Meet Our Staff

Kailyn is a Montana State University alumna, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Master of Health Administration. Kailyn serves on Montana’s statewide Nursing Action Coalition, is the Immediate Past President of the Montana American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Chapter, and is a National Rural Health Association Rural Health Fellow.  In her free time, Kailyn enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and golden retriever, traveling our beautiful state, and watching college football!

Natalie, as the Assistant Director of the Montana Office of Rural Health, brings nearly 15 years’ experience and working knowledge of rural health issues and has worked closely with rural communities and facilities to make a positive impact on rural health delivery. She provides overall grant management for the Montana Office of Rural Health and oversees implementation of hospital and clinic-based technical assistance programs and population health efforts. Natalie currently serves as President for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), was a National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Fellow, and received the NOSORH Emerging Leader Award in 2011. Natalie earned her Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education from Montana State University and her Masters of Public Health from Oregon State University.

Cindra works extensively on Healthcare Workforce issues, serving as facilitator for the Montana Healthcare Workforce Advisory Committee. She is also focused on educating, recruiting and retaining the HIT workforce in Montana, assisting rural and frontier facilities to meet meaningful use requirements. Previously, Cindra was Hospital Services Manager and Data Analyst at New Mexico Donor Services, the organ procurement organization for the state. She has also worked in health policy at the New Mexico Health Policy Commission, and as a legislative analyst for the New Mexico Senate. Cindra has an MBA and MS in Audiology from the University of New Mexico. She enjoys travelling the state of Montana with her husband. They intend to visit every microbrewery at least once; then start all over again.

Rachel grew up in a rural community in Washington State. She moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting in 2013 and became a Master in Public Administration nine years later. Rachel’s role is to manage the numerous grants and contracts that flow through the office and serve as a liaison with MORH/AHEC’s partners statewide. Outside of work, Rachel spends as much time as she can in Montana’s beautiful landscape with her husband and 2 dogs.

Beth Ann is the Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Programs. Working for Montana AHEC since 2010 and with the Program Office since 2015, she has worked on a number of projects related to healthcare workforce training in rural and underserved communities within the state. Beth Ann currently oversees all of the behavioral health-focused projects, which include the Montana Behavioral Health Workforce Network, the Montana Community Health Support Network, the Community Health Worker Program, the Behavioral Health Training Program, and the Montana Family Support Program.  Withroots in Harlem, Montana, she understands the struggles that many small communities face with access to quality healthcare.

Cheryl joined the staff of MT AHEC/Office of Rural Health as an Accounting Analyst in April 2015. She received her B.S. in Education from the University of Nebraska in 1993. Cheryl has many years’ experience in bookkeeping, and originally started working on campus in 2006.  Her responsibilities include reconciling multiple accounts and performing various administrative duties. A native of rural Nebraska; her hobbies include skiing, hiking, biking, golf and music.

Jake Kaminetzky grew up in Shoreline, WA and attended Montana State University, graduating with Full Honors in Political Science, Economics, and Liberal Studies with Minors in Mathematics and Statistics. He currently works as a data analyst, researcher, and process improvement specialist on Behavioral Health Workforce initiatives and the Community Health Services Development (CHSD) project. In his spare time, Jake enjoys cooking, swing dancing, and jamming out with the Second String Orchestra.

Grace graduated from Carroll College with a Bachelor’s in Public Health and Sociology and holds a Master of Public Health – Health Systems, Management, and Policy from the Colorado School of Public Health. Grace oversees the health equity related work at the office including task force work, health equity training, and the Health Equity Assistance Fund. She has worked at the intersection of rural and health equity for nearly a decade. She also works on the Montana Rural Health Initiative. In her free time, you can find her hiking, fly fishing, or listening to a podcast.

Sydney is a Bozeman, Montana native and MSU alumna. She is a sixth generation Bobcat and earned her Bachelor of Science from MSU in Anthropology in 2014. She lived in Seattle, WA for several years where she earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Health Policy and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management (CNM) from the University of Washington. Her previous healthcare experience ranges from clinical settings to nonprofits, both domestic and international. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Health Administration (DHA). In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her golden retriever, fly fishing, traveling, and spending time at her family cabin in rural Montana.

Natalee grew up in rural northwestern Montana and graduated from Montana State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health. Natalee is passionate about making healthcare more accessible and affordable to rural communities. She is dedicated to destigmatizing mental healthcare and increasing education opportunities for behavioral health employees in Montana. At the MORH/AHEC, she works as the Program Coordinator for the Montana Family Support Program/Behavioral Health Training Program and coordinates behavioral health trainings like CHW, FBH, ASIST, YMHFA, MOAB and more! When she isn’t at the office, you can find her hiking, skiing, trail running, camping, or traveling somewhere new!

Emma grew up in Helena, MT and graduated from Montana State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology & Neuroscience, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a minor in global health. In her role as a workforce coordinator, Emma assists with nursing initiatives, including the Mobile Health Training Program (MHTP), the ANEW Scholars Program, and Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.