Staff
Denise (Dede) de Percin, Executive Director | dede@cohealthinitiative.org Dede has served as the executive director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) since September 2006. CCHI works to expand access to barrier-free, quality affordable health care by bringing a united consumer voice to the policy and legislative arenas. Ms. de Percin has over twenty-five years of involvement with nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and national levels, with ten years of senior management experience. Ms. de Percin is a graduate of Cornell University, with a B.A. in History of Science, and is currently pursuing a Master of Nonprofit Management at Regis University. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Energy Commendation from the Urban Consortium, Community Advocate from the Denver Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, and Business Woman of the Year from the Colorado Business Council. She was also named one of “Seven Who Make a Difference” by the Jackson Hole Guide. Ms. de Percin has served on many local, state, and national boards and commissions related to both her work and interests. She is currently a mayoral appointee to the Denver Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Commission and is secretary for the board of the Colorado Whitewater Association. Since joining CCHI, Ms. de Percin has also been appointed to the Colorado Division of Insurance Consumer Council and the Health Facility Acquired Infections Advisory Committee, among others. 
Nneka Johnson, Development Director | nneka@cohealthinitiative.org Nneka joined CCHI in September 2008 as the Development Director. She will concentrate on developing and implementing annual and long range fundraising plans to meet CCHI’s budget goals through grants, fundraising events, and donor relation efforts. Nneka attended Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, where she received her B.A. in Mass Communications with an emphasis in English. While attending Hastings College, she served as a Peer HIV/AIDS Educator, worked as on-air talent for the Hasting College Radio and Television station and played collegiate soccer. After graduation, she returned to her native Colorado home and began her professional career at Qwest Communications as the Project Coordinator where she provided marketing communications support and studied external marketing and messaging plans. After leaving Qwest, Nneka began working in the non-profit sector with several organizations, where she gained experience planning and organizing fundraising and awareness events, managed event budgets as well as human resource and fiscal activities, aided in community outreach programs and acted as membership coordinator. 
Jin Alexander Tsuchiya, Field and Member Director | jtsuchiya@cohealthinitiative.org Jin Alexander Tsuchiya joined CCHI in June 2010 – serving as the Field and Member Director. Prior to joining CCHI he has worked extensively in field operations across the Midwest and Colorado. Jin (pronounced like 'Gene') is a Chicago native, and received his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Louis University. Jin comes to CCHI after having worked numerous progressive campaigns, including a Congressional Primary in Illinois, securing a Clean Energy Standard in Missouri, fighting anti-labor ballot initiatives in Colorado and most recently organizing Colorado's state employees at CDPHE and DHS. His expertise will be utilized to formulate and implement an effective field plan while also expanding the membership's base of support. His community engagements include serving as Vice President for the Mile-Hi Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and as a 2010 graduate of the Colorado Institute for Leadership Training. In addition to previously serving on the Board of the Historic Montclair Community Association in East Denver, Jin continues his passion for soccer by playing with a local adult men's club, FC Denver. 
Erika L. Watt, Program Coordinator | erika@cohealthinitiative.org In June 2010, Erika joined the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) as the Program Coordinator. Erika will be providing program, development, administrative and social media support at CCHI. In addition, Erika will focus on oversight, planning, and guidance for CCHI’s special interest projects. Most recently, Erika served as the Program Coordinator for Special Olympics Arizona, assisting the nonprofit with planning and implementing community wide events; providing writing and editing support; and assisting with coordination and implementation of the nonprofit’s Annual Leadership Conference. Erika is a Massachusetts native and holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management and Policy, with an emphasis in Program Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Science in Recreation/Sports Management, with an emphasis in Marketing Survey Development from Arizona State University. Many of Erika’s graduate courses and professors were affiliated with the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation. Erika plans to utilize her energetic creativity, attention to detail, enthusiasm, and effective communication to provide exceptional support towards CCHI’s goals, initiatives, and progress. She is eager to support CCHI’s mission of striving for barrier-free access to quality, affordable health care for all Coloradans. 
Chloe Benson, Colorado Voices for Coverage | chloe@cohealthinitiative.org Chloe joined CCHI in June 2009 as the new Healthcare Advocate through Colorado College’s Public Interest Fellowship Program. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, her interests lie in public health, LGBTQ advocacy, nutrition and running. Among Chloe’s various responsibilities at CCHI, much of her work will focus on field organizing.
 Christina Yong, Consumer Advocate | christina@cohealthinitiative.org
In June 2010, Christina joined Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) as the Consumer Advocate and will primarily be working on field organizing. She is a recent graduate of Colorado College (CC) with a degree in Sociology and is working at CCHI through CC’S Public Interest Fellowship Program. Before joining CCHI, Christina spent several weeks traveling in Europe and worked on an organic farm in Southern France. In addition to traveling, some of her interests include public health, volunteering, hiking, and snowboarding. |
