Our Team
Collaborative Guidance
The CHWSD is coordinated by Sage Project Consultants of Sioux Falls and Vermillion, SD.
Team

Ben Tiensvold
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ben has served as the lead contact for the CHWSD since its inception in January 2020. He has led the CHWSD through significant growth over the first three years, in part due to the CDC Health Disparities Grant funding the SD Department of Health received in June of 2021. Additionally, for the past nine years, Ben served as the Coordinator for the South Dakota Diabetes Coalition (SDDC). Ben is passionate about the CHW profession and works to be an ally for all CHWs. Ben previously worked with the SD Department of Health in 2015 and 2016 on Community Health Worker-related introductory projects. This work led to key recommendations for CHWs (which the South Dakota Department of Social Services then used to develop CHW Medicaid reimbursement). Ben has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies and Public Relations from Southwest Minnesota State University and recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from New Mexico State University.
Julie Klinger
Community Outreach Coordinator – Community Based Organizations


Julie Klinger
Community Outreach Coordinator – Community Based Organizations
Julie began her professional career as a Social Worker with the South Dakota Department of Social Services in Child Protection and then worked at Lutheran Social Services in the Adoption program as a Social Worker. After several years at LSS, Julie pursued her master’s degree in Social Work from Iowa State University and then became the adoption program director at LSS. Julie also has worked in the field of human trafficking as the Director of Operations and Grants Manager at Call to Freedom prior to joining the Community Health Worker Collaborative team. Julie works with community-based organizations regarding CHW program development.

Sharon Chontos
CDC Evaluation Liaison
Sharon Chontos serves as the CDC Evaluation Liaison for the CHWSD. Sharon has over 15 years of experience in grant management, evaluation, and consulting experience with public agencies, non-profits and for-profits, and universities. Sharon works to assist organizations with CHW Programs to evaluate their programs to ensure program sustainability. She also works as the liaison between the CHWSD and the SD DOH and the CDC. Sharon holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the South Dakota Schools of Mines and Technology and is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Program Evaluation from Michigan State University. Additionally, Sharon helps organizations to calculate the ROI for their CHW program and calculate and evaluate patient and organization successes.
Stephanie Powers, MPHA
Tribal Liaison and Program Assistant
Stephanie Powers serves as one of the Tribal Liaisons for the CHWSD and also as a Program Assistant for the CHWSD working with private payers. Her diverse background includes working in healthcare, higher education, and the non-profit sector. She has more than a decade of leadership experience in program development, grants, marketing, and communication. She joined South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care in 2021 as a Program Manager. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Montana State University-Bozeman and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Stephanie supports tribal partners in the central and western part of the state.


Stephanie Powers, MPHA
Tribal Liaison and Program Assistant
Stephanie Powers serves as one of the Tribal Liaisons for the CHWSD and also as a Program Assistant for the CHWSD working with private payers. Her diverse background includes working in healthcare, higher education, and the non-profit sector. She has more than a decade of leadership experience in program development, grants, marketing, and communication. She joined South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care in 2021 as a Program Manager. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Montana State University-Bozeman and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Stephanie supports tribal partners in the central and western part of the state.

Vicki Palmreuter
Tribal Liaison and Program Assistant
As a program manager for the Great Plains Quality Innovation Network (QIN), Vicki’s experience as a Master Trainer Outreach Ambassador for Better Choices, Better Health South Dakota will offer valuable insights to assist health care facilities with referral processes and outcome tracking of patients struggling with diabetes and other chronic conditions. During her time as the community health coordinator at Regional Health (now Monument Health), she led the community health needs assessment process while researching and advocating for population health principles. Vicki graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, with a bachelor of arts in biology. Vicki will work with Stephanie to support tribal programs in central and western South Dakota and to build relationships with private payers.
Tracy Bieber
Program Integration Nurse Consultant


Tracy Bieber
Program Integration Nurse Consultant
CHWSD Collaborative Support