TREVOR TRAINA ’82 U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRIA BY MEGAN BROWN
On May 25, 2018, Trevor Traina was officially installed as the United States Ambassador to Austria. Traina had previously been confirmed by the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate as the new ambassador and was installed after presenting his credentials to Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen, federal president of the Republic of Austria. Mr. Traina was nominated for the role of ambassador—a position that was previously held by his grandfather, Wiley T. Buchanan—by the White House in January 2018.
A graduate of Cathedral School for Boys’ Class of 1982, Mr. Traina received his A.B. in international relations from Princeton University. He then went on to earn a special diploma in social studies from St. Catherine’s College, Oxford as well as an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley. Mr. Traina is a tech entrepreneur and investor in the Bay Area in addition to being a dedicated philanthropist. Mr. Traina’s professional background— leading large organizations, managing personnel, and developing innovative and flexible approaches to contemporary challenges—coupled with his experience on many non-profit advisory and board positions make him a perfect fit for the ambassadorship.
Currently the CEO and Founder of If Only, a company that allows buyers to purchase unique life experiences and then donates a portion of the proceeds to charities and worthy causes, Mr. Traina has previously founded or co-founded five companies and sold four of them to major corporations such as Microsoft and Intuit. Mr. Traina has served on the boards of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Haas School of Business, the Princeton University Art Museum, Grace Cathedral and Cathedral School for Boys. Mr. Traina and his wife, Alexis, have two children, Johnny and Delphina, and have lived in San Francisco. In a statement to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Mr. Traina remarked that he
felt “humbled” by the nomination and “honored” to assume the same diplomatic post once held by his grandfather. Mr. Traina also expounded on his affection for Austria: “The very first country I ever visited was Austria. I have returned [here] many times since [childhood] to visit friends and family and even to introduce my children on their first trip to Europe … Austria is not just a country I know. It is a country I love … I commit to give everything I have and use all my energy, experience, passion, and resolve to represent all Americans and to serve our country and its interests successfully.” Following his installation, Traina and his family have relocated to Vienna, Austria where the United States Embassy is located.
FALL 2018 • RED & GOLD | 75
74 | CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
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