Healthcare Council

Niki DeGeorge, Co-President

Niki DeGeorge is a 2022 MBA candidate in the Sacramento program concentrating in Finance and Strategy. She currently works as a research administrator for the Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC Davis. 

Niki grew up in the Central Valley of California before attending college at UC Davis. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2016 where she studied animal science and specialized in physiology. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked and interned at veterinary hospitals and research laboratories. This experience in veterinary medicine led to her current position at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center where she manages the Center’s research infrastructure grant. Prior to her current role, Niki held other operational and administrative research positions at UC Davis Health. Outside of work and school, Niki enjoys playing with her German Shorthaired Pointer puppy, hiking, and kayaking. She also enjoys a good happy hour and sharing food with friends and family.

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Becca Litman, Co-President

Becca Litman is a 2022 MBA candidate concentrating in Organizational Behavior and Strategy. Becca is currently a senior technical communicator at Blue Shield of California, where she focuses on documentation and process improvement projects to help empower frontline Customer Experience employees. Becca is especially interested in technology-enabled and innovative care, and she’s passionate about connecting people across the healthcare industry.

After graduating from Cornell University, Becca has worked as a healthcare communicator and project manager since 2013. At the GSM, Becca is a Sacramento MBA program ambassador. She is also an active member of the Action for Diversity community group, and she served as the student representative on the Faculty Diversity Committee in 2020-2021. Outside of work and the GSM, Becca loves interior design and enjoys sharing memorable meals with friends.

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Preet Ahluwalia, Co-Director of Membership

Teghpreet (Preet) is a 2022 MBA Candidate focused on Finance. Born in Canada and raised in Fresno, Ca; Preet moved to Sacramento in 2009 to attend UC Davis for undergrad. After graduating with a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies, she went on to co-found GNP Capital Partners, a boutique investment firm focused on providing bridge loans for real estate. She is currently the Chief Investment Officer at GNP Capital Partners. She is also a Board of Director for the National Association of Women Business Owners-Sacramento Valley Chapter. Recently, Preet has taken on the role as FoundationChair/CEO. She previously held the role of VP of Programs.  Preet is also the Director of Finance for the UC Davis Sacramento Campus GSMSA.  In her free time, Teghpreet enjoys hiking, reading books, and playing tennis.

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Lisa Hornick, Co-Director of Membership

Dr. Lisa Hornick is a 2023 MBA candidate concentrating in entrepreneurship and marketing. She is an optometrist and has been in the healthcare field for almost 20 years, 17 of those years being in direct patient care. She is currently in private practice at Stanford Ranch Optometry in Rocklin. She practices full scope optometry and has a special interest in treating ocular disease, especially dry eye. She has written numerous articles for popular optometry journals and she speaks locally and nationally of the topic of ocular surface disease and dry eye. She is passionate about providing the latest innovations in medical research, pharmaceuticals and devices to deliver the best possible care to her patients.

Dr. Lisa Hornick received her doctorate in optometry from The Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, CA, which she attended on a scholarship from the US Navy. Upon graduation, she served as an active duty Navy Optometrist in San Diego, CA and then in Pensacola, FL. After separating from the Navy with honorable discharge, she practiced optometry as a Navy contractor in Pearl Harbor, HI and then in private practice in Kodiak, AK. She moved back to California in 2015 and has been practicing here since 2017. Dr. Hornick is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, member of the American Optometric Association and board member of the Sacramento Valley Optometric Society. She is also passionate about helping fellow veterans and is a member of the Women Veterans Alliance. Outside of work and the GSM, Lisa enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves traveling, going on adventures and learning new things.

Matvari Maharaj, Director of Marketing

Matvari is an MBA candidate with the Summer 2020 Cohort. She was born and raised in Redwood City, CA. Matvari holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Project Management and International Studies from California State University, Chico. Her experience is compiled from two industries: education and agriculture. Matvari worked as a substitute teacher for K-12 schools across two districts. She also worked as a project coordinator for an organic rice company leading new product development projects from idea to launch. Post-graduation, Matvari hopes to pursue a career in strategic financial planning for a technology-based company or create a successful podcast brand. On her days off, you will find Matvari hanging out with her dog, listening to podcasts, reading a book or coming up with a new macrame pattern.