An accomplished business leader and a skilled political strategist, Robin Winston has devoted his career to providing timely and savvy strategic, finance, management, marketing, and political advice to the people for whom he has worked. In 1999, he made history when he became the first African-American to chair a major political party in Indiana .

A native of Washington , Pennsylvania , Mr. Winston moved to Louisville , Kentucky , to pursue his education, and start a career in business and government. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville , where he was elected president of the student body.

In Louisville , Mr. Winston was assistant director of St. Benedict's Center for Early Childhood Education, a United Way-funded not-for-profit. Mr. Winston improved service to Louisville 's minority community by more than doubling enrollment and establishing programs to certify all staff in early childhood development. After inheriting a financial deficit, he left the center with a substantial surplus.

Also in Louisville , Mr. Winston served as chief of staff at the city's legislative body, the Board of Aldermen. He handled constituent requests, assisted with public relations and community outreach for the board, analyzed legislation, and won two awards for cost-saving innovations. Mr. Winston also operated a political consulting firm and served as general consultant to successful campaigns for city council, county commissioner, county prosecutor, state attorney general, and congress. In 1992, he directed then-President Clinton 's campaign in Kentucky .

Moving to Indianapolis in 1993, Mr. Winston became a community development specialist in the Indiana Department of Commerce. He served a then-Lieutenant Governor Frank O'Bannon's representative to communities across Indiana . While serving in the Commerce Department, Mr. Winston directed $11 million in grants to communities to improve infrastructure, housing, municipal facilities, and preserve historic buildings.

Mr. Winston then accepted Lieutenant Governor O'Bannon's invitation to join his personal staff as a special assistant. In that capacity, Mr. Winston served as the lieutenant governor's liaison to several economic development agencies including the Indiana Housing Finance Authority, the Small Business Development Corp., the Minority Business Development Commission, and the Community Development Division of the state Commerce Department. Mr. Winston focused on enhancing community outreach for the agencies and served as a principal advisor to then-Lieutenant Governor O'Bannon.

Mr. Winston left public employment in 1996 and became deputy director of O'Bannon's successful campaign to be elected governor. Following the election, Mr. Winston became political director of the Indiana Democratic Party. He became Chairman in 1999 at the request of Governor O'Bannon and Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan.

Now a successful businessman in Indianapolis , he runs the largest minority-owned government affairs, community relations and public outreach firm in Indiana . The Winston/Terrell Group has successfully represented clients in the transportation, human services, homeland security and public utilities fields. Winston's firm was recognized as the 2003 Emerging Business winner.

Public outreach, community relations and government affairs reinforce his commitment to diversity. He has led the effort for inclusion of minority-owned firms on state and local projects. Using personal funds, Winston started a scholarship program for inner-city public school students who planned to attend Indiana colleges.

A life member of the NAACP, Mr. Winston serves on the Boards of Advisors of the Madame Walker Theatre, the Pike Schools Education Foundation and assists the Association of Retarded Citizens. He formerly was a member of the Eagle Creek Park Foundation, the Help America Vote Act Steering Committee and the Eagle Society of the Eiteljorg Museum. He also served as a member of the board of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Urban League and the Indianapolis Cable Franchise Board. In addition, Winston is a political analyst for WTHR, Indiana's most-watched television station.

He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Charlitta Winston, and their daughter, Chloe Margaret Winston.

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