Team

Aileen has over ten years of professional experience in the non-profit sector. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology, with an emphasis on Applied Fitness and Active Lifestyle Development in 2011. Her passion for promoting healthy lifestyles led her to pursue her Master’s in Public Health at the California State University of Northridge. As a result of personal, professional, and academic experiences, Aileen strongly believes that optimal health is achieved by adopting a proactive lifestyle. Thus, she has dedicated her career to helping evolve programs focusing on social inclusion, diversity, and health education. By inspiring and motivating other community members, Aileen is hopeful that health and fitness will be treated as long-term goals, universally.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family, playing competitive basketball, and hiking.

Larry Bullins is a seasoned IT professional with over fifteen years of experience in technology leadership. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and operated across virtually every aspect of IT, showcasing his versatility and depth of knowledge. Larry is passionate about delivering systemic solutions that address complex challenges and eliminate inefficiencies, all while prioritizing an exceptional customer experience.

His commitment to process improvement extends beyond technology, ensuring that organizational practices are optimized for maximum effectiveness. Before joining HCC, Larry held key positions at industry leaders, including Jamf and Microsoft, where he honed his technical expertise and leadership skills.

As the new Director of Technology at HCC, Larry is dedicated to driving innovation and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. His extensive background and strategic vision make him a valuable asset to the team and a catalyst for the organization’s technological advancement.

Abraham Cicchetti serves as Chief Operating Officer for Health Career Connections (HCC). Mr. Cicchetti is a dynamic leader with expertise in operations, business development, and financial management. His deep-rooted expertise, honed over an illustrious career spanning a wide array of industries, draws a compelling narrative of consistent growth, profitability, and transformative leadership. Mr. Cicchetti has navigated diverse terrains, from entrepreneurial startups to established corporations. His leadership style, a unique fusion of financial acumen and strategic foresight, consistently fosters an environment of high performance and measurable results. Mr. Cicchetti’s passion for diversity and equity is evident in his significant contributions as Treasurer and Executive Board Member for the California Association for Healthcare Leaders (CAHL).  Additionally, as a member of the Regent’s Advisory Council for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Mr. Cicchetti has been instrumental in executing ACHE’s core strategies. His active membership in the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) further underscores his commitment to serving others and promoting various professions within the healthcare industry. His academic accomplishments include a B.S. in Business Administration-Accountancy and an M.S. in Healthcare Administration Interprofessional Leadership from the University of California, San Francisco. Additionally, he is a Certified Higher Education Professional (CHEP).

Alyssa Colon is a Director of Evaluation with over 7 years of experience conducting and leading evaluations. After earning her MPH from Oregon State University, Alyssa worked in both internal and external evaluation roles within various public health domains including mental health, substance use, and workforce development. Alyssa is fueled by her dedication to innovative data storytelling, participatory methods, and public health equity. As Director of Evaluation, Alyssa monitors and reports on progress and outcomes regarding workforce development through regional health collaboratives. Additionally, Alyssa loves serving as a mentor to budding evaluators and strives to foster inclusivity and a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Katy joined HCC in 2014. Katy’s interest in healthcare began when she started to work on the Wellfleet Rescue Squad. After college, she worked for various organizations (ambulance, hospital, VNA, HMO). Katy was a Governor Intern at the MA Department of Mental Health and worked at the MA Division of Insurance for 8.5 years in the health policy section. Katy established Cushman Insurance Solutions and sold long-term care insurance (LTCI) for 20 years. As HCC New England Program Manager, she finds it rewarding to promote diversity in healthcare and launch the next generation of health leaders. She obtained two B.A. degrees in Economics and Classics from UMass Amherst and an MPH from Boston University.

Katy has 3 grown children and enjoys riding her horse, kayaking, and daily walks with her tennis ball-obsessed Labrador Retriever.

Patricia S. Etem, MPH, has developed, directed and evaluated Public Health programs and initiatives for hospitals, city health and youth development divisions, and non-profit organizations for over 20 years. Her areas of expertise include program design and implementation, strategic partnership development, health policy, stakeholder training, resource development, and program evaluation.  Ms. Etem has consulted for Health Career Connection since 2015 to engage Southern California health agency, business, and higher education partners in health pathway program success and internship placements to build the next generation of diverse health profession leaders.

With over 15 years of experience in health care marketing, communication, and education, Vanessa currently serves as the Director of Communications, Alumni Engagement and Project Implementation at Health Career Connection. In this role, she leads the development and execution of communication and new programs to engage and support our diverse and growing network of interns, industry and educational partners, donors and over 5,000 alumni. Previously Vanessa served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs at COPE Health Solutions. Vanessa has held roles in Administration, Development, Government Relations, Event Management and Board Development.
Vanessa received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California. She is an alumna of the Coro Executive Fellows Program and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership LA 2013 and Riordian Fellowship. She is a Past President for Women in Health Administration of Southern California (WHA) and previously served on the board for the National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives (NFLHE) SoCal and the American College of Health Care Executives of Southern California (ACHE SoCal).

Rachel Gregoire brings fifteen years of cross-sector experience to HCC, having held diverse roles in career development, human resources, teaching, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her career is dedicated to supporting healthcare professionals in their growth, driven by personal triumphs that have maximized the value she brings to her field. Rachel is nationally recognized as a thought leader in career and professional development, utilizing her expertise to catalyze workplace excellence and foster connection.

During her tenure as the leader of the Career Resource Center of ACHE, she has championed technological advancements to support the organizational mission. Her core areas of expertise include strategic career mapping, talent processes, cultivating inclusive workplace cultures, and understanding conflict styles.

Rachel‘s outstanding contributions to the association industry have earned her prestigious accolades, such as the American Society of Association Executives and Association Forum’s 40 Under 40 Award and ACHE’s Pickert (Employee of the Year) Award.

Beyond her role at ACHE, Rachel is devoted to nurturing future leaders as a professor of Human Resources Management and Management of Intercultural Management courses at DePaul University’s Graduate School of Public Service. She also co-founded Fam Foolery Inc., leveraging gameplay, culture, and empowerment to make a positive impact. In her personal life, Rachel cherishes time spent with her family, studying holistic wellness and gardening, reflecting her deep-rooted commitment to community and connection.

Tyler helps to support HCC by coordinating financial, operational, and technical activities for the organization. He has previously conducted similar work for the Pre-Collegiate Studies program at Stanford University.

Prior to this work, Tyler was awarded a BS in Molecular Environmental Biology from UC Berkeley and served in the United States Army.

Zuleyka Hernandez is an Assistant to the CEO/Project Manager at Health Career Connection (HCC). In this role, she supports aspects of workforce development, alumni initiatives, and summer programming. Zuleyka received a Bachelor of Science in Behavior & Health and a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management from Boston University. As an HCC alum, Zuleyka is deeply committed to advancing the organization’s impact and fostering connections to build the HCC network.

Jana has dedicated her life to the well-being and advancement of children, women, and families who face significant adversity. She was the former Chief Executive Officer at One Circle Foundation, a nonprofit specializing in creating safe and supported spaces for youth and communities across the globe through evidence-based circle programs and curricula. Jana was previously the founder of a youth drop-in center called Oakland Youth Aspire in West Oakland. She has directed special projects for unhoused families and human trafficking initiatives, advocated for at-risk communities, and serves as a university lecturer specializing in the social determinants of health through the lens of community-engaged health promotion. She was also a 2021 fellowship graduate of Women Leaders Around the World. Jana is a proud board member at CALICO (Child Abuse, Listening, Interviewing, and Coordination Center that achieves justice and healing for abused children) and an advisory council member for Evermore (Changing national policies so that all bereaved individuals can achieve a healthy, prosperous, and equitable future). Jana graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and then received a Master’s degree in Public Health with a focus on community health education.

Melissa Infusino is a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience in workforce development, economic advancement, and nonprofit and public sector management. As Vice President of Workforce Development, Operations, and Innovation at Health Career Connection, Melissa leads workforce initiatives across California, building regional health collaboratives and driving national innovation in workforce development.

Previously, as Vice President and Director of Economic and Workforce Development at Long Beach Community College District, Melissa’s initiatives boosted student employment and community engagement, surpassing enrollment targets and increasing living-wage job attainment. She also secured and managed extensive public and private grants to support strategic growth and led a team of 30 with a $10 million budget.

Her prior roles include leadership positions with the Los Angeles Fund for Public Education, the LAUSD, and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, focusing on high-impact initiatives and public policy. Melissa earned her M.P.P. from UCLA and B.A. from Loyola University, Chicago, and as a first-generation college graduate, she is committed to fostering inclusive environments. She lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband and two dogs.

Babar Iqbal is a Program Coordinator at Health Career Connection. Babar attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in Management & Society. At HCC, he oversees, maintains, and updates technical systems and products to support administrative, financial, and operational tasks and projects. He also serves as a resource for database management and maintenance of systems. Previously, Babar was a Client Service Associate at Phreesia, where he worked with his team to provide consulting services in the areas of workflow improvement and application building to medical offices across the country. Additionally, Babar worked at the Carolina Higher Education Opportunity Program (CHEOP) Office throughout his four years at UNC-Chapel Hill, primarily working with underserved high school and college students to prepare them for higher education and health professional schools.

Jimmy’s connection to HCC dates back to his HCC internship. Through that experience, he was inspired to pursue a career in public health and discovered his passion for health equity. To that end, he has had varied experiences developing solutions and managing programs that address social determinants of health. In his current position, he supports continuous improvement projects to increase HCC’s impact. Jimmy obtained his BA from Brown University and MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health. He is always looking forward to reconnecting with fellow HCC Alumni.

Jo is based in Philadelphia and directs HCC’s programming in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Her career has spanned nearly two decades in the nonprofit industry, with a few stints in local government – most notably working in COVID containment at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. She feels driven by work that is grounded in progressive values and chips away at structural inequities, while acknowledging that none of that work is sustainable if we don’t invest in taking care of ourselves and each other. Outside of work she is exploring the intersection between trauma and collective art-making, spending time with her cat Sylvester, and searching for life partners to make sense of it all.

With over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and banking, India brings a wealth of expertise in financial forecasting, budgeting, analysis, and strategic planning. She holds a BSBA in Accounting from Columbia College, an MBA from Saint Leo University, and is actively pursuing CPA and FMVA certifications. In her role, India collaborates with our HCC team, vendors, and leadership to streamline financial operations, develop future strategies, and enhance overall efficiency. 

Sergio Martinez earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, where his research focused on equity and social justice in education, particularly on factors affecting academic persistence among Latinx community college students. With over a decade of experience managing public health and educational support programs, his work bridges both fields. Drawing from his own experience as a first-generation community college transfer student, he is dedicated to creating equitable systems that improve outcomes for historically underrepresented students.

In addition to his academic work, Sergio has a robust background in public health. As a Public Health Practitioner with the City of Berkeley’s Public Health Department, he delivered interventions targeting underserved populations, developing community-based health programs that addressed critical needs, from sexual health to chronic disease prevention. His role involved coordinating health education campaigns, managing outreach efforts, and delivering culturally responsive services that reached marginalized communities. His experience in public health continues to inform his approach to educational program management, where he integrates health equity principles to support students’ holistic development.

Throughout his career, Sergio has been recognized for his dedication to equity, earning honors such as Alumnus of the Year at San Francisco State’s commencement, as well as the Marcus Foster Fellowship and Mentored Research Award from UC Berkeley. He remains actively involved in mentoring, offering guidance to historically underrepresented students, and is a member of key professional associations, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).

With over 11 years’ experience within various healthcare settings, Vicky is driven to create a sustainable workforce by focusing on providing and learning professional development methods. It is within her belief system that a company’s strongest asset is their employees. In order to grow as an organization, it is vital to encourage the growth of your team’s passions, skill sets and goals. With a Masters in Health Administration at the University of La Verne and a Bachelors of Science degree at the University of California Riverside, she has a strong passion to increase DEI initiatives as set forth by her two alma maters.

Melissa Torres-Montoya is a reproductive justice and sexual health advocate who has worked at advocacy nonprofit organizations advancing policies at local and national levels of government. She has dedicated her professional career to addressing the lack of affordable quality healthcare in the United States and advancing sexual and reproductive autonomy. Ms. Torres-Montoya earned a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and received a Masters in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University. Melissa serves on the volunteer board for Medical Students for Choice. She also attended the University of California, Davis where she earned her A.B. in History and Political Science. Melissa is admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland.