About Bay Area Medical Supply

Meet Our Team

Lauren Zimmerman Cook, Co-Owner

Lauren has over 25 years of experience working in  health and senior care and is a licensed California Nursing Home Administrator. She has been in the family business her whole life; in fact, she was almost born at the Waters Edge Nursing Home. As the only child for eight years, Lauren spent many hours following her parents around the Waters Edge Nursing Home. And as a preteen she lived at Waters Edge Lodge for about a year, where having meals with the residents and listening in awe to their remarkable life stories helped shape her life.

Lauren began her official work at Waters Edge Lodge while in high school where she spent much of her time in the accounting department. When she went off to college, she continued to spend summers and winters helping out at the various care facilities that make up AEC Living; her work ranged from accounting to the instillation of the medical record program. After obtaining her Master's Degree in accounting from the University of Texas, Austin, Lauren returned home to run the accounting program for the communities and did a stint as the Assistant Administrator at the Waters Edge Nursing Home. Lauren later went off to law school at Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans and received her LLM from New York University Law School.

Stephen Zimmerman, Co-Owner

Stephen Zimmerman is a licensed RCFE Administrator with over 15 years of experience in the senior healthcare industry and a lifelong connection to aging services, assisted living, and home-based care. He grew up watching his parents, Chris and Darnelle Zimmerman, operate Waters Edge Nursing Home, Waters Edge Lodge, and Elders Inn in Alameda, California. When Stephen was just four years old, he and his family even moved into Waters Edge Lodge for nine months while his parents worked full time to get the community up and running. Because of this unique experience, Stephen may be one of the youngest people to have ever lived in a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. More importantly, it helped him develop a deep appreciation for seniors, caregivers, healthcare workers, and the families who support older adults every day.

Stephen has always been passionate about aging, independence, and creating sustainable models of care that help people live safely and comfortably. After graduating from UC Davis, he began working at AEC Living, where he gained hands-on experience in wellness programs, activities, admissions, and senior living operations. He later earned his RCFE Administrator license and began managing Waters Edge Lodge while also publishing Alameda Senior Magazine with his sister. To further understand the psycho-social aspects of aging, Stephen earned his Master’s in Gerontology from the University of Southern California.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephen saw firsthand how difficult it was for seniors, caregivers, healthcare providers, and families to find the medical equipment and supplies they needed. High-quality home medical equipment, mobility products, respiratory supplies, and daily living aids were often hard to access at the very moment people needed them most. That experience inspired Stephen and his team to found Bay Area Medical Supply in August 2020.

Bay Area Medical Supply was created to enhance access to durable medical equipment and home medical supplies throughout Alameda, the East Bay, and the greater Bay Area. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality medical equipment that promotes safety, independence, dignity, and comfort at home. Whether someone needs a wheelchair, walker, hospital bed, oxygen equipment, CPAP supplies, bathroom safety products, or guidance choosing the right home healthcare equipment, Bay Area Medical Supply is committed to offering knowledgeable service, reliable products, and personalized support.

Stephen brings his background in senior care, gerontology, assisted living, and family caregiving to every part of Bay Area Medical Supply. His goal is to make it easier for individuals and families to find the right equipment for their specific needs, so they can maintain independence, recover safely, and continue living with confidence at home.
 

Jeffrey Silva, Home Medical Device Retail Fulfillment Manager

Jeff Silva has been part of Bay Area Medical Supply from the very beginning, joining the company in August 2020 as its first employee. Since then, Jeff has played an important role in helping build Bay Area Medical Supply into a trusted local resource for home medical equipment, mobility products, and health care supplies throughout Alameda and the greater Bay Area.

Before joining Bay Area Medical Supply, Jeff spent 23 years as a supervisor with UPS, where he developed extensive experience in logistics, packing, shipping, inventory management, customer service, and team leadership. He also spent 15 years as a Boy Scout leader, further strengthening his commitment to service, mentorship, responsibility, and community involvement.

Jeff is active in the Alameda community and is a proud Alameda Elk. He cares deeply about helping people find the right products to support their health, safety, independence, and quality of life at home. Whether a customer is looking for mobility equipment, home medical supplies, bathroom safety products, or guidance on the best solution for a loved one, Jeff brings patience, practical knowledge, and a genuine desire to help.

At Bay Area Medical Supply, Jeff combines his background in operations, retail, inventory, and leadership with a strong commitment to customer care. He understands that choosing medical equipment can feel overwhelming, and he works hard to make the process easier, more personal, and more supportive for every customer who walks through the door.

Josiah Cruz Retail Manager

Josiah Cruz brings more than a decade of experience in retail operations, logistics, customer service, and team leadership to Bay Area Medical Supply. Since joining the company in 2023, Josiah has played an important role in supporting day-to-day operations, helping customers find the right medical equipment and supplies to improve their health, comfort, safety, and independence at home.

Josiah began his career with Payless Shoes, where he advanced from a part-time sales associate to managing multiple store locations. Through this experience, he developed a strong foundation in leadership, team development, inventory management, customer service, and operational excellence. His retail background gives him a practical understanding of how to listen to customers, identify their needs, and provide dependable, personalized support.

In addition to his retail management experience, Josiah has hands-on expertise in shipping and logistics. As a certified forklift operator with UPS Freight and TForce Freight, he gained valuable knowledge of warehouse operations, freight movement, safety standards, and efficient product handling. This experience helps Bay Area Medical Supply provide reliable service, organized operations, and timely support for customers throughout Alameda, the East Bay, and the greater Bay Area.

Josiah cares deeply about helping people find products that support independence and improve quality of life. Whether assisting with mobility equipment, home medical supplies, bathroom safety products, or other durable medical equipment, he brings a customer-focused approach and a commitment to making the process easier for individuals, caregivers, and families.