Hospital Hospitality House Executive Director
Jean Forrest
Jean Forrest has been the Executive Director of the Hospital Hospitality House since July of 1988, and is the second Executive Director of the House. Prior to joining the staff at the House, she was the Blood Services coordinator for the Kalamazoo County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Jean’s work history includes the Personnel Departments of Liberty Mutual Insurance, Chicago, and Johnson Services in Milwaukee. Upon return to Kalamazoo, she was in the Marketing and Public Relations Department of American National Bank.
A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, Jean has earned her advanced degree in Life Experience as a single parent through numerous hours of volunteer time and work in many different kinds of positions.
Jean is a graduate of Leadership Kalamazoo, a Rotarian, a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the YWCA, and the Kalamazoo Association of Volunteer Administrators. She was selected to receive the 2000 Spirit of Women Award presented by Borgess Health Alliance and Prevention Magazine in the Community Category for women who make a difference in their communities and in the lives of others. In 2005, she received the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award.
Jean has served as a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Advisory Board, has served on the board of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (NAHHH), as secretary–treasurer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), West Michigan Chapter, and has served as the treasurer of the Westnedge Hill Neighborhood Association.