Keisha Ames– Director of Operations and Finance
Keisha oversees SEA’s financial and administrative functions ensuring that operational practices align with the organization’s values and needs. With over 15 years working in the nonprofit sector, Keisha has considerable knowledge and experience supporting mission-driven organizations dedicated to social change and justice. Before SEA, Keisha was Vice President of Finance and Operations at Elevate, a grant writing consulting firm, and Associate Director of Global Operations at 350.org, a global nonprofit committed to building a future safe from the effects of the climate crisis. At 350.org, Keisha managed the operational budget, worked cross-functionally with teams to ensure financial health, and drove global expansion by establishing new offices in the UK and South Africa. Keisha is a graduate of Howard University, where she received a B.F.A in Theatre Arts Administration and Business Management. 

Jess Davis – Management Analyst
Jess manages SEA’s data analysis and oversees the implementation of SEA’s network-wide database. A native of Manchester, England, Jess completed a B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania, where she captained the varsity squash team, was a first-team All-American, two-time All-Ivy selection, and earned an M.P.H. from Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. Jess worked on various research projects while at Penn, partnering with the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center, Independence Blue Cross, the Mixed Methods Research Lab, and faculty members in Penn Nursing and the M.P.H program.

Joetta Francis – Squash Events Coordinator
Joetta supports the organization and implementation of SEA’s squash tournaments, regional leagues, High Performance Team squads, and the Summer Academy. Prior to joining SEA in 2022, Joetta was Manager of Tournament Support Services at US Squash, where she was responsible for creating and maintaining relationships with parents, coaches, and tournament directors. Joetta was introduced to squash in 2011 as a participant of Harlem’s StreetSquash, one of SEA’s founding member programs. Joetta earned a B.A. from Purchase College, SUNY, where she was the captain of the women’s varsity volleyball team, and worked as an assistant teacher at St. Charles Borromeo’s elementary school before beginning her work in squash.

Robert Gibralter – Director of Growth
Robert leads SEA’s expansion to new cities, convenes leaders of the network through the organizing of retreats and conferences, and supports SEA’s development and communications work. Robert has spent most of his career in advertising, holding management positions on the agency and client sides of such businesses as Avon, Mars, P&G, and Singapore Airlines. In his career, Robert has developed numerous professional training and education programs, including as an adjunct professor at Columbia University. Robert began volunteering for StreetSquash when SEA’s second oldest member organization was launched in Harlem in 1999. His work with StreetSquash was recognized by the USOC and US Squash in 2004 when he was named squash’s Volunteer Coach of the Year. In 2020, Robert helped create the world’s first open-air steel squash court, Maspeth Squash, which is located in Queens. Robert earned his BA from Amherst, where he played #1 on the squash team, and MBA from Columbia.

Edgardo Gonzalez – High Performance Team, Assistant Coach
Edgardo is the Assistant Coach of SEA’s High Performance Team, which provides top-level training and competitive opportunities to high potential players across the SEA network. Previously, he served as SEA’s Director of Squash for three years, organizing national and regional tournaments and managing elite squash development camps throughout the school year and summer. Edgardo is an alumnus of CitySquash in the Bronx and spent six years at StreetSquash in Harlem. While at StreetSquash, Edgardo managed a team of squash coaches and over 150 students’ squash progress. Edgardo graduated with a B.A. from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he captained the varsity squash team. When he’s not coaching with SEA part time, Edgardo serves as Head Boys’ Squash Coach at Hackley School and is a member of the Board of Directors of the College Squash Association.

Cris Gomez – Director of Development and Communications
Cris oversees SEA’s annual fundraising activities, manages external communications, and serves as a liaison to the Board of Directors.  A native of Bogota, Cris attended Westminster School in Simsbury, CT, where he was captain of the varsity squash team. After graduating from Wake Forest University, Cris taught for two years at Democracy Prep Harlem Elementary as a Teach For America Corps Member while earning a Masters in Education from Fordham University. Subsequently, Cris returned to Westminster as an Associate Director of Admissions (and coach of the girls squash team), and later served as the Director of Young Alumni Program and Director of Alumni Engagement. Experienced in advancement, volunteer management, and communications, Cris has served as the liaison to reunion committees, managed alumni social media pages, and coordinated annual fundraising campaigns.

David Kay – Senior Advisor
David serves as a Senior Advisor to SEA. From 2005-2023, David was the CEO of Chicago’s MetroSquash and grew the program from inception to serving over 400 students each year.  In 2015, David successfully completed an $8 million capital campaign and construction of the Hussain Family MetroSquash Center on Chicago’s South Side. In 2018, David led the program’s expansion to Evanston and in 2023 the land purchase for a future facility. David holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Kellogg and a B.A. from Princeton University where he was a member of the 1993 NCAA Championship Team and 1995 NCAA Doubles Champion. David previously competed on the Professional Squash Doubles Tour where he attained a top 5 world ranking.

 

Sarah McConnell – Chief Program Officer
Sarah oversees all of SEA’s squash, academic, and alumni programs and the SEA program team. Sarah has spent her career in the education, nonprofit, and foundation worlds, primarily focused on college access and success. Before joining SEA, she spent 16 years in administration and program management at the City University of New York, most recently as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs for K-16 Initiatives. At CUNY, Sarah led and supported a broad portfolio of programs that focus on college readiness, high school-to-college transition, and academic success of young people in New York City. She led CUNY Explorers, the largest college visit program for middle school students in the country, serving 70,000 students each year on 16 campuses. Before CUNY, Sarah worked at the New York-Historical Society and I Have a Dream Foundation, and helped found an elementary school in her native Chicago. Sarah earned a B.A. at Oberlin College and a Masters in Education from Harvard University.

Manuela Perez – Director of Postsecondary Pathways
Manuela oversees SEA’s college placement and career readiness efforts, collaborating with staff from across the network to identify and promote best practices and help prepare students for successful postsecondary experiences and careers. Manuela is a CitySquash alumna and graduate of Barnard College, where she earned a B.A. in Economics and Africana Studies. Before joining SEA, Manuela spent two years as Assistant Director of Admissions at Oliver Scholars, where she worked with students in New York City, helping equip them for success at independent schools and colleges. Previously, Manuela worked in HR and Recruitment at Morgan Stanley. She’s maintained her connection to SEA and CitySquash as a volunteer, mentor, and junior board member.

Paulina Rojek – Director of Squash Events
Paulina oversees and manages SEA’s marquee tournaments, high performance team system, and multi-week Summer Academy while also promoting coach development across the network. Prior to joining SEA, Paulina was the Tennis Manager at The West Side Tennis Club, where she was responsible for coordination of tennis programs, events, and member activities. Paulina has managed tournaments for New York Squash for several years and previously supported the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions and US Open Squash Championships. Paulina completed her B.A. at Mount Holyoke College, where she competed on the varsity squash team, and earned her M.S. from New York University.

Tim Wyant – Executive Director
Tim co-founded SEA in 2005 and became Executive Director in 2012. Under Tim’s leadership, SEA’s membership has grown from 12 to 20 programs in the United States and five affiliate organizations abroad, with combined enrollment exceeding 2,500 students. Previously, Tim was the founding executive director of CitySquash, the country’s fourth squash and education program, which operates in the Bronx. Tim earned a B.A. at Harvard University, where he played varsity soccer and was an All-American on the squash team. Tim later competed on the professional squash tour, was a member of the U.S. men’s national team, and served as a board member of US Squash. A native of Cincinnati, Tim resides in New York City.

Hansi Wiens – High Performance Team, Head Coach
Hansi is the Head Coach of SEA’s High Performance Team, which provides top-level training and competitive opportunities to high potential players across the SEA network. Hansi, whose role with SEA is part time, was the Head Coach at Dartmouth College from 2009-2021. During his tenure, Hansi was named Ivy League Coach of the Year, coached five athletes to All-American, and several others to All-Ivy titles. He led his teams to historic wins against Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Prior to Dartmouth, Hansi managed the Balearic Islands’ (Spain) club team and was the owner/manager and coach of the Match Sports Club in his native Germany. As a player, Hansi was a full-time squash professional for eight years, ranking as high as twelfth in the world. A nine-time German national champion, he competed as a member of Germany’s national team 46 times.