Idania Ettienne was born in New Jersey and raised in Tampa, Florida. A graduate of Chamberlain High School and the MacFarlane Park Teen Parenting Program, she ultimately earned her diploma from Hillsborough High School. From a young age, Idania knew she wanted to become a doctor. At 14 years old, life took an unexpected turn when she became a mother. Rather than allowing her circumstances to define her future, she chose to take full responsibility for her decisions and remain focused on her goals.

Determined to build a stable future for her family, Idania earned her Associate of Science in Nursing from Hillsborough Community College and began her nursing career at Tampa General Hospital as a Burn ICU Nurse. In one of the most intense and high-acuity environments in healthcare, she developed resilience, precision, and disciplined clinical judgment. She continued advancing along the clinical pathway, ultimately becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Throughout her professional journey, Idania carried a deep understanding of what it means to overcome barriers. She understands firsthand how one obstacle — whether financial, transportation-related, or systemic — can alter the trajectory of a family’s life.

Along the way, she met her husband, Collin Ettienne, owner of R.I. Automotive and a former firefighter. Combining her background in structured healthcare systems with his expertise in automotive repair and emergency service, they recognized an opportunity to serve their community in a practical, sustainable way. Idania helped bring operational structure and process discipline to their family-owned business, strengthening its foundation and long-term stability.

Together, they launched Pass It Forward — a nonprofit car donation program rooted in dignity, accountability, and restoration.

Pass It Forward was created from lived experience. Idania understands what it means to work hard while navigating limited resources. She also understands that reliable transportation is often the difference between keeping a job or losing one, attending school or dropping out, reaching safety or remaining vulnerable.

At Pass It Forward, the mission goes beyond donating vehicles. The organization restores and redistributes donated cars to single mothers, survivors of domestic violence, displaced homemakers, and youth aging out of foster care — individuals who are committed to rebuilding their lives but lack reliable transportation. Each recipient is equipped not only with a vehicle, but also with basic automotive education to ensure they understand maintenance, safety, and responsible ownership. The goal is not dependency — it is independence.

Idania leads with the belief that second chances are built through discipline, structure, and compassion with accountability. She does not view vehicles as charity — she views them as infrastructure for opportunity.

Her life is proof that circumstances do not determine destiny. Through Pass It Forward, she is committed to ensuring that mobility is no longer the barrier standing between someone’s hardship and their next chapter.

After honing his skills in his hometown, Collin ventured into the professional realm by establishing Racing Integration in the year 2000. This humble beginning saw him as a one-man band operating out of an industrial park in Tampa. His dedication to the craft was unwavering, even leading him to move the shop to his backyard for a time, navigating the challenges posed by his dual responsibilities as a f irefighter for Hillsborough County.

Collin Ettienne Sr. – Founder/CEO Collin’s early years were marked by a specialization in auto performance, reflecting his love for pushing the boundaries of what vehicles could achieve. However, the dynamic nature of the automotive industry led him to a new passion for general auto repair. With the steadfast support of his family, Collin transformed Racing Integration into R.I.Automotive, a name that would become synonymous with quality and integrity in the Tampa Bay area.

At the heart of Collin’s business philosophy is a commitment to providing quality work in every aspect of his operation. He firmly believes in delivering care with integrity, a principle that has been the guiding light for R.I.Automotive. His keen attention to detail, a skill finely honed in the performance industry, sets the standard for excellence in every repair, upgrade, or service his shop provides.

As a proud owner of R.I.Automotive, Collin Ettienne envisions more than just a successful business – he sees an opportunity to shape the future of the automotive industry. With a focus on community impact, he aims to grow and nurture future technicians who share his values of quality workmanship and integrity.

Collin’s journey from the bustling streets of the Bronx to the automotive workshops of Tampa showcases not only his personal evolution but also his dedication to creating positive change in the industry he loves. As he looks forward to the future, Collin remains committed to not only serving his community through R.I.Automotive but also inspiring a new generation of technicians who will continue to elevate the standards of excellence in the automotive world.