Our Staff Leadership
Scroll down or click below for information on our staff.
Barbara Ralston, President and Chief Executive Officer
Natalie Young Lee, Vice President of Programs & Services
Debbie Simons, Vice President of Operations and Development
President and Chief Executive Officer
Fresh Start Women's Foundation
After serving as interim CEO for 6 months, Barbara officially accepted the position of Fresh Start’s President and CEO in January of 2008. Professionally, Barbara has had a banking career that spans over 30 years. She founded Camelback Community Bank in 1998 and has been serving as its board chair since retiring in 2004.
Prior to founding Camelback Community Bank, she was the President of Continental Service Corporation, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Chase Bank of Arizona and Phoenix Area President for First Interstate Bank.
One of Fresh Start’s most significant leaders prior to her current position, and clearly one of our most diligent fundraisers, Barbara Ralston is also a shining example of what a great board member and donor can be. After chairing three terms as Board Chair, Barbara stepped into the role of Co-Chair of the Women’s Resource Center in 2000 taking on the Capital Campaign responsibilities for the building of the Women’s Resource Center and first three years operational budget. Barbara pulled together a stellar team to help her and led the charge to raise nearly $7 million in a short 18 months.
Barbara also serves on many other boards including The Helios Education Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, nFocus, Arizona Town Hall, Teach for America and Great Hearts Preparatory Academies.
Over the years Barbara Ralston has been recognized a number of times both locally and nationally for her dedication to community and for her professional success. She received the Women of Distinction award in 2000, the ATHENA award from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in 1998, Woman of the Year presented by Valley Leadership in 1996, the Golden Heart award sponsored by Today’s Arizona Woman Magazine and World of Today and Tomorrow award from the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Girl Scouts of America; both in 1997. In 2004 she was named one of the top 50 women bankers nationally by American Banker Magazine.
Director of Business Strategies
Fresh Start Women's Foundation
Leslie Novick, a lifelong resident of El Paso, Texas, moved to Phoenix to accept the position of Director of Business Strategies for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. Prior to joining Fresh start, Leslie served as Executive Director of the El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center from 2002-2009. Leslie oversaw a $2 million capital campaign to rebuild the Museum and restructure it after a catastrophic fire in 2001.
As a result, of its continuing education to El Paso youth and its visitors, EPHM was awarded the YWCA Paso del Norte Regional’s Racial Justice Ambassador Award in 2007. Leslie has 20 years of volunteer service to El Paso with the Junior League of El Paso, and served as President, El Paso Section, National Council of Jewish Women, as well as, serving on its National Nominating Committee. In 2008, Leslie received the REACH (Recognized ACHievement) Award from the YWCA Paso del Norte Region, as El Paso’s top female business executive. She also serves as a founding member of the Texas Coalition for Holocaust Education.
Prior to her work with the El Paso Holocaust Museum, Leslie was an elementary teacher and in 1995 received Texas Teacher of the Year Award from the Academy of Mathematics and Sciences, for nurturing and inspiring students to pursue academic excellence. Leslie has four grown children, and five grandchildren. Her husband, Rick, an orthodontist, has offices in El Paso and Las Vegas.
Debbie Simons
Vice President of Operations & Development
Fresh Start Women's Foundation
Debbie Simons brings a fresh approach to markeing to Fresh Start. After gaining 11 years of experience in marketing & community relations and a strong sales background she has made the leap from the corporate world to non-profit to follow her passion of helping others. She was formally a senior marketing manager of community relations for Westcor Shopping Center and was responsible for working on cause-related projects at the corporate and property level.
Debbie has worked with numerous charities both locally and nationally. In the past three years, she chaired 3 events raising more than $5 million dollars. Debbie brings the unique perspective of being a past sponsor, committee member and co-chair for the Fresh Start Fashion Gala where she broke the million dollar for the first time. It is her sincere hope that by strong branding and marketing more women will learn about the servies of Fresh Start Women's Foundation.