Our Experts

Principal, CLA

Ryan joined CLA in October 2022 as Director of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships, and Digital Integration. He brings extensive executive experience from large and mid-size health systems, where he led operations across hospitals, clinics, and corporate development. His background includes executing mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Ryan is passionate about helping healthcare organizations and life sciences align digital solutions with operational efficiency and strategic growth.

Managing Partner, CORI Innovation Fund

Jay began his career advising on mergers and acquisitions at Gleacher & Co. and Allen & Company. Subsequently, Jay spent a decade at NBCUniversal, which culminated in his running strategy and development for the Entertainment and Digital Networks division. After NBCU, Jay joined Emigrant Bank as Executive Advisor to the Chairman and led investments in several small growth businesses. Jay has a BA from Princeton’s School of Public Policy and International Affairs as well as certificate degrees in East Asian Studies and Japanese Language.

COO, The National Volunteer Fire Council

Abena oversees internal operations, grants, budgets, and strategic planning. She has a strong background in association management, human resources, federal grants, team management, and the volunteer fire service. She previously worked at the International Association of Fire Chiefs for seven years, served as the executive director of a transportation association, and was the chief people officer for an association management company. Originally from Ghana, Abena holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration. She has a profound passion for the fire service and has served as an administrative volunteer with Loudoun County (VA) Fire and Rescue. She is also the chair of the scholarship program for the Ashburn (VA) Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, where she has volunteered since 2013.

Research Vice President, Smart Cities and Communities – Public Safety, IDC

Ms. Brooks has spent the past 15 years with IDC carving a niche specialization in the role of IT in public safety focusing on digital evidence management in the cloud, Next-Generation 9-1-1, law enforcement information management and tri-service interoperability. Prior to joining IDC Government Insights, Ms. Brooks worked with the province of Ontario's Ministry of Government Services, advancing two of the government's I&IT initiatives. Previous to that, while consulting for Capgemini, she collaborated with a major bank on the design of a customer-focused information technology strategy, including a CRM implementation and has had experience implementing ERP for a leading, global biotechnology company.

Indigenous Education Coordinator, Brainerd Public Schools

Shayla Budrow is a descendant of White Earth and Fond du Lac and a committed advocate for Native students and families. Her research on Indigenous student retention began at Central Lakes College and continued at SMSU and revealed the critical role of belonging and representation in education. With a background in healthcare and community psychology, Shayla leads trauma-informed, culturally grounded programming that uplifts identity, fosters healing, and drives systemic change.

VP Chief of General Pediatrics, Children's Minnesota

Gigi Chawla, MD, MHA, is a pediatrician and Hospitalist, VP Chief of general pediatrics at Children's Minnesota and Reach Out and Read Minnesota’s Medical Director. She has responsibility for the primary care clinics, behavioral health clinics, and rehabilitation services. She is often called upon by the media for her pediatric expertise and is a regular contributor for Minnesota Parent's magazine column and WCCO's television news segment "Ask the Pediatrician." She is also involved in internal efforts to better integrate primary care with behavioral health and social support services for families as well as through external advocacy, including service on Mayor Hodges' Cradle to K Cabinet and Governor Dayton’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Intervention. She's been consistently named to Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine's Top Doctors annual list.

Chief Legal Officer, Sr. Vice President, CentraCare

Santo Cruz grew up in rural Stearns County before embarking on his legal career. He currently serves CentraCare as Senior Vice President / Chief Legal Officer. Prior to joining CentraCare, he was a prosecutor for Hennepin County, Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Attorney for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul. He serves on a number of non-profit and government Boards and Committees. Santo and his family currently reside in rural Minnesota.

Associate Professor of Psychology, Tennessee Tech University

Dr. Edwards is a Tennessee LPC-MHSP. He received his Master’s degree in 2011 and his Doctoral degree in 2016. Derrick’s research focus surrounds the psychological impacts of being an emergency responder. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Tennessee Tech University where he operates the “TTU Responder Health Lab”.  Derrick joined the fire service in 2004 and is a licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician.

Chief Innovation Officer, NXT

As Chief Innovation Officer at nxT, Engers drives transformative change at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and education. With over 20 years of experience, he has led teams through digital transformation initiatives, pioneered AI implementations, and championed data-driven solutions that deliver meaningful real-world impact. A core focus of his work is helping organizations implement no-cost and low-cost innovation roadmaps, enabling sustainable growth without significant financial burden. He also leads global efforts to position AI as an equalizer, supporting nonprofit organizations in keeping pace with the rapid changes reshaping today’s world.

Partner, Hancock, Daniel & Johnson, P.C.

Healthcare attorney and regulatory advisor with deep experience in digital health, health information technology, data privacy, and compliance. Advises healthcare organizations, health technology companies, and startups on legal, regulatory, and operational considerations related to telehealth, remote patient monitoring, interoperability, data governance, and technology-enabled care delivery. Brings extensive experience working directly with executive, product, and engineering teams to evaluate how systems are structured, deployed, and governed in real-world environments.

President/CEO, Cooperative Services, LLC

Executive leader with extensive experience in cooperative procurement, public sector program development, and multi-organizational collaboration across government, public safety, and nonprofit sectors. Brings deep expertise in how solutions move from concept to contract and adoption within public-sector environments, including procurement strategy, vendor engagement, and large-scale program implementation. Has led development of national group purchasing programs, built procurement frameworks, and worked extensively with agencies, suppliers, and industry partners to enable adoption of complex solutions. Combines early-career experience in fire and EMS leadership with more recent work in cooperative procurement and public sector innovation.

Creative Executive Officer, Department of Public Transformation

Ash Hanson (she/her) has over 20 years of experience working with rural communities to activate stories, connect neighbors, and exercise collective imagination. She is the Founder and Creative Executive Officer (CEO) of Department of Public Transformation, a nonprofit working at the intersection of creativity and civic life with rural communities across the country. She is the founder of PlaceBase Productions, a theater company that creates original, site-specific musicals celebrating small-town life and exploring imagined futures. She was named an Obama Foundation and Bush Fellow for her creative civic leadership work with rural communities. She holds an MA in Applied Theatre with a focus on Rural Community Development.

Executive Director, Region Five Development Commission

Cheryal joined Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) in 2006 and has a 25+ year national reputation as an action-oriented convener with experience in securing resources through authentic relationships that have spurred equitable economic ecosystems and honor environmental stewardship commitments in rural Central Minnesota communities. Cheryal currently professionally provides oversight of seven lending programs and community development planning in areas of transportation, workforce development, climate & broadband and delivers projects related to renewable energy, local foods, and arts/culture. She is a national speaker, honored to have presented at the White House twice in her career.

CEO and Board Director, Fractional Source

TJ is a public safety and technology leader with a career that began as a firefighter, paramedic, and state trooper. He played a key role in the 2002 Winter Olympics and later led international tech programs for emergency services. TJ has held executive roles at SAIC, Raytheon, and FirstNet, and served as CEO and board member for several tech companies. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins and enjoys skiing, sailing, and outdoor adventures.

Chief Innovation Officer, Life Link III

Kolby Kolbet, MS, RN, CMTE, FACHE is Chief Innovation Officer at Life Link III, one of the nation’s leading air medical transport programs. Kolby blends his frontline nursing and EMS experience with strategic leadership to drive healthcare innovation, rural health access, and AI integration. A nationally recognized speaker and advocate for critical care and rural emergency services, he has championed initiatives improving patient outcomes, clinician well-being, and system-wide efficiency across healthcare and EMS.

National Director, Rural Health Resiliency, Microsoft Elevate

Leading Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact commitment to healthcare in Rural America through cybersecurity initiatives, AI and innovation and skilling. Partnering across Microsoft and the healthcare industry to foster resilience, community and tech opportunities in rural health.

VP of Rural Services and Chief of Staff, Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Tina currently serves as the Chief of Staff and VP of Rural Services for Land O’Lakes, Inc. Prior to joining Land O’Lakes, Tina was an international grain trader, a Silicon Valley executive, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at USDA, Legislative Director at USDA, and senior policy staff for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture during the writing, negotiation, and passage of both the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and master’s degree from the University of London. Tina serves on the board of The Good Acre, The Global Child Nutrition Foundation, and founded a non-profit in her rural hometown that fundraises and invests in community led development. Tina hails from a family farm in rural Iowa and resides in the Midwest with her husband and three young sons.

Founding Engineer, Birches Health

Chief Technology Officer and senior engineering leader with 25+ years of experience designing, scaling, and governing complex technology systems across healthcare, data platforms, analytics, and enterprise software. Deep expertise in system architecture, population health data infrastructure, AI-enabled analytics, and secure, scalable platform design. Proven track record translating business and operational requirements into robust technical solutions, while leading engineering teams and evaluating system feasibility, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Brings hands-on experience reviewing architecture, guiding platform evolution, and assessing technical risk across high-growth and mission-critical environments.

Special Advisor, Cooperative Services

James Mitchell is recognized as a public sector technology thought leader, and has a proven track record of delivering large-scale, high-impact projects. With deep experience in government affairs, SaaS, and public sector technology implementation, James has successfully driven innovation, delivered billions in federal programs at the Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce, and managed high visibility engagements at all levels of government.

Population Health Executive, Principal Consultant, Humble Hill Consulting

Lindsey Sand, LNHA, HSE, brings over 20 years of industry experience, and 15 years of executive leadership experience across healthcare, aging services, and population health.  Lindsey offers honesty, optimism and practical strategic foresight.

Rural EMS Outreach Program Manager, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health

James Small is a nationally recognized public safety leader with over 30 years of experience across law enforcement, EMS, and fire services. He has led transformational initiatives in workforce diversity, organizational development, and rural EMS reliability, earning multiple innovation awards. A published author and educator,  James also holds key state appointments influencing policy and public health systems. His leadership blends data, humanity, and strategic vision.

Strategic Development Manager, Cooperative Services, LLC; Fire Chief, Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department

Shawn is a Strategic Development Manager for Cooperative Services, LLC with more than 25 years’ experience in the fire service and association management. He is currently Fire Chief of the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Chairman of the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Commission in Virginia, and At-Large Board Member of the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Director of Research, Knowledge, and Evaluation, Center on Rural Innovation

As an economist, Amanda Weinstein studies the factors that drive the economic success or decline of places, with a focus on rural areas and small towns. Her work centers on attracting and retaining a highly skilled workforce, advancing 21st-century job growth, supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses, and enhancing overall quality of life in communities.

Vice President of Strategy and Operations, Boulder Crest Foundation

Joe Wood has dedicated his life to service—first in uniform, then in defense contracting, and now in the nonprofit sector supporting those who serve. As Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Boulder Crest Foundation, he leads national efforts to bring Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) to veterans, first responders, and military families. He works alongside a dedicated team delivering transformative programs such as Warrior PATHH and Struggle Well, helping redefine how trauma, healing, and resilience are approached across the country. His role spans strategic planning, operational leadership, large-scale grant development, and cross-sector collaboration. At its core, his work is focused on helping those who have given so much find a path forward.

Associate Dean for Rural Health Innovation, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Dr. Brent Wright is the Associate Dean for Rural Health Innovation with the University of Louisville School of Medicine.  He has spent his life dedicated to training family medicine residents in a rural community while continually asking them to reimagine what is being done for patient care and healthcare delivery.  Dr. Wright’s work as an associate dean gives him the freedom to work with various grant teams at the university examining projects such as NIH funded community research to geriatric workforce issues in need of AI development. His life has been strongly influenced by a rural upbringing where agricultural and kinship networks shaped his childhood and adolescence.  As a graduate of the Marshall School of Business, he uses his financial and strategic knowledge to help advise early-stage startup companies, venture studios, and innovation marketplaces.  He lives with his wife and three children in Glasgow, Kentucky.

Managing Partner, Bread & Butter Ventures

Mary brings two decades of leadership experience in technology, early stage investing, and startup ecosystem growth. She began her career working on the Google IPO, and went on to lead new business development partnerships, negotiating early stage product and technology deals worldwide. Mary then served as the founding director of Google for Startups, leading the company’s global efforts to support entrepreneurs in over 100 countries. After her 15 year career at Google, Mary worked as an investment partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund where she led dozens of investments in a range of sectors including healthcare, enterprise software, and fintech. She also built the fund’s portfolio support platform and built a network of over 150 mentors and partners to guide startup growth.

Yeh Innovation

Charlotte is an innovative and passionate ambassador for healthy aging, bringing over 30 years of experience in healthcare to drive transformative programs that prioritize the well-being and resilience of older adults. Her strategic vision and commitment to patient care have earned recognition including the 2024 Academy of Geriatric Medicine Gerson Sanders Award and inclusion among Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in 2021. Her career spans the breadth of the healthcare ecosystem, with experience across payer organizations, government, and the private sector, including work with AARP. Beginning as an emergency physician, she has led numerous “first-of-their-kind” initiatives, advocating at every level—provider, payer, patient, policymaker, and advocate. Today, her focus centers on people.