Foundation Staff
Team
Aimee Holland
Sr. Director of Philanthropy Services
& Annual Giving
Aimee Holland
Aimee leads the AHSF systems management and business process analysis as Director of Development Operations. Â After working almost two decades in operations development in higher education, Aimee brings her expertise to the Foundation and has helped build a strong infrastructure for fundraising and relationship management. In her spare time, Aimee enjoys exploring new restaurants in the East Bay and having adventures under the sun.
Bella Dickson
Bella is a passionate and focused EA dedicated to supporting C-Suite executives accomplish their goals. With previous non-profit experience in a leadership development space, Bella is excited to delve into the world of healthcare philanthropy. Bella has yet to encounter a spreadsheet she did not love working on and is hoping to bring this joy for systems to AHSF. Outside of work, Bella is an avid puzzler, crocheter, podcast lover.
Billy Luu
Billy is responsible for managing, maintaining, and updating the Alameda Health System Foundation’s database, data systems, and safety of all stored data. With over 20 years of experience in both IT and operations management for for-profit and non-profit organizations, Billy is an integral part of our Foundation’s operations team. When not at work, Billy enjoys competing in Volleyball, traveling the world, and trying new restaurants throughout the Bay Area.
Brittany Taylor-Vernon
Britt is a seasoned EA who specializes in optimizing executive workflow and organizational efficiency. With more than a decade of experience supporting leaders across industries, she doesn’t just keep the wheels turning, she drives collaboration between executives and their teams and ensures our leadership has the freedom to focus on innovation and growth. When she’s not lighting up the office, you’ll find her hanging with the best kid ever, exploring new restaurants, or enjoying a chill walk somewhere in the beautiful Bay.
Charlene Lobo Soriano, EdD, NCC
Vice President & Chief of Staff
Charlene Lobo Soriano
Charlene helps to keep the Foundation running like a well-oiled machine utilizing her leadership, planning, and team-building experience. With a background in higher education advising, counseling, program and team development, and design thinking, she utilizes a little of each to make invaluable contributions to our organization every day. Outside of work, Charlene has a passion for writing, art, and design, and loves petting dogs.
Heather M. Holmes
As an experienced administrative professional, Heather specializes in improving operational efficacy through coordination, collaboration, and follow-through. With nearly two decades’ experience working in the healthcare, IT, and legal spaces, she successfully facilitates myriad projects in cross-functional partnerships from inception to completion, demonstrating excellent communication and organizational skills. Out of the office, Heather enjoys keeping her garden green and flourishing, learning new vegetarian recipes to share with family and friends, and spending time at home puttering with her Mom and cat, Violet.
Kai Wang, MS
Kai is responsible for setting up accounting for grants and budgets as well as ensuring revenues and disbursements are accurately captured. He also handles payroll, accounts payable, and assists the Director of Finance on the month-end close process and other financial ad hoc projects. He has a B.S. and M.S. degrees in Finance and Accounting from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining AHSF, Kai worked in several industries including banking, tech, and media. Being tech-savvy, Kai has experience in system implementation and is interested in exploring the market for streamlined processes and automation. Outside of work, he enjoys photography and the outdoors with a cup of boba milk tea.
Mizgon Zahir Darby
Mizgon has over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, marketing, communications, and program development, and has always loved the challenge of re-envisioning possibilities, and creating sustainability. She has formerly served as an Executive Director, program and non-profit founder, researcher, development director, journalist, marcomm director, professor, and more. In her free-time, she loves reading, gardening, and spending time with her fiancé and kids.
Monica Canzonieri
Monica is responsible for prospect research and management in support of AHSF’s fundraising efforts. She collects, analyzes, manages, and disseminates data to create processes and procedures and grow our prospect pipeline. Monica brings an extensive background in development and prospect analysis in higher education to this work. She enjoys spending personal time hiking with her family and dog, singing show tunes, reading, and listening to podcasts.
Phong Luu
With twenty plus years of experience in information management for not-for-profit organizations, Phong provides an in-depth knowledge of optimizing fund development data and systems to ensure business continuity and the maximization of all fundraising efforts. Outside the world of information and systems management, he enjoys working on his many landscaping projects at home. Most importantly, he appreciates his time with his family and friends.
Precious Erana
With diverse interests and skills, Precious is a dedicated member of the Foundation team. She brings a wealth of experience in administrative support and finance, making her a reliable problem solver and critical thinker. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, listening to audiobooks, and solving brain teasers for fun.
Preston S. Walton
Preston brings experience in raising capacity for universities, nationwide health care systems, symphonies, and high schools to name a few. He recently returned to the Foundation after serving as a consultant many years ago to support the excellent work that is being done by the team at AHS. Preston is passionate about equity, hospitality, futurism, innovation, and community. When he is not out connecting with our many Foundation partners, Preston and his partner are busy running after their energetic sons outdoors.
Rachel Gonzales-Levine
Rachel brings to the foundation wide ranging experience in mission-driven settings including non-profit, academia, and government, as well as program areas, such as youth development, civic leadership, public health, and affordable housing. An effective collaborator and contributor to teams, program development and implementation, proposals/grants, and budgets, Rachel is excited to support AHS’s innovative programs and program development through grant management. In her spare time Rachel enjoys adventuring with her family and friends, going to museums, taking yoga, and hiking among the redwood groves in the East Bay Regional parks.
Susan Thiemann
Susan brings a wealth of knowledge of complex financial operations to our work of advancing health equity for Alameda County. Her deep nonprofit fiscal management experience with large organizations includes 10 years at the Girl Scouts of Northern California where she oversaw restricted funds for programs and capital improvements as well as multiple other program revenue streams. When Susan is not managing AHSF’s finances, she loves to travel and enjoys a good Disney movie.
Svetlana Cherches
Svetlana has a background in operations across sectors, talent management, recruitment, and finding easy ways to make hard things fun. Svetlana’s strengths are in addressing things others may want to avoid and in appreciating how different people bring diverse perspectives and talents to their work. Svetlana enjoys beating her husband at Wordle, fixing broken things using creative solutions, swimming, walking her big dog, reading, threatening her child with military school, making food from across the globe (but especially from her homeland), overanalyzing seemingly simple concepts, and throwing dinner parties.
Vera Hannush
Vera (they/them) has extensive experience in developing, growing, and managing individual giving. They have spent 15 years in both the foundation/grantmaking and development/fundraising worlds. In both, they are a passionate advocate for wellness equity, from housing and services for communities experiencing homelessness to accessible mental health services. They are also an award-winning drag king, Drag Story Hour Co-Director, Oaklash board member, and LGBT National Hotline Lead Trainer.
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