NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Normanite in the Spotlight: Robin Allen

BY:Lindsay Cuomo

When Robin Allen first moved to Norman in 1981, she planned to go to nursing school, but she put that plan on hold. Robin’s decision would eventually change the trajectory of her professional career and lead her to impact many businesses in Norman as a business owner and an influential advocate within the Norman Chamber of Commerce.

“My husband and I are originally from Illinois and we did not want to pay out of state tuition so I started working,” Robin remembered. “By the time I was going to go back to nursing school, I was making more money than I wanted to give up.”

Taking inspiration from her parents who were also business owners, Robin and her husband, Don, got into the convenience store business in 1995 and operated three convenience stores in Norman for about 15 years, a role that connected the couple in the community. They also had a restaurant in Downtown Norman called Fancy That for a number of years.

“You are kind of like the neighborhood bartender,” Robin confessed. “You get to know the best of the best and many of my customers are still my friends today.”

In fact, one of the unique friendships cultivated in their rural store in northeast Norman led to another of the Allens’ business endeavors.

“My husband got to be friends with Gerald Daniels, a big pool builder at the time, who was getting ready to retire,” Robin said. “He said to Don, ‘Don, you are very handy and I am going to teach you everything I know about building pools.”

Daniels mentored the Allens as they ventured into a new industry and they opened Signature Custom Pools in 2008, building custom residential swimming pools and renovating existing pools. Robin guides homeowners through the design process while Don and his team construct the custom creations.

“Every pool we build is unique,” Robin shared. “It is so fun to go through the process. The homeowners are making such big decisions and it’s really fun to be a part of that. It is fun to see the cool things we can create for our customers and to see them satisfied in the end.”

Last year, they expanded and opened Signature Pool & Patio, a home base for their premiere pool services as well as a retail space for pool and patio accessories.

“We opened Signature Pool & Patio about 18 months ago because we needed a base in Norman,” Robin said. “We have grills, gourmet food, hammocks, loungers, everything you need for your pool and patio.”

As a business owner, Robin is an active part of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. She volunteered as the chamber board chair, was hired as interim director twice and worked as senior vice president of operations.

“They needed an operations person for two months but that two months turned into seven years,” Robin joked. “It was very rewarding working for the Chamber. I love what the Chamber does and what it stands for.”

Past Chamber board chair Casey Vinyard said Robin has quite the legacy.

“Robin is known for being small but mighty, a force to be reckoned with at the Chamber,” Vinyard shared.

Robin helped streamline software and other operations and helped with rebranding efforts.

“It was really exciting to be a part of a team that took care of Norman businesses,” she said. “We reinvented the Chamber and worked to best support our businesses.”

Robin also has a passion for serving youth in Norman, serving as a board member for the United Way, a volunteer for the McFarlin Community Food Pantry and a supporter of the Citizens Advisory Board, an organization that meets the needs of foster children in Cleveland County. She’s been in Norman Rotary Club for 18 years and served as Rotary president in 2008.

Robin and Don were junior high sweethearts. They raised two daughters and now have six granddaughters and one grandson. After nearly four decades in Norman, Robin said she has enjoyed the energy and personality of living in a university town.

“It is so fun to be in a university town and all that has to offer. There are a lot of positives to that,” she shared. “Norman is a big, small town as far as I am concerned.” – BSM