EXECUTIVE BOARD
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, our skilled team of professionals is the backbone of The Tryall Fund. Their ideas help shape the direction and mission of our organization as it continues to develop. Read on to learn more about some of our incredible team members.
Manuela Cerri Goren
President
An international journalist who specializes in entertainment, for over 20 years she has worked for Condé Nast writing for Italian Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue and Glamour. She spent three years as a producer and on-air correspondent for the daily two-hour radio program “Live from New York” for Radio 105 Italia. She is currently the U.S. correspondent for D, the weekly magazine of La Repubblica, the bestselling Italian newspaper. Manuela also sits on the Board of Directors of Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, Dress for Success, Jamaica and on the Dean’s Council of the Gallatin School at New York University where she is also part of NYU’s Women’s Initiative. Manuela served for over 10 years on the Board of American Friends of Jamaica and is a former Advisory Member at MCC Theatre and Board Member of The New Group in New York. She has been on the Board of the Tryall Fund since 2009 focusing on the Scholarship Committee and various Events' Committees
Jean Tirey Sexton was born in Dallas, Texas where she attended Southern Methodist University, earning a BBA degree. After college, she attended the Institute de Francais in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
In Dallas, Jean's volunteer activities included serving as Head Docent; composing scripts; training docents at the Hall of State which contains the largest repository of Texas history available. Jean also soundscribed many text books for blind children and broadcast news for the blind as part of her Junior League service. She served as President of the Jr. Group of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League; Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority Jr. Alumnae; Less Filles Fleurs Garden Club; PTA Board. She also studied classical piano and spent leisure time avidly playing tennis.
Jean Sexton
After moving to California, Jean was invited to become a member of the UCSD Medical Center Auxiliary and subsequently its President. Later, she became President of the Board of Advisors at the University of California Medical Center, San Diego.Jean and her husband, Rusty, whose company is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, have also participated in numerous activities there. They initiated a scholarship program twenty-one years ago in the Mandeville, Louisiana Rotary Club which has a remarkable list of graduates. They have been very active supporters of the World War II Museum.Jean remarks that, "I first visited Jamaica in the 1950's. It was love at first sight. My happiest moments have been spent with my husband, our five children and nine grandchildren on the "Island in the Sun", that I found so long ago."
Janet Ross
Mrs. Kraus joined the Tryall Fund Board in 2010. She has a degree in Physical Therapy which gives her a unique perspective and insight into our Health and Wellness program. She headed the "Taste of Tryall" 2012 Silent Auction and has served on the Taste of Tryall Committee each year. Mrs. Kraus is also heading our Health and Wellness Initiative Committee and was instrumental in orchestrating the 2012 Dental Mission. Mrs. Kraus was elected Vice President in 2013 and has chaired all 4 Dental Missions serving over 2300 patients.
Nanci Kraus
Mrs. Curtin joined the Tryall Fund Board in 2012. She is currently working on our health initiatives
Anne Curtin
Secretary
Shelley Hoon Keith returned to the Tryall Fund Board in 2015 after a four year absence. Mrs. Keith has had a continued commitment to the mission of the Fund. She was elected Secretary in January 2016, and has offered to serve on two of our standing committees - the Scholarship Committee and the Taste of Tryall. Her depth of experience will be a great asset to the work of the Tryall Fund.
Shelley Hoon Keith
Nancy Pinchas
Treasurer
Alice earned a Master's Degree in Urban Planning and another Master's in Landscape Architecture. She also served on the Board and as Treasurer of an organization involved in community activism and childhood issues. Alice was President of a PTA and conceived, organized and instituted a full day kindergarten program that was later added to all schools in the district. Mrs. Needle joined the Tryall Fund Board in 2009. She helped develop and oversees the Basic School Initative. She also co-chaired the Scholarship committee from 2009-2011 and continues to serve on that committee. Mrs.Needle has also co-chaired the annual "Taste of Tryall" and is instrumental in helping to organize the annual event. She was elected President in 2013, and continues her tireless efforts to expand the scope and impact of the Tryall Fund.
Past President
Alice Needle
Dr. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly is a board certified internal medicine physician, she completed her fellowship in integrative medicine and is trained in functional medicine, nutrition and mindfulness. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based medicine that is personalized to each individual she works with. She partners with her patients to discover and address the root causes of their conditions and develops individualized plans to support and empower each unique individual to achieve her or his health goals. As part of her mission to deliver accessible, evidence-based health and wellness information, she created her website, drbojana.com , that features her videos, articles and recipes. She is the recipient of several patient satisfaction and Top Doctor awards and currently practices primary care and integrative medicine in New York City
Dr Bojana Janovic Weatherly
As a freelance public relations, event and logistics coordinator, Carol Radtke is a former VP of a Chicago based Public Relations company and former Director of a New Jersey based Advertising/PR firm. She has done work with Leaf Confectionery (Hershey Food), The Gillette Co. (P & G), E-Z Foil (Hefty), The American Heart Association, Knorr Soups, adidas, S.B. Thomas, Best Foods Baking Group (under CPC International), Mama Mary’s Gourmet Pizza, Love’s Baby Soft (Chattem Industries) and Keebler (Kellogg). Her career includes strategist for brand establishment of a Fortune 500 foreign subsidiary and strategy consultant for a women’s golf apparel start-up financed by KKR, as well as a variety of non-profits such as Central Park Conservancy and Diplomats Against Trafficking. Volunteer credits include producer of 14 USO & DOD tours, coordinator of Nashville Network’s documentary “Queens in Korea”, talent coordinator for the New York Metropolitan annual Sunshine Ball Foundation, spokesperson for Innocents At Risk, Washington, DC and Board Member Colonial CASA.
Carol Radtke
Vice President
Susan Margraves Anderson
Mrs. Anderson is the newest member to the Tryall Fund Board and joined in 2020. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BFA in Advertising-Creative. Her experience at the Central European Small Business Development Commission in Washington, DC, showed her the impact of empowering small businesses through education and the economic benefit to not only the immediate family but the local and national economy. Following her position at the Small Business administration, she worked as a corporate special events planner before pausing her career to raise her family. Susan and her husband, Mike, have been coming to Jamaica with their family for over 20 years and considers themselves “Ja-americans”. She is excited to participate on the scholarship fund committee and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community.
Mrs. Pinchas joined the Tryall Fund Board in 2010. She initially became involved in our Annual Fundraising Event, "The Taste of Tryall" and our Early Education Project. Shortly after joining the board, she because Treasurer of the Fund and currently serves in that capacity. She has helped to reorganize the accounting procedures for a more up to date and transparent financial picture
Mrs. Ross joined the Tryall Fund Board in 2009. She has been involved in our donor outreach program and has been supporting the Annual Fundraising Event. Mrs. Ross has been a great supporter of the fund for years prior to joining the Board.