Team
Driven. Connected. Compassionate.
Our Team Members

Board of Directors
Healthy Communities Section Manager, Department of Health Services, Public Health Division
Principal Consultant, The Hochman Group
Attorney, Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP










































Erin joined the Center in 2020 as an exercise physiologist, and she was later promoted to the HeartWorks Phase II supervisor. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise and sports science in psychology and sociology from the Western State College of Colorado, and she has over a decade of direct client care. As the HeartWorks Phase II supervisor, she oversees patients in their journey to recover from their cardiac incidents physically and emotionally. She helps build back their confidence through medically supervised workouts and supports them in developing and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle that will improve their overall health and well-being. Erin grew up in a small farming town in Colorado and later moved to Sonoma County. She lives in Cloverdale with her husband and three-year-old daughter. In addition to her passion for exercise, she loves art, movies, live music, and being outdoors.
Yesica joined the team as Medical Biller in 2023. Yesica is a graduate from the College of Marin, and she has over six years of experience in community health. She worked as a Bilingual Office Assistant for the Marin County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, and a Front Office Specialist at the Rohnert Park Health Center. She is excited to serve our patients at the Center for Well-Being, because she loves being part of an organization that believes in “Access for All,” and because of our commitment to empower a healthier community for all. Yesica believes that providing excellent customer service is critical to delivering healing-informed care, and she always strives to make each patient feel valued and heard. When she’s not serving our clinical team and patients at the Center, you can find Yesica watching soccer and riding bikes with her son Giancarlo and daughter Camila.
Malakai Mertens is a Sonoma County native with over 10 years of experience in various customer service roles across different industries. Throughout his career, he has sought out positions that allow him to make a positive impact on others.
In his role as a Nutrition Services Specialist, Malakai focuses on assisting patients in attending their appointments and classes, as well as providing technical support over the phone when needed.
Outside of work, Malakai has a passion for all things sci-fi and fantasy, making him a self-proclaimed nerd. He also has a deep affection for animals and previously volunteered at the Sonoma Humane Society, caring for the cats there. Additionally, he enjoys visiting museums and exploring new activities in both Sonoma County and San Francisco.
Dr. Bruce Heller is a Family Doctor with over 20 years of primary care experience. Dr. Heller is passionate about empowering patients to achieve optimal health through a holistic approach that focuses on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management. With special interests in reproductive health and acupuncture, he brings a unique perspective to the partnership with patients. Dr. Heller holds board certifications from the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Heller enjoys immersing himself in the outdoors by hiking, biking, and gardening.
Gary Hochman has worked in the development of organizations for 35 years and has served in senior executive, management, and staff roles. As founder of The HR Matrix and now, as principal of The Hochman Group, his consulting practice integrates strategy, work systems design, and team and individual performance to enhance organizational effectiveness. Earlier in his career, Gary was the vice-president of HR at OCLI/JDSU and senior organization development consultant at Hewlett-Packard. He holds a B.A. in sociology and a M.A. degree - with a focus in organization development and training - from the Curtis L Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Gary's involvement with the Center for Well-Being dates to 2014 and reflects his deep commitment to community, health equity, and social justice. He is extremely proud of the Center’s impact on our County and is always seeking new ways to promote and support its Mission.
In addition to his commitments to his business, friends, and family (married with 3 children, 6 grandchildren), Gary has served on the faculty at SSU and USF. For inspiration and fun, he is active as a cyclist, scuba diver, traveler, and music lover.
Dr. Hayre-Kwan has served as a Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner for 22 years at the Russian River Health Clinic in Guerneville, CA. She is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University.
With 13 years of membership in the Association of California Nurse Leaders, Dr. Hayre-Kwan co-chairs the Health Policy Committee. Her 24-year history with the California Association for Nurse Practitioners includes over 18 years in board positions at both state and local levels, serving as president, president-elect, conference chair, and on the Health Policy and Practice Committee. She has also represented Northern California for the American Association for Nurse Practitioners.
Dr. Hayre-Kwan holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Samuel Merritt University, a Master of Science in Nursing, a Master of Business Administration, and a Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from Sonoma State University. She is nationally certified as a Family Practice NP.
Recognized as a Fellow in the American Association for Nurse Practitioners and the American College of Health Care Executives, she serves on the boards of several community-based non-profit organizations focused on health and wellness.
Dr. Hayre-Kwan is passionate about the Center's work due to its generational impact on community health. The Center brings evidence-based practices and education to patients and the community, promoting positive health behaviors. It also educates Sonoma County’s school-aged children, helping them make healthy decisions about eating, playing, and managing peer pressure.
Carme is a seasoned HR executive and has been serving on the board of directors for the Center for Well Being Northern California for the last three years. With a professional background primarily in the healthcare and manufacturing fields, Carme has been a dedicated HR leader at Amy's Kitchen for the past 13 years. She is deeply passionate about healthcare and is committed to removing barriers that prevent individuals from accessing affordable quality healthcare. After working in partnership with the Center for Well Being in a professional capacity at Amy’s, when asked to join the board, she jumped at the opportunity. Outside of work, Carme is a proud mother of twin 20-year-old college students and enjoys spending time with her husband, their dogs, and her children when they are home. She loves reading, mentoring, and engaging in outdoor activities.
Maria Juarez Sanchez is a Bilingual Pediatric Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Behavioral Health Director at Alliance Medical Center. She has served the mission and vision of Alliance Medical Center for over 4 years, and she has been in the field of mental health since 2016. She is a Latina born in Mexico who immigrated with her family at the age of 5. Maria was inspired by her positive early childhood experiences. Maria and her family thrived as immigrants due to the resources and support they were offered by clinics like Alliance Medical Center and other community-based organizations. She is a firm believer that it takes a village to help others thrive despite their early adverse childhood experiences.
Maria is dedicated to serving children, youth and families by providing trauma-informed mental health services at Alliance Medical Center. She ensures that families experience a warm welcome from the time they get engaged for the first time to the time they are discharged. Maria is dedicated to improving the health outcomes of her community by continuously seeking development opportunities to ensure equity is at the heart of the care that is offered to patients. When Maria is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her two young sons and their bulldog, Leo.