Board of Trustees, Sierra Joint Community College District
Barbara Vineyard - Area 1
Barbara Vineyard, a Trustee since January 1983, has served three terms as Board President. She has been Clerk of the Board; on the audit, accreditation, and scholarship committees; and served on five accreditation teams visiting other community colleges. She is a 1957 graduate of Sierra College and a member of the District’s fundraising organizations (Sierra College Foundation, Patrons). She and her husband are active in the Placer County Agriculture community and operate a farm near Lincoln.
Dave Ferrari - Area 2
Dave Ferrari was elected to the Board in 1998 and served two terms as Board President. He grew up in and represents the Tahoe/Truckee region. He runs Ferrari's Crown Motel, a business founded and built by his parents in 1955. Dave, a community activist, founder and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe; also serves on the board of the Family Resource Center; and the Grants committee with the Tahoe/Truckee Community Foundation.
Scott Tim Leslie - Area 3
Mr. Leslie was newly elected to the Board in 2004 and currently serves as President of the Board. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from California State Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University. He lives with his wife and children in Roseville.
Jerry Simmons - Area 4
Jerry Simmons has served on the Board of Trustees since November 2002. He received a B.A. in Political Science from San Jose State University, a law degree from Pepperdine University, and a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Harvard University. He works for a law firm in Sacramento that represents hundreds of California charter schools and a number of school districts. He resides in Rocklin, California. Politicsjs@aol.com
Bill Martin - Area 5
Bill Martin was elected to the Board in November, 2006. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford and an S.M. in Management from MIT. Bill retired in 1998 after a 35-year career in electronic product development having served as vice-president of engineering in two major firms. He also taught college mathematics courses for 15 years. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Auburn. wllm61@sbcglobal.net
Nancy B. Palmer - Area 6
Mrs. Palmer has lived in Grass Valley since 1973 and has long been a community activist. She was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1994 and currently serves as Vice President/Clerk of the Board. Her professional and service organizations include the Rotary Club and Friends of Hospice. She is currently President of the Placer County School Boards Association and also serves on the Placer County Treasury Oversight Committee.
Aaron Klein - Area 7
Aaron Klein is a native born Californian, and has lived in Placer County since he was seven years old. He grew up as the oldest of six kids in a middle class family, began working at the age of twelve for his dad's company, and ever since then, has worked in entrepreneurial business. He has been married to Cacey Steward Klein since 2001. Through the miracle of adoption, they are the proud parents of Spencer, and they all reside together at their home in Colfax. Aaron's passion is increasing access to college for the middle class, and he has served on the board since 2004. ak@aaronklein.com
Zach Rutledge - Student Trustee 2008-09
Zach Rutledge is a re-entry student who plans to attend law school after earning a B.A. in Economics. He has served as a Student Senator, Treasurer of the Law Club, Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa, and Volunteer Projects Coordinator for the Economics Society; all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Sierra College. Zach is an athletic person whose favorite sport is soccer. He describes himself as a true patriot who loves his country. Zach believes that “people can achieve anything they want to if they are willing to work hard enough.”