UWI Western Jamaica Campus Ambassadors
WESTERN BUREAU:
Their mandate is to help to promote the mission, vision and values of the University of the West Indies Mona Western Jamaica Campus (WJC), in their workplaces and home communities. And they have all accepted the task with humility.
On Wednesday night, under the umbrella of CARIMAC’s Communication Analysis and Planning (CAP) project, 12 members of the business and civic community were pinned as ambassadors of the WJC.
From the parishes of St James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth, they will serve as advocates in advancing the institution as the preferred choice for global education, professional development, ideal location for seminars, workshops and trade shows.
Serving for two years, the ambassadors are expected to promote community engagement with the WJC, advancing the academic opportunities and success of UWI.
MEET THEM
Everton Anderson
Currently chief executive officer of the National Health Fund, Anderson served as CEO for the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
A graduate of Cornwall College, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management studies, and a masters in business administration (public sector management) from the Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies. He was named All-Island Boss of the Year in 2003 by the Jamaica Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals.
Hartley Perrin
A priest, teacher, custos, this son of God has many titles under his belt. On September 26, 2012, he was sworn in as custos rotulorum for the parish of Westmorland.
Having fulfilled his desire to become an Anglican priest, Father Perrin has since become an indispensable and beloved fixture in his home parish, providing pastoral guidance as rector of the Petersfield/Darliston Cure which consists of five churches. With his compelling preaching skills and hands-on interaction with communities, Father Perrin has shattered the preconceived notion that priests are distant and unapproachable. As a result, he is sometimes called to deliver sermons in Canada, Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora of the United Sates.
Perrin’s passion for community work has kept him busy outside the confines of the church, as he is the chairman of several school boards in Westmorland and has held lead roles on the Westmorland Parish Health Committee and at the Clifton’s Boys’ Home.
Father Perrin is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, the United Theological College of the West Indies and is an alumnus of The Mannings School.
Ernest Grant
A graduate of the College of Arts Science and Technology now the University of Technology, Ernest Grant is a trained pharmacist who also has extensive training in various management disciplines.
Under his professional belt, Grant has served as a pharmacist employed to the government of Jamaica in public hospitals; a medical representative for international pharmaceutical manufacturer Wyeth-Ayerst; the western regional manager/refrigerated division at GraceKennedy and the general manager of Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited.
A team player, who prefers the coaching style to impart knowledge while building the skills of others, Grant currently serves as the general manager of one of Jamaica’s largest seafood producers, Rainforest Seafoods Limited.
Yoni Esptein
With more than 12 years’ experience in the field of outsourcing, this distinguished businessman holds the position of president/ chairman of the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica, which has become the premier official body for information, communication, and technology and business outsourcing operators in Jamaica.
Originally a sous chef, Epstein, pursued his education in hospitality management at Florida International University and later studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University.
It comes as no surprise that this outstanding businessman is CEO for the inbound and outbound contact centre – Island Outsourcers Limited – established in 2012.
Prior to establishing his firm, Epstein’s professional portfolio saw him spearheading the leadership team for Unique Vacations Limited, the representative for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, in 2004.
Fred Smith
With the philosophy of wanting to make a million dollars by the time he was 35 years old, this outstanding businessman has today blossomed into a real-estate and transportation tycoon. He is the founder of one of Jamaica’s leading transportation companies – Exclusive Holiday of Excellence.
He has been nominated for Ernst & Young Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year and the Jamaica Business Leader Award, Smith continues to be a leader in his class.
This businessman holds a master in management from Gull University and is a graduate of Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
His involvement with the community is unremitting as he is a gold sponsor of the Montego Bay football league and is currently the chairman of the Montego Bay/Atlanta Sister Committee.
Mark Hart
Mark Hart is currently the executive chairman of Caribbean Producers Jamaica. He brings to the company his considerable experience of management, having previously served as its CEO from 2004 to 2011, and is also the founding and controlling shareholder of the company. Hart began his career as the managing director of the Hart family’s group of companies in 1982, eventually becoming CEO in 1997. Hart has also served as chairman of Montego Bay Ice Company Limited, a JSE Main Market listed company.
A graduate of the University of Miami where he gained a Bachelor of Science degree in history and motion picture film production, he has also completed a programme in executive education with focus on accounting and planning at Columbia University of New York.
He recently produced the documentary film Rise Up. He is married to Dr Candace Hart and together they have three children: Maya, Ethan and Cameron.
Hope Markes
Hope Markes is well recognised for her expertise in the hospitality industry. She is the owner of Hope Markes Villas, one of the leading villas in Hanover.
Markes’ experience in the industry is long-standing as she has held positions as a manager, consultant/ coordinator, sales director and guest relations officer. She was also villa manager at The Tryall Club, overseeing more than 200 employees, and was consultant/coordinator at Family Systems Jamaica; director of sales at the Oceana Hotel and a guest relations officer at Mallards Beach Hyatt.
A past student of the Campion College and a graduate of the St Joseph’s Teachers’ College, Markes also has an extensive academic repertoire, having completed a number of certified training courses.
An advocate for earlychildhood education, Markes is the chairman and founder the Tenacity Foundation whose mission is to upgrade basic schools in the parish of Hanover. Hope is also the board chairman of the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School and is the distinguished secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell.
Heather Murray
Principal of the Hampton High School for Girls, Heather Murray has revolutionised the educational sector in the west with her strong leadership qualities and commitment to the growth of the educational system.
In her professional career as an educator and leader, Murray has entered the gates of a number of schools in the western region, including the Junction Secondary School where she served as a class teacher, at Knox College, Herbert Morrison Technical and principal at Holly Hill Primary and Maud McLeod High.
A graduate of the University of the West Indies, she holds a Bachelor’s degree with honours in English and an MSc in educational leadership.
Murray is currently a board member of the Munroe Preparatory School.
Dr Barbara Salmon Grandison
A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, this outstanding woman is a diamond in the medical fraternity. A leader in her class in the western region, Dr Salmon Grandison is an ear nose and throat (ENT) consultant and head and neck surgeon at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
Her expertise and educational background are extensive as she holds a MB.Bs in general medicine and has completed her residency at a number of hospitals including the University of the West Indies Hospital, Kingston Public Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
Salmon Gradison also held a number of leadership positions in her vocation as a medical practitioner as she has intermittently served as acting senior medical officer at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, head of the ENT department at the institution and was the founding chairman of the infection control committee at the Montego Bay medical facility.
Dr Salmon-Grandison’s professional affiliations include member of the Medical Association of Jamaica, founding member and vice-president of the Hearing Health Foundation of the Caribbean and a member of the international committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Adam Stewart
One of the most accomplished businessmen in Jamaica, Stewart is well-recognised for his expertise and leadership in the travel/hotel industry. A product of the Stewart family, Adam is the prince of one of the most powerful resort companies in the world – Sandals Resorts International – and is the CEO of Island Routes Jamaica Limited – and the ATL Group.
This multifaceted man is not only an excellent entrepreneur, but his umbrella extends far beyond the hospitality industry. Stewart is the guiding force behind the philanthropic genre of the Sandals Group, having founded the Sandals Foundation in 2009. Under his direction, the foundation aims to unite the region under one common goal – to elevate its people and protect the delicate ecosystem. The Sandals Foundation harnesses the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts brand to tackle a myriad of obstacles affecting the Caribbean.
He is a graduate of the Florida International University’s acclaimed Hospitality Management Programme.
Howard C. Ward
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he grew up in the Bunkers Hill community in Trelawny, where he attended Unity Primary and Muschette Secondary schools. He later migrated to the United States (US) where he pursued further studies in the culinary field at the Miami Dade community college.
Ward has gained a wealth of experience while living in the US, where he worked as a chef with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and at the Intercontinental Hotel, in Miami, Florida. He founded and managed his own business, Caribbean Landscaping Services, also in Miami, Florida.
He is currently managing director of Ward’s Power Tools and Supplies Ltd in Montego Bay. He also owns and operates the Ocean Crest Villa.
Ward is a passionate and dedicated philanthropist. He embraces the notion of giving back to and sharing his time and resources with his community.
This is evident in the service he gives to the Montego Bay community and numerous institutions, including his recent appointment as chairman of the St James High School.
Ward is currently the chairman of the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, in Montego Bay, and a board member of RADA, St James.
He lives by the mantra ‘Be the best you can at whatever you do’.
Omar Robinson
Omar Robinson is currently the general manager of the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, in Hopewell, Hanover.
He has served in this position since March 2007. His experience in the industry spans 24 years. He began his career as an entertainment coordinator at Sandals Resorts and after completing management training, was quickly promoted to several managerial positions, including resident manager.
He is a past student of Nova South-eastern and Southern New Hampshire universities, where he holds a Bachelor of Science in professional management, majoring in hospitality management and a Master of Science in organisational leadership.
He currently holds the Certified Hotel Administrator designation from the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Robinson continues to be involved in the tourism industry and local community.
He serves as the chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Montego Bay Chapter. He is also a member of the fundraising committee of the Jamaica Aids Support for Life, Montego Bay Chapter.
He is a part-time lecturer in tourism-related courses at the Western Hospitality Institute and leadership/management courses at the University College of the Caribbean.
This article was originally published in the Jamaica Gleaner on March 18, 2013
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
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