Robbinsdale New Community Development Director Brings Vast Experience
After more than 18 years, Robbinsdale has a new community development director.
In May, Heather Rand replaced Rick Pearson who retired earlier this year.
The new director is right at home in city government
“I started in this position back in May,” says Rand.
Heather Rand, the new Robbinsdale Community Development Director.
Rand has worked in Anoka, Woodbury, and Duluth.
“It’s fun and every city, a little different. Different opportunities, different threats though, when it comes to development too, so that keeps things very interesting,” says Rand.
Most recently, she was working for the city of Inver Grove Heights as its community development director.
Rand’s vast experiences will help her as she carries out her new responsibilities for Robbinsdale, which include managing city initiatives and working closely with city employees and business leaders.
“I was delighted that this is a community with a Chamber of Commerce and I can work with them as a business advocate,” said Rand.
Rand, who has a degree in urban planning from Augsburg College, knows the city has limited undeveloped space, so her focus will be on redevelopment.
“Here, we’ve got the public infrastructure, meaning water, sewer, roads. We just have to figure out what’s the highest and best use of our existing property,” said Rand.
Rand’s ability to find the best in things, helps her raise award-winning Springer Spaniels.
It will also help her as she looks to bring positive changes to Robbinsdale that benefit everyone.
“It might be that growth and change is as simple as just how do employees interact with the public and can we improve the process or maybe put better data out on web pages, the city’s website, so that our citizens can more easily get that and not have to come to City Hall and slog through who should they have to talk to, but make it more clear,” she said.
Rand also has her Masters in Public Administration from Hamline University.
She interned at Robbinsdale around 30 years ago.
