Remy Bernarda – President

Remy Bernarda has been a member of the SJTA Board of Directors since May 2017 and has served as President since 2021. As a Reno native, her love of all things tennis began at age 7 growing up playing on the public courts at the Plumas tennis courts (now Reno Tennis Center) and Wingfield Park. Remy competed in all of the local tournaments and events and was a member of the Bishop Manogue tennis team. Most importantly, she cherishes the lifelong friendships she made through participation in tennis. This background is one of the reasons Remy is passionate about growing the game of tennis in the Northern Nevada/Lake Tahoe community.  In addition to tennis, she is an ardent sports fan and leads an active outdoor lifestyle and also loves to travel and read.

In her day job, Remy has over 25 years of experience in finance, investor relations and communications focused primarily in healthcare. Over her career, she has initiated and managed investor relations, corporate and clinical communications, and marketing programs for several companies both in-house and as external advisor. Remy began her career on Wall Street working in institutional sales and trading administration at Goldman Sachs and Knight Equity Markets, and investment banking at Bear Stearns. She holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Remy is an active participant in the investor relations community – she is designated as a Fellow by National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the organization.

Michelle McKibbin – Vice President

As a board member of SJTA, I bring my passion to the Reno/Tahoe communities and advocate for kids of all ages, along with education and how to always respect others.

At age 11, I started to play the game of soccer in the Bay Area.  Loved the game and I learned to become part of a team and couldn’t wait for the weekend games and tournaments.  The game of soccer gave me a sense of passion and confidence.  I moved to Reno in 1978 as a senior in high school, attending Proctor Hug High School.  I married in 1987 and had my son Kyle in 1988.  I always believed in working together as a team and trying your hardest and embedded that in Kyle’s upbringing.

I met my love and best friend, Kevin McKibbin and married in 1998.  He was a very involved tennis player in the Reno/Tahoe community, and I soon began learning the game at age 30.  As I became more involved in the game, I was approached by Christy Funk to participate in an after-school tennis program at Jessie Beck Elementary with the non-profit organization BLTA (Biggest Little Tennis Association), now known as SJTA.  I continued to participate in school programs at numerous elementary and middles schools in the Reno/Tahoe area for 10 years, along with starting and running a summer high school tennis camp at Spanish Springs High School with Lynn Rapp.

Because of our passion for tennis, Kyle also began playing the game and with his love and hard work made the team at McQueen High School and later walked on at the University of Nevada, Reno.  I started the tennis booster club at McQueen High School and continued to help during Kyle’s time on the NV tennis team, during this time by creating and helping several fundraisers for both the men and women's  teams.  I continue to support and help today.  There is nothing more rewarding to me than a child with laughter and a smile while learning and playing tennis.

Kristine Wymore – Secretary

Deborah Alarcon – Founder, Fundraising Committee Chair, Board Member

Deborah’s love for tennis began at the age of five on the public courts of Whittier, California. As a junior player, she competed in tournaments throughout the Southern California section, fueling a lifelong passion for the sport. In 1984, Deborah moved to Reno, where she and her husband, Bill Platt, built a life rooted in community and family. Bill ran a successful dental practice for 40 years before retiring, and together, they have enjoyed raising their sons, Anthony and Nathan, in Verdi, just outside of Reno. The family are all proud alumni of the University of Nevada and share a deep connection to the Wolf Pack community.

Deborah’s dedication to tennis extends beyond the court through decades of volunteer work. She began serving the Northern Nevada Tennis Association (NNTA) in 1992, playing a part in launching the region’s first National Junior Tennis League (NJTL). In 1995, she was instrumental in introducing USTA adult leagues to the Northern Nevada/Lake Tahoe area. Following NNTA’s dissolution in 2002, Deborah founded the Biggest Little Tennis Association (BLTA) to ensure junior tennis programs continued to thrive. In 2017, the organization rebranded as the Sierra Junior Tennis Association (SJTA), where she remains an active leader.

Today, Deborah continues her passionate work with SJTA, including serving as the tournament director for the organization’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Her commitment to growing tennis in Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region has positively impacted countless players, and she remains dedicated to fostering opportunities for the next generation.