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

Our dedicated team, shared between the Sierra Health Foundation and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, brings a unified commitment to our mission and values across both organizations.

Executive Management Team

Pictured: Chet P. Hewitt

Chet P. Hewitt

President and Chief Executive Officer

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Pictured: Kaying Hang

Kaying Hang

Senior Vice President of Programs and Partnerships

she/hers

Pictured: Edward Harris

Edward Harris

Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer

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Pictured: Beth Williams

Beth Williams

Administration Services Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO

she/hers

Pictured: Azia Cherry

Azia Cherry

Executive Assistant to the President

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Pictured: Marsha Parham

Marsha Parham

Executive Assistant to the CFO/COO

she/hers

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.

Pictured: Kendra Lewis

Kendra Lewis

Managing Director

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Pictured: Anna Jen

Anna Jen

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Pictured: Mone’t Greene

Mone’t Greene

Program Associate

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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.

Pictured: Matt Curtis

Matt Curtis

Managing Director

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Pictured: Nilda Valmores

Nilda Valmores

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Pictured: Sara DeLisa

Sara DeLisa

she/hers

Pictured: Sierra Caraveo

Sierra Caraveo

Program Associate

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Pictured: Danielle Claybon

Danielle Claybon

Senior Program Associate

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Pictured: Lucia Navarro

Lucia Navarro

Program Associate

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Pictured: Erin Perez

Erin Perez

Program Associate

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Pictured: Sonia Valadez

Sonia Valadez

Program Associate

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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.

Pictured: Matt Cervantes

Matt Cervantes

Associate Vice President of Programs

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Pictured: Palvinder Kaur

Palvinder Kaur

Senior Program Officer of Elevate Youth California

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Pictured: Abraham Medina

Abraham Medina

Senior Program Officer of Transform Youth Justice

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Pictured: Juan Acosta

Juan Acosta

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Pictured: Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

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Pictured: Ray Green

Ray Green

Program Officer of My Brother’s Keeper

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Pictured: Shyra Murrey

Shyra Murrey

Program Officer of Elevate Youth California

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Pictured: Travis Wells

Travis Wells

Senior Program Associate

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Pictured: Joseph Fox-Sowell

Joseph Fox-Sowell

Program Associate

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Pictured: Antonia

Antonia

Program Associate

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Pictured: Tairiq Marshall

Tairiq Marshall

Program Associate

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Pictured: Devontae Springer

Devontae Springer

Devontae Springer

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Pictured: Gerald White

Gerald White

Program Associate

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Pictured: Evelyn Gonzalez

Evelyn Gonzalez

Program Assistant

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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.

Pictured: Shelley Jones

Shelley Jones

Managing Director

she/hers

Pictured: Jedida Gomes

Jedida Gomes

Program Officer of Black Child Legacy Campaign

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Pictured: Amaya Noguera

Amaya Noguera

Program Officer of Community Responsive Wellness

she/hers

Pictured: Erica Allen

Erica Allen

Senior Program Associate

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Pictured: EdDrianna Marshall

EdDrianna Marshall

Program Associate

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Pictured: Bella Vang

Bella Vang

Program Associate

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Pictured: Persiasymone Simmons

Persiasymone Simmons

Program Assistant

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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.

Pictured: Nora Dunlap

Nora Dunlap

Managing Director

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Pictured: Madeline Sabatoni

Madeline Sabatoni

Senior Program Officer of State Opioid Funds

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Pictured: Amy Lawrence

Amy Lawrence

Program Officer of MAT Access Points Project

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Pictured: Marisa Vang

Marisa Vang

Senior Program Associate

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Pictured: Hannah Finegold

Hannah Finegold

Program Associate

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Pictured: Tiare Summerhays

Tiare Summerhays

Program Associate

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Pictured: Sadie Luke

Sadie Luke

Program Assistant

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Pictured: Jenavie Rivera

Jenavie Rivera

Program Assistant

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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.

Pictured: Reyna Villalobos

Reyna Villalobos

Managing Director

she/hers

Pictured: Lee Her

Lee Her

Program Associate

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Communications

Pictured: Samantha Garcia

Samantha Garcia

Associate Director

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Pictured: Lisa Weir

Lisa Weir

Senior Communications Officer

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Pictured: Daniel Sunkari

Daniel Sunkari

Communications Officer

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Pictured: Madyson Taylor

Madyson Taylor

Communications Associate

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Conferencing and Facilities

Pictured: Tim Carden

Tim Carden

Information Technology Director

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Pictured: Noah Penley

Noah Penley

Operations Manager

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Pictured: Fernando Loyola

Fernando Loyola

Facilities Manager

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Pictured: Amy Briesenick

Amy Briesenick

Conference Manager

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Pictured: Emebet Davies

Emebet Davies

IT Project Manager

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Pictured: Daniel Haro Rico

Daniel Haro Rico

Technical Support Specialist

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Pictured: Bob Carson

Bob Carson

Senior Events Assistant

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Contracts, Risk and Compliance

Pictured: Joan Kassis

Joan Kassis

Managing Director

she/hers

Pictured: Lisa Hailey

Lisa Hailey

Contracts Administrator II

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Pictured: Karissa Rogers

Karissa Rogers

Contracts Administrator II

she/hers

Evaluation and Learning

Pictured: Maurice Samuels

Maurice Samuels

Managing Director

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Pictured: Noemi Avalos

Noemi Avalos

Senior Evaluation Officer

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Pictured: Elaine Lander

Elaine Lander

Evaluation and Learning Officer

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Pictured: Antony Maikuri

Antony Maikuri

Evaluation Officer

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Pictured: Breanna Mattis

Breanna Mattis

Senior Evaluation Associate

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Pictured: Erin Hassett

Erin Hassett

Evaluation Associate

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Pictured: Danae Lamarche

Danae Lamarche

Senior Administrative Assistant
Evaluation and Learning & Communications

she/hers

 

Finance and Administration

Pictured: Scott Sent

Scott Sent

Controller

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Pictured: Lucas Cole

Lucas Cole

Associate Controller

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Pictured: Keith Wilson

Keith Wilson

Senior Grant Accountant

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Pictured: Kervonda Sampson

Kervonda Sampson

Payroll and Fiscally Sponsored Programs Manager

she/hers

Pictured: Darcy Young

Darcy Young

Grant Accountant

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Pictured: Janie Cha

Janie Cha

Grant Accountant

she/hers

Pictured: Cori Carlos

Cori Carlos

Accountant

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Pictured: Sean Dewan

Sean Dewan

Grant Accountant

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Pictured: Walter Cornethan

Walter Cornethan

General Accountant

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Pictured: Tina Jerue

Tina Jerue

Accounts Payable Specialist

she/hers

Pictured: Clare Leary

Clare Leary

Receptionist

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Pictured: La Toya Mays

La Toya Mays

Receptionist

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Human Resources

Pictured: Ruth Jensen

Ruth Jensen

Managing Director

she/hers

Pictured: Sarah Hammades

Sarah Hammades

Human Resources Generalist

she/hers

Pictured: Territa Givens

Territa Givens

Talent Acquisition Specialist

she/hers

Pictured: Alexa Nunez

Alexa Nunez

Human Resource Technician

she/hers