Our Executive Team brings years of experience in education and nonprofit organizational management.
Nadia Chargualaf
Chief Human Resource Officer
Nadia is a Senior Human Resources Professional and strategic thought leader with over 20 years of experience in developing and leading high-performing HR departments. Her expertise lies in building sustainable and flexible HR systems that serve as the cornerstone for organizational culture, growth, and success.
Nadia started her career as Vice President of HR, Americas, for the global communications company Telstra. She later transitioned into the non-profit sector, where she led HR functions at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Alameda Family Services. Nadia is deeply committed to advancing diversity and championing people’s lives, regularly engaging with professional organizations focused on these causes.
Outside of work, Nadia enjoys spending time with her family, dragon boat paddling, golfing, and traveling.
Cheryl Horney
Chief Program Officer
Cheryl has been in the field of early learning and care for over a decade and has been at Wu Yee since 2009. She has held a number of roles such as teacher, mentor coach, and manager. She currently serves on the San Francisco Child Care Advisory Planning Committee and formerly served on the board of California Association for the Education of Young Children, the East Bay Association for the Education of Young Children, and the San Francisco Women’s Building. Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a Master’s degree from San Francisco University. Cheryl cares deeply about nature, equity, women and children’s issues and is the proud mother.
Marina Peterson
Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Radics-Johnson
Chief Development Officer
Jennifer Radics-Johnson is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with nearly 20 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, administration, operations and nonprofit leadership. Throughout her career Jennifer has centered the most vulnerable communities, including children, people of different abilities and people of color, in critical decision-making and program development. She has a demonstrated commitment to empowering communities and leading with an equity-centered mindset. She has served in leadership positions with city, county, state and national committees, commissions, and nonprofit organizations.
A proud Head Start preschool graduate, Jennifer has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from University of California, San Diego and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management from Loyola Marymount University.
Mark Ryle
Chief Executive Officer
Mark has dedicated his career to building bridges between the analytical rigor of private equity and the compassionate mission of social work. After spending 25 years in private equity and investment banking – supporting and developing large multinational clients – Mark underwent a profound career change in 2007 to focus on working with children and families as a clinical social worker in the nonprofit sector.
Since 2013, Mark has held senior leadership roles, including CEO and Executive Director positions, within Bay Area nonprofits, consistently driving impact and transformations. This deep experience as a nonprofit executive uniquely blends strategic expertise with an unwavering commitment to social justice. Currently, Mark leverages this combination to guide organizations in significant transition as an Interim CEO/Executive Director, offering integrity, authenticity, and clarity during pivotal moments.
An alum of the University of Texas, the University of Chicago and Stanford University, Mark approaches each challenge with a “social work heart and private equity brain,” combining empathy with strategic insight. With 15 years dedicated to leading Bay Area nonprofits and a passion for fostering equity, Mark is driven to empower communities and inspire organizational excellence.
Whether its shaping resilient teams, driving systems change, or mentoring emerging leaders Mark leads with curiosity, authenticity, and purpose – a true believer in the power of aligning business acumen with meaningful social impact.