Meet the Minds Behind the Mission
Introducing Our Executive Director
CCHI is excited to welcome Alexis Heaton as our Executive Director— click to learn more about her leadership and vision.
CCHI Staff
Data Manager
Brianna Torres-Moore (she/her)
Brianna Torres-Moore is CCHI’s Data Manager.
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!
Program Manager — California Health Interconnectivity Initiative
Caitlin Flammer (she/her)
Caitlin Flammer joins CCHI with diverse cross-sector experience in environmental and economic justice work. Her professional experience includes organizing free legal clinics, preparing wildfire victims for settlement, coordinating habitat restoration work, and working to improve contracting equity programs for local businesses in San Francisco.
Caitlin is excited to lead the Interconnectivity Initiative and spotlight the incredible work safety net providers across California do every day to serve their communities, even in the face of immense challenges.
She graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor’s degree in Community & Regional Development with emphases in Policy & Planning and Global Communities. Caitlin lives in Oakland, and when she’s not working she enjoys birdwatching, reading fiction, and spending time with her family and friends.
Staff Accountant
Irina Bolotov (she/her)
Irina is a first-generation Ukrainian American who brings both personal passion and professional expertise to her role as the accountant for California Coverage & Health Initiatives (CCHI).
With a solid background in nonprofit financial management and a deep commitment to equity, she plays a vital role in maintaining the organization's fiscal health.
Having personally benefited from Medi-Cal, Irina understands firsthand the vital importance of accessible, affordable healthcare. This lived experience fuels her dedication to CCHI’s mission of advancing health coverage and care for all Californians, especially underserved and immigrant communities. Her work ensures that the organization’s resources are maximized to support impactful programs and policy efforts statewide.
Outside of her role at CCHI, Irina enjoys spending time with her large, close-knit family. When she’s not chasing after her three young children, she loves to read and attend Muay Thai classes—finding balance, discipline, and joy in both.
Program Manager — Connecting Kids to Coverage and Outreach, Enrollment, Education, Retention & Utilization (OEERU) Initiatives
Sean Yen (he/him)
Sean comes to CCHI with over a decade of experience in the non-profit industry. With organizations like CALPIRG and Environment California, he has worked on both environmental and public interest campaigns. Sean’s strong background working with stakeholders in the non-profit industry is an asset to the CCHI team. Born and raised in Sacramento, Sean is dedicated to improving the local community, as well as those throughout the state, in providing healthcare coverage to those in need.
In his free time, Sean enjoys various hobbies including: amateur photography, archery, and kayaking.
Community Engagement & Operations Administrator
Char Velasco (she/they)
Char Velasco is a proud, native Sacramentan and first-generation Filipina American. She joined CCHI in September 2023, bringing with her an extensive background in grant writing, news writing, scriptwriting, and creative copywriting.
Prior to working with CCHI, Char was a scriptwriter for NBC Bay Area's 11:00 AM broadcast and a Creative Copywriter Intern for RAPP SF. Her writing accolades extend beyond broadcast; she is a research and fiction author with her insights about Filipinx-American invisibility published through UC Santa Barbara's Arnhold Undergraduate Fellowship and UCSB's Catalyst Literary Magazine.
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.
Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University and sits on Sacramento Poetry Center’s Board of Directors.
In her spare time, Char dedicates herself to finding Sacramento's best coffee shops, caring for her twelve cats, and spending time with her four younger siblings.
Our Intern
Trevor Jakopin (he/him)
Trevor is an Asian-American high school student in the Bay Area with a love for interdisciplinary academia and grassroots activism.
He first started with CCHI in January 2026 and has contributed to the organization’s new initiatives, including the California Health Interconnectivity Initiative.
With a background in local AAPI-based advocacy, Trevor has also worked as a field intern as a part of congressional and countywide campaigns and is currently a youth board member for the San Mateo API Caucus. Passionate about civic action, he hopes to bring a young voice to community-based change and social discourse.
In his free time, Trevor enjoys competing in parliamentary debate, learning about different philosophical theories, and spending time outside during the winter.
CCHI Board of Directors
Treasurer (2025 - Ongoing)
Cynthia Peshek (she/her)
Outreach Program Manager at Ampla Health
Cynthia Peshek serves as the Outreach Program Manager for Ampla Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves six counties in Northern California. Ms. Peshek is responsible for implementation and oversight of Ampla Health’s healthcare coverage programs including Covered California, MediCal, Medicare, Path To Health and Connect to Care. As a member of Ampla Health’s Planning and Development Department, she is also responsible for writing grant proposals and compiling reports. She holds a BS in Dietetic/Nutrition Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a MA in Nutrition Education from Immaculata University, Pennsylvania. Managing programs that serve the underserved related to enrollment into coverage and other enabling programs has become her passion. She enjoys providing support to organizations with the same mission.
Board Member (2025 - Ongoing)
MaryEllen Rehse (she/her)
Executive Director of Health Linkages Program, Santa Barbara
MaryEllen Rhese is the Executive Director of Children and Family Resources in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Education Office. In 2021, she was selected to be the Executive Director of CFRS under the Santa Barbara County Office of Education where she has managed several programs, including CHI of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Promotores Network, and Health Linkages.
Board Member (2026 - Ongoing)
Christina Conner (she/her)
Chief People & Culture Officer of the Bill Wilson Center
Christina is a transformative human resources leader and turnaround expert. She adds value to organizations through her skill at leading change initiatives, building infrastructure, mitigating risk and cultivating engaged workforces.
Currently, as Chief People & Culture Officer at Bill Wilson Center, a non-profit providing transitional housing and mental health counseling to youth and families in Santa Clara County, Christina oversees people operations leading strategic planning initiatives, leadership development programs and fosters a culture of belonging through DEIB initiatives.
Previously, as Chief Human Resources Officer at Cherriots, a transit agency, she acted as a change agent instilling a culture of ownership. Her work was defined by successfully implementing merit-based performance management systems and the launch of a DEI Plan rooted in equity studies and listening sessions.
Christina holds a Bachelor degree in Business Accounting. Her early career includes progressive roles in accounting leading to a pivot to her field of passion, human resources. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management alongside various professional certifications most notably, Project Management Professional (PMP) and Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace.
In her free time, Christina enjoys visiting her son in their hometown in Florida and traveling to historic and exotic locales for exploration and adventure.
Board Member (2026 - Ongoing)
Kendra O-Donoghue (she/her)
Executive Director, Envision Your Pathway
Kendra is an educator, program builder, and nonprofit leader with more than a decade of experience designing and leading initiatives that support youth development, educational equity, and workforce readiness. She is the founder and executive director of Envision Your Pathway (EYP), a women-led nonprofit that equips young people—especially those from underserved communities—with the tools and experiences to build agency, purpose, and leadership.
Kendra began her career as a teacher and curriculum developer before moving into nonprofit leadership roles where she built and scaled education-focused programs across Silicon Valley. She has led regional and citywide efforts in partnership with schools, local government, philanthropy, and community organizations.
She holds a BA in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of the Pacific. A proud San José native, Kendra brings an educator’s lens, a strategist’s toolkit, and a deep commitment to uplifting youth and communities through partnership, purpose, and opportunity.
Interim Board Chair (2026 - Ongoing)
Melinda Snavely (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer of Healthier Kids Foundation
Melinda Kay Snavely serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Healthier Kids Foundation; she is responsible for leading strategic direction and overseeing all aspects of the organization’s operations. She will work closely with the board and staff to build on the organization’s successes and drive innovation and growth. She has been focusing on expanding Healthier Kids Foundation’s donor base and increasing its impact in Silicon Valley.
Prior to joining the Healthier Kids Foundation, she worked for the Santa Clara Office of Education, as their Director of Early Care and Education Initiatives, she served as the Director of Early Learning at Franklin-McKinley School District and as an educator and principal in the San Jose Unified School District. She holds a Master of Arts in educational leadership and a Bachelor of Science in political science/economics from Santa Clara University.
Melinda is committed to interrupting inequity and supporting early learning. She is passionate about improving the health outcomes of children, particularly those from low-income families, and is committed to advancing Healthier Kids Foundation's mission of reducing health disparities among children in Silicon Valley. Melinda is also a mother of five and resides in East San Jose, originally hailing from Gilroy.
Board Member (2026 - Ongoing)
Dani Heringer (he/they)
Grants & Contracts Compliance Officer, San Francisco Community Health Center (SFCHC)
Dani is a public health leader and capacity-building strategist with extensive experience advancing equity-centered programs for LGBTQ+ communities, people experiencing homelessness, and populations impacted by HIV/AIDS, substance use, and mental health disorders.
As the Grants & Contracts Compliance Officer at the San Francisco Community Health Center, Dani oversees compliance for a diverse portfolio of city, state, federal, and private grants and contracts. He works collaboratively across program, finance, and leadership teams to strengthen organizational systems, ensure regulatory and contractual compliance, support audit readiness, and enhance grant performance through data-informed decision-making and continuous quality improvement.
Dani is passionate about strengthening nonprofit governance, advancing equitable public health systems, and supporting organizations that improve the health and well-being of underserved communities. He is honored to serve on the CCHI Board of Directors.
Board Member (2026 - Ongoing)
Amanda Dickey (she/her)
Executive Director, Complete Consulting California
Amanda is an attorney with more than a decade of experience supporting and lobbying on behalf of education, childcare, and health organizations. She has spent the majority of her career proudly representing county offices of education and helping to build their resources and capacity.
Amanda is a devotee to, and early adopter of, California’s “whole child” approach to education. She has led coalition efforts to successfully increase investments in youth mental health, early learning, and expanded education, and helped to implement these programs locally.
Throughout her career, Amanda has been appointed to various committees and workgroups including the Transforming Together (T2) Collaborative Learning Workgroup (CLWG) which is part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), the P-3/Universal Pre-Kindergarten Kitchen (UPK) Cabinet which guided implementation of California’s historic early learning and childcare (ELC) investments, the Alternative Pathways Workgroup which made recommendations on special education graduation requirements, and multiple workgroups that provided guidance on ELC rate alignment and reform.
Amanda is a graduate of Pacific McGeorge School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
Board Member (2025 - Ongoing)
Carlos Alarcon (he/him)
Health Policy Analyst at California Immigrant & Policy Center (CIPC)
CCHI Consultants
Elisa McClure Consulting
With more than 30 years of experience directing operations in both large corporations and small businesses, Elisa founded her own consulting firm to help nonprofit organizations thrive. Since joining CCHI as a consultant in 2023, Elisa has been grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of CCHI and its members by providing strategic and operational management guidance.
Elisa’s expertise spans a wide range of areas including: Operations Management, Project Management, Systems Integration, Finance, Accounting, Professional Development, Continuous Improvement, and Communications. She utilizes her experience to help organizations strengthen their operations and achieve their critical missions within their communities.
Elisa has a lifelong passion for service and helping her community. Her leadership as a volunteer has ranged from serving as past president of the School Council for St. John the Baptist Catholic School and the St. Mary’s College Business Club to coaching youth basketball and flag football.
Elisa earned her MBA, with an emphasis in International Business and Operations, from the University of Illinois, Chicago and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from St. Mary’s College of California, where she was recognized as the Earl W. Smith Award recipient for Top Business Graduate of her class.
Elisa lives in the Napa Valley with her husband Mike. They have two grown children in Texas and California, graduates from TCU (Go Frogs!) and Rider University (Go Broncs!). In her free time Elisa enjoys traveling and organizing gatherings that bring friends and family together.
HKS Strategies
Since 2022, CCHI has partnered with Herb Schultz to support our policy, advocacy, and strategic engagement efforts throughout California. Herb brings decades of experience in healthcare policy, government relations, coalition-building, and public affairs at the local, state, and national levels. Through this partnership, CCHI has strengthened its ability to advance health equity initiatives, engage cross-sector partners, and support policies that improve healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities across the state.