Tim Franklin, Ph.D., serves as Principal at Franklin Solutions (FS) where he works with leaders from higher education, community, business, and government organizations on strategic projects and initiatives. Tim joined FS full-time following his recent retirement from a 27-year career as an innovating university leader that included numerous regional, state, and national recognitions for his projects and work. At FS, he translates this leadership experience into client value. Tim’s achievements include substantial contributions in founding, designing, advocating, and building two market-facing, special purpose institutions focused on technology development and economic growth. The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) and Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) represent two of the most successful national models, one confronting rural challenges and the other urban. Franklin led these intermediary organizations from start-up through institutional growth of more than 125 employees and $85M+ in annual operating expenditures. Previously, Franklin held leadership positions at Virginia Tech, Penn State, Indiana State University, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Franklin’s responsibilities have included strategic planning, government relations, policy analysis and advocacy, fostering institutional-scale programs, and hiring and developing institutional staff. Franklin has strategically aligned numerous partnerships between higher education, community, industry, and government focused on delivering notable regional, cluster, and technology development impact. He has obtained funding for and led numerous economic and workforce development programs. Franklin founded and led TRE Networks, Inc., a non-profit organization of leading national organizations and universities dedicated to advancing the role of research universities in transformative regional engagement (TRE) efforts. Franklin brings skills and a reputation:- As a builder and for starting new endeavors,- As a master collaborator and team builder in both his internal and external relationships,- For his vision, leadership, and skills in competitive contexts,- For building talented, high-performing work teams, whose discretionary efforts make ambitious strategic goals achievable,- For innovation and creative solutions in confronting complex, messy problems,- For mastering the technical and policy subjects at the core of his efforts, and- As an incisive strategist, catalyzer of constructive change, and author of messages leading to trust in and commitment to new endeavors.