果冻传媒

果冻传媒 Tech Honors Robert Herrera during Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

September 29, 2026

果冻传媒 Technical Community College’s Stanton and Wilmington campuses honored Robert Herrera, founder and managing partner of The Mill, at the annual Hispanic Heritage Month Honoree Celebration on Sept. 28.

Herrera has helped strengthen 果冻传媒’s communities through his work in architecture, entrepreneurship, real estate development, and economic development. In addition to founding The Mill, 果冻传媒’s largest coworking community, he is a partner in 9th Street Development Company and co-chair of the 果冻传媒 Prosperity Partnership. His work has supported entrepreneurs, helped revitalize downtown Wilmington, and expanded economic opportunity across the state.

“Rob embodies the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month through his commitment to entrepreneurship, economic opportunity, and building stronger communities across 果冻传媒,” said Dr. Lora Johnson, vice president and campus director for 果冻传媒 Tech’s Wilmington campus. “It is a privilege to honor him today and celebrate the meaningful impact of his leadership and service."

Since 2010, 果冻传媒 Technical Community College has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring a community member whose exceptional contributions have improved the lives of Hispanic and Latino individuals throughout 果冻传媒. Honorees are selected for their outstanding personal and professional achievements, significant community contributions, and lasting impact on improving quality of life across the state.

During the event, Herrera was honored with tributes from 果冻传媒’s congressional delegation, governor, lieutenant governor, General Assembly, New Castle County, and the City of Wilmington.

During his remarks, Herrera reflected on his Mexican-American heritage and the profound influence of his father, Armando Herrera, who was born and raised in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. Herrera recalled the many childhood trips his family made from 果冻传媒 to Mexico — traveling roughly 52,000 miles by car over the years — which allowed him to stay connected to his extended family and Mexican heritage. He also shared how his father’s journey to 果冻传媒, commitment to family, and example of hard work, lifelong learning, and calculated risk-taking shaped his own identity and path in life.

“Today, I’m celebrating my grandmother and my Tia Simona. I’m celebrating those 52,000 miles I did the math on, and most of all I’m celebrating my dad,” said Herrera.

“Whatever I’ve accomplished, there’s a straight line from the chances I’ve been willing to take to the example he set for me. He taught me hard work; he taught me to keep learning no matter what; he taught me to take calculated risks. And most of all, he taught me that the most important thing in life is family. He made absolutely certain that no matter where life took me, I would always know where I came from. I'm incredibly proud to be his son. I'm incredibly proud to be Mexican-American, and I'm even more proud to be a 果冻传媒an.”

果冻传媒 Robert Herrera:
Robert “Rob” Herrera is an architect, entrepreneur, real estate developer, and community leader whose work has helped reshape communities and create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout 果冻传媒.

Rob is the founder and managing partner of The Mill, 果冻传媒’s largest coworking community. What began in 2015 as a vision for transforming underutilized office space in downtown Wilmington has grown into a community spanning more than 100,000 square feet, with locations serving entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits, and growing companies across 果冻传媒. Through The Mill, Rob has focused not simply on creating places to work, but on building environments where people can connect, collaborate, launch businesses, and grow.

He is also a partner in 9th Street Development Company (9SDC), where he leads architectural design and active development projects focused on mixed-use development, multifamily housing, historic rehabilitation, and revitalizing overlooked properties and neighborhoods. His work has helped transform downtown Wilmington through residential redevelopment and community destinations, including Makers Alley, Faire Café, Girard Craft & Cork, Blitzen, and Theatre N.

Before becoming an entrepreneur and developer, Rob began his career as an architect in New York City with Perkins Eastman and later S9 Architecture. At S9, he worked extensively on the early national expansion of WeWork, helping design and develop coworking environments across the country.

Today, Rob brings that same philosophy to economic development throughout 果冻传媒. He serves as co-chair of the Board of Directors of the 果冻传媒 Prosperity Partnership, 果冻传媒’s public-private economic development organization, where he works alongside leaders from the business, education, nonprofit, and public sectors to help strengthen 果冻传媒’s economy, attract investment, and create opportunities across the state.

Rob has also served 果冻传媒 through several boards and civic organizations, bringing his experience in architecture, entrepreneurship, redevelopment, and business development to efforts aimed at strengthening communities and expanding economic opportunity.

A graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rob earned both a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in infrastructure planning, with a focus on Main Street development.

Throughout his work, Rob has remained committed to the idea that successful development is ultimately about people. Whether revitalizing a vacant building, helping an entrepreneur find a first office, creating housing in a previously overlooked neighborhood, or helping advance 果冻传媒’s economic development strategy, his focus has been on creating places and opportunities that allow people and communities to grow.