Our Team

Guided by the voices of our communities, our team is committed to creating a healthier California. This diverse group includes passionate advocates, program experts, researchers, organizational learners, communications leaders, finance specialists, human resource professionals and executives, all working collaboratively to drive our mission forward.

“I choose to work at Sierra Health Foundation because it positions me to be a health and advocacy champion for those that need a voice, for those that don’t feel seen or heard. I get to be the voice to mobilize their passion and what they struggle with and bounce back from whatever disparity they’re dealing with.”

— Chris Cooper, Program Officer

“I choose to work at Sierra Health Foundation because we can make an impact on community organizations that support diverse communities across the state and make an impact on those who are working with vulnerable populations, those that need it and those that deserve it.”

— Palvinder Kaur, Senior Program Officer

“I work at Sierra Health Foundation because of our focus on racial equity and justice and our focus on health equity. I love working with my colleagues in Evaluation and also my colleagues at Sierra Health. The commitment, the collegiality and the respect we have for each other and the willingness to help each other out.”

— Maurice Samuels, Managing Director

“I choose to work at Sierra Health Foundation because it aligns with my values and my vision to see young people of color have success. The youth that we work with are vital. I have a picture of all the young people in our fellowship that says, ‘If you don’t execute, then who? Then how do we win, without you?’”

— Ray Green, Program Officer

“I choose to work at Sierra Health Foundation for a variety of reasons. One is that I get to wake up and address race and equity issues. The other is that there are great people here doing great work; it’s hard not to appreciate being at Sierra Health Foundation.’”

— Nilda Valmores, Senior Program Officer

Executive Management Team

Chet P. Hewitt

President and Chief Executive Officer

he/his

Kaying Hang

Senior Vice President of Programs and Partnerships

she/hers

Edward Harris

Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer

he/his

Beth Williams

Administration Services Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO

she/hers

Azia Cherry

Executive Assistant to the President

she/hers

Marsha Parham

Executive Assistant to the CFO/COO

she/hers

Programs and Partnerships of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation

Community Economic Development
Health Equity and Access
Healthy Youth Development
Local Initiatives
Opioid Use Programs
Regional Programs

Community Economic Development

Our Community Economic Development team leads and advocates for emerging economic development projects in California by adding value to communities’ commitment to develop and implement inclusive economic growth strategies in underinvested neighborhoods.

Kendra Lewis

Managing Director

she/hers

Anna Jen

Program Officer of Community Economic Mobilization Initiative

she/hers

Mone’t Greene

Program Associate

she/hers

Health Equity and Access

Our Health Equity and Access team works to create a California where every person has access to culturally responsive healthcare by ensuring health equity among populations disproportionately impacted by health disparities.

Matt Curtis

Managing Director

he/his

Nilda Valmores

Senior Program Officer of Stop the Hate and Behavioral Health Recovery Services Program

she/hers

Sara DeLisa

Program Officer of California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative

she/hers

Sierra Caraveo

Program Associate

she/hers

Danielle Claybon

Senior Program Associate

she/hers

Lucia Navarro

Program Associate

she/hers

Erin Perez

Program Associate

she/hers

Sonia Valadez

Program Associate

she/hers

Healthy Youth Development

Our Healthy Youth Development team organizes resources to invest in change driven in partnership with California’s youth of color and their communities to shift power and align systems to center youth opportunity, health and well-being.

Matt Cervantes

Associate Vice President of Programs

he/his

Palvinder Kaur

Senior Program Officer of Elevate Youth California

she/hers

Juan Acosta

Program Officer of Youth Suicide Prevention Media and Outreach Campaign

he/his

Chris Cooper

Program Officer of CA Funders for Boys and Men of Color

he/his

Ray Green

Program Officer of My Brother’s Keeper

he/his

Shyra Murrey

Program Officer of Elevate Youth California

she/hers

Travis Wells

Senior Program Associate

he/his

Joseph Fox-Sowell

Program Associate

he/his

Antonia

Program Associate

they/them

Tairiq Marshall

Program Associate

he/his

Devontae Springer

Program Associate

he/his

Gerald White

Program Associate

he/his

Evelyn Gonzalez

Program Assistant

she/hers

Local Initiatives

Our Local Initiatives team connects trusted community organizations, grassroots leaders and public sector institutions to provide holistic, culturally responsive services spanning mental health and wellness, violence prevention and wraparound care for impacted groups in the Sacramento area.

Shelley Jones

Managing Director

she/hers

Jedida Gomes

Program Officer of Black Child Legacy Campaign

she/hers

Amaya Noguera

Program Officer of Community Responsive Wellness

she/hers

Erica Allen

Senior Program Associate

she/hers

EdDrianna Marshall

Program Associate

she/hers

Bella Vang

Program Associate

she/hers

Persiasymone Simmons

Program Assistant

she/hers

Opioid Use Programs

Our Opioid Use Programs team works with programs and partners to address opioid use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery by making available racially and culturally responsive population-based and place-based approaches for the state’s most underserved communities.

Nora Dunlap

Managing Director

she/hers

Madeline Sabatoni

Senior Program Officer of State Opioid Funds

she/hers

Amy Lawrence

Senior Program Officer of MAT Access Points Project

she/hers

Marisa Vang

Senior Program Associate

she/hers

Hannah Finegold

Program Associate

she/hers

Tiare Summerhays

Program Associate

she/hers

Sadie Luke

Program Assistant

she/hers

Jenavie Rivera

Program Assistant

she/hers

Regional Programs

Our Regional Programs team adopts a place-based, policy and systems change approach to improving health and racial equity in the San Joaquin Valley by strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations, public sector institutions and funders across impacted regions in California.