Name: Phoenicia “Phoenix” Robinson

Title: Principal Planner, Economic Development and Planning

How long have you been at TARCOG and what do you do? It will be four years in April.

What did you want to be when you grew up? As a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian because my mom worked with animals for the first 16 years of my life as a veterinarian technician. In high school, I discovered a love for architecture and decided to pursue that.

What do you hope to accomplish within the next year? I will obtain my certification with the American Planning Association; complete half if not 75 percent of the projects on my plate; and travel to a least one place on my bucket list this year, Canada.

Who is your hero and why? My hero is anyone that gets up and chooses to seize the day — in whatever capacity. This takes courage and not everyone makes that choice. I’d also like to give a special shout out to my team. It’s a pleasure to serve with these folks every day, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank them for being who they are.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? I would spend the day exploring temples across Kyoto, Japan. The architecture nerd in me would be very happy.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? Learn how to rest. This is a lesson I am definitely still learning.

What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Start a new job in an unfamiliar city during the height of a pandemic.