Executive Board

Noel Irwin Hentschel
Founder and President
An entrepreneur at the age of 24, Noel Irwin Hentschel is the cofounder of the largest Visit USA travel organization, American Tours International (ATI). Travel and her awareness and commitment to a global community led her to establish The Noel Foundation. In addition to being the CEO and Chairman of ATI, she is a director of the Travel Industry Association of America, a former trustee of the National Urban League and a regent of Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles and a mother of seven.
Read Noel's Biography

Jean Ariyoshi
Director, International Relations
As first lady of Hawaii from 1974-87 and leader in the Pacific Rim community for more than 20 years, Jean Ariyoshi is an influential international and domestic philanthropic figure. She established the First Lady's Volunteer Awards which annually recognize the state's outstanding volunteers and herself has been presented with the American Red Cross Clara Barton Award and many outstanding citizen awards.

Ambassador Kenneth Adelman
Ambassador Kenneth Adelman served as the U.S. deputy permanent representative to the United Nations from 1981-83. He also served as director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency from 1983-87, and was assistant to the Secretary of Defense in 1976-77. Ambassador Adelman's diverse governmental experience is bonded to his humanitarian spirit.

Keith Black M.D.
Neurosurgeon
TIME's Special Issue Heroes of Medicine
An internationally renowned neurosurgeon and scientist, Dr. Black joined Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July 1997. Dr. Black pioneered research on designing ways to open the blood-brain barrier, enabling chemotherapeutic drugs to be delivered directly into the tumor. At age 17, he published his first scientific paper, which earned the Westinghouse Science Award. He completed an accelerated college program at University of Michigan, and earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees in six years. He is married to Dr. Carol Bennett, a distinguished urologist at UCLA.

Ron Boeddeker
The owner and president of Transcontinental Corporation, Ron Boeddeker is a successful California entrepreneur and humanitarian. A firm believer in the power of partnership, Boeddeker is also an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization and World Business Council.

The Honorable Esther Coopersmith
Experienced in governmental, political, charitable, and cultural activities, Esther Coopersmith has served in a myriad of capacities. An advisor to the Department of State for the Status of Women Commission of the United Nations and based in Washington D.C., she is an Advisory Board member of the Center for International development and Conflict Management. In 1982 she became the first woman since Eleanor Roosevelt to receive the United Nations Peace Prize.

Joyce Rey
As Prudential/Rodeo Realty's General Manager and Co-Founder, Ms. Rey is the enterprising force behind the division's phenomenal success and has established a renowned reputation. Named "Business Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles Business Council in 1991, Ms. Rey is also a dedicated humanitarian.

Joe Rodota
Founder and CEO of Forward Observer, Joe Rodota is a seasoned government executive and political strategist, serving Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor Pete Wilson, and President Ronald Reagan over the past two decades. He was founder and president of Benchmark Research Group, a political and public affairs research firm. Rodota is also a veteran of Silicon Valley’s startup culture. He was vice president of marketing and corporate strategy for Broad Daylight, a customer service software developer acquired in 2003 by Primus Knowledge Solutions.

International Advisory Board

Hemjo Klein
One of Europe's most respected business leaders, Hemjo Klein was a member of the executive board and chief executive of the passenger division of Lufthansa German Airlines. He also served as chief executive of the German Railway System and is on the boards of numerous international companies. Klein also plays a predominant role in the development of the European community.

Madame Hanae Mori
Hanae Mori has become Japan's foremost international fashion designer and winner of many awards from her country. She is the first Japanese granted membership in La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne. A leading entrepreneur, she frequently hosts charitable events in her country and abroad.

HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal
Princess Basma founded the Queen Alia Jordan Social Welfare Fund, which promotes social works, projects, and programs in rural and needy urban areas. The only sister of the late King Hussein of Jordan, Princess Basma in 1974 assumed the role of acting president in the founding of the Jordanian Save The Children Fund.


The Noel Foundation would like to thank all board members for their support and commitment to the global community.