JACA 2022 Board Members

JACA 2022 Board Members

President - Gaynor Russell

Vice President - Greg Marsh

Treasurer - Richard Seepersaud

Committee Members

Margaret Torrington

Ann-Rose Lewis,

Yvette Mills

Melody Crooks

Yvette Mills is a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. In various roles at Merrill Lynch, Vanguard, and TIAA, she utilized expertise, unique skills, and innovative approaches to help individuals and families accumulate, grow, protect, and enjoy their financial resources. She is currently a senior manager with Fidelity Investments. Yvette also worked with INROADS, a national career development organization. As Managing Director of the Central New Jersey affiliate, she developed and implemented strategies for recruitment, sales and marketing, fiscal management, and programming. Yvette earned a BA in Economics from Drew University and an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University School of Management. In addition to
the Jamaican American Cultural Association, Yvette currently serves on the boards of California Lutheran University School of Management and The Nubian Cultural Center for Research and Development. She also volunteers with the Financial Planning Association and Jack and Jill of America. Yvette lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband of 33 years. They have
two adult children.

Rajendra (Richard) Seepersaud, a Control Management Officer at Wells Fargo. I am currently
at Wells Fargo for just over a year, prior to this, I worked 29 years at TIAA , specializing in Financial Services Compliance Testing and Issue Management. I am a graduate of NYU Stern School of Business, with a major in Actuarial Science and Organizational Behavior. I am excited to be part of this event, volunteered with JACA for 10+ years, and am currently the organization’s Treasurer & Scholarship Program Coordinator. My expectations of our scholars are that they become role models in our community, share their heritage, and become independent and talented individuals. Also scholars, in the words of our moto “Each One-Help One”

Margaret has participated on the Jamaican American Cultural Association (JACA) Committee for over a decade. Born in Guyana, South America, and grew up in London, England.
Has lived in the US for almost 50 years, with approximately 21 of those years living in the state of North Carolina. Retired from a major Financial Services company after working in several different positions over 33 years & 7 months of employment at this organization.
Over the years, Margaret has acquired the following credentials: A Bachelors Of Arts Degree in Management, Fellowship Life Management Institute (FLMI) & Associate Customer Service (ACS) Certifications, and Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. Presently, she's single with 3 adult children 2 sons & 1 daughter who has been accepted into the UNC Greensboro MBA program beginning in the fall of 2022.  Additionally, a grandmother of 4; 3 grandsons, and 1 granddaughter. Margaret is committed to the Goals & Objectives of JACA & serving in the community.    

I, Melody Crooks, attended Convent of Mercy “Alpha Academy” for high school and then the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus for my Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry. I immigrated to the United States of America in 1989, after working for a year at the Jamaica Bureau of Standards (counterpart of the FDA) as an analytical chemist. I began working as a teacher with the New York City Department of Education in 1990. I completed two Masters's degrees at the City University of New York ( City College) in Environmental Studies and Administration and Supervision. I began my tenure as an administrator in 1999 and retired from that position in 2020 after 30 years of service. I have one son.