Check out our September Practitioner Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight: Leif Rennes, Treasury Operations Manager, Frontier Airlines

If you've only met Leif Rennes in a professional setting, you might be surprised to learn that he's a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been playing electric guitar for more than 25 years. When he's not navigating the complexities of treasury operations for one of the country's largest airlines, there's a good chance you'll find him pursuing one of those passions.

Asked how he'd spend a completely free Saturday, Leif's answer depends on the season. Winter means heading to the mountains for a few hours of snowboarding before coming home to play guitar and unwind with some Xbox. During the summer, he swaps the snowboard for a rugby match but keeps the guitar in the mix.

Leif has a refreshingly simple way of describing his job: "I put money where it is useful and take it away from places it's not." While concise, that straightforward explanation captures the essence of treasury management and reflects his practical approach to the role.

Professionally, Leif is most excited about implementing a Treasury Management System (TMS) at Frontier Airlines. Given the challenges the airline industry has faced recently, he notes that priorities have shifted throughout the year, making progress more difficult than anticipated. Still, he's looking forward to moving the project forward and bringing greater structure and efficiency to the organization's treasury operations.

Leif joined RMAFP to become more engaged with the treasury community, particularly here in the region, and to provide his team with access to a network of fellow treasury professionals. Although a demanding year has limited his ability to participate as much as he'd hoped, he cites the RMAFP Summit Conference as a highlight of his membership experience and looks forward to becoming more involved in the future.

For new members, Leif's advice is both practical and honest: attend the Summit Conference and take advantage of opportunities to connect with fellow members. The collective knowledge within the treasury community is one of RMAFP's greatest resources. As Leif admits with a smile, "I've probably not leveraged it as much as I should have, so my advice is simple: do better than I have been able to."

With his blend of professional expertise, adventurous spirit, and commitment to continuous learning, Leif exemplifies the kind of engaged treasury leader who helps strengthen both his organization and the broader treasury community.