Each One Help One

A grandfather teaching a child how to read in St. Thomas Jamaica might sound like a small moment, until you hear what it grows into. We sit down with Sheron Telfer Rose Samuels, a financial executive, nonprofit founder, and humanitarian leader, to trace the real roots of financial stewardship and community impact. Her story is grounded in St. Thomas, Jamaica, where “we didn’t have much, but we had community” and where church leaders, teachers, and neighbors quietly formed the village that helped her rise. 

From there, we move into the practical side of leadership: building SSERS Financial Group, serving nonprofits and small businesses nationwide, and why governance matters as much as mission. Sheron speaks candidly about launching her firm after devastating loss, pushing through to complete her master’s degree, and turning purpose into a real operating model. If you care about nonprofit accounting, board oversight, or what a fractional CFO can do for an organization that cannot afford a full-time executive, you’ll leave with clear takeaways and sharper questions to ask. 

We also talk about what’s next: the Patron House Foundation, focused on humanitarian relief and education through mentorship, scholarships, and tutoring, with a reach that includes the Caribbean. Sheron shares how she mobilizes volunteers, why she brings her children into the work, and how a new podcast will spotlight leaders who are lifting underserved communities. Listen, share this with someone who believes in “each one help one,” and subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these stories and resources.

Transcript

Welcome And Why Sharon Matters

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Welcome everyone and thank you for being here. I'm Pamela Toussaint, president of Ultimate Image Coach and Academy, and also a personal branding coach. Today I have the pleasure to interview and actually have a discussion with someone who's very special. She's a good friend of mine, but more importantly, someone who reflects stewardship, financial stewardship, humanitarian leadership, and is a fabulous community partner. So, Sharon, thank you so much for being here with us today. Welcome.

SPEAKER_02 0:45

Thank you, Pam. Good morning, everyone. It is such a pleasure to be here today with you, Pam, for this discussion. I'm so looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

Very good.

Growing Up In Jamaica With Community

SPEAKER_00 0:55

So let's begin. Your roots, Jamaica, our roots. And I think that story is so powerful. So take us back to your growing up on the island of Jamaica.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Absolutely. So good morning again, everyone. My name is Sharon Telferrose Samuels. I am a financial executive. I am a nonprofit founder as well as a humanitarian leader with just around 30 years of financial stewardship. Pam, I must say this conversation matters to me because it reflects not only what I do, but why I do it.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Absolutely. And in fact, Sharon, this is such a powerful story. Every time I have a conversation with you, I'm just totally inspired. So tell us why this is so important to you. Tell us about some of the people in your youth who actually influenced you.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

Oh my goodness. So I was born and raised in St. Thomas, Jamaica, where my siblings and I grew up. We didn't have much, but we had community. There were instances where we had church leaders that helped us. We had for my siblings, it was teachers that helped them. And there was one person that was very instrumental to me growing up, and that was my my grandfather. We didn't grow up with our mom and her dad, but my grandfather played a very pivotal role in our life. He was a police officer, and they called him Johnna. His name was Mr. Eli Johnson, but they called him Johnna. I'm not sure why they call him that. Maybe because his last name was Johnson. Everybody have a nickname in Jamaica. Of course, yes. But he was very instrumental in our upbringing. Growing up, I didn't go to school in Jamaica. He was the one that taught me really how to read and write. Wow. And we really thank you. And we really didn't have a lot growing up as well. So whatever he was able to do to provide for us, he farmed the land. So whether it was planting oranges or an apple or a banana, he made sure that he provided for us. And the community as well, because they knew that these were Mr. Eli Um Johnson's grandchildren. They looked out for us. And I'm so appreciative of that because if it wasn't for the community, I don't know where my siblings and I would be today.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

You know, that is such an inspiring story, and it kind of reminds me of an expression, and I think it was it originates with Hillary Clinton about it takes a village to raise a child. Oh, yes. That's really what you're telling us all about.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

Absolutely. It it took a village for us back then, and I'm I'm grateful to that community and my grandpa.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Fantastic. Now, I know you've always expressed to me a phrase that you're

Each One Help One Mindset

SPEAKER_00 3:46

going to be using to describe what this is all about. Tell us what that. I think it's each one.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

It's each one help one PM. Looking back at um everything that I've been through and where I'm coming from, and for those that helped me along the way, it shaped me as a leader. And looking back, and currently I can say that I am giving back to my community in a very special and unique way because of all that I've been through, and it's each one help one, and I just encourage that and I promote that everywhere I go.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

Fantastic.

Building A Career In Finance

SPEAKER_00 4:20

I know you're very entrepreneurial. So fast forward and tell us you're now a financial executive, and that's exciting because we walked the path several years ago when we worked on the plan for you to become to start launching your business, and you have been so successful. Tell us what brought you to the financial part of your resume.

SPEAKER_02 4:42

Oh my goodness. And thank you for bringing that up. I appreciate that. I remember when I was about to start SSERS Financial Group, I came to you and asked for your help to do that first business plan. And I am so grateful because it came to fruition. Like everything that we had had in that business plan back then, I can say that with hard work and determination, it was successful. Fantastic. So I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 5:07

That's what happens when you have passion, focus, skills, and you're amazing. I'm happy to be one of your clients, actually.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Absolutely, thank you. I'm grateful to have you as a client. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

So tell us a little bit more. Is there anything else you want

Grief That Sparked SSERS Financial

SPEAKER_00 5:20

us to know about CERS SSER? So absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 5:22

So a CERS basically was form out of grief. I remember back then I was married to one of the prominent producers in Jamaica at the time. His name was Patrick Roach Samuels. And even though he had his career going, you know, he provided the likes of Movado, um, Buntekilla, um, Sean Paul, a lot of them. And I remember he had pushed me to, I had my bachelor's then, but I didn't have my master's. And he was a champion in pushing me to go back to school um to get my master's degree. And I remember right around when I was um getting ready to start my master's, he was brutally murdered. And that changed a lot.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

I imagine it did.

SPEAKER_02 6:04

It changed a lot, but I persevered.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

Fast forward, I did push myself and I went back to school and I got that master's. And I remember when I was just around to graduate, um, I also give credit to Tanou Penya. She's not here anymore, but I remember I said, Tanu, I did it. I'm going to, you know, register this company now. And she said, What should we call it? And I came up with SSERS. SSERS actually is all my names combined. And I think the one is many names. Yes, it's all the many names that we give our children growing up. And so that's how SSERS Financial Group was born. It is an accounting and advisory firm, essentially, um, that is permanently for nonprofits organizations, but we also support for-profit companies um small and medium-sized as well, um, nationwide.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

Very good. And if that's not enough, folks, I'm going to have Sharon share with us about her next venture, which is absolutely exciting. So, where are you going to go next? What's

Mission Work And Patron House Foundation

SPEAKER_00 7:08

next for you?

SPEAKER_02 7:09

I have so much going on. First, I must say I am also a missionary president. And I do have a lot of missionaries that work with me. I think I work them too hard. I'm a very hard-working individual, but essentially we do a lot in the community. So for those individuals that are not able to donate to the cause, we ask them to donate their youth stuff and we repurpose those. We have yard sales at the church and we take those funds and repurpose it back in the community. Um, so we also go to the nursing home, so we do a lot of different things in terms of my missionary journeys concerned. Also, I am launching my own nonprofit foundation, Patron House Foundation. We're launching that as of um June 1st, and that will be an extension of my missionary journey with a church. So Passion Um Patron House Foundation will focus on humanitarian relief as well as education.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

A lady of many hats for sure.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

Absolutely, um PM.

SPEAKER_00 8:11

So let me let me just kind of pull it together then. You wear several hats, as I say, as you because you're still going to continue with SSERS Financial, correct?

SPEAKER_02 8:21

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

And then starting a Patron House Foundation. Uh, with your mission still the same. Financial stewardship is it, I think, is the most appropriate way to determine that. And then also your Patron House Foundation, which is going to be, and both of them have a reach

Fractional CFO Help For Nonprofits

SPEAKER_00 8:36

beyond the US. So tell us about the global reach of what you're going to be doing.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

So, first of all, going back to SSURS financial group, just for a moment, we do various services. So I have been around a nonprofit space for a very long time. I sat on the board for of Bonwell Foundation as the VP of Finance. Right. I am also in the past, I've worked with Flower Power and Light on their storm restoration team as well as the lead finance executive. Um, other nonprofits as well as the chief financial officer. So I've done a lot within the financial space. And so I for those for SSCRS Financial Group, for those that are looking for our fractional CFO services, we do offer um that as well, especially for the nonprofit community that would not otherwise be able to afford a CEO or a CFO, excuse me, for about $250,000. Um they can certainly come to us for fractional CFO um services.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Very good.

SPEAKER_02 9:39

Um so in terms of Patron House Foundation, we are offering in terms of the educational side, we'll be offering mentorship as well as um scholarships as well as tutoring.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

So you so of course you're you can't do all of this alone. So tell us about your support team around you.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

I do have a board of eight that is like-minded like myself and have a passion to serve. And so I am just so grateful um for them.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

And then, of course, your kids. Say how they're going to be part of this whole thing because I think that's so important to teach the next generation about the importance

Education Support And The Board Team

SPEAKER_00 10:19

of community. Not only focus on your career and your financial issues, but also how you actually bring the community into your success.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

Absolutely. So I love to serve, I think we're all here to serve. And I teach my children to um to give back in whatever way they can. And so I will be starting a podcast as well. If the missionary journey was not enough, and if SSERS Financial Group

A New Podcast With Her Kids

SPEAKER_02 10:47

was not enough, um, we also starting a podcast as well, and my my children will be um a co-host with myself, and I'm so grateful for them um to join me on this journey as they learn to give back to their community. They bring a different perspective to the conversation.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Of course they do. And a podcast is a great way to launch your new business and to get the word out so everyone knows what you're about. So I'm I'm so anxious, I can't wait to see the first few episodes. When will we start seeing those?

SPEAKER_02 11:20

So you should start seeing those right around uh May. So the podcast basically brings everything together under one ecosystem. And so it will highlight leaders in the community that are doing great. You know, we um often hear about the bad things, but no one hears about the individuals out there that are helping others like myself. You know, I remember how my community helped me back in Jamaica. And a lot of us, we just need that helping hand and know where to find those resources. And so the podcast essentially will be focused on those that are out there doing good deeds and helping those to rise in the community, especially the underserved community. So we'll be shining the light in individuals and corporations that are out there making an impact and helping others.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Oh, that's fantastic. You have a great vision, and you have obviously have a great great energy, and you're able to pull people together. I'm happy to be one of the people who will be supporting you in the Patron House Foundation and the education aspect of it as an education leader, leadership and soft skills training.

SPEAKER_02 12:29

And thank you. I'm looking so much, I'm looking forward to that, yeah, because there's so many um students out there. When I look back at my educational journey, you know, going to Jamaica, I was not going to school. And I remember how my grandpa taught me how to read and write. And when I came to this country, there were so many others that helped me along the way. There were teachers that helped me come into the US, you know, there there were mentors that helped me as well. And I think if we just get a helping hand from those around us just to support us on that journey, it will be it'll make such a huge um difference. Absolutely. And so Patch and House will step in that space um to help those who who need it wherever they are, not just here local in the US, but we are um focused

How To Volunteer Donate And Connect

SPEAKER_02 13:13

on the Caribbean as well.

SPEAKER_00 13:14

Very good. Well, I'm sure the audience is now asking how they can reach you because you've inspired, I'm sure, a multitude of people out there. So tell us how we can reach you.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

Absolutely. So for Patron House Foundation, um for the audience watching, you'll be able to log on um to patronhouse foundation.org, and there you will get all the information um needed in order to reach us. We're also looking for volunteers as well. So whether it's your time or your talent or your treasures, we will be asking to just volunteer in whatever way you can. Remember, um, once again, it's each one help one. In terms of if you're looking for accounting services under um SSERS Financial Group, once again you can log on to our website at SSERS.co, and all the information is there depending on what services you're looking for as well. Very good. And if you're looking to donate to our mission cause, of course, the woman of many hats, um you can certainly reach out to us as well. The caption will be um presented and we'll let you know how you can reach out um to give back to the community.

SPEAKER_00 14:21

Fantastic. Before we close, I'm sure the audience will want to know a little bit about Sharon. What do you do in your downtime? When you if if you ever have any spare time, what do you do in your time? My downtime, my downtime PM is when I'm sleeping.

SPEAKER_02 14:34

I think I'm always thinking about ways to to help others and to give back. So for me, there's really never a downtime. I think that's probably bad in a sense, but I think one of my weaknesses, I don't know how to say

Servant Leadership And Closing Advice

SPEAKER_02 14:48

no. I just want to help everyone. I know that I can't help everyone, but I do my best. Um, I am a servant leader and I truly believe that I'm here to serve. Right.

SPEAKER_00 14:59

Very good. So I'll just wrap it up by saying we have been so inspired by your journey and looking forward to what's to come. It sounds very, very exciting. So thank you for being here, Sharon. What stands out most in is your deep commitment, not only to educating financially the planet, if you will, but also what you're doing in terms of community outreach. And each one help one. I love that phrase because it just encapsulates what you're all about. Is there any do you have any last-minute comments that you'd like to share with our audience?

SPEAKER_02 15:32

For the CEOs that are out there, I just want to say a lot of times they're focused on the mission. Um, but there's so much more work to do in terms of the governance side of it. So I just encourage them in whatever help they need, please just reach out to House at SSERS. And um once again, for those watching, just log on to our website and there you'll be able to reach us with whatever um ways you can support the organization.

SPEAKER_00 15:58

Fantastic. So, audience, stay tuned for the launch of Patron House Foundation and that phenomenal podcast in May. And uh good luck to you. I know that you are going to be so successful because I've known you for several years and I know that your path is always well thought through, and we're just very happy for you because it's it sounds like a labor of passion, something that you've always wanted to do.

SPEAKER_02 16:22

Absolutely, and thank you, PM, for coming on this journey with me. I truly appreciate um all the effort and the time that you've put in to just help me grow and rise. So you are one of those individuals as well, and I am so um grateful to you for coming along with me on this journey.

SPEAKER_00 16:39

My pleasure, and I look forward to continuing the path. Thank you. Yeah, and once again, this is Miss Sharon Rose Samuels, and she is an entrepreneur to the core, but also she is a community leader and one who gives back to everyone around the world. So good luck to you, Sharon. Thank you for joining us this morning. I'm Pamela Toussaint, the president of Ultimate Image Coaching Academy. Thank you very much, audience, for being with us.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

Absolutely. Thank you.