Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission

Meet the HSDC Members

Chico Manning
System Vice President, Enterprise Supply Chain, PIH Health 
Representative of the hospital industry

Chico Manning MHA is the System Vice President of Enterprise Supply Chain at PIH Health—a nonprofit, regional healthcare network comprised of PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, PIH Health Whittier Hospital and PIH Health Downey Hospital; 35 medical office buildings; more than 90 clinics; and a multi-specialty medical group. PIH Health serves more than 3.7 million residents in the Los Angeles County, Orange County and Gabriel Valley region. In his position, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction and tactical execution for all aspects of supply chain management at PIH Health.


Chico served in the United States Navy and Marine Corps for 12 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and is certified in Supply and Logistics Management by the United States Marine Corps. He also holds an Executive Master of Health/Healthcare Administration Management degree from the University of Southern California. 

Cameron M. Stewart
Co-Founder, Alcam Medical  
Representative of a minority business enterprise

Cameron Stewart (He/Him) is a modern-day Entrepreneur and serves his community in many varying capacities. For the last 20 years Cameron has created businesses in health care, transportation, financial services and consulting. Cameron also serves as board treasurer for the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC). BOC is an independent not for profit organization dedicated to supporting quality patient care by offering highly valued credentials for professionals and businesses. Cameron has extensive knowledge of real estate and he is a licensed General Contractor. Cameron has completed many development projects across the state of California. Cameron has a passion for serving his others and his goal is to empower his community. He provides free classes on entrepreneurship, business, and personal finance. Cameron also is an advocate for health equity and access for those in underserved communities. Cameron sits on the board for California Community Development (CCD), and the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information.  Cameron graduated from the prestigious Tuskegee University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He is currently enrolled at Harvard Business School, graduating in 2023. Cameron is a family man with a wife and three daughters. He aspires to be an integral part of positive and systemic change.

Tracy Stanhoff
President & Creative Director, AD PRO President, American Indian Chamber of Commerce of CA
Representative of a minority business enterprise

Tracy Stanhoff (She/Her) in 1988 founded AD PRO, located in Huntington Beach, California that is a full-service advertising, graphic design and branding firm serving Fortune 500 corporations, Tribal Enterprises, Government entities and small business clients globally. AD PRO’s “One for All” business structure provides the capacity for both branding development and design combined with a full arsenal of tools for implementing strategic marketing programs and graphic design via in-house graphic manufacturing processes. AD PRO is an ISO 9001 quality management system certified firm. In 2017, Stanhoff established a Native American news publication titled, “Indigenous Post.” As a past addition to operating her enterprises, Ms. Stanhoff served as Tribal Chair of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, located in Mayetta, Kansas. Ms. Stanhoff currently serves as the president of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California and the leader of the American Indian National Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Stanhoff has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach where she was named co-Outstanding Graduate in the Journalism/Public Relations department.

Ruksana Azhu Valappil
Founder & CEO of NEEV, Inc.  
Representative of a women business enterprise

Ruksana Azhu Valappil (She/Her) is a healthcare AI, ethics and sustainability advisor, neuroscientist, social entrepreneur and a purpose driven leader. As the founder of NEEV Health, she loves to help digital health teams implement ethical and trustworthy AI solutions that mitigates bias, incorporates transparency and is regulatory compliant. As an advisor and consultant, she brings her passion for equitable healthcare, research rigor, analytical skills and a collaborative approach to help build ethical AI for digital health. She has led cross functional teams, organizations and serves on several board of directors. She is a founding member of WeTheChange, a not-for-profit coalition of 900+ mission driven women CEOs and allies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She served as the Director and co-lead the organization running operations, including governance, finance and partnerships. As an advocate for empowering women and a firm believer in integrating business with social responsibility, she runs her small business and social enterprise, NEEV Lifestyle, as a California Benefit Corporation and a Certified B Corp. A firm believer in public service, she is happy to serve on the Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission at California Department of Health Care Access and Information. Ruksana earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering and holds a BS in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.

Theresa A. Martinez
CEO & President, Community Connections, LLC.   
Representative of a women business enterprise

Theresa A. Martinez (She/Her) is the CEO/President of Community Connections, LLC, specializing in Communications, Community Outreach and Engagement. The team provides a wide range of services; public & government relations, media relations, community & grassroots outreach, social media outreach and management, special event planning, strategic planning, and program management. Community Connections was awarded a five year contract with LA Metro on their Communications Bench and are currently working on a million dollar plus project along the Vermont Transit Corridor, which has the highest ridership along a ten and a half mile stretch for a new bus or rail transit system. The team is currently working on several other transportation projects with LA Metro and OCTA. Ms. Martinez served in the capacity as CEO for the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) from April 2013 to November 2016. She oversaw fundraising, procurement, policy initiatives, advocacy work, corporate sponsor relationships, and program infrastructure.

Jackson Dalton
President, Black Box Safety, Inc.
Representative of a disabled veteran business enterprise      

Jackson Dalton is a former Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps whose life took a pivotal turn following a training accident at the USMC Amphibious School of Reconnaissance. Motivated by this experience, Jackson has committed his career to ensuring workplace safety, allowing others to continue doing what they love with the people who matter most. His decade-long career in occupational safety led him to establish Black Box Safety, Inc., a company dedicated to public service that supplies industrial products, medical supplies, and law enforcement products to government agencies through multi-year contract vehicles.

Jackson holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Saint Thomas. He is recognized as both a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

As President of Black Box Safety, Jacksonoversees operations and finances for a company generating $30 million in annual revenue. Under his leadership, Black Box Safety has been recognized by Inc. Magazine for two consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing businesses in America. Headquartered in San Diego, the company employs 15 full-time staff members and continues to expand as a leader in government contracting supply solutions.

Lilly Rocha
Board Member, HONOR LGBT PAC, CEO & Executive Director, Latino Restaurant Association
Representative of an LGBT business enterprise

 

Cecil Plummer                                                      
President, Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council 
Representative expert in the field of supplier diversity  

Cecil Plummer (He/Him) is the President and CEO of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC), one of the 23 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The Council works to create jobs and wealth for people of color by supporting and promoting minority owned businesses and connecting them with contract opportunities with Fortune 1000 companies and large public entities. Plummer believes that, since most Americans work for small and medium sized businesses, supply chain inclusion is critical to the American economy and as a talent incubator for Corporate America. Plummer received awards from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) West, and the Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance, and won the NMSDC Council of the Year Award in both 2019 and 2021. Plummer formerly worked with Robert Half for 17 years and left his position as the Director of CSS Strategic Solutions to join the Council. He has over 20 years of executive leadership experience and possesses a solid background in strategic sourcing, change management, performance and process improvement, Supplier Diversity, strategic planning, and risk management. Plummer also holds a Project Management Certification (PMP) and has a strong track record of success in small business entrepreneurship, communications strategy, process reengineering, contract negotiation, and relationship management.

Tara Lynn Gray 
Director, California Office of the Small Business Advocate 
Representative expert in the field of supplier diversity

As Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, Tara Lynn Gray serves as the voice for California’s 4.2 million small businesses in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Under Director Gray’s leadership, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate focuses on helping to bring about Governor Newsom’s California for All vision through further development of the state’s small business ecosystem and by ensuring that questions about equity and inclusion are the starting point for all the state’s small business programs. Immediately prior to her appointment by Governor Newsom, Director Gray led the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce (FMBCC) and Chamber Foundation (FMBCF) as CEO. Closing opportunity gaps, the role of women and BIPOC business leaders, and diversity in procurement opportunities are recurrent themes in her advocacy work. She has also led green economy initiatives, employment & training programs, and working to advance electric vehicle ownership.

Baljeet Sangha, MPH, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer, Pain and Rehabilitative Consultants Medical Group
Representative at the director’s discretion

Baljeet S. Sangha (He/Him) began his professional career over 15 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Pain and Rehabilitative Consultants Medical Group, an organization whose mission is to provide compassionate, cutting-edge treatment for patients for whom chronic pain has affected their ability to function and enjoy life. Previously, he served in multiple leadership roles in the City and County of San Francisco’s (CCSF) Department of Public Health as the Chief Operating and Chief Strategy Officer of the San Francisco Health Network, the Co-Incident Commander of the Laguna Honda Hospital CMS Recertification, CCSF’s Vaccine Executive Sponsor, and as an Incident Commander for CCSF’s COVID pandemic response. Previously, Sangha was Vice President of Operations & Support Services at Alameda Health System. Earlier in his career, Sangha worked as an Executive Administrator in the San Francisco Health Network and also as the inaugural Deputy Chief Operating Officer & Chief Patient Experience Officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Sangha earned a Master of Public Health Degree with a focus on Health Policy & Management and a Specialty in Multicultural Health from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as an undergraduate degree in History from the University of California, Berkeley. Sangha is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow of America’s Essential Hospitals.