Rick and Trina Byrd

"Everyone is born with opportunity, the opportunity to make a difference" -- Trina Byrd

Rick and Trina Byrd have worked in the Technology industry for more than three decades, 13 years at Caesars Casino as a Systems Administration Manager in the IT Department and since 1990 as the President of T.Byrd Computers.  Rick has over 18 years in Technology for the public school district for which he retired.   Trina has a bachelors degree in Data Processing and numerous certifications and certificates in business and technology.  Rick has an associate degree in computer repair.  In her role, Trina develops and implements training programs for community and corporate companies as well as the daily operations of the company.  

In 1994 the company received private vocational school approval from the New Jersey Department of Education and certification from the New Jersey Department of Labor, Veteran’s Administration and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

In 1996, Trina and Rick developed and hosted T.Byrd Computer Forum “Live”, a live talk show dedicated to showing via television the latest in technology hardware and software - only one of its kind in South Jersey.  The live broadcast ran for period of six years in television and then went  to  radio for 4 additional years, as a live program providing information to the public on technology and business topics.  

In 2001, Rick and Trina founded the “T.Byrd Tech-mobile”,  a school bus that was converted into a classroom on wheels. It was used to teach computer classes in neighborhoods who did not have immediate access to technology and community based non-profit organizations requiring technology services.  

In 2003, they founded the SJ Technology Education Foundation, which allows them to work with non-profit organizations by offering lower consultant rates on the development of training programs that bring direct services to the community.  SJTEF has provided thousands of dollars in training scholarships to individuals who could not be funded by an agency, and who could not afford to pay the full tuition for full time curriculum programming at the T.ByrdTrainingCenter.  

In 2004, Trina received a charter for Tri-County Score; a national organization for which she is Chapter Chair and represents Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties in New Jersey.  Rick was the Technology Coordinator for the chapter.  In these volunteer roles, individuals receive free counseling to start and/or maintain their business.  Trina has developed more than 50 seminars and workshops designed for entrepreneurs and oversee the daily operations.  

In 2009, they founded a Job Loss Workshop Center to address the under served and unemployed to address five key areas:  resumes, cover/thank you/follow up letters, interviews, internet job search and entrepreneurship for which she holds free monthly workshops for the public.  

In 2010 they founded the Business Breakfast Club Committee where Trina hosted a monthly meeting to help recently laid off individuals who want to start a business.  This forum provided entrepreneurs and small businesses an opportunity to sponsor their business and network their products or services, provide a seminar or workshop beneficial to other businesses at no charge.  The T.ByrdCenter sponsored a continental breakfast and lunch.

In 2011 the SJ Technology Education Foundation expanded to provide free counseling and services to the business community.

Rick and Trina have received more than 100 certificates and awards for community service.  If Trina had it to do all over again, Rick would have retired at 30 and Trina would have wanted to work for Oprah Winfrey.  Since that cannot happen, Trina wants to keep striving for that big difference she wants to mark on the world with the sole intention of helping as many people as possible to improve themselves through education and opportunity.