At any big event in Portage, there’s one voice that rings out over the crowd. Robin Wilkening is the leading “cheerleader” for the city, spouting the things that make Portage great all over town. As a full-time Re/Max agent, and working in the Portage Township Trustee’s office, Robin is greatly immersed in the city. “I think it’s the best city in the area,” she commented.
A Portage resident for 22 years, Robin moved from Lake County so her husband could pursue firefighting as a full-time career. Wanting to become more involved with the city, she began volunteering with Pride in Portage, a community organization that promotes the city through events and parades. “It blossomed from there,” said Robin, as the organization introduced her to many people in the community.
While working on Pride in Portage, Robin became aware that the majority of the community had no idea what their organization did. Robin began pushing to get the organization noticed, eventually writing an article to the newspaper about the Christmas parade. The article garnered enough interest and earned Robin a weekly column in the newspaper. “Writing comes natural to me…it’s like my therapy.”
Wanting more ways to promote the city, Robin became a realtor with Century 21. “As a realtor, you have to sell the location first,” she stated. While working for Century 21, Robin met more people in the community and developed a friendship with BruceAnn Singleton, a Re/Max broker, who eventually brought Robin to her agency. Through Re/Max, Robin has been involved with raising support for the Children’s Miracle Network and Susan G. Komen foundation.
“I’m a fundamentalist,” said Robin, “We need to take care of ourselves.” This mantra led her to helping Brendan Clancy with his campaign for Portage Township Trustee, as his media person. “Brendan wants to do it all,” she said, talking about the many ideas he has for the Township, that no previous Trustee has done, to do more with less. “It’s more than a paycheck here…when someone’s hurting, we find ways to help.” Robin officially joined the Trustee team in March.
Someone of her dedication couldn’t possibly have time to do anything else, yet Robin still finds space to sit on the board of Rebuilding Together, serve as Plan Commission President, volunteer at Portage First United Methodist Church, and will be Vice-President of Portage Kiwanis this upcoming year. “Everyone has a vice and [serving the city] is my vice,” she commented, “We have pride in our city and what we do here. When you give, you get back ten fold. It may not be monetary but it makes you feel good.”