Human Services Team
audra.cardwell@state.sd.us
Audra Cardwell is a Certified Employment Specialist Coordinator, bringing more than 25 years of experience in management and training. She partners with individuals and employers throughout central South Dakota to teach job readiness skills such as interviewing, resume writing, application completion, and workplace coaching. Audra is passionate about inclusion and changing lives through employment and the arts. For several months each year she directs the local middle school musical and serves as President of the Fine Arts Booster Club for the Pierre School District. In her free time, she enjoys road trips, camping, movies, and spending time with her husband and their 3 children at the beaches of Lake Oahe. What she values most are the people she works with and the ongoing opportunities to learn and grow.
Human Services Team
barry.gravatt@state.sd.us
Barry Gravatt is a Community Work Incentives Coordinator for the SD Benefits Specialist Network. Over the last 11 years he has been assisting individuals with disabilities and their families in navigating the complexities of the Social Security and benefits systems so they can successfully move forward with their vocational goals. Prior to this position he worked for 30 years as a Case Manager with a Community Support Provider and a Community Mental Health Provider. Time with family is his passion, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoys traveling south when the weather gets cold.
Human Services Team
bonnie.gusso@state.sd.us
Bonnie Gusso is a Community Partner Work Incentives Coordinator with the SD Benefits Specialist Network, bringing over 10 years of experience to her role. She specializes in helping individuals who receive Social Security Disability benefits explore a return to work — offering guidance, support, and clarity every step of the way. Bonnie loves what she does because it’s about more than just navigating systems — it’s about empowering people to become more self-sufficient, build confidence, and rediscover their sense of self-worth. She believes in meeting people where they are and helping them move forward with hope and purpose.
Human Services Team
brad.konechne@state.sd.us
Before Brad became a Community Partner Work Incentives Coordinator – he wasn’t interested in the position at first – having received Social Security benefits earlier in life, his mother or he didn’t understand them. Brad’s goal was to work full-time to avoid dealing with Social Security benefits again. When discussing the position with his mother, Brad recalled that neither of them understood his benefits when he had them. His mother agreed with him and then said, “But you do like helping people.” After 11 years, Brad still finds fulfillment helping beneficiaries. Brad kept his house that he owned in Kimball for a year, just in case the job didn’t work out for him. Brad also puts his associate degree in graphic communications to good use by creating helpful documents that streamline work for himself and his team.
HHS Division Director
blusk@bhssc.org
Brooke Lusk is the Director of the Division of Health and Human Services, a position she has held since 2004. Brooke is a Registered Nurse and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of South Dakota. She has 30 years of experience in health and human services programs, six of those years with the South Dakota Department of Health and twenty-four with BHSSC. In her position at BHSSC, Brooke provides nurse consultant services and oversight for several public health and human services programs. She and her husband, live in Pierre and have two adult children. She enjoys traveling, pickleball, golf, working out, reading, boating and spending time with her family.
Health Promotion Team
cnordquist@bhssc.org
Caleb Nordquist, BSN, RN, is the Cancer Screening Outreach Coordinator. He supports clinics across the state in implementing evidence-based interventions to improve colorectal cancer screening rates and analyzes clinic data to guide program improvements. Caleb also leads training for clinics participating in the All Women Count! program to help increase enrollment, ensuring more women access breast and cervical cancer screenings. Caleb lives in Pierre, SD, with his wife and five children.
Maternal & Child Health Team
caleb.vanwagoner@state.sd.us
Caleb VanWagoner joined BHSSC in January 2020 as an Epidemiologist and transitioned to the Informatics Analyst role in September 2021. Originally from Cody, Wyoming, he earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Wyoming and later completed a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. In his role, Caleb supports data reporting and analysis across multiple public health programs, helping ensure accurate reporting, meaningful data insights, and effective program operations.
Human Services Team
cate.diede@state.sd.us
Cate Diede is the Transition Liaison for northeastern SD. She holds a bachelor’s degree in K-12 vocal and instrumental music education from Augustana University and has been working with students with disabilities in various capacities since her teen years. She spent sixteen years in an educational cooperative working with policy documents and guides for the State of South Dakota, as well as working directly with student evaluations. She then spent several years as a Family Support Coordinator, where she worked with families and individuals with disabilities, and coached Special Olympics. Cate has three sons, the oldest of whom was diagnosed with autism in his elementary years. She is passionate about helping students reach their potential and equipping them with the skills and resources they need to achieve their goals.
Human Services Division
cwagoner@bhssc.org
Colette Wagoner provides administrative support services to two federally mandated board/councils: Board of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Statewide Independent Living Council. Colette has over 8 years of experience with BHSSC and 21 years with the South Dakota Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the disability field. She earned her Master of Arts in Community Agency Counseling from Western Kentucky University and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Kentucky. Colette is married and has two adult children. She enjoys spending time with her seven siblings and especially loves playing with her two grandsons. Before returning to her home state of South Dakota, Colette spent several years moving with her husband during his service in the Army, living in Kentucky, Virginia, Germany, Georgia, and Montana.
Maternal & Child Health Team
cestes@bhssc.org
Courtney Estes began her nursing career in 2016 after earning an LPN degree from Southeast Technical College. She earned her degree as a Registered Nurse in 2022, also from Southeast Technical College, and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Capella University in 2024. Courtney currently serves as a Nurse Home Visitor, supporting families across South Dakota through the Bright Start Nurse Family Partnership. Prior to her current role, she worked in the clinical setting specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as pediatrics.
Human Services Team
drounds@bhssc.org
Dan Rounds has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and over 35 years of experience working in human services programs serving youth and adults with various disabilities, including director of a community support provider, coordinator of a job training project for a community mental health center, job development specialist and training coordinator for two statewide systems change projects. Dan currently serves as the Team Lead for several programs including the Employment Specialist Coordinator program and South Dakota Benefits Specialist Network. He also coordinates the Transition Services Liaison Project where he works in collaboration with the Office of Special Education Programs and the Division of Rehabilitation Services to carry out tasks that are targeted to augment quality post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities. He coordinates project activities that incorporate training, technical assistance and resource dissemination designed to enhance transition services and build linkages between LEA staff, community service providers, families and youth with disabilities. When not at work, Dan enjoys time on the golf course, hunting, camping, and spending time with kids and grandkids.
Maternal & Child Health Team
dradel@bhssc.org
Danielle Radel is a Vaccine Program Specialist, where she supports healthcare providers in strengthening immunization practices through education, compliance visits, and guidance on vaccine management to promote safe storage and accountability. She brings extensive experience in clinic operations, previous public health experience as a Disease Intervention Specialist with additional background as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Danielle values building strong, collaborative relationships with clinics and patients across the state. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on her three children in sports, and spending summer days at the lake/river soaking up the sun and creating lasting memories.
Health Promotion Team
eweiss@bhssc.org
Enid Weiss serves as the Worksite Wellness Coordinator. She is committed to improving employee health and wellbeing through evidence-based policies and environmental changes that foster healthier workplaces. With more than 10 years of public health experience, Enid has developed strong partnerships statewide to advance wellness initiatives and create lasting, positive impact in worksites and communities. Enid graduated from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and currently resides in Watertown, SD.
Maternal & Child Health Team
FMulenda@bhssc.org
Flora Mulenda is a Vaccine Program Specialist. She is creative in many ways and passionate about nature, health, and lifting others up.
Maternal & Child Health Team
hcastro@bhssc.org
Heather Castro is a dedicated Bright Start nurse and mentor. She is passionate about empowering young women to embrace motherhood with confidence, strength, and grace. Guided by compassion — her greatest superpower — Heather reminds every woman she meets that her voice matters. Through empathy, encouragement, and education, she strives to help mothers see themselves as the changemakers they are. In her work, she’s had the privilege of whispering words of hope through tears and celebrating quiet victories that often go unnoticed. She shows up with the belief that true care extends beyond medicine — it’s about connection, empowerment, and the courage to transform lives, one mother at a time. In her free time, she enjoys supporting her children and grandchildren, especially watching wrestling. She likes to hike and spend time outdoors exploring the Black Hills.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
james.nygugen@state.sd.us
James Nguyen is a Health Informatics Analyst, with dual degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science from the University of South Dakota. He specializes in health systems integration and interoperability, developing solutions using a range of technologies like Python, JavaScript, SQL, and more. James is passionate about using data and technology to improve health data delivery and public health outcomes.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
jeff.earl@state.sd.us
Jeff Earl is a GIS Analyst located in Pierre. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry, with a specialty in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Jeff has worked with GIS since 1994 and obtained his GIS Professional (GISP) certification in 2022. His professional interests are creating internal mapping dashboards, connecting health data to maps through databases, and creating Story Maps to relay mapping projects.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
jgeuther@bhssc.org
Jennifer Geuther is a Grant Management Specialist and Team Leader for Epidemiology and Informatics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. With 20 years of experience supporting South Dakota government programs, she is dedicated to making meaningful, lasting impacts on individuals and the broader community.
Health Promotion Team
ksenger@bhssc.org
Kari Senger is the Healthy Brain Program Coordinator. She leads statewide initiatives to promote brain health across the lifespan, increase awareness about cognitive decline and improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by dementia. Kari graduated from South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in family & consumer sciences education and enjoys building partnerships to create meaningful impact. Prior to joining BHSSC, she led the employee well-being program for the SD Bureau of Human Resources. She also dedicated over 20 years with the SD Department of Education inspiring school districts across the state to implement school health programs and policies to improve the health of children and families. Kari lives in Pierre and enjoys spending time with family and being active. She especially likes summer activities including kayaking, paddleboarding and flower gardening.
Maternal & Child Health Team
kdavis@bhssc.org
Kaylyn Gopperton Davis is the Child Death Review Data Abstractor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human health services and brings experience in youth rehabilitation, child protection, and disability case coordination. Her work and life experiences have inspired her to become an advocate for domestic violence awareness and survivor support. Kaylyn is passionate about keeping South Dakota’s children safe and enjoys spending her free time baking sourdough treats, crocheting, and quality time with her four kids.
Maternal & Child Health Team
Alejandra.Ortiz@state.sd.us
Lexi Ortiz is the Infant and Child Health Epidemiologist, where she transforms infant and child health data into actionable insights that shape prevention strategies and improve outcomes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from UC Berkeley and a master’s in public health from the University of York in the UK. Outside the office, Lexi enjoys reading, experimenting in the kitchen, and exploring life with her spirited French Bulldog, Luna.
Maternal & Child Health Team
lizzy.wahl@state.sd.us
Lizzy Wahl comes to BHSSC with a colorful career history, spanning from guiding trail rides in the Black Hills to being a CFO’s trusted Executive Assistant. Each step in her career has been guided by her personal belief in ‘no boring jobs.’ She’s passionate about her work and helping those around her however she can, even in the smallest of ways.
Maternal & Child Health Team
lkoenecke@bhssc.org
Lori Koenecke joined BHSSC as the Maternal Mortality Data Abstractor in August 2024. As an RN, she earned both her bachelor and Master of Science in nursing degrees from South Dakota State University. Immediately prior to joining BHSSC, Lori worked within the Office of Disease Prevention at the South Dakota Department of Health. She also has extensive experience in acute care, and as a Nurse Educator, having taught for University of South Dakota Nursing in Pierre for 14 years.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
MMcKillop@bhssc.org
Matthew McKillop is a Data Scientist. He has a Master of Science in microbiology. He has research experience with mouse models and large data sets specializing in genomics data from whole exome sequencing. Matthew supports the SD Department of Health disease surveillance system, tailoring solutions for state epidemiologists, and mapping data for reporting to CDC.
Health Promotion Team
mmyers@bhssc.org
Megan Myers is Coordinator for the South Dakota Cancer Coalition, working to build strong, collaborative partnerships to help reduce the burden of cancer in our state. She brings more than 20 years of experience in public health communications, policy and outreach.
Human Services Team
miah.gillen@state.sd.us
Miah Gillen is a Transition Liaison in southcentral SD. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with a minor in leadership and management of nonprofit organizations. Since an early age, Miah has had a passion for helping others reach their full potential and has a profound appreciation for differences because she believes that is truly what makes the world beautiful. In her free time, Miah enjoys camping, vacationing, and spending time with her son, husband, family, and friends.
Office Manager
mhoss@bhssc.org
Michele has been the Office Manager for Health and Human Services for 31 years. She supports all HHS staff with submission of invoices, reimbursements and car logs and upkeep. If you have questions, she is the go-to person!
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
Michelle.Carlson@state.sd.us
Michelle Carlson is a Grant Management Specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in financial services from Mount Marty University. Michelle brings a diverse background in banking, higher education, and state government, which informs her comprehensive approach to grant management. She is passionate about enhancing compliance processes through continuous improvement and adapting to change. Michelle also contributes her expertise as a member of the Educational Content Review Task Force for the National Grant Management Association. Outside of work, she enjoys lifelong learning, traveling with her children, spending time in nature, and caring for her beloved pack of dogs—including fostering even more whenever she can.
Human Services Team
mhosman@bhssc.org
Michelle Hosman serves as a Community Partner Work Incentives Coordinator. She joined BHSSC in 1998 as a job coach before moving into her current position. Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree with a major in Social Work from Chadron State College. She is passionate about supporting, guiding and counseling beneficiaries who receive SSI and SSDI while achieving their employment goal. When she has free time, Michelle enjoys reading, doing home projects, collecting plants, spending time with her two children, and spending time going to rodeos, rides on the bike and enjoying everything the hills has to offer with her boyfriend.
Maternal & Child Health Team
mlange@bhssc.org
Michelle Lange is a Vaccine Program Specialist. She is passionate about helping medical clinics improve immunization rates and providing vaccine education. Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband, three grown children, family, friends, and volunteering to help community organizations. She also enjoys golfing and listening to audiobooks.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
nato.tarkhashvili@state.sd.us
Nato Tarkhashvili, MD, PhD worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer (Frankfort, KY, 2004-2006) and as a Career Epidemiology Field Officer (Pierre, SD, 2006-2017). Nato also served as an antimicrobial resistance expert during 2017-2022 at the SD Department of Health before joining BHSSC. Nato has extensive experience working as an epidemiologist on healthcare-associated infections, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS. She has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Health Promotion Team
pbeiland@bhssc.org
Paula Beiland has been a part of the BHSSC team since 2021, as a Fiscal Grant Manager. Paula supports multiple program teams in fiscal support and budgeting and with developing tools and training to strengthen statewide public health initiatives.
Health Promotion Team
rkoenig@bhssc.org
Rebecca Koenig works as the Injury Prevention Data Abstractor for the SD Violent Death Reporting System (SD-VDRS) and State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). Prior to joining BHSSC in 2024, Rebecca spent 2.5 years as a research specialist at Sanford as part of the animal team for the Weimer Lab and Experimental Therapeutics Screening Facility on various drug discovery projects. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience in 2021, and from the University of South Dakota with a master’s degree in public health in 2025. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Austin, their daughter, and their two dogs.
Human Services Team
rhonda.erickson@state.sd.us
Rhonda Erickson is a Community Partner Work Incentives Coordinator for the SD Benefits Specialist Network. She has worked in the human service field for 30 years with the last 14 of those spent helping people understand their Social Security Disability benefits. Her interest in Social Security Disability benefits began while working as Vocational Director for a Community Support Provider agency. A person supported received notice of a large overpayment due back to SSA. It was in this instance that she learned just how complicated social security benefits were to understand. Unless she is working, she never leaves her house, but she does enjoy golfing and sky diving with her two beautiful grown children.
Health Promotion Team
rrossman@bhssc.org
Roshal Rossman is a Grants Management and Evaluation Specialist and Health Promotion Team Leader. She received a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in 2009, where she majored in health promotion and minored in health science and health education. She has been working in public health since 2010 in the areas of tobacco prevention and cessation, health disparities, and public health infrastructure. In her free time, Roshal enjoys being with her family, reading, and listening to podcasts.
Maternal & Child Health Team
rbelony@bhssc.org
Rose Belony serves as the Blood Lead Epidemiologist for the South Dakota Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of West Florida and is passionate about helping families protect their children from the dangers of lead exposure. Rose is committed to using data and education to empower families and ensure every child has the resources needed to live lead-free. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Epidemiology & Informatics Team
rhoben@bhssc.org
Ryan is an epidemiologist specializing in sexually transmitted infections and Hepatitis. He earned his master’s in public health from the University of Nevada and began his public health career as a COVID-19 epidemiologist at the onset of the pandemic, gaining hands-on experience in outbreak response and disease surveillance. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys rock climbing, skiing, hunting, and spending time with his dog, Betty.
Human Services Team
saml.johnson@state.sd.us
Sam Johnson has been an Employment Specialist Coordinator based out of Aberdeen since August 2023. Sam grew up in Fargo, ND, before getting his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from MN State – Moorhead (where he met his wife Andrea) and MDiv now called Kairos University in Sioux Falls. They have one son, Isaac, who was raised in Brandon before coming to Aberdeen. When not working, Sam enjoys church activities and sports.
Human Services Team
sarahjo.jorgensen@state.sd.us
Sarah Jo Jorgensen is a Transition Liaison in southeastern SD. She holds a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychology in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. With 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities, Sarah Jo has been involved in every aspect of transition services, helping youth and families navigate pathways to independence and success. In her free time, Sarah Jo enjoys directing her church’s vocal and handbell choirs, spending time with family and friends, traveling, swimming, and attending theater and symphony performances.
Human Services Team
stephanie.badwound@state.sd.us
Steph Badwound is a Transition Liaison in western SD, supporting high school students with disabilities as they prepare for college, careers, and independent adulthood. With over 23 years of experience in special education and transition services across multiple states and programs, Steph focuses on collaboration with families, schools, VR and community agencies to improve outcomes for young adults. She is passionate about empowering students to discover their strengths, advocate for their needs, and confidently design their next steps forward.
Human Services Team
tbame@bhssc.org
Tarra Bame grew up in the country near Hayes, South Dakota. She attended Cheyenne Country School through 8th grade, which is the only remaining “country” school in South Dakota! She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and has been with BHSSC since March 2004. She is a Community Partner Work Incentives Coordinator. In this role, she works with individuals with disabilities who are working or want to work. She counsels them on how employment may impact their Social Security benefits and other needs-based programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, Housing, and Energy Assistance. On a personal note, she loves thrift shopping, puzzling, crafting, and caring for her many plants. She is blessed with a supportive husband and three children—two of whom keep her busy traveling across the state for their sporting events and other activities.
Human Services Team
tina.meyer@state.sd.us
Tina Meyer is a Certified Employment Specialist Coordinator in Rapid City. Since joining the organization in January 2022, she has helped people with disabilities prepare for and secure meaningful employment while partnering with local employers to meet their workforce goals. Tina holds an Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, which has strengthened her communication and organizational skills in this role. Outside of work, she enjoys tending to both her indoor and outdoor gardens, nurturing plants year-round.
