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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Robin Klemm has been named the director of Oregon State University’s Austin Family Business Program.

Klemm, who has worked in the position on an interim basis since August of 2007, previously had been a private consultant in Seattle since 2005. Prior to that, she spent 12 years as the CEO and co-founder of Optimus Consulting, a family-owned business that specialized in business economics and strategy.

“Dr. Klemm’s educational training and real-world management experience as a consultant is an excellent fit for the Austin Family Business Program," said Ilene Kleinsorge, dean of OSU’s College of Business.

“Her rich educational background in business economics, strategy and solving business problems and her experience as the executive director of an economic think tank at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrates that she has the energy, vision and leadership skills to ensure AFBP maintains its status as a top-ranked family business program through outreach, research, academic programs and continuing education," Kleinsorge added.

In the short time that she has been interim director of the Austin Family Business Program, Klemm has worked at expanding services to family businesses. The OSU program has been holding regular workshops on topics such as marketing in an uncertain economy and on strategic planning.

“I have been meeting with business owners throughout the Northwest and many of them have the same concerns, the same problems,” Klemm said. “It is exciting to be able to provide them services in the areas of succession plans, business strategic planning, and marketing.”

Klemm received her Ph.D. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Austin Family Business Program is a university-based family business program providing inspiration, education, outreach, and research to support the success and survival of family businesses. It offers family businesses, service providers, and next generation owners quality, unbiased educational resources grounded in research.