AICCUBUYS Team
Our team of experts have decades of experience supporting the purchasing processes in higher education. Whether you have questions about our piggybackable contracts, our vendor partnerships, or want to find a purchasing solution for your campus, our dedicated team of professionals knows the right contracts to meet your college or district’s needs.
Telephone
916.491.4467
Jorge J.C. Sales
Executive Vice President of Program Development
Jorge J.C. Sales, Executive Vice President of Program Development, oversees several programs in the Foundation. Programs under his purview include (1) CollegeBuys, the California Community Colleges’ systemwide business and procurement program; (2) Intersegmental Collaboration through the California Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) initiative; and (3) Equity programs concentrated on statewide student mental health, foster youth, and food insecurity programs. Mr. Sales’ work is focused on access, equity, and corporate partnerships – working closely with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and systemwide stakeholders, as well as corporate partners to explore opportunities for continued access for colleges, students, faculty, and staff in California’s public higher education institutions.
Mr. Sales has over 10 years of experience in California’s government and nonprofit sectors, having worked with then-Attorney General Edmund G. Brown in various public affairs capacities in the capitol region, and directing a regional election campaign for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Sales received his bachelor’s in economics, and his juris doctor and masters in public administration from the University of Southern California.
Business Areas
- Business and Program Development
- California Higher Education Shared Services
- Programmatic Strategic Direction
- Statewide Liaison with Partners and Stakeholders
Telephone
916.491.4467
Jennifer Keiper
Senior Director of Procurement Services
Jennifer oversees the department’s strategic sourcing agreements as well as the overall operations of and professional development provided by CollegeBuys. She works closely with various community college stakeholders across the 73 districts to ensure their needs are reflected in the program’s agreements, as well as with corporate and intersegmental partners to increase access, effectiveness, and cost savings for the community colleges and any other participating agencies.
Jennifer has 10+ years of experience in California’s public sector, most of which has been dedicated to contracting in higher education within the CCC and UC systems. Jennifer earned her bachelor’s in political science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a concentration in Pre-Law, and her juris doctor in public interest from UC Davis School of Law.
Business Areas
- Program Strategy, Development, and Management
- Business Operations and Contracting Oversight
- Legal and Contractual Compliance
- Statewide Liaison with Partners and Stakeholders
Kevin Wutke
Senior Director of Enterprise Partnerships
Kevin Wutke serves as the Senior Director of Enterprise Partnerships at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. In this role, Kevin leads the development and expansion of new programs, including initiatives such as SchoolBuys, CivicBuys, Corporate Roundtable, and FoundationCCC’s eCommerce platform for students. Kevin builds collaborative partnerships with a variety of enterprise stakeholders, fostering synergies with colleagues across California’s community colleges, K-12 districts, and local government entities.
Kevin joined FoundationCCC in 2017 and has demonstrated his capacity for adaptable leadership across the organization. Prior to joining FoundationCCC, Kevin taught philosophy courses as a graduate student at Ohio State University. His experience as an instructor provided valuable insight into the diverse circumstances and needs of students, while highlighting the breadth of opportunities for colleges to support student success through interventions both in- and outside of the classroom.
Business Areas
- Program Strategy, Development, and Management
- Statewide Liaison with Partners and Stakeholders
- System and Budget Priorities
- Retail Store Management
Telephone
916.325.8561
Jorge Burwick
Senior Program Manager
Jorge Burwick serves as the Senior Program Manager, CollegeBuys where he oversees CollegeBuys contracts, vendor relationships, and contract support functions. Based on systemwide need, he works to develop new business lines by vetting prospective vendors and managing compliant requests for proposals. Jorge supports systemwide collaborative procurement initiatives.
Jorge has over 10 years of experience in higher education and has committed himself to working with projects that focus on equity and inclusion. Prior to joining the Foundation, he managed student programs at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities where he was responsible for corporate relations and campus outreach. Jorge is a native Texan and earned his bachelor’s from Trinity University and master’s from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Business Areas
- Business Operations
- Business Development
- Contract Management
- District Support
Lale Stefkova
Manager, Enterprise Partnerships
Lale Stefkova serves as a Manager of Enterprise Partnerships, supporting the growth of the SchoolBuys and CivicBuys programs. Lale’s focus is the expansion and deepening of engagement with district leaders, external business partners and associations and vendors supporting K-12 and the civil sector, along with strengthening the programs’ brand recognition.
Lale received her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she held teaching and research positions, along with leading departmental efforts to establish distance learning for nontraditional students and establishing the Hispanic Heritage Student program. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lale spent 5 years in the EdTech industry, serving as a liaison with school and district leaders across higher education and K-12 and informing the internal marketing and product development strategies.
Business Areas
- Business Operations
- Business Development
- Statewide Liaison with Partners and Stakeholders
Alexander Alvarado
Senior Retail Programs Specialist
Alex Alvarado serves as Senior Retail Programs Specialist for the CollegeBuys team. He provides support for the CollegeBuys technology contract. This includes operation of Adobe and California Connects and involves user account administration and product fulfillment.
Alex has 10 years of experience in customer and technical support from call center and help desk roles. He is a California native with much of his experience coming from Apple, Toyota, and nonprofits.
Business Areas
- Adobe
- California Connects
- CollegeBuys E-store
- Administrative and Customer Support
Trisha Saberian
Senior Business Operations & Strategic Projects Specialist
Trisha is the Senior Business Operations & Strategic Projects Specialist within the Enterprise and Procurement Services Department. In this role, she leads engagement and outreach initiatives across all departmental programs, manages stakeholder records, oversees departmental financials, and plays a key role in coordinating professional development opportunities and events.
With over two years at FoundationCCC, Trisha brings a strong interdisciplinary background to her work. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Health Sciences and Urban Studies from the University of California, Irvine.
Business Areas
- Engagement and Outreach
- Program Operations
- Business Financials
- Client Relations Management (CRM)
Heather Cade-Bauer
Procurement Contracts Coordinator
Heather Cade-Bauer serves as the Procurement Contract Coordinator for the CollegeBuys team. She provides bid and contract support while building and cultivating relationships with district stakeholders and vendors.
Heather has over 10 years of experience working in the California Community College system with nine of those years focused on public procurement. She is very excited to further her knowledge of public procurement and assist the CollegeBuys team by increasing engagement throughout the system.
Business Areas
- Bids and Contract Support
- Business Operations
- Business Development
Vanessa Ruiz
Retail Program Coordinator
Vanessa serves as Program Coordinator for the CollegeBuys team. She is lead for the Systemwide Technology Access Collaborative (STAC) program, focusing on program operations, facilitating communication and relationships with colleges and vendors to support systemwide procurement efforts. In addition to her work with STAC, Vanessa provides customer service and administrative support for the CollegeBuys e-Store to deliver a responsive and positive user experience.
Vanessa received a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Marketing from California State University, Sacramento. She has been with the Foundation for over two years, values the growth she has gained through her work and contributions, and looks forward to continued learning and impact.
Business Areas
- STAC
- Adobe
- California Connects
- Customer Service and Administrative Support
Adrian Brennan-Evans
Contracts & Compliance Associate
Adrian serves as Contracts & Compliance Associate for the CollegeBuys team. In that role, he is responsible for providing the CollegeBuys program with a wide range of support, including contract drafting and maintenance, lifecycle management, legal compliance, risk management, information governance, vendor interfacing, customer service, and other administrative tasks.
Adrian has a dedicated history of work in the public sector both in the Bay Area and the greater Sacramento area. He hopes to build on this commitment to public service with the Foundation by supporting the mission and vision of the CollegeBuys program. Adrian received his bachelor’s in Philosophy from the University of California, Davis in 2018 with an emphasis in Pre-Law, his J.D. from the U.C. Davis School of Law in 2023, and he is a licensed attorney in California.
Business Areas
- Program Operations
- Contract Support
- Legal Compliance
- Administrative and Customer Support
Ahra Dickson
Department Assistant, Operations & Stakeholder Relations
Ahra Dickson serves as the Department Assistant for the Foundation’s CollegeBuys team, where she provides comprehensive administrative support to advance the program’s mission of delivering cost savings and innovative purchasing solutions to California’s community colleges.
In her role, Ahra acts as a key resource for institutional partners and district stakeholders, managing calendar coordination, supporting contract-related activities, and facilitating outreach and engagement initiatives that strengthen collaborative relationships across the system. Ahra also assists in the planning and execution of events, marketing efforts, business development, and professional development initiatives.
Business Areas
- Program Operations
- Business Operations
- Stakeholder Support Services
- Administrative Support
Lizbeth Pineda
Program Assistant
Lizbeth Pineda serves as Program Assistant for the CollegeBuys team. She provides administrative support and external customer service for the CollegeBuys e-Store. Lizbeth also works with districts and students to facilitate access to our existing programs.
Lizbeth received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the California State University of Sacramento in 2018. She aspires to grow her career with the Foundation and continue supporting all efforts to promote student success.
Business Areas
- Customer Service and Administrative Support
- California Connects program, Adobe
- Program Support
Rebecca Tsang
Student Law Clerk
Rebecca Tsang serves as the Student Law Clerk for the CollegeBuys team where she provides support in contract drafting and maintenance. She is a student at UC Davis School of Law and completed her undergraduate studies at UC San Diego.
Business Areas
- Contract Support
- Legal Compliance