The Board of Directors includes prominent local and national leaders. All Directors share a passion for older adults, and all are committed to carrying out the intentions of The Sarah Ralston Foundation.
Benjamin T. Hoyle, President
“My background working with the elderly gives me an understanding and appreciation for their needs and is aligned with the Mission of the Sarah Ralston Foundation. The Foundation can play a significant role in helping to improve the lives of Philadelphia’s under-served and vulnerable seniors by supporting those non-profits that are committed to addressing their needs. At the same time, our grant-making ability will spur innovative new methodologies and programs. Our impact can be substantial.”
~ Benjamin Hoyle
Benjamin T. Hoyle, B.S., M.G.A.
Ben is currently the Vice President of the Sarah Ralston Foundation. He joined the Ralston Center Board in September 2018 holding committee assignments in Finance, Strategic Planning and Building Task Force. Prior to joining the Ralston Center Board, he held the position of CEO of a Pennswood Village, a continuing care facility in Bucks County, until his retirement in 2018. He joined Pennswood Village in 1995 as its CFO and Treasurer and was appointed CEO in 2013. During his tenure at Pennswood Village he led the effort to secure its initial public bond rating of BBB+ and provided leadership in major repositioning projects. Beginning in 1980 Ben held financial positions at the University of Pennsylvania rising to the role of Acting Budget Director before departing in 1995. He has a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University and a Masters in Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Ben has long been a bassoonist playing in community orchestras in the area and enjoys his hobby of training and showing his Clumber Spaniel dogs.
Jerry Johnson, Vice President
“I envisage the Sarah Ralston Foundation as an eventual regional and national model of Foundation support for organizations and projects that serve the most vulnerable older adults. I hope that my professional experiences and connections will contribute to processes that effectively engage and support myriad, diverse community-based organizations in Philadelphia, consistent with an anti-ageist, anti-racist, and social justice agenda.”
~ Jerry Johnson
Jerry Johnson, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Jerry is nationally recognized for his expertise and leadership in aging, faculty development, and minority health care. Dr. Johnson has been a leader in aging and minority health issues for over 40 years. He is the former President of the American Geriatrics Society, former Chair of the Clinical Medicine Section of the Gerontological Society of America, and is currently Vice Chair of the Health in Aging Foundation, the public outreach arm of the American Geriatrics Society. As Chief of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pennsylvania from 2001-2018, Dr. Johnson led the Division to prominence in clinical care, education and research. He is past Principal Investigator (PI) of a Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (National Institutes of Health), past principal investigator of a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (Health Resources and Services Administration), and has been a principal or co-investigator of multiple other research projects aimed at establishing health equity.
Therese DeVries Narzikul, Secretary
“I am passionate about improving the lives of older adults, particularly those that are vulnerable or have been historically underserved.”
~ Therese DeVries Narzikul
Therese Devries Narzikul, MBA, MSN, CRNP
Therese Narzikul has more than 20 years as a strategic leader in both the payer and provider sectors of healthcare systems. As a consultant and leadership coach, Therese hardwires learning and adaptive capabilities for individuals, teams, and organizations. These capabilities enable forward-thinking approaches to emerge from clients. She specializes in the areas of value-based healthcare, outcome measurement, population health, risk management, design, and performance excellence with a focus on serving the nation’s most frail and vulnerable citizens.
Therese holds an MBA from Villanova University Executive MBA program (’04). She serves as part-time faculty at the Villanova School of Business, College of Nursing, and College of Engineering. She is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) and received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from The University of Pennsylvania and BSN from The University of Scranton. She also serves on three non-profit boards in the region.
Larry Daniels, Treasurer
“I look forward to the Sarah Ralston Foundation becoming a major contributor in the Philadelphia landscape by supporting the challenges and helping to solve the problems of our seniors.”
~ Larry Daniels
Larry Daniels, Financial Advisor
Larry has been a financial advisor with Edward Jones for more than 10 years. His 20-plus years in the investment industry includes time spent with American Express and PNC Investments, both as a financial advisor and a manager.
Larry earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Cheyney University and a master’s degree in business administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.
Larry served on the board of East Mount Airy Neighbors and is a past president of the organization. He also served on the board of Weavers Way Food Coop for five years. He currently serves on the boards of the Sarah Ralston Foundation and the Trustee Board of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. He is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Alexis Ahiagbe
“I am excited and to be a part of The Sarah Ralston Foundation Board. I look forward to rolling my sleeves up and getting to work.”
~ Alexis Ahiagbe
Alexis Ahiagbe
Alexis Ahiagbe is an administrative professional with ten years of experience optimizing productivity, efficiency and service quality. As the Director of Volunteer Services for the Free Library of Philadelphia, she recruits, interviews, onboards and trains volunteers. She is also an active member of the Library’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee. She seeks to cultivate and create strategies that advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace as well as in the boardroom.
Alexis has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from DeVry University, and an MBA in Human Resources from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Randall J. Braunfeld
“I joined Ralston with the goal of giving back to the Philadelphia community which I cherish. I am excited for the future of the Sarah Ralston Foundation and I am confident that we will leave our mark!”
~ Randall Braunfeld
Randall Braunfeld, Senior Research Analyst, Assistant Portfolio Manager
Since 2015, Randall has worked at Penn Capital recommending investment opportunities for fixed income and equity portfolios. His primary area of coverage includes the Financials and Energy sectors. Prior to joining Penn Capital, he was a Portfolio Manager for a high yield BB-rated bond portfolio for First Niagara Bank. From 2004 – 2011, Randall worked at Lehman Brothers within their high yield loan portfolio group. Following Lehman’s bankruptcy filing, Randall remained at the firm focusing on maximizing recovery values of the loan portfolio for creditors. Randall received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and has a MA in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis International Business School. Outside of work, he remains active via coaching youth sports.
Anne E. Callan
“I am involved in the Sarah Ralston Foundation because of its longstanding legacy of understanding and addressing issues impacting vulnerable Philadelphians. My vision for the foundation is an ethos that values innovation and impact in its response to the issues faced by a diverse population of today’s older Philadelphians.”
~ Anne Callan
Anne Callan, MPH, PCC
Anne is an accredited executive coach and management consultant whose career has spanned a range of functions in organizational & talent development, change management, strategic planning, and corporate communications. Anne is particularly passionate about individual and team effectiveness at the senior level in order to align relationship-driven leadership with the needs of the business and the system(s) at play. In addition to her private practice, Callan Coaching & Consulting, Anne created and currently oversees the in-house management coaching and consulting function at Public Health Management Corp in Philadelphia.
Margie DuBrow
“Throughout my career, I’ve helped nonprofits that serve older adults strengthen their organizational capacity. As a family caregiver, I understand the challenges of helping those we hold dear sustain their independence, as well as the rich rewards of that personal service. I see such a deep need In Philadelphia to expand core services to older adults. As well, I believe it is critical that we support innovative service models that help older people live healthier and more enriching lives. I am excited to be part of The Sarah Ralston Foundation’s efforts to create this kind of change in the world.”
~Margie DuBrow
Margie DuBrow, PhD.
Margie served as the Director of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) at the Graduate School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College for 14 years. In that role, she facilitated and conducted training in NELI’s Executive Leadership Certificate program and created NELI’s Ascending Leader’s program. Under her leadership, NELI developed a strong consulting practice where it delivered customized in-house leadership development programs for local nonprofit organizations. Margie particularly enjoys working with organizations that are experiencing major systems change.
Prior to her time at NELI, she spent many years as a consultant to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors. She conducted training programs and technical assistance in strategic planning, leadership development, organizational dynamics, system change, and outcomes-based evaluation. This work also included conducting supervisory training to staff at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. She was Director of Development at Center in the Park, a large senior center, during a period of rapid growth. Dr. DuBrow earned her doctoral degree in organizational development from Temple University.
U. Tara Hayden
“Older adults, especially those who face health inequities, are among the most vulnerable persons in our community. The community-based organizations that serve them are often under resourced. My vision is that the Sarah Ralston Foundation will be a catalyst to build capacity of community-based organizations to amplify their ability to serve and support the vulnerable older adults in a sustainable way.”
~ U. Tara Hayden
U. Tara Hayden, MHSA
Vice-President Community Health Equity
Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health
Tara provides strategic and operational leadership for the Jefferson Collaborative for Health Equity, a broad-based community collaboration and action network. With over 30 years of health care management experience in strategic planning, program development, engaging community-based stakeholders and creating academic-community partnerships, she is leveraging her expertise to develop focused strategies to implement key initiatives to promote health equity by addressing the social determinants of health through engaging and building community-based partnerships. Prior to joining Jefferson, Tara was the Deputy Director of a Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (NIH) and the Deputy Director for the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (Health Resources and Services Administration), Division of Geriatric Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania. Tara has held leadership positions with the American Public Health Association as an ex-officio Executive Board Member, Chair of the Education Board, and Co-Chair of the Joint Policy Committee. Currently, Tara serves on the Boards of the Trinity Health PACE-Mercy LIFE West Philadelphia Center. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Quaker City Alumnae Chapter.
David Nagel
“I am excited to see how the Sarah Ralston Foundation can play a vital role in assisting Philadelphia’s seniors thrive in their homes and communities in the years to come.”
~ David Nagel
David Nagel
David is a shareholder at the law firm of Schubert, Gallagher, Tyler, and Mulcahey. His practice areas include Orphans’ Court litigation, estates, trusts and probate, guardianship, special needs trusts and health care law. Prior to his current position, he practiced for ten years as in-house counsel at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Before moving to the Philadelphia area, he was an attorney with the New York City Department of Homeless Services. David hopes to continue the work of SRF in helping elderly Philadelphians thrive in the community and is excited by the possibilities brought forth by SRF’s transition to a foundation.
Michael Wassil
“My passion is centered on helping to develop initiatives and solutions that reach diversified populations that leave lasting improvements in both mind and body.”
~ Michael Wassil
Michael J. Wassil, CPA
Mr. Wassil is the president of Mercer Management Associates, a financial consulting firm. Mr. Wassil serves as a director of Regina Luminis Academy in Berwyn, PA. He is a former President of Macro Array Technologies, Chief Financial Officer of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals and Interspec Inc. Prior to becoming a CFO, Mr. Wassil was with Rorer Pharmaceuticals and, as a manager with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Wassil is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of King’s College.
Justin Williams
“I’m thrilled to join the Sarah Ralston Foundation in its vital mission to enhance the lives of older adults in our community and to amplify the often-unheard voices of this generation. My vision is to forge a community that honors and involves older adults, acknowledging their wisdom and contributions, and attentively addressing their wellbeing.”
~ Justin Williams
Justin Williams, M.S.Ed
Justin brings a diverse background in foster care, family advocacy, education, and substance abuse prevention to his current role at Lakeside Education Network. Here, he humbly applies his experience as Director of Strategic Partnerships, focusing on the integration of mental health support for students, aiming to enhance their well-being and educational outcomes. Committed to collaborative progress and thoughtful system improvements, Justin values the learning and growth from his participation in the Family Focused Treatment Association Kinship Committee, the Philadelphia Quality Parenting Initiative Steering Committee, and his service on the Abington Pennsylvania Human Relations Committee.