Executive Officers
The Board of Directors supports the work of the Society and provides leadership and strategic governance. Officers and Directors are elected by members every year at the Annual General Meeting.
Ratu Muda Karen Cantrell, Chairman
Her Excellency Ambassador Karen Cantrell (Ratu Muda Princess Karen Cantrell) is the chairman of the Royal Society St George California Branch. Her Excellency is an entrepreneur, political activist, business visionary, philanthropist, humanitarian, and descends from a noble and royal background.
She has a vast knowledge in Communications and Public Affairs, including a background in Community Relations, Business Ownership, Governance, and International Affairs. An advocate for over 40 years, she works tirelessly to help other families experience a better life nationally and internationally.
Her Excellency is a direct descendant of H.G. Duke John of Gaunt - 4th son of Edward III, King of England and Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford one of the signers of the Magna Charta. She is a member of over 35 Nobility Societies throughout the globe and is actively engaged for 14 years in promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Campaigns at the United Nations and also with the local United Nations Association of the Inland Empire and United Nations Association of Coachella Valley. Visit www.karencantrell.com.
Sandro Monetti, Deputy Chairman
Sandro Monetti has been a longtime champion for British talent in Los Angeles, helping so many achieve their Hollywood dreams while at the same time exemplifying the best of British in his attitude and actions.
His years chairing the British Academy’s BAFTA Newcomers Program have seen him mentoring breakthrough stars, including Emmy winners and Oscar nominees. In his TV work on CNN and the BBC, Sandro always strikes a positive tone about Britain and its important place at the heart of the international community.
Optimism is also the focus of the acclaimed new film he’s written and directed…Documentary Tech to the Future, which launched at this summer’s Cannes Film Festival, celebrates genius innovators around the world whose tech skills are building a better tomorrow.
Every single week during the dark days of the pandemic, he raised spirits as well as smiles by hosting a popular British trivia quiz on Zoom that drew players from around the world. His extraordinary service for the Royal Society of St George, especially promoting our mission and message via global media has been hugely appreciated.
This Great Briton is a broadcaster, author, director and mentor but most of all a humanitarian who loves his country – and it loves his country - and it loves him back.
Marquis John Andrew Blakemore, President
Marquis John Andrew Blakemore is the President and one of the founding members of the Royal Society of Saint George, California Branch. His Excellency is an author, journalist, publisher, political activist, and humanitarian, who descends from noble and royal ancestors.
His Excellency is descended directly from King Edward I and 17 signatories of the Magna Carta. Marquis John Andrew Blakemore's ancestors arrived in America during the 1600's in Virginia, Massachusetts and some before and some after the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
During the Revolution, several were rebels and several Royalists. There has always been a close family relationship with England. After being active on a variety of Boards of Directors, His Excellency founded and is Chairman of the UN certified NGO, "The World Peace Mission and Human Rights Academy."
He is very active at providing support, direct aid and medical supplies to Ukraine through his international connections.
Maryanne Parker, Vice President and Chief Officer of Protocol
Maryanne Parker is a celebrity coach, marketing expert, and award-winning entrepreneur. Maryanne is also the founder of Manor of Manners, a company that specializes in international business, social, luxury, and youth etiquette.
She has almost a decade of experience in helping the interests of luxury brands, businesses, and individuals. She is the author of two very well-received books "The Sharpest Soft Skill" and "Posh Overnight".
Poise, elegance, and sophistication were essential to Maryanne’s successful years of corporate experiences around the world. Her unstoppable drive has earned her a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial control from the International University of Economics in Sofia, Bulgaria, with world-class experiences, and multiple certifications.
Maryanne Parker is her own luxury brand. She studied etiquette and protocol with the most prestigious etiquette schools in London, Brussels, and Washington, DC. She was mentored by the former EU Ambassador to the Holy See and Order of Malta.
Ralph Jarrells, Secretary
I am retired from a mass communications career that included News Director of an ABC affiliate; VP of a NYSE company; SrVP of an international franchise company; VP/Editorial Director of a magazine publishing company; VP Account Supervisor of the world's largest advertising agency and so on. Ralph right -- father wrong. But, he died before I could prove him wrong.
In retirement, after a successful professional career, the thought of fishing or rocking on the front porch was under whelming. So, I started a video production company and received 28 international creative competition trophies. I then started writing. I have had three novels published.
I believe I have always have a global consciousness, so I worked with two non-profits as a consultant. Seeing a special need, my wife, Sybil, and I started a non-profit helping widows and orphans in India, Uganda and Belize and co-founded a sports program in a third world country that has had a positive on over a thousand children and adults.
Chevalier Joseph Gilbert Luna, Treasurer and
Advisory Council Member
Chevalier Joseph Gilbert Luna is the Treasurer for the Royal Society of St. George, California branch and also one of the founding members of RSSG, California. He descends from English, Spanish and American Native ancestry.
As a humanitarian, Mr. Luna can often be found active in street ministry projects reaching out to improve the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished by organizing food, clothing and school supply drives for families in the Coachella Valley, Ca. areas. Mr. Luna has been awarded the Presidents Lifetime Volunteer Service award and well as many other community oriented recognitions. Mr. Luna has also been awarded medals and recognitions from HRH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie for his service to the Crown Council of Ethiopia.
He is an active member of the United Nations Association, U.S.A, and a key member of The Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, The Saint Lazarus Relief Fund, The Order of Constantine the Great and Saint Helen as well as other Chivalric organizations.
Dr. Craig Paterson, Advisory Council Director
Dr. Craig Paterson was born and raised in Scotland. He studied at universities in Glasgow, Edinburgh and York before doing a PhD in ethics at Saint Louis University, Missouri. He has lived in the USA since 1995 and is a dual national of the UK and the USA.
He taught ethics and philosophy of law at Saint Louis and Providence College, Rhode Island before becoming a corporate ethicist in health care and runs his own consultancy business. He is the author of two books published with Routledge on Analytical Thomism and also on Assisted Suicide. He is the author of several peer-reviewed articles in leading ethics journals.
Dr. Paterson has a great interest in the fields of history, chivalry, and the granting of arms. In 2016 Dr. Paterson was made an honorary research professor at the University of Madrid, Spain as part of the Concilium Research Group.
In 2017 he was honored by Her Majesty the Queen and appointed to the grade of Member of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, a British Crown Order of chivalry. Also in 2017, he was elected to Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a body that received its Royal Charter in 1783, Scotland’s leading historical society.
Mr. Anton Lutter, Protocol Advisor
Mr. Anton Lutter has a background in the field of data protection as a compliance specialist and is currently serving as the director of Aedon International, a consultancy firm providing additional services in corporate and public diplomacy. www.aedoninternational.com
Anton is the Chairman of Sayoman Galur Sulur Sentana Ningrat – which is the International Institute for Indonesian Royalty and Nobility, founded in 1988 in The Hague.
Mr. Lutter is also a member of the Program Board of the Museum Sophiahop as well as a published author of the new book "Burgemeesters in Nederlands-Indie 1616-1942" (Mayors in the Netherlands-Indies 1916-1942). Mr. Lutter has also been involved with many humanitarian organizations with activities concerning those who have been victims of the WWII.
Other Offices
Genealogist: Tina Sansone
Historian; Zackery Hopkins
Events Director: Donna Jett
Membership Chair RSSG -CA: Lena Evans