Sierra Pacific is a member-owner non-profit. Our Board of Directors oversees operations and is elected by members every year. Interested in joining the board?
Meet the Board
Leslie Ramsdell
President and CEO
Leslie Ramsdell was appointed as President and CEO of Sierra Pacific in January of 2023. Prior to that, she spent over 21 years serving in various roles at Sierra, from teller to Director of Operations and IT, and finally to Vice President in 2022. Leslie also holds a position on Sierra's Board of Directors, and on UNR's College of Business Advisory Board.
Don Ross
Director
Don has been a director since 2012. As a shareholder in the law firm Woodburn and Wedge, Nevada's oldest law firm, Don practices primarily in the area of estate planning. He holds an MBA from the University of Utah, a JD, cum laude from Brigham Young University, and a Masters of Laws degree in taxation from the University of Florida. He is an avid outdoorsman and is active in the Boy Scouts of America and Rotary.
Bruce Harvey
Director
Bruce has been a Sierra Pacific CU volunteer board member since 2006. He serves as the Chief Investment Officer for Paradigm Capital Management, an SEC fee-only investment advisory firm located in Reno, Nevada. Bruce holds a BS and MS in Applied Economics.
Robert Fitch
Secretary
Robert is the retired head of the Nevada Air Guard, with a final rank of Brigadier General. He was also the Director of Distribution Design Services. Bob has been a Board member for nearly 20 years and has served over a period of tremendous growth and change both at Sierra Pacific and in the industry overall. Bob holds a degree in accounting from the University of Nevada.
Nan Boyer
Director
Nan has been a volunteer for the credit union since 1990 and served as Chair of the Supervisory Committee for over ten years. During that tenure, Nan has undergone extensive training in the applicable rules and regulations, finances, and auditing. In her Supervisory Committee training, Nan obtained a comprehensive knowledge of lending practices, credit union controls, and office operations. Nan enjoyed an extensive career at NV Energy and served as Staff Process Consultant in Northern Operations before her retirement. Nan is involved in her community, serving on the PTA and PTO boards as Treasurer, her HOA board, and the Beta Sigma Phi board. She has been active in the Reno Rodeo Association and is presently active in volunteerism with a number of organizations.
Michael Barnes
Vice Chair
Michael and his wife Anne have been members and advocates for the credit union since 1996. As a civil engineer, Michael has been extensively involved in Northern Nevada Development, including the Heinz Ranch project opposite Cold Springs. Michael brings an impressive background and a keen analytical eye to the Board.
Matthew Helmers
Director
Matthew has served as the Vice-Chair for Sierra Pacific FCU’s Board of Directors since 2019. He is a two-time graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and Master’s degree in business administration. He is currently employed as the Director/District Operations at Southwest Gas based in Carson City, NV. He is responsible for the Engineering, Operations, and Maintenance of the natural gas system for areas of Northern Nevada that include Carson City, Fallon, Fernley, Elko, and Winnemucca, and areas of Northern California that include Lake Tahoe and Truckee. Matthew has served as chair of the American Gas Association’s Best Practices Committee, and on the board of the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada. When he is not working, Matthew enjoys spending time on the slopes snowboarding or on a lake wake surfing with his wife, Amy, and son Wade.
Carolyn Barbash
Director
Carolyn Barbash, a UNR alumnus, has over 30 years of experience in energy delivery and policy. She held multiple executive positions during her tenure at NV Energy, including Vice President of Business Development and Community Relations. Carolyn also served as vice president of PacifiCorp. She joined Sierra Pacific's Board in 2023.
Mary Simmons
Director
Mary Simmons worked as a senior executive for much of her 30 years at NV Energy, retiring as Vice President, Business Development and Community Strategy. She remains extremely active in the community, and is past president of the Women’s International Forum Nevada and past treasurer of EDAWN, among other roles. Mary is a Certified Public Accountant and received the President’s Medal from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2017 and Alumna of the Year in 2018. Mary joined the Sierra Pacific Board of Directors in 2023.
Robert Aytes
Director
Robert Aytes, P.E. is a native of Las Vegas, NV, and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Robert earned his Master of Business from the University of Phoenix and currently holds a professional license in Civil Engineering. In his twenty-plus years of experience, he has excelled in various fields of engineering including electrical, theater automation, civil land development, and natural gas. His work has taken him to the four corners of the United States and Mexico. He has had the privilege to work on a wide array of projects including a multibillion-dollar land development project in Las Vegas, a sixty-foot wide video board high atop Times Square in New York, and the redesign of a natural gas pressure limiting station. Currently, Robert works for Southwest Gas Corporation in Las Vegas where he manages the movement of up to 200 BCF of natural gas annually for customers in three states. In addition to his professional contributions, Robert has served as a board director for numerous professional nonprofit organizations, including the Nevada Society of Professional Engineers (NVSPE), and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). He is enthusiastic about connecting industry professionals with educators and programs in local schools through his work with the UNLV College of Engineers Advisory Board. Robert joined the Sierra Pacific FCU Board of Directors in 2022.
Jim Hunting
Chair
Jim served as President and CEO of Sierra Pacific FCU from 2001 to 2023 and saw the credit union through unprecedented growth in assets, members, and services. In January of 2023, Jim passed his CEO position on to Leslie Ramsdell. He now serves on Sierra's Board of Directors. In addition to his management responsibilities, Jim has served as Commissioner of the Washoe County Debt Commission, past president and board member of the Downtown Reno Business Association, and board member of the Reno Chamber of Commerce for 12 years.