeAAm, one of the first dedicated LGBT marketing and sales forces established by a Fortune 100 company. Burr also was a key proponent in implementing the company's domestic-partnership program, securing support from corporate management and more than a dozen diverse employee groups.
National sales director for The Rainbow TeAAm, Burr lives in Rockford. She helped create the LGBT marketing and sales program in 1996 while working at the airline's headquarters in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Burr was co-chair of American Airlines GLBT employee group and served as co-chair for the airline's Diversity Advisory Council. Burr has also been involved with fundraising for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and is a past board member of Dallas Black Tie Dinner committee, the nation's largest LGBT black tie event. She recently served as honorary co-chair of the 2003 Chicago House's World Tour gala.
The selection process began in April with the hiring of Chicagoland executive search firm Witt Kieffer and attracted accomplished candidates from around the nation, according to the search committee chairperson, Robert Kohl, a Center board member.
'She is inclusive, visionary, dynamic, collaborative, and she has a proven track record of building a successful organization through team building and empowerment, cooperative work between supervisors and staff, and effective planning and strategy,' Kohl said of Burr. 'She also demonstrated managerial oversight and financial success in her department at American.'
The Center on Halsted has raised more than $12 million toward a $20 million goal for construction of the center. A major boost in reaching that goal is expected on March 20 with the Center on Halsted/Horizons Human First Benefit Gala at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
www.centeronhalsted.org .