Ms. Barrera started her career in the rural electric cooperative industry at Sierra Electric Cooperative (SEC) in 1979 as Office Manager. In 1987, she left SEC and spent the following twenty-seven years employed at Cooperative Services Incorporated (CSI) and Columbus Electric Cooperative in Deming, NM. Throughout those years, she gained the experience necessary to achieve leadership positions at both employers.

Ms. Barrera held positions such as Manager of Customer Support, Finance Manager, IT Manager, Mapping Manager and Assistant General Manager.

Ms. Barrera has always been very active in the Sierra County community; she has served on numerous committees and boards, including the T or C Municipal School Board, Sierra County Fair Board, the Arrey PTO and she helped found a 4-H program in Arrey. In the cooperative industry, Barrera also served on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Capital Credit Task Force.

Much like her early life in Sierra County, Barrera’s career has come full circle, bringing her back to where she started.  She has been the General Manager of Sierra Electric Cooperative, Inc. since December 1, 2017.  Since taking on this role, Ms. Barrera has secured the first New Mexico partnership between a rural electric cooperative and a rural internet service provider.  This partnership has resulted in grant awards in excess of $12M to build an extensive fiber to the home network throughout most of Sierra County with no cost to her members.