Roubinek to lead Transportation Research Center
Chaired by College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams, the Board of Transportation Research Center Inc., has named Brett Roubinek as TRC’s new President and CEO. Roubinek has served as vice president at TRC since 2016.
TRC is an automotive proving ground located on 4,500 acres of land in East Liberty, Ohio, approximately 40 miles northwest of Columbus. Its connection to The Ohio State University dates back to 1962, when the College of Engineering established the facility to coordinate and encourage transportation-related academic and research programs.
“Brett has shown outstanding leadership and has played a key role in continuing to build TRC's key relationships with NHTSA, Honda and Ohio State,” said Williams. “He is the right person to take the reins as we seek to create the nation’s largest and most advanced vehicle testing and research center and help the transportation industry navigate the path to autonomy.”
Roubinek is a seasoned executive with a history of success in growing businesses, leading people, forging relationships and fostering innovation across the automotive ecosystem. A central Ohio native, Roubinek’s diverse experience—from performance driving for multiple OEMs to launching a start-up company—will help guide TRC’s growth and collaborations with Ohio State as well as local and federal government partners. Upon joining TRC in March 2016, Roubinek undertook daily operations, including facility expansion planning and execution.
Last January, Ohio State President Michael V. Drake and Gov. John Kasich announced a $45 million commitment to expand TRC’s autonomous vehicle capabilities. In addition to the university and state funding, the College of Engineering committed $24 million over five years to hire faculty and staff to support research into autonomous technology. In October, the new 15,240-square-foot James A. Rhodes Conference Center opened on TRC’s campus.
“With TRC approaching its second half century in operation, I look forward to continuing the collaboration with partners and stakeholders as Central Ohio embraces the possibilities of automated and connected transportation technologies,” said Roubinek.
“TRC enjoys a rich heritage as the leading independent proving ground in North America, and today we are innovating at the forefront of mobility. I am proud to serve alongside incredibly dedicated associates who deliver unparalleled service and thought leadership to our diverse, and growing, roster of valued clients, pushing TRC to new horizons every day.”
Prior to joining TRC, Roubinek served as a senior executive with the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, CSM, iRacing.com and the Skip Barber Racing School, among several other industry roles. He has shared his expertise with national and international audiences as a guest commentator on major television networks, as a contributing writer Car & Driver and other publications, and as a speaker at the New York Auto Show and PRI Trade Show. Additionally, Roubinek has over 25 years of on-track experience as a professional racecar driver and driving instructor.
A graduate of Denison University, Roubinek serves on the Board of the Ohio Smart Mobility Initiative and the Smart Belt Coalition.
About Transportation Research Center Inc.
Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) is a stand-alone not-for-profit governed by The Ohio State University and is the manager of Transportation Research Center an independent automotive proving ground located on approximately 4,500 acres of land in East Liberty, Ohio. TRC Inc. conducts programs designed to test a wide variety of vehicles for safety, energy, fuel economy, emissions, durability, noise, crash, crash simulation and performance.