Jason Vega | Principal

Vega has more than two decades of experience working with policy-making entities across the local, state, and federal levels of government. Additionally, he has extensive experience in managing and advising community engagement efforts and political and issue-driven campaigns.

Vega has worked with a wide variety of organizations, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit entities, on an array of policy and organizational objectives to strengthen his clients’ voice and position in the policy-making environment, and among key stakeholders and industry leaders.

Prior to establishing Vega Public Affairs, LLC, Vega served in a number of senior and executive positions, including as Senior Policy Advisor with DLA Piper, LLP, Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Business Development with Magellan Health, and CEO for the Central Valley Health Network.

Ida Dharnidharka | Legislative Advocate

Ida’s experience and understanding of working with trade associations, corporate entities, and coalitions help our clients gain better understanding of California’s policy-making landscape in order to develop a meaningful and effective legislative and policy agenda.

Prior to joining Vega Public Affairs, Ida served as the Director of Government Affairs for Central Valley Health Network, a regional trade association of federally qualified health centers, operating over 100 clinical sites in 19 counties across the state. During her time there, Ida managed the government affairs department, overseeing all policy and legislative efforts, including working closely with the board of directors and developing the organization’s state and federal policy and advocacy agenda on a wide range of healthcare issues. Ida also served as a Legislative Analyst for Lucas Advocates engaging on variety of environmental and educational issues.

Ida graduated from the University of California Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Mason Vega | Legislative Advocate

Mason served as our Senior Legislative Associate for the past four years. While supporting the firm in its legislative efforts, Mason also works with our high-level clients providing his assistance and knowledge with their strategic planning endeavors. Additionally, he focuses on policy analysis and legislative tracking to help our clients navigate the complex policy arena.

Mason graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a degree in Government and Cum Laude honors.

Athena Chapman | Healthcare Consultant to Vega Public Affairs

Athena Chapman provides strategic planning, meeting facilitation, and organizational support to a variety of health care related organizations, including health plans, non-profits, vendors, and foundations. Chapman has over 12 years of experience helping healthcare related organizations interact with the state and federal government, providers, purchasers, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Previously, Chapman served as the Vice President of State Programs for the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) where she represented California’s health plans regulated by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In this capacity Chapman worked with various state agencies, including the California Health Benefit Exchange (Covered California), provider organizations, and other stakeholders on regulation development and implementation. Chapman was also the Director of Regulatory Affairs for CAHP for several years where she worked on behalf of CAHP’s members on all regulatory matters involving the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC).

Prior to joining CAHP in 2012, Chapman worked at the Medi-Cal Managed Care Division at the Department of Health Care Services, focusing on managed care quality, policy, oversight, and contracting. Chapman began her career in health care policy as Presidential Management Fellow with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where she monitored the effective delivery of managed care programs for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in the western region.

Chapman holds a M.P.P in from George Mason University, and B.A in Sociology from the University of San Diego where she graduated Cum Laude.