Board of Directors
EVAN BRABSON
Email: evan.brabson@cbiz.com
Evan Brabson, a Delaware native, has a strong foundation in both accounting and rowing, which has guided him through his career and community involvement. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware and immediately began applying his financial expertise in various roles. While in high school, Evan first became involved in rowing with St. Mark's School before joining WYRA, where his passion for the sport grew, and he later took on coaching responsibilities at WYRA’s summer camps.
Currently, Evan works as a Senior Accountant at Santora CPA Group, where he provides tax and consulting services to a range of clients. His background in accounting allows him to assist organizations in improving their financial health, while his personal experience in rowing and commitment to youth sports has driven him to reconnect with WYRA. In 2020, Evan joined the WYRA board to support the organization’s continued growth, specifically focusing on the financial and operational strategies that ensure its long-term success.
SEAN BOYD
Email: sean.boyd@lytescholars.org
Sean Boyd has had a diverse and successful career at the intersection of business, education, and community service. He has launched and grown multiple Life Science businesses, with one going public and reaching global markets. His business expertise spans across a wide range of C-level roles, including marketing, sales, operations, and product/service development. While his background is deeply rooted in science, Sean's true passion lies in education and helping young people succeed.
Throughout his career, Sean has taken on various roles in the education sector, including being a classroom teacher and founder of a highly successful charter school. His work has often focused on organizations aimed at transforming lives through educational access and support. Sean has served on several boards for educational nonprofits, where he has worked to ensure the implementation of effective strategies that benefit underrepresented communities. He has also brought his coaching experience to cross-country and soccer teams, where he’s seen first-hand how sports can build resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
Sean’s current role as the Development and Finance Director for LYTE Scholars, a Delaware-based education nonprofit, allows him to apply his strategic and financial skills. In this capacity, he ensures that the organization is equipped with strong management systems, clear financial reporting, and sustainable revenue generation strategies to continue supporting youth in the region.
KAREN IONS
Email: karen.ions@yahoo.co.uk
Karen Ions is an accomplished executive at JPMorgan Chase, where she oversees the Commercial Card business, a sector that provides global payment solutions to corporate clients. Since joining the company in 2011, Karen has held a series of high-profile leadership positions, including General Counsel for JPMorgan’s Consumer & Community Bank Digital division, and Head of the Payment Network Office. In her current role, Karen has full executive responsibility for the Commercial Card business, overseeing its strategy, products, and profitability.
Her career has spanned multiple countries and departments within JPMorgan, where she has demonstrated a strong ability to innovate and lead in complex business environments. In addition to her professional achievements, Karen is passionate about giving back to her community. A resident of Wilmington, Delaware, she enjoys spending time with her family—husband Gareth and son Sam—and has a personal interest in cooking, cycling, golf, and skiing.
Karen’s strategic mindset and leadership experience make her a valuable asset to the WYRA Board, where her background in finance and business development strengthens the organization’s growth and sustainability.
DR. NEIL KAYE
Email: nskaye@aol.com
Dr. Neil Kaye is a highly respected psychiatrist and educator with deep ties to both the medical and rowing communities. He is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Jefferson Medicine College and has a clinical practice in Hockessin, DE, specializing in adult psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Kaye has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as a "Top Doc" by Delaware Today and the NAMI-DE Health Care Provider of the Year award.
Dr. Kaye’s connection to rowing began in high school, where he served as a coxswain at Phillips Exeter Academy, setting a record that still stands. He went on to compete internationally with the U.S. National Junior Men’s Team and worked with U.S. Men’s Heavyweight crews. Throughout his career, Dr. Kaye has played an instrumental role in reviving rowing programs and creating new opportunities for athletes, including founding the rowing program at Skidmore College and the Empire State Regatta.
Dr. Kaye’s vision for youth development through sports is deeply ingrained in his philosophy of teamwork, leadership, and mental wellness. His dedication to WYRA has been unwavering, and as a board member, he continues to support the organization’s mission. Dr. Kaye has raised over $2 million to fund rowing programs and is committed to helping WYRA grow its impact on young athletes in the region.
MARTHA MANNING - CHAIRWOMAN
Email: marthamlm@comcast.net
Martha Manning has been a stalwart supporter of WYRA for over 15 years, contributing her expertise and passion for education to the organization. A mother of four grown children—one of whom rowed for WYRA—Martha’s involvement with youth athletics has been long-standing. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Martha worked as a teacher before founding the Delaware Charter Schools Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting charter schools in the state. She served as Executive Director of the network until her retirement in 2006.
Martha has also been an active volunteer in Wilmington’s arts and educational communities. She served on the Board of Cab Calloway School of the Arts for 11 years, where she leveraged her grant-writing experience and leadership skills to help the school achieve its goals. Her community work and wealth of knowledge in nonprofit management have made Martha a trusted figure in the Wilmington area. As Chairwoman of the WYRA Board, she is dedicated to fostering youth development through sports and education.
MARK DALLE PAZZE
Email: MDallePazze@dellaw.com
Mark Dalle Pazze is a partner at Herdeg, du Pont & Dalle Pazze, LLP, specializing in estate and business planning, wealth transfer, estate litigation, and tax law. Mark earned his law degree and LLM in taxation from Villanova University School of Law, where he attended on an academic scholarship. Before law school, Mark was a highly successful student at the University of Delaware, where he graduated magna cum laude with a full academic scholarship.
Mark is also a proud alum of WYRA, having rowed with the organization from 2001 to 2005. His connection to the program has remained strong, and as a parent of two young children, Mark remains invested in supporting WYRA’s mission. As a board member, Mark brings a strong legal and financial background to the table, and he has contributed to helping ensure that WYRA continues to provide valuable opportunities for young athletes.
DR. JACK PERRY
Email: dr.jack.perry@gmail.com
Dr. Jack Perry is an educational consultant at TNTP, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving education outcomes by advancing effective teaching and leadership. He supports leadership development, school improvement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives both locally and nationally. Prior to his role at TNTP, Dr. Perry served as Deputy Chief of Academic Enrichment for the School District of Philadelphia, overseeing multiple initiatives, including the Arts, Physical Education, Athletics, and Black Male Achievement programs.
Dr. Perry’s expertise also includes founding and leading charter schools in Wilmington, DE, where he focused on transforming the educational experience for underserved communities. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master of Social Work, and a Bachelor’s in Sociology, demonstrating his commitment to education and social change. As a WYRA board member, Dr. Perry is dedicated to helping the organization achieve its goals of empowering youth through sports and education.
ANDREW PIZOR - SECRETARY
Email: agpmail@yahoo.com
Andrew Pizor is an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, where he focuses on consumer protection law. A Wilmington native, Andrew’s early connection to rowing began at the Wilmington Rowing Club while he was a student at the Tatnall School, long before WYRA was established. Over the years, Andrew has rowed and coxed for several organizations, including WRC, Georgetown University, and the University of Glasgow.
A graduate of Georgetown University and Fordham University School of Law, Andrew has contributed to several books on consumer protection law. As Secretary of the WYRA Board, he brings his legal expertise and passion for the sport to the organization. He is also a volunteer dockmaster for WYRA’s Head of the Christina Regatta, where he helps organize and manage this key event.