NYSBA Hires New International Relations Manager

NYSBA Hires New International Relations Manager

8.6.2021

By Brandon Vogel

With more than 25 percent of NYSBA members residing out of state and unlimited growth potential on the horizon, the time has come for a new staff person to manage this burgeoning segment of membership.

Carra Forgea is NYSBA’s new International Relations Manager. She began her position in June after having previously served as a section and meetings liaison and member resource center representative.

Forgea is responsible for helping build and execute NYSBA’s non-domestic membership recruitment strategy. She also will serve as liaison for the International Section and be responsible for planning and facilitating all internationally focused Continuing Legal Education programs.

Forgea first came to the United States as an exchange student from the Philippines when she was 14. She was part of  the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, which was designed for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations. The idea was that while living and studying in the United States, the exchange students would also help “build bridges of peace” between the U.S. and their native country.

“I liked the idea of being able to represent my culture, my beliefs to the U.S., to my American colleagues,” said Forgea. The experience, she says, has served her well in her new role.

Upon returning to the Philippines, Forgea majored in international relations at Ateneo de Davao University, where she also studied law. She came back to the United States in 2019.

Although no two days are exactly the same, a typical day for her involves lots of emails and contacting venues and vendors for conferences. “I’m constantly thinking of how can I grow our membership globally, as well as new initiatives and improving our current strategies.”

More than anything, Forgea is looking forward to creating a bigger impact in the global legal community. “There is so much potential to grow our membership and for the international community to see the value in being a member,” she says. The International Section has dozens of chapters and collaborates often with bar associations in other countries.

NYSBA has now entered into numerous cooperation agreements, officially called memorandums of understanding, with bar associations around the world, including recent collaborations with the Philippine, Milan, Osaka, Dai-Ichi Tokyo, Seoul, Nigerian and Bucharest bar associations.

Outside of her busy job, Forgea plays ultimate frisbee, cooks, visits with family and friends and takes dance classes. She also volunteers with Maddie’s Mark, which organizes events for children with serious illnesses.