The WINner’s Circle
Meet our Board of Directors
CARLAN WHITE, PRESIDENT
Carlan White is a CPA at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) where he works with clients to address their finance, accounting and tax needs. His favorite thing about his day-to-day, seeing the businesses and individuals he helps flourish in Northern Nevada. Carlan loves talking with clients about the issues they have and helping deliver insightful solutions. He was even once a speaker at WIN, delivering a “Resolution Reboot” on maintaining a healthy financial status.
Carlan is a native Nevadan and Reno-ite. He graduated from the University of Nevada with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. While away from his day job, he enjoys giving back to the community or being outside landscaping, snowboarding or wakeboarding.
BRYCE WARNER, IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT
Bryce Warner is an Employee Benefits Consultant with LP Insurance. He started his career in the recruiting industry, helping organizations identify top talent in a variety of fields. He even delivered a DisruptHR Reno talk, ‘It’s All About the Experience…Or Is It?,’ where he encouraged organizations to focus not just on one’s résumé and experience, but also other key factors that are commonly overlooked.
Bryce now helps executives and business owners develop strategies to contain costs, optimize their employee benefit program’s performance, and maximize the return on their health insurance investment. He serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra as the Chair of the Donor Engagement Committee and the Board Secretary. Bryce is also a graduate of the Leadership Reno Sparks program through the Chamber of Commerce. Through his work in the community and professional experience, Bryce was honored as a winner of Reno Tahoe Young Professional Network’s Twenty Under 40 in 2020. He was also named The Alumni of the Year in 2021 by the University of Nevada College of Business.
Bryce was born and raised in Reno, and he graduated form the University of Nevada with degrees in Finance and Economics. In his free time, Bryce enjoys spending quality time with friends, family, and his pup, Nala.
ALEXIS RIGGS, SECRETARY
Alexis Riggs has been an active WIN member since moving to Reno in 2015, and she was excited to join the Board in 2022. She and her husband opened, operated and grew the Orangetheory Fitness franchise in the Reno market until selling their studios in late 2021. Currently, they own and operate the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving franchise in the Northern Nevada region.
Alexis earned a BA in Advertising from the University of Alabama. She spent the early years of her career in Baton Rouge, LA, where she held positions in marketing, public relations and account management/sales. After relocating to Birmingham, AL, she joined Mac Papers as an account representative for the North AL region and later moved to Atlanta, GA where she managed a seven state territory for Neenah Paper.
Throughout Alexis’ life, she has always been actively involved in both professional and non-profit organizations. Since moving to Northern Nevada, she has supported and been involved in numerous organizations including the Children’s Cabinet of Northern Nevada, Girls on the Run – Sierras, Reno South Rotary, Leadership Reno Sparks, Step2, the Eddy House, and Life Church. She currently serves as Vice President on the Le Tip of Reno Board of Directors.
Alexis is a proud Alabama football fan and loves to use the phrase, ‘Roll Tide’, for just about anything that makes her happy. She is Mom to Meg, a 13-year-old Boykin spaniel, and she enjoys Nevada sports, traveling with her husband, Russ, snowshoeing, Pilates, spending time with friends, and live music!
RACHEL YELLEY, TREASURER
As the daughter of a small business owner, Rachel was raised on the principles of working hard to earn, cultivate, and grow wealth. Money isn’t everything – but it provides for the things that are: family, health, quality of life, and your legacy. Rachel focuses on developing long-term relationships that enable her guidance to align with investors’ comprehensive financial goals.
Rachel is a Senior Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC™, and is equipped to assist with complex needs for individuals and businesses. She enjoys collaborating with tax and legal professionals to formulate tax-efficient investment, retirement, income, and estate strategies.
Before joining Wells Fargo, Rachel was a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones and had a branch office based in Northwest Reno. Rachel holds FINRA Series 7, Series 66, and Life & Health Insurance Licenses. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, San Marcos.
Rachel grew up on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and enjoys spending time in the great outdoors. Away from work, you can find Rachel training for a marathon, golfing, skiing/snowboarding with her daughter, Joy, playing tennis with her husband, Jason, or volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
In addition to the WIN Board of Directors, Rachel serves in board leadership positions for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada (since 2014), The Arrowcreek Golf Association 9er’s (since 2023), and Best Answer for Cancer (2014 – 2024).
JOY HEUER, WIN BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Joy Heuer is the Executive Director of Girls on the Run Sierras.
Joy loves lifting people up. When Joy heard the Girls on the Run (GOTR) mission which is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident while creatively integrating running, she knew this is where she wanted to be. Prior to Girls on the Run, Joy was the COO of the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce.
Joy is a graduate and former co-chair of Leadership Reno Sparks, 2021 Northern Nevada Top 20 Women finalist and graduate of the Reno FBI Citizens Academy.
When not working to further the GOTR mission, find her spending time with her guy, Eric, and her Pug Winnie and a variety of cats. Joy enjoys live music, traveling and pizza!
JACKI HALLERBACH, VP OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Jacki Hallerbach is the Executive Director of Tru Vista Foundation, a non-profit that serves Washoe County specialty court clients and promotes safe and stable families during and after a case with the Human Services Agency. Helping our community build stable families, where parents can overcome addiction, trauma and mental health issues is work that feeds Jacki’s soul.
Previously, Jacki was Executive Director of WIN, Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network and Professional Saleswomen of Nevada. Her board experience includes PTA, Wooster Boosters and MOPS International.
Jacki is a graduate of Leadership Reno-Sparks and voted one of 2019 NNBW’s Most Influential Women. She believes that WIN can help cure our WFH isolation and need for community connection while entertaining and teaching us.
Outside of supporting the Reno-Sparks community in any way she can, Jacki loves travel, cooking, and various outdoor activities. She is married to Boris Hallerbach (IGT) and has two twenty-something daughters who currently live in Oregon and NYC.
AMBER EZELL-BISIAUX, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
Amber is a self-motivated and driven entrepreneur, always looking for ways to excel both personally and professionally. She is the co-owner and lead photographer of Ezell Images, a Reno-based portrait studio that prioritizes premium quality and service.
Following previous careers as a Spanish teacher and Financial Advisor, she finally pursued her life-long dream of being a full-time professional photographer in 2019. Months later when Covid hit, instead of seeking security, she dialed in her marketing and networking in 2020, propelling the business alongside her wife and business partner, Scotti. Today she credits her continued success to all the hard work and networking she has done over the last few years. She is grateful to WIN for being a part of that journey!
Amber and Scotti have coached photographers in running successful businesses as well as launched their second photography business focused on events and volume headshots, Bijou Photo.
When she is not out in the community making connections or photographing, Amber enjoys mountain biking, skiing, spending time with her daughter, and taking trips with her wife and family.
TYLER SCHWAB, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING
Tyler Schwab is Director of B & W Wholesale where he works with clients to develop promotional products, branded merchandise, and corporate apparel programs for businesses throughout Northern Nevada and California. He enjoys working with a wide variety of companies helping them to promote their business and also streamline any promotional purchasing programs through company specific webstores. With more then 20 years of experience merchandising, promoting and branding, he is always on the look out for the latest products and market trends.
A long time resident of Reno he is a graduate of University of Nevada Reno with a Bachelor of Science in Geography. Outside of work he spends as much time as he can in the mountains and taking advantage of the outdoor activities that Northern Nevada offers. On occasion he has even been known to drag along his wife of 23 years, Amy, and their two daughters, Erica and Lydia.
SAMANTHA MENDOZA, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Samantha Mendoza is a highly talented entrepreneur and successful REALTOR®, with expertise in the Northern Nevada Real Estate market. Her reputation as a dedicated and driven professional has earned her the respect of her clients and peers alike.
As an entrepreneur, Samantha has an unparalleled ability to identify untapped business opportunities and create successful ventures from scratch. She has a proven track record of launching and growing a highly profitable business in the Sales industry with over 25+ Years of Experience.
As a REALTOR®, Samantha’s knowledge of the Northern Nevada market, combined with her unmatched negotiation skills, make her the perfect partner for anyone looking to buy or sell a home in this area. She takes pride in her ability to connect with clients, understand their unique requirements, and help them to achieve their property goals.
Samantha is a Local to Northern Nevada. She is also passionate about ongoing education and is committed to staying up-to-date with industry trends and advancements.
When she is not working, Samantha is “Living Her Best Life” enjoying spending quality time with her family and friends. She loves exploring What Nevada has to offer. She is also a TV Host for The Show American Dream TV that highlights Lifestyle, Culture, & Real Estate of Northern Nevada.
FAYTH ROSS, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Fayth Ross is the Director of EPIC (Educational Programs Inspiring the Community) at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), where she leads a robust array of non-credit professional certifications, personal enrichment courses, and custom workforce training. Originally from Utah, she moved to Reno in 2006 to join TMCC as an instructor and has been a champion for accessible education and lifelong learning in Northern Nevada ever since.
Her career includes leadership roles in the nonprofit sector at the Desert Research Institute, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and as Executive Director of Urban Roots. An accomplished grant writer, she has secured over $15 million—and counting—in support of Nevada’s children, families, and lifelong learners. Fayth has been recognized as one of Northern Nevada Business Weekly’s Top 20 Powerful Women and was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Sierra Chapter. She has served on the boards of the Nevada Women’s Fund and AFP Sierra, and currently serves on the advisory boards for the Aha Project and WIN. As a passion project that blends her love for education and nonprofit service, she also leads the High School Giving Circle through the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.
Fayth is married with three children and thrives on ocean breezes, spine-tingling horror films, and the joy of learning something new—especially when it’s shared with the people she cares about.
CLAY HALL, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Clay is the Vice President of Sales for Reno Type, a local print, promotional, and apparel supplier, where he supports clients with their marketing and advertising goals.
His sales journey began early, when he sold lawn fertilizer door-to-door as a Cub Scout. This experience sparked his lifelong passion for sales, marketing, and advertising.
In the early 1990s, Clay took a role with a small Reno-based printing company, marking the beginning of a 35-year career in the printing industry, working with a diverse range of small, regional, and national companies.
JESSICA NATALI, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Jessica Natali serves as Assistant Vice President, Business Banker for First Independent Bank’s Business Development Team. She joined the organization in 2006 and serves clients in the Reno and Sparks communities.
Jessica has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. With a background in bank operations, she has developed a strong focus on business loans and cultivating meaningful relationships to support the growth and success of her clients. She has a strong passion for building connections within her community that is centered around nurturing relationships and harnessing the power of referrals in the ever-changing Northern Nevada market.
Jessica is a proud Northern Nevada native. She is Past Chair of the Young Leaders Committee (YLC) at the Boys & Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows and a member of Associated General Contractors (AGC). She was recognized as a 2023 Women of Achievement honoree by the Nevada Women’s Fund. She is also a proud graduate of the 2018 Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, best class ever, according to her.
When she’s not crunching numbers, you can find her spending quality time with her husband and their beagle, Westin.
SARAH BLISS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sarah is a long-time Nevadan who has had a varied career in event management, professional sports, and mortgage services. She is now lending her management expertise to WIN Speaker Series. In her free time, Sarah is a coach for Girls On The Run-Sierras.