Our Partners

Rural Policy Partners commits a team of seasoned professionals equipped with years of practical management and subject matter expertise. We are confident that our comprehensive array of resources surpasses industry standards. Therefore, you can rely on the assurance that the outcomes of our collaborative project will be not only practical, but also that Rural Policy Partners will closely engage with staff to ensure the accuracy, viability, and sustainability of the solutions we propose.

Jason Haglund, MS, CADC

Senior Consultant, Co-Owner Rural Policy Partners

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Mr. Haglund, an accomplished senior executive, and proven leader within the healthcare field, brings both provider and state systems design experience. Jason has spent his career implementing programs and leading teams which span behavioral healthcare, addiction treatment, prevention, and child welfare systems. He has partnered with Schulte Consulting for the past 4 years on projects across the region and Midwest. In 2022, Mr. Haglund and Ms. Schulte formed Rural Policy Partners. 

Mr. Haglund provides an array of services, training, and business support products to government entities, for-profit, and not-for-profit businesses, and organizations. He has first-hand knowledge and personally conducts fidelity reviews and improvement consultation of evidence-based practices. His work has extended from local provider consultations to statewide system design and implementation. He has served on local and state workgroups and committees providing input to system transitions and legislative activities in multiple states. He has taught psychology courses at a collegiate level and regularly guest lectures.

When not working in the behavioral healthcare sector, Mr. Haglund can be found on his fifth-generation Iowa farm that he co-owns and operates with his wife Jennifer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and his master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Technical skills include the following:

  • Group Facilitation: Ability to bring together groups from various backgrounds with a goal of strength-based open dialogue. 
  • Project Management: Strong project management skills, capable of leading and coordinating projects from local provider consultation to statewide system design and implementation.
  • System Design Experience: Proven ability to design and implement complex systems.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Expertise in conducting fidelity reviews and improvement consultations of evidenced-based practices in the behavioral healthcare field.
  • Training Experience: Proven ability to develop and deliver effective training sessions about emotional well-being and stigma.
  • Healthcare Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the behavioral healthcare field, including addiction treatment, prevention, and child welfare systems.
  • Subject Matter Expertise: In-depth understanding of rate setting and system-level issues as well as solid grasp of relevant subject matters.

Renee Schulte, MA, LMHC

Senior Consultant, Co-Owner Rural Policy Partners

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Ms. Schulte has over two decades of leadership experience in the healthcare field. She has worked at the national, state, local, and provider levels. Her work in the public and private sectors has given her a unique understanding of the complexities of delivering quality care. Renee is nationally recognized for her expertise in behavioral health policy, system design, financial analysis, and strategic planning. As a licensed mental health counselor, Renee has worked on plotting and establishing rates across levels of care with the most recent being work for Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids. She has worked with long-term-care and supportive housing clients throughout her consulting career including Elevate Housing Foundation, Pillar of Cedar Valley, and Southeast Iowa Behavioral Health Center.

Ms. Schulte began Schulte Consulting, LLC in 2012 and in 2022 created a partnership with Mr. Haglund to expand and form Rural Policy Partners. As a consultant, she has worked with multiple states including Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, creating strategic plans, legislation, and best practice guidance in regulation and rules. She has utilized her expertise and unique background in government relations, strategy, and system consulting for both nonprofit and for-profit providers of healthcare services.

Ms. Schulte and her husband, Brent, reside in Urbandale, Iowa. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her master’s degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology from New Mexico State University.

Technical skills include the following:

  • Government Consulting: Experience providing services, training, and business support to government entities at the state and federal levels.
  • System Design: Proven ability to design and implement behavioral healthcare systems, considering the complexities of delivering quality care at the national, state, local, and provider levels.
  • Financial Analysis: Proficiency in financial analysis within the context of behavioral healthcare, including budgeting, cost analysis, and financial planning.
  • Strategic Planning: Demonstrated capability in strategic planning, enabling the development of long-term plans and objectives for behavioral health initiatives.
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor: Being a licensed mental health counselor provides valuable firsthand experience and insights into the care continuum, including psychiatric hospitals, child welfare providers, and therapeutic foster care services.
  • Government Relations: Expertise in navigating government structures and relations, particularly in the context of healthcare policy and legislative activities.
  • Legislation Development: Track record of spearheading the development and passage of health-related legislation.
  • Regional and State System Implementation: Experience in transitioning from outdated and inefficient healthcare systems to more efficient systems.

Brent Schulte, BS

Project Manager / Research

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Mr. Schulte is a highly accomplished professional known for his leadership spanning both the public and private sectors. He is driven to fulfill organizational objectives through talent development, process optimization, and innovative system design, all while meeting the unique expectations of customers.

Mr. Schulte has nineteen years of aerospace engineering experience where he led design and manufacturing programs. He is adept at developing comprehensive program plans, schedules, and budgets to guarantee successful project execution. In addition, Mr. Schulte served as a program manager in a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) setting where he managed personnel and operations for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Brent earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at New Mexico State University.

Technical skills include the following:

  • Full Program Lifecycle: Directed all phases of programs from inception through completion, maintaining a hands-on approach to ensure project success.
  • Data Analysis: Proficiently analyzed program data, closely monitoring cost, schedule, and technical specifications adherence, resulting in on-time and on-budget program delivery.
  • Progress Reporting: Effectively maintained and presented program plans and progress reports, demonstrating a keen focus on the business aspects of program management.
  • Continuous Improvement: Initiated and implemented continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and drive high-quality program outcomes.
  • Problem Resolution: Identified and addressed program challenges, providing innovative resolutions to guarantee the successful completion of programs.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborated with various functional teams to align program objectives with customer expectations, facilitating seamless program execution.
  • Vendor Management: Skillfully managed vendors when required, optimizing external support to bolster program success.
  • Contract Negotiation: Actively participated in contract negotiation processes, including proposal development, business plans, budgets, and specifications, ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding organizational interests.
  • Customer Interaction: Fostered positive customer relationships by interfacing with clients to define project specifications and align them with their objectives.
  • Cost Control: Managed the full contract lifecycle, emphasizing cost control to achieve performance targets and project success.

Nicole Loew, PhD, RN

Healthcare Subject Matter Expert

Erin Ulrich, PhD

Subject Matter Expert

Megan Hammes, MS, MCHES

Training Research and Development Consultant

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Ms. Hammes, an experienced leader in the employee and worksite health field, has spent over two decades implementing initiatives and leading teams focused on health and well-being. As the founder of Hammes Homestead and Consulting, Megan provides Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to leadership teams and work groups across the United States, helping to normalize conversations around mental health in the workplace. She is certified to teach MHFA classes specifically for Military, Veterans and their Families, Higher Education, and Fire/EMS personnel. She also offers organizational well-being consulting, focusing on program and policy review including workplace award applications for recognition in excellence in employee-first workplaces.

Previously, Ms. Hammes served as Senior Director of Well-Being at a major academic research institution with a health care system, where she oversaw initiatives for more than 20,000 faculty and staff. Under her leadership, the institution earned numerous recognitions, including the Healthy Iowa Award and Honorable Mention for the C. Everett Koop National Health Award. In 2022, she was named the Heart of HERO Award winner by the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO). She co- developed an academic course that continues to be offered called, “Coaching for Health and Wellness.”

Megan resides on a rural homestead outside Iowa City, Iowa with her family. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and her Master of Science degree in Health Promotion Management from American University in Washington, D.C.

Technical skills include the following:

  • Mental Health Training: Expertise in delivering Mental Health First Aid and facilitating mental health discussions across various work settings. Focus on increasing knowledge, reducing stigma, and normalizing conversations around health and well-being in the workplace.
  • Program & Policy Review: Skilled in reviewing and aligning organizational well-being programs and policies with best practices and industry standards, including family-friendly and health- focused workplace initiatives.
  • Workplace Wellness Expertise: Extensive experience in implementing mental health and wellness strategies tailored to unique organizational cultures including online trainings and programs.
  • Research-Informed, Science-to-Practice Approach: Emphasizes translating scientific research into actionable workplace solutions, ensuring evidence-informed strategies that drive improved culture of wellbeing.
  • Preventive Health & Self-Care Advocacy: Promotes preventive health efforts by encouraging self-care practices at both individual and organizational levels, fostering resilience, work-life balance, and proactive mental health maintenance.

Certifications include: Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) from National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Resilience and Thriving Facilitator Certificate from Organizational Wellness Learning Systems, Certified Wellness coach from Wellcoaches®, Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Certificate from Society for Human Resource Management, Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor from National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention training from QPR Institute.

Molly Mariss, MBA

Project Logistics Coordinator

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Ms. Mariss has several years of experience as a Credentialing Coordinator and Team Lead within the Advocate Aurora Health Care Network and Forefront Dermatology Physicians Group where she gained effective problem solving, leadership, project management and communication skills. She later founded Molly Mariss, LLC. in 2020 to help small businesses operate efficiently through systems, streamlining, and strategy. Molly joined Schulte Consulting in 2021 and Rural Policy Partners in 2022. 

Ms. Mariss’ strengths are developing scalable systems to facilitate effective growth, implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to identify inefficiencies, optimize processes, minimize errors, and facilitate smooth knowledge transfer, delivering projects on time, with precision and efficiency. She also excels at creating initiatives to automate and optimize processes to enhance workflow efficiency and proactively managing day-to-day operations to maintain the smooth functioning of business activities. 

Ms. Mariss earned her Bachelor of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to improve processes within healthcare systems. She and her husband and kids live in Wisconsin. 

Technical skills include the following:

  • Healthcare Administration: Expertise in healthcare administration enabling her to understand and navigate the system effectively.
  • Project Management: Proven experience in leading and coordinating projects, consistently achieving timely and successful completion of deliverables.
  • Metrics Analysis: Proficiency in managing and analyzing metrics to measure project efficiency, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Quality Assurance: Deep knowledge of quality assurance processes to maintain high standards in logistics operations.
  • Efficiency Optimization: Talent in identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to optimize operational efficiency.
  • Technical Writing: Knowledge of document structure and formatting to create clear and organized materials. 
  • Continuous Improvement: Dedication to continuous improvement project logistics process.

Amber Kindler, MS

Administrative Specialist

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Ms. Kindler has multiple years of experience working in education as an elementary school teacher, where she has taught both kindergarten and third grade. She has actively contributed to school leadership teams, including the Student Intervention Team, Behavior Team, MTSS Team, and Instructional Cabinet. Within each of these roles, Amber was able to hone her skills in communication, organization, leadership, and relationship-building.

In 2020, Amber transitioned her career to marketing and administrative support, where she brings a unique blend of educational and marketing experience to her work, having served in a variety of roles that span the classroom and the digital business world. With a background as both a teacher and marketing professional, she specializes in helping mission-driven businesses connect authentically with their audiences so they can make a difference, focus on their passions, and live more present and fulfilling lives.

Over the past several years, Amber has worked as a Director of Marketing, Copywriter, and Virtual Assistant, supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creatives in growing their online presence through intentional messaging and strategic content. Whether she’s managing marketing campaigns, writing on-brand copy, or creating efficient systems behind the scenes, Amber thrives on organization, clarity, and meaningful connection.

Ms. Kindler thrives in seeing connections and bringing big-picture ideas to life. Her strengths are creating intentional and meaningful content, organization of the day-to-day functions of a business, and taking on the small tasks to give colleagues more time to focus on the parts of their businesses that they love.

Ms. Kindler holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She also holds a Middle School Mathematics Endorsement (Grades 7–9).

Technical skills include the following:

  • Copywriting & Editing: Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills tailored for email marketing, blogging, and web content.
  • Marketing Strategy: Experience planning and executing marketing campaigns, with knowledge of social media platforms and content strategy.
  • Organization & Project Management: Highly organized with excellent time management, helping teams run efficiently and meet goals.
  • Technology Proficiency: Proficient in Mac systems, Google Apps, and a variety of digital tools and software.
  • Communication & Teamwork: Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills across both educational and business settings.
  • Problem-Solving: Ability to identify challenges and implement thoughtful, effective solutions to support client goals.

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