Board of Directors & Executive Team

Executive Management Team  

Executive Management Bios

Lisa Pesta
President and Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Pesta has over 25 years of human resources experience. She has been with Meriwest Credit Union directing the human resources, training and facilities functions since 2000. In 2013 she was promoted to the title of SVP, Chief Operating Officer in charge of Digital Strategy & Engagement, Retail Operations, Operational Support, Marketing, HR/Training and Facilities. In 2022, Ms. Pesta was named Executive Vice President.  She was appointed President and CEO in 2023.

Currently, Ms. Pesta is the Chairperson of the board of CUSIG (Credit Union Self Insurance Group). Ms. Pesta is also the Chairperson of the Board for CUHB (Credit Union Health Benefits, a cooperative) and is the Past President of the Board of Directors for the Human Resources Directors’ network.

Previously, she was employed by COVAD Communications as an HR Business Partner, Leasing Solutions as the Vice President of Human Resources, where she was the youngest vice president and at the Law Firm Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher employed in their business department.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in leadership and organizational development from St. Mary’s College.

Brian Hennessey
Chief Financial Officer

Brian Hennessey serves Meriwest Credit Union as their Chief Financial Officer. In this position he manages the Finance, Accounting, and IT functions. Mr. Hennessey has over 30 years of experience in financial management. He joined Meriwest after spending more than three years as the Chief Financial Officer of People’s Credit Union in Rhode Island. 

After graduating from the University of Bridgeport and progressing to Price Waterhouse, Mr. Hennessey became a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Hennessey later became the youngest Vice President at Gateway Financial Corporation. He has also worked with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as well as community banks and health systems in Connecticut and Rhode Island where he lived for many years. 

Mr. Hennessey has been closely involved with his community in the past. He was heavily involved with the Newtown Forest Association, the oldest land trust in Connecticut. He enjoys the outdoors and is an avid runner and bicyclist. He has competed in several New York and Boston Marathons and currently trains as a triathlete.

Jeff L. Barnes
SVP, Chief Lending Officer 

Mr. Barnes is the newest member of Meriwest’s Executive Management Team, leading the Consumer Lending, Business Lending and Loan Collections groups for the credit union.  He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Meriwest Mortgage Company. With over 31 years of experience in banks and credit unions, serving in senior management roles, Mr. Barnes brings a wealth of knowledge to numerous areas of the Credit Union. 

Mr. Barnes was the President of Liberty Savings Bank for many years. He also served as SVP & Chief Lending Officer of Summit Bank & Trust, and SVP of Lending at Bellco Credit Union. He is also a nationally known speaker on credit union topics such as commercial and small business lending, and loan participation purchasing and selling (CUNA Lending Council).  

Mr. Barnes started out early in his career as a retail branch manager, before working in and managing a mortgage department. Subsequently, he earned his license and worked in wealth management for a number of years.  He then focused on commercial lending, before joining the senior management teams of regional and national banking chains. 

For many years, Mr. Barnes served as President of the Superior Chamber of Commerce in addition to serving on numerous charity Boards of Directors, including the Louisville Library Foundation, the Kid’s Pages Foundation and the Boulder County Private Industry Council. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado.