Corinne Eldridge
President & CEO
“Our culture at CCA is more than inclusive; we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging. Our shared dedication to our mission of empowering and uplifting the caregiving workforce connects all of us and reflects our own personal values. Together, we strive towards a future where caregivers are recognized and respected as professionals.”
Andrea Garcia is an experienced Program Manager with expertise in navigating complex operational landscapes including learning management systems, managing budgets, and overseeing diverse initiatives to ensure their success. A dedicated team member, she originally joined CCA in 2018 as a Program Assistant then took on the role of Program Coordinator prior to becoming a Program Manager for the Home Care team in 2021. Andrea is skilled in providing mentorship, training, and supervision to program managers and other staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and has a certification in Project Management from the Project Management Institute. Andrea is also bilingual with full fluency in English and Spanish.
Christine Leahey joined the Center for Caregiver Advancement in 2024 as its first Director of Development, advancing the organization’s mission to build a workforce of highly trained caregivers that many Californians cannot live without. During the five years prior, she served as Brilliant Corners’ first Strategic Partnerships Manager of Fund Development, advancing the organization’s mission to provide supportive housing for people who need it by securing and managing a $136.2 million grant portfolio.
Ms. Leahey previously led institutional giving at Otis College of Art and Design as Director of Strategic Partnerships during a $30 million comprehensive campaign, culminating in the College’s centennial anniversary. She was poised for this leadership role following her fundraising success at the American Film Institute, Library Foundation of Los Angeles, and Santa Monica Museum of Art (now Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles).
A passionate disability justice advocate, Ms. Leahey has taught mild, moderate, severe, and gifted “special” education in public and private schools. She is a subject matter expert on the low-incidence, high-severity condition of blindness and a champion of full economic participation and social inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts—subjects that have preoccupied her since studying for a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Art History and Education at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Corinne Eldridge is a recognized expert on issues related to caregiving and the long-term care workforce. An accomplished leader with over 20 years of management experience, including more than 15 years in the field of long-term care, Corinne speaks to the benefits to the health care system of training nursing home workers and Medi-Cal funded In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers. Speaking engagements include: the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), NASUAD, and the American Society on Aging.
As the President of CCA, she has overseen efforts to train over 13,000 IHSS and Skilled Nursing Facility workers, ensuring that workers are prepared to meet the growing demands of long-term care. Corinne’s work lead to the first study to make the link between training IHSS caregivers and better health outcomes and cost savings for consumers. She has established innovative funding partnerships with health plans across the state, including Alameda Alliance for Health, Health Net, L.A. Care, and Blue Shield Promise California to provide training for IHSS caregivers. Her work has been published in the journal Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. She has also served on the Advisory Committee for UCLA’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (UCLA GWEP), is on the Healthcare Career Advancement Program Education Association (H-CAP EA) Education Association Board, provided insight to the Community Catalyst and LeadingAge LTSS Center for the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council around family caregivers, and has recently been appointed to the National Skills Coalition Healthcare Industry Recovery Panel.
Corinne’s dedication to improving the long-term care system through education was inspired by seeing the challenges women in her family experienced as caregivers and the impact quality care can have on seniors’ life spans and quality of life. Married for over 10 years and a mother to two young daughters, Corinne is inspired by the outdoors and is a lover of music.
Gilsun Song is an academic and researcher with over 20 years of experience in education management, curriculum development, eLearning, and international education. She has worked at globally renowned institutions such as UC Berkeley, Stanford University, USC, and Seoul National University. Gilsun holds a Ph.D. in International and Comparative Education from Beijing Normal University. She has conducted significant research on student learning progress and organizational behavior during her tenure as a director, assistant dean, and associate professor at Zhejiang University in China. With over 60 publications on continuing education, Gilsun remains actively engaged in developing innovative, technology-driven strategies that engage learners and promote deeper educational experiences. She is fluent in Korean, Chinese, and English. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, walking, and exploring artwork.
Gwyneth has over 28 years of experience across multiple industries with a concentration in the non-profit arena, with the last 15 focusing on management. As Chief Financial Officer, Gwyneth provides financial, operational, HR, and data management leadership for CCA.
Recently coming from a local arts & culture organization, she spent the last eight years developing systems and policies to fit the organization’s growth projections. The last two and a half years were spent pivoting program and financial plans to sustain operations and securing relief funding available during the pandemic.
Hailing from the East Coast and England, Gwyneth made the move to California where she resides and maintains a busy life with her husband and three children.
Michele brings over 25 years of experience across various industries, primarily in the tech space, specializing in project and program management, strategic planning and execution, operations excellence, agile methodologies, software development life cycle, change management, and coaching and mentoring.
Michele has spent most of her career helping organizations establish Project & Portfolio Management teams to enhance cross-team collaboration and drive program success while prioritizing people over process. By placing people first, she believes we create a more collaborative and supportive work environment where everyone can thrive and succeed. She is excited to join our team and continue our mission.
Originally from Toronto, Canada. Michele moved to California in 2004 and lives in Ventura, California with her husband, Matt, and fur babies: Izabel, Theo, and Clementine. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking with her husband and dog, or snowboarding during the winter months. She also loves traveling to new places to experience different cultures.
Moraima is a cum laude graduate of South University in Savanah, Georgia, with a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor of science degree in Healthcare Management. She brings 30 years of domestic and international experience in clinical operations and management and over 13 years leading healthcare education and quality improvement programs. Moraima is Certified as a Healthcare Simulation Educator and Simulation Operations Specialist through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare; and is a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer. Prior to joining CCA, she served as Director of Simulation and Education for PIH Health, a nonprofit healthcare system located in Whittier California.
Phoenix Lockett is excited to join the CCA Ed Fund team as a new program director! She brings with her over 18 years of expertise in Workforce and Program Development and Project and Performance Management. Phoenix has served many managerial positions throughout her career. Prior to joining us at CCA, she worked for SEIU-UHW & Joint Employer Education Fund serving the role of Senior Director of Programs. Her extensive educational background consists of a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and ten different certifications including Coaching Power Leadership, Foundational Coach Methodology, and Organizational Health in Business.
Wendy Ramirez is CCA’s new Human Resources Director! She brings with her over 16 years of industry experience previously serving as the HR Director for DSD Companies, Morphe Brushes and Cosmetics, and GZ6G Technologies, among others. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career is providing employees with the knowledge and skills to complete their goals and success. Her professional legacy is having the honor of working with people who commit themselves to making their business and personal lives a success. In her free time, Wendy likes to do yoga and spend time with her two children- they especially love to hike together!
Afolabi brings an extensive amount of experience to his new role as Salesforce Administrator. He is an expert when it comes to Salesforce, NetSuite, Boomi, and various other business systems.
Prior to joining CCA, Afolabi worked at Curative as a Salesforce Manager where he primarily defined, documented, and improved business processes and procedures within an organization of over 900 users. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance, as well as his Master’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.
Antonio is a physician with a lifelong commitment to improving the health of families and communities. He grew up in Cuba, where he earned his medical doctorate with a specialty in family medicine and OB/Gyn from Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Santiago de Cuba. He emigrated to the US in 2011, where he has dedicated himself to medical education.
“As an instructor for the CCA, I am gratified to work with IHSS providers,” Antonio says. “They have a tremendous responsibility as a member of the consumer’s healthcare team. For example, properly administering medications is critically important to the health and well-being of the care recipients. It is also important for providers to understand when it is appropriate to seek out emergency care in order to reduce the burden on the healthcare system and reduce hospitalizations. Through my work, I am helping to improve healthcare quality throughout the community.”
Prior to joining CCA, Blanca Lopez served as a Member Services Intern at SEIU 2015. She primarily introduced members to SEIU functions, departments, and operations while managing the reception desk. Blanca joined CCA earlier this summer as a Home Care Intern, where she provided administrative support and helped execute program projects for the team.
Recently, Blanca transitioned to the role of Home Care Program Coordinator. Within this role, Blanca provides administrative, program, and data management support to the Home Care department.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Blanca graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
Bio coming soon.
Kia Watley is a new Lead Instructor on CCA’s Home Care team! Kia is a Certified Medical Assistant and Licensed Vocational Nurse who is highly-skilled and passionate about home care and nursing. She has substantial experience in the caregiving field as she previously filled two managerial roles at residential home care facilities, and has worked as a lead caregiver and an LVN Charge Nurse. Additionally, Kia holds numerous medical certifications and licenses. She is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to the CCA team!
Miya has been working in the healthcare field for 20 years, providing care for a diverse population. She began her career as an In-Home Care Provider and furthered her education in health care as a Licensed Vocational Nurse through the University of the Antelope Valley. As an LVN, Miya worked in mental health, pediatric, and geriatric care. These experiences led her to discover her passion for education.
Miya received her degree in Healthcare Administration, as well as her Director of Staff Development state certification. Before joining the CCA, Miya worked as an instructor for Certified Nursing Assistant programs for over 10 years. As an Instructor, Miya’s expertise in healthcare affords her knowledge to meet the needs of the diverse student population she educates at CCA.
Phoenix Lockett is excited to join the CCA Ed Fund team as a new program director! She brings with her over 18 years of expertise in Workforce and Program Development and Project and Performance Management. Phoenix has served many managerial positions throughout her career. Prior to joining us at CCA, she worked for SEIU-UHW & Joint Employer Education Fund serving the role of Senior Director of Programs. Her extensive educational background consists of a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and ten different certifications including Coaching Power Leadership, Foundational Coach Methodology, and Organizational Health in Business.
Wendy Ramirez is CCA’s new Human Resources Director! She brings with her over 16 years of industry experience previously serving as the HR Director for DSD Companies, Morphe Brushes and Cosmetics, and GZ6G Technologies, among others. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career is providing employees with the knowledge and skills to complete their goals and success. Her professional legacy is having the honor of working with people who commit themselves to making their business and personal lives a success. In her free time, Wendy likes to do yoga and spend time with her two children- they especially love to hike together!
Zach is originally from Los Angeles, California and earned his Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. As Senior Accountant at CCA, Zach has worked in the Accounting field for 20 years in the manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, and nonprofit industries. His knowledge in nonprofit accounting, and his overall love of accounting and finance is what brought him to CCA.
In his spare time, he enjoys being with family, traveling, cooking, reading, and art. In his own words, he also “loves working with spreadsheets and can’t imagine how he would survive without them.”
Carmen Roberts is the first from-the-ranks SEIU 2015 member to be elevated to the
position of Executive Vice President of the statewide union representing California’s long-term care workers. A longtime member of the union’s Bargaining Committee for Los Angeles County IHSS providers, Carmen has served on the union’s Executive Board for nearly a decade, and became a Regional Vice President for L.A. County in 2017, and most recently became the union’s very first statewide member leader for home care: First Vice President, Home Care Industry.
As Executive Vice President, Carmen draws on all her personal experience as a caregiver to this role. Carmen continues her commitment to building power and bringing structural change to the long-term care industry.
Carmen is looking forward to bringing that dedication to CCA as a board member. “Too many care providers haven’t enough access to the quality, affordable training necessary to provide the best possible care. As a former care provider, I’ll work with CCA to provide increased availability of training. That’s key to ensuring long-term care is recognized as a real career…where young people will say ‘I want to go into long-term care work’ like others choose engineering, medicine, and law,” she says.
Jeffrey Forrest serves as Director of Older Youth Initiatives for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In this role he oversees the Opportunity Youth and Foster Youth Programs which address the needs of young adults (ages 15-24). In his previous role, Jeffrey served as Vice-President of Economic Development for College of the Canyons, which focuses on aligning Career and Technical Education programs with the needs of industry, while offering job training for minorities, women, Veterans, and dislocated workers. In addition, Jeffrey oversaw a number of business units dedicated to providing companies with training resources for growing their business.
In this role, Jeffrey created partnerships with hundreds of companies, community-based organizations, government entities throughout Southern California to advance the efforts of the community college in providing workforce development solutions that lead to economic growth and prosperity for the region. Jeffrey has testified Capitol Hill on the benefits of apprenticeship to small business. Jeffrey is also is the Chair of Finally Family Homes, a non-profit that works with homeless transition-aged youth in North Los Angeles County.
Jeffrey believes that providing access to a quality education and career pathways is critical to creating strong communities and key to the long-term growth of the nation’s economy. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an MBA from Lindenwood University, and an MDiv from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary.
Jim Mangia is the President and CEO of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a network of 16 nonprofit federally qualified health centers and two mobile clinics providing free and low-cost medical, dental and mental health services to more than 375,000 patient visits in downtown, South Los Angeles, Compton and Lynwood. Passionate about community health, prevention and social justice, Mangia built the Well Child and Family Centers from a small single-site clinic serving 1200 patients a year to one of L.A. County’s largest nonprofit health care with over 700 employees and a 85 million dollar budget; St. John’s is now the largest primary care provider in the largest area of contiguous poverty (south Los Angeles) in the United States.
Under Mangia’s leadership, St. John’s has opened six school based health centers (SBHCs). St. John’s is the exclusive school based health provider for Compton Unified School District and operates five SBHCs with Los Angeles Unified School District, with plans to open three more. As well, St. John’s is the only federally qualified health center to operate community college-based school based health centers – at Trade Tech College and Compton College.
Appointed by Governor Brown in 2012, Mangia serves as a State Commissioner on the State of California Workforce Investment Board and served as an Expert Advisor to the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force. He serves on the Los Angeles County Community Prevention and Population Health Task Force for the County of Los Angeles Public Health Agency. He served as Chair of the Public Health & Prevention Task Force for the California Primary Care Organization in 2013-14. Mangia served on the Board of Governors of LA Care Health Plan (the largest Medicaid health plan in the country) from 2008-2012. He served as a member of President Obama’s Health Advisory Task Force in 2008 and served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County from 2010-2012.
Mangia has built St. John’s as an organization that not only provides health care services, but engages social determinants of health, impacts social policy, builds direct patient advocacy organizations in the communities it serves, provides direct access to health for undocumented immigrants and homeless individuals and families, fights for social justice and battles poverty.
Mangia has testified before congressional committees, the California state legislature and the Los Angeles city council about environmental health issues effecting L.A.’s children, the critical role of prevention in community health, health disparities and the right to health. He has received the Certificate of Congressional Recognition, special recognition in the U.S. Congressional Record, and numerous commendations for his work by city, county and state legislative bodies.
Bio coming soon.
Silvia Yee is a senior staff attorney at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) where her work has included projects to increase physical and programmatic accessibility and disability awareness in the delivery of health care services, as well as impact litigation to increase access for people with disabilities in myriad aspects of public and private life.
Silvia maintains interests in health care reform and the impact on people with disabilities, international disability rights and the implementation of national disability rights laws, and the strengthening of cross-disability and cross-civil rights communities.
Over the past decade, Silvia has presented and written on how disability health and healthcare disparities, civil rights, public health, and other social determinants of health such as race/ethnicity, LQBTQ status, and income level intersect. Recently, she has had the privilege to co-teach the disability rights law class offered at UC Berkeley School of Law. Prior to joining DREDF, Silvia worked in private commercial practice in Canada, and with the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, where she published on the topics of Canadian Health Care Standards and the extent of the nursing profession’s legal authority. She received her B.Mus., M.A., and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Alberta.
Silvia joined CCA’s board of directors in January 2021. “Long-term services and supports are critical to people with a range of disabilities across the life spectrum, and community-based services are essential to disability rights and true community integration,” she said. “I am motivated by a desire to help ensure that personal care assistants and direct service workers have a path forward to the living wage, safe working conditions, career recognition, and skill/knowledge base that will attract excellent employees and encourage strong working relationships.”
Bio coming soon.
