Mark Forrest is an accomplished finance director with over 15 years of experience driving financial performance, operational excellence, and strategic decision-making. His unique background, spanning Fortune 500 corporations, higher education, and municipal organizations, makes him an invaluable asset to the Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW), where mission and fiscal stewardship are deeply intertwined. 

A dedicated Chicagoan, Mark is committed to strengthening the city's educational fabric. He began his career building a rigorous foundation in accounting principles and financial reporting as a Staff Accountant with Hyatt. This corporate expertise was later honed in the educational sector through his role as Controller–Senior Manager for Aramark at Loyola University, where he led budgeting, forecasting, and financial operations directly supporting a major academic institution. This unique blend of corporate discipline and academic insight is precisely what allows him to champion both the financial health and educational mission of ICSW.

 His prior finance roles at leading institutions like Rush University Medical Center and City Colleges of Chicago have provided him with a profound understanding of the compliance, analysis, and cross-functional leadership required in mission-driven environments.

 Mark holds an MBA in Finance from Southern Illinois University and a BBA in Accounting from Roosevelt University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidate, continuously advancing his technical expertise to serve ICSW with the highest standard of financial integrity.

 Mark’s career is a testament to his ability to translate robust financial strategy into sustainable operational success, making him uniquely qualified to support and advance the critical work of ICSW.