Meet the CNECT Team

A visionary, mission-driven leader, Sparkle Barnes is President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Center Partners of Southern California and its Family of Companies, including CNECT.

Sparkle was named Interim CEO in April 2025 and was officially appointed in November 2025, becoming the seventh CEO in HCP’s history.

Under her direction, the Family of Companies launched “Next50: A Legacy of Impact, a Future of Innovation,” a bold strategic plan charting the course for HCP’s 50th anniversary and beyond.

Since joining the Family of Companies, Sparkle has held progressive leadership roles, including Chief Strategy Officer for HCP beginning in 2016 and President of CNECT beginning in 2021. She previously managed public-private venture projects for Naval and Marine Corps Shore Installations with the Department of Defense.

A respected thought leader, Sparkle is frequently invited to speak on topics such as supply chain strategies and innovative business practices. She holds a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University.

Liz Guthrie is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for CNECT, formerly Council Connections. Liz is responsible for leading new expansion initiatives, building supplier partnerships across market segments, recruiting and providing solutions for strategic accounts, and directing the strategy and execution for company-wide contracting needs. Prior to this position, Liz was the Director of Business Development for the Central and East territories where she managed an in-field team and provided regional support to members and partners, expanding CNECT’s national presence into new markets. Presently, Liz sits on the Purchase Services Sourcing Committee for Premier, Inc., one of the nation’s largest GPOs for which CNECT is an Affiliate.

Liz holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO.

Rasaun Robinson is the Vice President of Sales, for CNECT, formerly Council Connections. Previously, Rasaun served as a Director of Business Development, supporting the membership and managing the development for one of CNECTs largest territories by volume, Southern California. After assuming his current role as a Vice President of Sales, Rasaun became responsible for managing a field team and providing regional support to the membership and supplier partners across the country.

Rasaun holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

Tim Fraser joined Health Center Partners of Southern California and CNECT as Vice President of Government Affairs where he leads all county, state, and federal advocacy on behalf of the organization. HCP SoCal serves as the primary voice and healthcare policy advocate for community health centers that serve the health needs of communities throughout Southern California. Prior to joining HCP Family of Companies, Tim worked as Director of Government and Community Affairs at Family Health Centers of San Diego, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare clinics in the nation.

Previously, Mr. Fraser spent three years as Organizing and Acting Executive Director for Creative America, an entertainment industry nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about the impact illegal downloading has on the entertainment industry and global economy.

Before relocating to the West Coast, Mr. Fraser called Washington D.C. home. In 2009, Mr. Fraser was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Stop.Think.Connect.™, a Schedule C Political Appointment. In this position, he led a nationwide awareness and education effort increasing the public’s understanding of cyber threats and empowered individuals to be more secure online.

Early in his career, Mr. Fraser held a number of roles in national and statewide political campaigns.