Meet the Team
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Mark Diel
Mark comes to CCHI after 9 years as Executive Director and CEO of Children’s Health Initiative Napa County, where he developed the first nonprofit insurance brokerage firm in California serving individuals and families. He built a county-wide collaborative of 42 agencies and guided Napa County into a leadership role at the state level, working to provide affordable health insurance to everyone in California regardless of race, ethnicity, or family income.
Prior to his work in Napa County, he managed public health programs in Yolo County, including the Women Infants and Children Program, he developed mobile medical, dental, and optometry clinics based in schools and community centers, and a Health Promatora program in Los Angeles. Mark holds a Master of Public Health degree.
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Brian Dowd
Brian joined CCHI in April 2023 and brings with him 25 years of professional experience in regional leadership, fiscal oversight, and project management. He has a distinguished background in marketing, advertising, promotion, and engagement. Brian has extensive knowledge of Salesforce CRM, and other leading systems which will help CCHI thrive. With an eye on continual improvement, his leadership has been influential in strengthening systems and processes for organizations.
Brian has a track record of service and is excited to join CCHI in fulfilling its mission. He enjoys building quality relationships and coaching others to improve and accomplish goals. He is also an army veteran and graduate of Humboldt State University, with degrees in Spanish and Social Sciences. Brian enjoys hiking, cycling, swimming, paddling, traveling, and exploring his new Sacramento home.
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Alexis Heaton
Alexis brings to CCHI a passion and commitment to aid disabled, underserved, and marginalized communities. Her experience volunteering at a Suicide and Crisis hotline inspired her to serve others and facilitate their access to healthcare. Previously, Alexis worked as a director at a law firm, where she worked directly with individuals seeking SSI and SSDI benefit. Alexis’ attention to detail and commitment to excellence is evident as she goes above and beyond providing thorough service for clients, staff, and anyone she encounters.
CCHI’s mission resonates with Alexis, as her family has personally benefited from programs like Medi-Cal. As a first-generation individual, she understands the pivotal role these programs play in the wellbeing of families. Alexis’ goal is to help ensure all individuals have consistent access to medical care and coverage. In her spare time, Alexis enjoys baking, painting, traveling, spending time with her large family and taking care of her three dogs.
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Brianna Torres-Moore
Brianna Torres-Moore is CCHI’s Salesforce Coordinator. As a Trailhead Double-Star Ranger with two Salesforce certifications and 18 Superbadges, Brianna brings a wealth of experience to the CCHI team. Brianna is actively engaged in several Salesforce community groups, sharing knowledge, best practices, and mentoring up-and-coming Salesforce professionals. Her enthusiasm for helping others navigate and master Salesforce is already making a positive impact with our member organizations.
Brianna’s passion extends beyond technology, and she takes immense pride in being part of the CCHI team, working collaboratively to make a meaningful and positive impact on healthcare in California. In her spare time, Brianna enjoys festivals, experimenting with new recipes, and cherishing moments with family. As a natural trainer, she has even taught her cat to perform tricks on command!
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Char Velasco
Char Velasco joined CCHI in September 2023 with a background in grant writing, news writing, scriptwriting, and creative copywriting. She is a former scriptwriter for NBC Bay Area’s 11:00 AM broadcast and a former Creative Copywriter Intern for RAPP SF. Her writing accolades extend beyond broadcast; she is a research author with her insights about Filipino American Invisibility published through UC Santa Barbara’s Arnhold Undergraduate Fellowship.
Char earned a bachelor’s degree of arts in English Literature with a specialization in American Cultures & Global Contexts. She also received a minor in Asian-American Studies. In her spare time, Char dedicates herself to her twelve cats, her historical nonfiction collection, and her four younger siblings.