A Washington State native, Trina spent over 20 years in the private sector before making the transition to non-profit management in 1999. During the past ten years, she has worked for several non-profits; promoting violence prevention curriculum, providing grants for programs to support and encourage college readiness for low-income and minority students, and building infrastructure to implement multi-million dollar grants to train school districts in research-driven learning strategies. Before coming to the Center for Independence as an Executive Director in June of 2007, she was the Executive Director of BABES Network, a peer-led Seattle non-profit serving HIV positive women. It was at BABES Network that Trina began working with people with disabilities. She became convinced that peer support and peer mentoring was the reason so many women were surviving their HIV and moving on to set and reach goals that transformed their lives.
Before her non-profit management phase, Ms Forest had several different careers. She owned and ran several businesses, including her own promotion business in Bellingham, an insurance agency, and as a welder and running crews installing industrial laundry equipment. She spent many years in the financial services industry and also managed departments in large companies.
Trina, a person with a disability herself, is the Vice President of ACIL-WA, the Association of Centers for Independent Living in Washington State.
Trina raised a large family with seven children and stepchildren. She loves to garden, play Scrabble, read, travel, and play with her five grandchildren.
A Washington State native, Trina spent over 20 years in the private sector before making the transition to non-profit management in 1999. During the past ten years, she has worked for several non-profits; promoting violence prevention curriculum, providing grants for programs to support and encourage college readiness for low-income and minority students, and building infrastructure to implement multi-million dollar grants to train school districts in research-driven learning strategies. Before coming to the Center for Independence as an Executive Director in June of 2007, she was the Executive Director of BABES Network, a peer-led Seattle non-profit serving HIV positive women. It was at BABES Network that Trina began working with people with disabilities. She became convinced that peer support and peer mentoring was the reason so many women were surviving their HIV and moving on to set and reach goals that transformed their lives.
Before her non-profit management phase, Ms Forest had several different careers. She owned and ran several businesses, including her own promotion business in Bellingham, an insurance agency, and as a welder and running crews installing industrial laundry equipment. She spent many years in the financial services industry and also managed departments in large companies.
Trina, a person with a disability herself, is the Vice President of ACIL-WA, the Association of Centers for Independent Living in Washington State.
Trina raised a large family with seven children and stepchildren. She loves to garden, play Scrabble, read, travel, and play with her five grandchildren.
