Board of Directors and Board Committees

CalOptima Health is fortunate to have a Board of Directors that includes local leaders from various fields, including health care, law and public service. Their collective expertise and commitment to community health guide us in fulfilling our mission to serve Orange County’s vulnerable populations. The Board’s strategic governance is essential in shaping policies that prioritize member-centric care and promote transparency. Board members also serve on two Board committees focused on quality and fiscal responsibility.

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About the Board of Directors

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CalOptima Health is governed at the highest level by a 10-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The Board members reflect the diverse interests of CalOptima Health’s stakeholders, with designated seats for individuals representing members, providers, hospitals, community health centers and others as well as two Orange County supervisors and the Orange County Health Care Agency director (non-voting). Board meetings are open to the public and are typically held on the first Thursday of the month.

Director Bios

Vicente Sarmiento (Chair)

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Second District

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in November 2022. He represents the Second District, which includes Santa Ana and portions of Garden Grove, Tustin, Orange and Anaheim. Previously, he served the Santa Ana community as a council member from 2008–20 and as mayor from 2020–22. Currently, he is a director for the Orange County Transportation Authority. Prior to this, Supervisor Sarmiento was a Board member for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies at George Washington University. In addition, he was one of 14 leaders selected from across the country to join NewDEAL, a national network highlighting innovative ideas from state and local elected leaders. Supervisor Sarmiento holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law. He attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and successfully completed the Certificate Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He is married and has three children with his wife, Eva. Supervisor Sarmiento was appointed Chair of the CalOptima Health Board of Directors in January 2026.

Maura Byron (Vice Chair)

Member Representative

Maura Byron is the parent of a CalOptima Health member and leads an organization that serves the special needs community. Byron is the executive director of Family Support Network, which offers resources for families and children with social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs so they can reach their full potential. In addition, she has many years of experience working with CalOptima Health through leadership roles on the Member Advisory Committee and Whole-Child Model Family Advisory Committee. She is passionate about addressing gaps in care for vulnerable community members and advocating for parent caregivers. Byron was appointed a CalOptima Health director in December 2023 and Vice Chair in January 2026.

Isabel Becerra

CEO, Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers

Isabel Becerra is CEO of the Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers. She has more than 30 years of experience working in public health. As CEO, she provides administrative leadership, financial direction and oversight of advocacy matters on behalf of Orange County community health centers. She also maintains effective relationships with elected officials, funders and other stakeholders. Prior to the Coalition, she worked at North County Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Marcos, California. She was prepared for these roles through a MATCH Fellowship, a comprehensive program that educates leaders on all aspects of operating community health organizations sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra currently serves on multiple boards, including the California Wellness Foundation and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pomona College. Becerra was appointed Chair of the CalOptima Health Board of Directors in July 2024.

Blair Contratto

Chief Strategy Officer, Be Well OC

Blair Contratto is Chief Strategy Officer at Be Well OC, a health care consultant and a prior hospital administrator. She has more than 40 years of service in not-for-profit health care, with a particular interest in and emphasis on care for the vulnerable and underserved. Her leadership experience includes 16 years as a health care consultant and 27 years as a hospital executive and CEO at Providence Health System Little Company of Mary, a fully integrated health system, where she led a $375 million net revenue region. Contratto has proven hospital leadership in governance, finance and philanthropy, strategic planning, community benefit, and leadership development. She has served on several health care and nonprofit boards, including the Hospital Council of Southern California Board of Directors, Alliance Bank Board of Directors and CHA Health System Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from UCLA and a master’s degree in public health from University of Tennessee. In 2024, she published her first book, Laguna Beachwalk. Contratto was appointed a CalOptima Health director in November 2021.

Norma García Guillén, J.D.

Attorney

Norma García Guillén, J.D., is a commercial litigator with more than 20 years of experience in state and federal courts. She is a Founding Partner at Garcia Rainey Blank & Bowerbank LLP in Costa Mesa, where she represents corporate clients in disputes involving a range of claims, such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and securities violations. Previously, she was an associate at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, where she co-chaired the Latin American Practice Group and handled numerous high-profile cases, including business and defamation disputes for Latin American celebrities. García Guillén was recognized as Attorney Coach of the Year in 2022 by the Constitutional Rights Foundation–Orange County and as Attorney of the Year in 2018 by the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in government and Latin American studies from Smith College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She was appointed a CalOptima Health director in May 2023.

Cathy Green

Registered Nurse

Cathy Green has been a pivotal member of the Orange County Water District Board of Directors since her election in 2010, and she currently serves as President, a role she also held in 2015 and 2016. Her leadership extends to the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), where she was recently elected President for the 2024–25 term. Her significant contributions include her longstanding involvement on the ACWA Executive Committee and various other committees since 2012. In addition to her extensive water-related roles, Green is deeply engaged in community service, holding positions on the boards of Huntington Valley Boys and Girls Club and Huntington Beach Hospital among others. She has received multiple awards, including most recently the Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Service to Youth Award in 2020. A registered nurse with a law degree, Green has also contributed to environmental projects through her association with Lockhart and Associates. She was appointed a CalOptima Health director in August 2024.

Brian Helleland

Chief Executive, Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Providence Orange County & High Desert

Brian Helleland has 28 years of executive experience, including 18 years with Providence. Throughout his career at Providence, he has held various leadership roles. In addition to his current position as Chief Executive, Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Chief Executive, Providence Orange County & High Desert, he served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer for Providence South Division over 17 California hospitals and Chief of Clinical Programs and Operations, Interim Chief Executive St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, and the Chief Executive at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. As a longstanding chief executive, Helleland has a deep understanding of clinical operations, nursing and ancillary services. He brings a wealth of experience in building clinical programs and integrated delivery networks in collaboration with nursing, physicians, ambulatory services and community partners. Helleland shapes hospital cultures focused on a caregiver-centric work environment, demonstrating clinical excellence, committed physician engagement and fiscal success. He was appointed a CalOptima Health director in August 2024.

Veronica Kelley, DSW, LCSW

Agency Director, Orange County Health Care Agency

Veronica Kelley, DSW, LCSW, is the Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA). Dr. Kelley has more than 33 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Previously, she was HCA’s Director of Behavioral Health Services, overseeing the public behavioral health system. She also serves as the Alcohol & Drug Administrator for Orange County, which allows the county to receive federal funds to address substance use disorders. Dr. Kelley spent 13 years serving the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, with six years as the Behavioral Health Director. During that time, she led the county’s crisis response and recovery efforts following the 2015 terrorist attack. Dr. Kelley remains active at the state level, addressing behavioral health issues as a board member of NAMI California and the Past President of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association. She is also an appointee to the Governors No Place Like Home Advisory Committee and a Steering Committee member for the Department of Health Care Services Community Mental Health Equity Project. A licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Kelley earned a Doctor of Social Work from Capella University, Minnesota and a Master of Social Work from UCLA. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Loma Linda University Department of Social Work & Social Ecology and a part-time lecturer at Cal State Fullerton’s School of Social Work. She was appointed a CalOptima Health director in April 2024.

José Mayorga, M.D.

Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, AltaMed Health Services

José Mayorga, M.D., is a family physician and physician executive with more than 20 years of experience spearheading health care programs that prioritize equity, quality and access. He is committed to eradicating inequities in health care outcomes and access in his present role as Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer at AltaMed Health Services. Dr. Mayorga started his career in private practice before being recruited by AltaMed Health Services to serve as Site Medical Director in Orange County. He then took on the role of Chief Medical Officer at Share Ourselves and afterward became Medical Director at DaVita Medical Group (previously known as HealthCare Partners). In 2018, he assumed the positions of Executive Director and Executive Medical Director at the UCI Health Family Health Center, which is recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center. At the same time, he held the role of Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the UCI School of Medicine and in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the UCI School of Pharmacy, where he contributed to training the next generation of clinicians with an emphasis on community-centered care. Dr. Mayorga earned both his bachelor’s degree and medical degree at UC Irvine, followed by his internship and residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Mayorga was appointed a CalOptima Health director in December 2021.

Janet Nguyen

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, First District

Supervisor Janet Nguyen was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in November 2024, returning after previously serving on the Board from 2007–14. She represents the First District, which includes Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Seal Beach, Westminster, and the communities of Midway City and Rossmoor. Reflecting a long career in public service, Nguyen was previously a State Senator and Assemblymember for Orange County and portions of Los Angeles County. As Senator, Nguyen was named Legislator of the Year by veterans’ groups and received top ratings from leading consumer advocacy groups. Born in Vietnam, Supervisor Nguyen and her family escaped communism on a small wooden boat and passed through several refugee camps before arriving in California in 1981. Her leadership includes being the first woman to represent the 72nd Assembly District, the first Vietnamese American in the country to be elected to both the State Senate and Assembly, and the first Asian American and Vietnamese American to serve on the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Nguyen graduated from UC Irvine and the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowship Leadership Program. She is married and has two sons. Supervisor Nguyen was appointed a CalOptima Health director in February 2026.

Doug Chaffee (Alternate)

Chairman, Orange County Board of Supervisors, and Supervisor, Fourth District

Supervisor Doug Chaffee was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in November 2018 and is serving as Chairman for 2025. He represents the Fourth District, which includes Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Placentia. A practicing attorney in Fullerton for more than 40 years, Supervisor Chaffee was mayor of the city for two terms just prior to his election. He also worked in Anaheim as a special projects manager for the Anaheim Community Development Department to develop new residential areas, revitalize neighborhoods and create job training opportunities. Active in the community, Supervisor Chaffee has served as past president of the Fullerton Sunrise Rotary Club and as a board member of the North Orange County YMCA and United Way of Fullerton. Supervisor Chaffee also founded Western Youth Services, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive mental health services to children and families since 1972. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Redlands and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law. Supervisor Chaffee has been married to his wife, Paulette, since 1977, and they have two sons. He was appointed a CalOptima Health director (alternate) in January 2026.

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Quality Assurance Committee

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Ensuring quality of care for members

Top quality in California

CalOptima Health has a track record of being honored for the quality of care members receive. During quarterly meetings, the Board of Directors Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) monitors the quality performance and policies of CalOptima Health programs to ensure we fulfill our mission to serve member health with excellence and dignity.

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Finance and Audit Committee

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Overseeing resources wisely

Transparent and accountable

As a public agency, CalOptima Health is responsible for the prudent use of taxpayer dollars. During quarterly meetings, the Board of Directors Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) ensures CalOptima Health fulfills that commitment by providing oversight of all financial matters.

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Director Bios