Dr. Michelle Reina
Co-Founder
Dr. Michelle Reina, co-founder of Reina Trust Building®, is an internationally recognized expert and one of the original researchers and practitioners in the field of organizational trust. Her entrepreneurial journey began in her 20s, when she took on increasingly complex leadership roles—from running a chain of stores to managing an operation of more than 300 people and a $42 million budget—experiences that shaped her deep belief in trusting oneself to create new possibilities.
Today, Michelle brings that hard-earned insight to her work with leaders and organizations around the world, with a particular passion for supporting women leaders and entrepreneurs. At the heart of Michelle’s work is a deep respect for people and relationships. She brings warmth, insight, and steady presence to her work, helping leaders create environments where people feel seen, valued, and able to do their best work together.
Dr. Dennis Reina
Co-Founder
Dr. Dennis Reina, co-founder of Reina Trust Building® and a pioneer in the field of organizational trust, is a highly sought after speaker and expert. His passion for trust building began in the 1970s while teaching rock climbing in Yosemite National Park, where trust, communication, and shared responsibility were essential to success—and sometimes survival.
Dennis is known for making trust tangible and actionable. He brings curiosity, humility, and practical wisdom to his work, helping leaders understand that trust is not soft or abstract, it’s an intentional practice that is built and rebuilt through everyday behaviors, conversations, and choices.
Michelle and Dennis Reina: Building Trust That Lasts
Since founding Reina Trust Building® in 1991, Michelle and Dennis Reina have worked side by side to help thousands of leaders and teams around the world understand what builds trust, what breaks it, and how to rebuild it when it matters most. Their work spans industries and organizational levels, supporting people through growth, disruption, conflict, and change.
Together, they are the co-authors of several bestselling and influential books, including Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace (now in its third edition), Rebuilding Trust in the Workplace, and their newest book, The Art of Trust Building: Transforming Lives, Teams, and Organizations. Their writing and teaching translate decades of research and real-world experience into practical, human-centered tools that leaders can use every day.
At the core of their shared work is a simple but powerful belief: trust is built—and rebuilt—through intentional actions, meaningful conversations, and the courage to engage honestly with one another. Dennis and Michelle don’t just teach trust, they live it. For them, trust building isn’t a profession, it’s their purpose.