LWTC Board

Cathy Priestner, President

Cathy and her husband, Todd, have been snowbirds at Leisure World since 2020. LW has given them the opportunity to expand their hobbies and interests, including tennis, golf and painting, as well as their social network.

Cathy is a dynamic leader and credits her diverse roles for her unique perspective. She was the Executive Vice President of Sport and Games Operations for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, and co-authored, founded and served as a board member for Own the Podium 2010. She developed winning podium programs for the 2002 Salt Lake City, 2014 Sochi, and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. As Managing Director of Sport for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, she made history as the first female to hold this position for an Olympic Games. Her facility management career began as General Manager for the Calgary Olympic Oval. Cathy’s achievements include becoming the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in speed skating (1976, 500m silver) and receiving the Olympic Order twice. She’s also an inductee of both the Canadian and Olympic Hall of Fame.

When not enjoying the sunshine in Mesa, Cathy and Todd live on Vancouver Island. The summer months include spending time with their family – her two daughters, son, and four granddaughters.  

Susan Silberisen, Vice President

Susan and her husband, Ken are from Texas and Arizona (Ken is a rare Arizona native).   They moved into LW as full-time residents in 2023.  Susan began playing tennis when she was ten in Texas.  She played through-out High School and College and then put the racket down until about 2025.  Ken just began his tennis career and is enjoying the sport and community.  Susan worked as a Technology Executive for 38 years, enjoying experiences that included her own software company, New Perspective, Apple, MicroSoft, the State of AZ, NAU, and many other companies in both Texas and Arizona.  Susan and Ken have 1 child and 2 grandchildren.

Sandra Markley, Secretary

Sandra and her husband Tom are from Omaha, Nebraska, and have been spending winters in LW and active in our club since 2021.  Sandra has played social tennis for the past 35 years in Omaha on both mixed and gender leagues, and chose LW in large part because of its active tennis community.  Sandra worked as a business teacher for 12 years at the high school and college levels, and as a lawyer/prosecutor for 25 years, retiring in 2021.  Sandra and Tom have 2 children and 6 grandchildren.  

Cynthia Kerns, Treasurer

Cindy grew up in Southern California.  During her formative years, her mom spent more days than not driving her back and forth to the ice rink.  She reflects on those countless hours on the ice doing figure 8’s, spin after spin, jump after jump working to hone in on her technical skills making her into a stronger competitor.  Unfortunately, her “out of the box” thinking i.e., choice of music would impact her scores.

The skating community wasn’t quite ready to embrace rock or soul music back then.  Due to life events, Cindy had to give up skating.  To help fill the void, her parents gave her a choice of getting a piano or a horse….silly question to ask a 13 year old.  With a horse, came work.  She would have to pay half cost for board & feed. After school and on  weekends she was either babysitting or working at the ranch.  This is where she attributes developing her work ethic, and learned the importance of a budget.

Cindy counts her blessings every day, and is thankful that her biggest fans in life have been her parents, brother, and very close friends.  At the age of 21 she started her career at a major oil company where she spent the next 31 years.  It was great growing up at ARCO.  It was there that she was able to implement many “out of the box” ideas.  In 2002 she had the opportunity to jump from Finance; Accounting to Marketing (her college major).  The last several years before retiring in 2014 she enjoyed being the category manager for candy, snacks, etc.  What fun having to taste and test market new innovations.

The best was just to come.  She met Michael in 2012, and her life would forever change.  Instead of walking down an aisle at their wedding in 2015, they and their wedding party would row onto the shore in an outrigger.  That same year they picked up their new RV, and set out on their life adventure together.  While in Custer, SD they met fellow RV’rs who introduced them to The Resort here in Mesa -- which led them to tennis -- which led them to Leisure World,  where as of 2019 they call home.  Cindy feels blessed for the opportunity to be a part of Michael’s son and daughter’s lives; especially blessed that together they get to spoil their granddaughters.