Alex is a graduate from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. 

In her role as Marketing and Communication Specialist, Alex helps bring to life the vision of the organization through graphic design, social media content creation and assisting in message development. She also assists in event planning and outreach throughout the San Joaquin Valley. 

Alex was born and raised in Fresno, California, where she witnessed the hardships that pollution brings to Central Valley residents. Alex is passionate about electrifying transit throughout the valley in hopes for a healthier future for all San Joaquin Valley residents.

In her role as an EV Equity Specialist, Alix provides education and assistance to disadvantaged communities to help them create equity through electric vehicle ownership.  

Alix is a fifth-generation Fresno resident and grew up seeing the negative environmental and economic impacts the city has faced. At an early age, Alix volunteered with non-profit and local community outreach programs that worked to better the lives of those who the system leaves behind in Fresno. 

Asthma is a disease that has directly affected every member of her family. Alix is drawn to CCAC’s mission of reducing the burden of asthma and making a positive impact throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Alix also feels that she is living out her childhood dream of electrifying transit in the San Joaquin Valley. 

Anabelle is a graduate from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor’s in Human Development and a Minor in Sociology.  

As the Environmental Health Research Manager, Anabelle coordinates participation of Valley families in investigative research projects enabled by UC Berkeley, UC Merced and CCAC. This research aims to examine determinants of air pollution exposure and understand the human health risks, particularly in disadvantaged communities located in high exposure areas. 

 As a research coordinator at UC Davis, Anabelle was able to identify disparities in the areas of health, employment, and child development among the Hispanic communities. Anabelle aspires to increase access to resources and services and promote health literacy in disadvantaged communities. 

Cresencio is a Cum Laude graduate of California State University, Bakersfield, where he received a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Minor in Criminal Justice. 

Cresencio is a Community Health Worker that enjoys providing asthma education to CCAC CARES participants in Kern County. In his role, Cresencio goes to home visits to assess a person’s environment to provide a better understanding of the causes of asthma and how to prevent and manage asthma symptoms.  

Being raised in a poor socioeconomic community, Cresencio understands the hardships caused by unequal opportunities; therefore, he is passionate about helping others living through social disparities. As a Community Health Worker, Cresencio helps people by educating them about their asthma.  

Elizabeth is a graduate of Pacific Union College of California, where she received an Associate Degree of Science in Nursing.  

Elizabeth is the Associate Director of Quality Assurance, managing CCAC’s Quality Assurance Program. She joined the CCAC team in January 2023. In her past work, she served as a nurse in both hospital and community-based care settings. She is dedicated to providing quality care to the underserved and has led and participated in several chronic health care projects that positively impacted the community, as well as participating on the Quality Improvement committee for the California Primary Care Association. 

In her spare time, Elizabeth likes to read, go camping, cook, and play pool in the Fresno County American Poolplayers Association pool league.  

Fatima is a graduate of Bakersfield College, where she received degrees in liberal arts and journalism. 

 Fatima is a Community Health Worker, providing asthma education to CCAC CARES participants in Kern County. She understands the hardships that come with being an immigrant in this country, which has influenced her passion for connecting people to resources and any aid that may benefit them. Fatima is passionate about working with youth and residents of underserved communities and helping them overcome barriers. 

 In her spare time, she enjoys staying active, watching movies with her fur baby, and exploring the outdoors. 

Graciela received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Fresno State and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from California State University, Northridge.  

As the CARES Director, Graciela oversees the implementation of the asthma program across seven San Joaquin Valley Counties, from Kern to San Joaquin. Graciela serves as the liaison between Managed Care Plans, Community Based Organizations, and other partner organizations. Graciela has been instrumental in the contracting of CCAC as a Community Supports Service Provider under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative.  

A Tulare County native and daughter of farmworkers, Graciela is passionate in empowering rural communities and residents to take charge of their health through education. In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new cooking recipes. 

Janet graduated from California State University Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Community and School Health Education. She is passionate about health education and reducing health disparities in her community. Growing up in Kern county, she participated in various programs offered to low-income and migrant families.

She attributes her inspiration to become a community health worker to the guidance she received as a young woman. Janet has also worked with the Kern County Aging & Adult Services Department as a health educator administering CalFresh Healthy Living curriculums to senior citizens. She is delighted to support CCAC’s mission to alleviate the burden of asthma and encourage self-efficacy among asthma patients in the San Joaquin Valley.

Kevin is focused on reducing the burden of chronic respiratory disease and environmental health impacts valley wide. He has served as developer, coordinator, administrator and director for multiple programs in both hospital and community-based settings serving poor and underserved communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Kevin serves on numerous boards and committees associated with grassroots community capacity building and local, state and regional policy development.

His education includes an AS in Respiratory Care, BS in Geology, extended course work in social work, mathematics, business and management training. He has worked extensively on different aspects of health care access and redesign around primary care, disease management, childhood and adult immunizations and behavioral health for over 35-years and is a well- known advocate for social and environmental justice.

Kimberly McCoy was inspired by her son Norwood to create a healthier and thriving community for all children and families and is now a dedicated community advocate and leader. She earned a degree in accounting at Fresno City College. But it was her passion and dedication to the health of her community that led her to join Fresno Building Healthy Communities as Project Director in 2018. 

As a Climate and Environmental Justice Associate, Kimberly joins CCAC’s mission to create a healthier San Joaquin Valley. As a former Owner/Operator of heavy-duty trucks, she has provided valuable insight for the AB617 truck re-route study and is dedicated to reducing the health impacts of diesel exhaust in the Valley. 

In her free time, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her son and rooting for her favorite sports teams, which include the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, and Atlanta Braves. 

Lacie was born and raised in the Central Valley. She is a graduate of CSU Dominguez Hills, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Accounting. She joined CCAC to enhance the accounting department and provide support on the financial aspects of the organization. Prior to joining the team, Lacie was an auditor and provided accounting functions for a local school district and small business.  Lacie loves being outdoors, and with that is grateful to be a part of a non-profit that strives to help both the environment and community.  

Maria graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Communication from CSU Fresno. As a graduate of the College of Arts and Humanities Honors Program, Maria gained research experience with the help of faculty in the College of Arts and Humanities at CSU Fresno. As a proud daughter of hardworking migrant parents, Maria has experienced the hardships many families and children of migrant parents face in the Central Valley. Diagnosed with asthma as a young child, Maria knows first-hand the impact air pollution has on residents with and without asthma, and in addition, how critical it is to be able to control indoor triggers to reduce asthma related flare-ups. Maria is committed to using her experience in research, education, and communication skills to educate and assist residents in the Central Valley on ways they can contribute to cleaner air for all.

Martha was raised in Kern County and born to a farmworker family. Prior to joining CCAC, Martha had extensive experience working with non profit organizations. Now as a Community Health Worker, Martha gets to exercise her passion in helping others. Martha feels that by helping other her life is happier, healthier, more productive and meaningful. Martha is married and has 5 adorable kids and 2 precious grandchildren, and on her spare time she loves to create memories with family.

Melissa graduated from College of the Sequoias and transferred to California State University, Fresno where she graduated in the Spring of 2022 with a Bachelor in Sociology and a minor in Chicano Studies. As a first generation college student and daughter of immigrant parents, growing up in a small rural community in the Central Valley hasn’t been easy.

She has seen the negative effects that daily exposure to unhelathy air and pesticides have had in her community. Melissa hopes to use her degrees to help others and to continue to gain the knowledege needed to make a difference in her community. With her passion for cleaning the air, Melissa looks forward to the knowledge and skills she’ll gain at CCAC.

Sally was born and raised in Fresno County. She completed her B.A. degree in Management and Organizational Development at Fresno Pacific University. She is the daughter of farm working parents and understands the impact the air quality has on farmworkers and their families. Sally served as a board member on the Tulare County Asthma Coalition and worked as a volunteer to educate families on the effects of poor air quality. Sally brings her vast experience and knowledge of community outreach and non-profit organizations to advocate and educate the community on asthma and how to live a more symptom free lifestyle. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their twin grandsons and one granddaughter, as well as reading, crocheting, and taking walks. 

Sandi has had a lifelong passion for helping others – particularly children, young adults and their families. Sandi’s professional background includes many years of working for various local non-profit groups. As the parent of a now adult daughter whose childhood was negatively impacted by severe asthma, Sandi is drawn to CCAC’s mission of making a positive impact on reducing the burden of childhood asthma throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Tim co-founded CCAC in 2011 and served as CEO from 2011-2013. He also served as Board Chairman from 2011-2016 and 2021-present. Tim formally joined the CCAC staff in 2018 as Co-Executive Director and has secured more than two dozen grants totaling more than $6M. He has overseen the implementation of multiple environmental equity programs recognized for supporting disadvantaged communities across the San Joaquin Valley and is leading CCAC’s emerging environmental health research program, which is currently collaborating with investigators from UC Merced, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UCLA, UC Irvine, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and Berkeley Air.

Tim spent the previous 16 years overseeing and conducting research at UCSF Fresno, serving as Director of the Clinical Research Center from 2013-2018. During his time at UCSF, Tim collaborated with investigators from several universities to study air pollution and its associations with inflammatory diseases in Fresno children, including an NIEHS/EPA-funded Children’s Health and Air Pollution Study (CHAPS) that documented correlations between ambient air pollution exposure and metabolic syndrome risk indicators in children, including elevated HbA1c, blood pressure and BMI. In 2019, CHAPS investigators at UC Berkeley received funding to extend the study through 2024 and contracted with Tim to have CCAC’s research program conduct follow-up visits with the cohort of 400 children in Fresno.

In 2011, Tim authored a publication that demonstrated a correlation between ambient air pollution (PM2.5) and pediatric asthma ER visits in three San Joaquin Valley communities. He also led a study and was senior author on a paper that established a synergy between ambient PM2.5 levels and rhinovirus (cold) infection on airway dysfunction in asthmatic patients and has collaborated and co-authored numerous other environmental health publications. 

Tim received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from CSU Fresno in 1990 and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 1992.

Veronica was raised in the heart of California, the Central Valley. She has a B.S in Environmental Science, from the University of California, Merced and had the opportunity to study at the University of Auckland. Through her work and volunteerism, she has served communities locally with social justice, equity, and love being at the root of it all.

She is passionate about bringing communities together and empowering underserved communities. She has actively played a role in reducing food waste and increasing food security in the Merced area, along with providing resident services to those in affordable housing. Veronica enjoys being outdoors, creating memories, and appreciating the sun.

Yanni Gonzalez is the Marketing and Communications Manager at CCAC. Yanni began working with CCAC in 2016, enrolling South Valley schools into the Healthy Air Living Schools Program where he exceeded enrollment goals, and has since become an integral part of the organization’s success. He currently oversees internal and external communications and marketing for CCAC. Yanni has been involved in the development of most of the programs at CCAC and enjoys utilizing his knowledge, skills and creativity for the success of the organization and its programs. Prior to working with the Central California Asthma Collaborative, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). Having been born and raised in the Central Valley, Yanni is passionate about serving and providing resources for those living within disadvantaged communities.

Yecica attended Sacramento State University were she received her bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Chicanx studies and a minor in Spanish. During her time in Sacramento, Yecica worked with many First-Generation college students and high school seniors providing them with community and college resources.  It is her goal to work with the community and be a resource for those struggling with a language barrier. Growing up Yecica saw how her parents struggled to ask the necessary questions, and how there questions were largely left unanswered. As a part of the CCAC team, Yecica strives to help those suffering from asthma in obtaining a better quality of life. As the Program Assistant, she looks forward to helping those who cannot advocate for themselves. On her time off, Yecica enjoys taking walks, reading, and spending time with family.