CollegeBuys 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
Vice President of Program Development
Jorge J.C. Sales, 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 CollegeBuys
Jennifer Keiper serves as Senior Director of CollegeBuys at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. In this role, she oversees CollegeBuys’ operations by sustaining core business lines, diversifying service and commodity-based procurement opportunities, improving departmental efficiencies, and leading the department’s compliance efforts. She works closely with various community college stakeholders to ensure their needs are being reflected in the program’s statewide procurement and strategic sourcing agreements, focusing on legal compliance, cost savings, risk mitigation, vendor accountability, and resource optimization. Simultaneously, Jennifer collaborates with corporate and intersegmental partners to increase access and cost savings for students, colleges, and the system as a whole. She also oversees the program’s retail division, which provides greater access and cost savings on technology hardware, software, and ancillary products to community college students, faculty, and staff.
Jennifer has over 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 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a concentration in Pre-Law, and her juris doctor in public interest from University of California, 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
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
Jennifer Le
Senior Program Specialist
Jennifer Le serves as Senior Program Specialist of the CollegeBuys team. She provides support for the concierge services overseeing stakeholder support functions, manages data exchanges with corporate partners, and maintains the departmental Client Relations Management (CRM) system.
Jennifer has over seven years of experience in the non-profit sector and started with the Foundation’s Community Impact Department before continuing her growth with the CollegeBuys team. Jennifer is a Sacramento native and earned her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from California State University, Sacramento.
Business Areas
- Business Operations and Systems
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relations
- Programmatic Data and Analytics
- Communication, Conference and Events
Ryan Rivera
Senior Program Specialist
Ryan Rivera serves as Senior Program Specialist for the CollegeBuys team. He provides support for CollegeBuys technology contracts with Adobe, ESRI, Redistricting Services, and Systemwide Technology Access Collaborative (STAC), and coordinates awareness activities for business development and maintains the departmental client relations management (CRM) system.
Ryan was previously with the CollegeBuys team as a Program Assistant, before moving to Southern California. Over the past five years he has worked in the areas of accounting, business development, marketing, and sales. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from California State University, Sacramento.
Business Areas
- Adobe, ESRI, Redistricting Services, and STAC
- CollegeBuys E-store
- Programmatic logistics
- Administrative and customer support
Alexander Alvarado
Program Coordinator
Alex Alvarado serves as Retail Programs Coordinator 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
Operations & Events Coordinator
Trisha serves as Operations & Events Coordinator for the CollegeBuys Team, providing programmatic and administrative support for the department. She contributes to CollegeBuys’ engagement and outreach efforts, manages stakeholder records, and supports the planning and facilitation of the department’s professional development opportunities and events.
Trisha received her bachelor’s degrees in Public Health Sciences and Urban Studies from University of California, Irvine in 2022. She hopes to further establish her career within the non-profit sphere and support student success through contributing to CollegeBuys’ and the Foundation’s mission.
Business Areas
- Program Operations
- Conferences and Events
- Administrative Support
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 ten 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
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, and a J.D. from the U.C. Davis School of Law in 2023, pending results from the State Bar.
Business Areas
- Program Operations
- Contract Support
- Legal Compliance
- Administrative and Customer Support
Ahra Dickson
Program Assistant
Ahra serves as Program Assistant to the CollegeBuys team. She provides administrative support to the Foundation’s CollegeBuys Department, serving as a resource to partners and stakeholders, coordinating calendars and events, logistics, contract support, and assists with engagement and outreach.
Business Areas
- Program Operations
- Business Operations
- Stakeholder Concierge Service
- 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
Vanessa Ruiz
Retail Assistant
Vanessa serves as Retail Assistant for the CollegeBuys team at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. As Retail Assistant, she provides customer service and administrative support for the CollegeBuys e-Store. Additionally, Vanessa works with students and faculty to facilitate access to our programs.
Vanessa received her bachelor’s in Communications with a minor in Marketing from California State University, Sacramento in 2020.
Business Areas
- Adobe
- California Connects
- Customer Service and Administrative Support
Shireen Hundal
Student Law Clerk
Shireen serves as Student Law Clerk for the CollegeBuys team. She received her bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Communications from University of California, Davis in 2019. She is expecting her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in May 2024. Shireen has a strong interest in developing a career in the public sector and hopes to accomplish this goal through her work with the Foundation.
Business Areas
- Contract Support
- Program Operations
- Legal Compliance
- Administrative and Customer Support