Eric Forrest joins Board of Directors
January 31, 2018: A Lane County business executive who grew up in Roseburg has been named to the Board of Directors of The Ford Family Foundation, effective immediately. The board selected Eric Forrest, co-president of Bigfoot Beverages, to join the six sitting board members.
The board governs the charitable foundation created by Kenneth W. Ford and Hallie E. Ford, the late philanthropists and pioneers of Roseburg Forest Products Co.
Eric ForrestForrest, a graduate of Roseburg High School, has been a business owner and executive in Oregon for 24 years. In addition to serving as co-president of Bigfoot Beverages (with locations in Bend, Coos Bay, Newport, Roseburg and Eugene), he is a co-founder of Fast Track Car Wash in Eugene and the president of Riversdale Ranch Properties in Roseburg.
He currently serves on the boards of Columbia Bank, Oregon Beverage Recycling Board (chair), and the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association. His community activities have included serving on the 4J (Eugene) School Board, chair of the 4J Schools Local Option Levy, chair of the Mike Bellotti MDA Auction, chair of the CASA Casino Night fundraiser, and director of the McKenzie Willamette Festival of Trees.
“Eric Forrest brings strong skills and life experiences to the Foundation,” said Toby Luther, chair of The Ford Family Foundation Board of Directors. "He was the first in his family to earn a bachelor's degree, and he completed it with financial assistance from others. He fully understands our mission of successful citizens and vital rural communities. He exemplifies the values of the founders of The Ford Family Foundation.”
In his youth, Forrest worked at Roseburg Forest Products pulling green chain and at Winchester Rock Products crushing rock for road construction.
Forrest attended Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. He has a bachelor's of science degree from Oregon State University and master of business administration degree (finance and marketing) from Willamette University.
He lives in Eugene with his wife, Kristin (LeFevre) Forrest. They have three adult children.
Other board members of The Ford Family Foundation are: Allyson Ford of Lake Oswego; Toby Luther of Roseburg; Joseph Robertson of Portland; Wesley Sand of West Linn; Andy Storment of Eugene; and Carrie Thompson of Corvallis.
