LEADERSHIP

“Tim demonstrated a particular skill in seeing connections between education and business that led to important advancements in technology use and applications.  His business clients praised his capacity for listening and the applications of resources to their specific problems and challenges, rather than his use of a pre-determined service template.”

Daniel J. LaVista, Ph.D.
Former Executive Director (2004-2010)
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

“ Tim was a forward thinker whose critical-thinking and strategies incorporate inclusiveness and diversity in the plan to transform a community. Tim and Nancy Franklin were and remain professional and positive forward thinkers. We all can trust Nancy and Tim Franklin.”

Everlena Ross, Executive Director
Pittsylvania County Community Action, Inc.
Founding Member, SCALE UP (Southside Community Aligned for Leadership in Eduction, Upward Progress)

“Tim [Franklin] is as fine a strategic thinker as I have known.”  

(April 2001, Comments at Farewell Reception for the Franklins)

 Lloyd Benjamin, Ph.D.
Former President and Professor
Indiana State University

Tim Franklin, Ph.D.
Principal and Co-Founder

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 25+-year career as an innovating senior university administrator 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.  Both leverage the strengths of polytechnic research universities through innovative interfaces designed around applied research, innovation labs, and a comprehensive set of related programs and services. 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, leading strategic initiatives, fostering institutional-scale programs, fund development, managing public and private partnerships, hiring and developing institutional staff, and articulating programs to advance the University’s economic development and research missions.  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, developed staffing, and led/overseen 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. 

Competencies

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.

Education and Certifications

Learn more about Tim Franklin.

Contact Tim Franklin for more information.