Chief People Officer
Cyndi Gentry serves as Chief People Officer at Northern Wasco County PUD, where she provides strategic oversight of human resources, payroll, public relations, safety, and government affairs. With over two decades of leadership experience across diverse industries, Cyndi brings extensive expertise in organizational development, strategic planning, and process improvement to her role on the executive management team.
Her multifaceted career path began in industrial manufacturing, where she worked as a welder building railcars, before transitioning into human resources and management roles across children's mental healthcare, workers' compensation insurance, and utilities. At SAIF Corporation, she progressed through six positions, including a strategic rotation in finance, where she managed HRIS systems, compensation programs, and an HR budget exceeding $13 million. As Compensation & Employment Manager at ATI Specialty Alloys & Components, she further developed her expertise in employee relations and policy development.
Since joining Northern Wasco County PUD in 2016, Cyndi has led numerous successful initiatives that have enhanced operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness. Her achievements include implementing process improvements that significantly reduced administrative workload, upgrading the District's cyber security infrastructure, and successfully negotiating multiple collective bargaining agreements with IBEW Local 125, and leading energy conservation and weatherization programs.
A graduate of Linfield College with a Bachelor of Science in Social & Behavioral Science with a business focus, Cyndi maintains strong community connections, serving on Columbia Gorge Community College's presidential search committee and trades facility advisory board. Her combination of technical expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to process improvement continues to drive operational excellence at Northern Wasco County PUD.