Leslie was born and raised in New Jersey, spending much of her life living on the east coast.  After moving to California nearly two decades ago to pursue career opportunities, Leslie and her husband, Michael, developed a deep appreciation for the great outdoors which led them to Tahoe.  They have had a home in Incline since 2003 and have long planned to settle there once they retired from their full time careers. 

The invitation to join the Classical Tahoe Board felt like a natural addition to Leslie’s repertoire, with a love of music and the quality of the festival, which blends so well with the beauty of the surroundings. Leslie is particularly interested in Classical Tahoe’s institute and their efforts to provide musical  opportunities to less advantaged individuals and children in the surrounding Tahoe Basin. 

Throughout Leslie’s career, she has had a particular interest in helping women become successful and self-sufficient. To this end, in addition to her commitment to the Incline community, Leslie developed Bright Futures, a program in Agua Prieta, Mexico, that helps teenage girls successfully complete high school.  Through this program, students receive tuition, mentoring, life skills training and English tutoring. Leslie and her team work with a group of local Mexican women in a cross-border collaboration to ensure that these students receive the ongoing support needed to complete their education.

Leslie and Michael spend part of the year in Scottsdale, where they pursue their love of golf and hiking.  Their five children and growing number of grandchildren keep them busy traveling across the country.