North - Public Knowledge

Jillian Young MSW, CAPSW

Management Consultant

Edgerton, WI

Since 2023, Jillian has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Jillian is a subject matter expert for child welfare projects, currently supporting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Pre-Service Training Redesign. She has spent 11 years of her career working with public agencies to achieve positive outcomes for the children and families served. She spent nearly six years with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, supporting foster care policy and managing the Wisconsin Public Adoptions, Adoption Assistance, and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) programs. Jillian received her master’s in social work from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and is a licensed advanced practice social worker. When not working, Jillian enjoys keeping up with her small children and managing a small farm with her spouse.

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Kyan Bishop

Management Consultant

Helena, MT

Since 2022, Kyan has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Kyan is responsible for conducting research, policy, program analysis, and offering technical assistance on a variety of projects. She has over 20 years of experience working in the community and economic development field, primarily in the public and non-profit sectors. She is experienced in strategic planning, conducting program assessments, and leading public participation processes. Kyan graduated from Denison University, majoring in Economics and Spanish and minoring in music. When not working, Kyan enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and pursuing a wide range of artistic endeavors.

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Tracie Cleveland LMSW

Management Consultant

Southfield, MI

Since 2022, Tracie has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Tracie is a subject matter expert for child welfare projects. She has over 27 years of child welfare experience at both the direct-service and macro levels, including work with Practice Model development and implementation, Team Decision Making, Family Preservation and Reunification, Parent Partner implementation and training, and as a Reviewer (Quality Service Review and Child & Family Service Review). Tracie received her master’s in social work from Eastern Michigan University. When not working, Tracie enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, cooking, dancing, and traveling.

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Michael Hoffmeister PhD, MSW

Management Consultant

Minneapolis, MN

Since 2022, Michael has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Michael is a subject matter expert for child welfare projects, currently supporting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Pre-Service Re-Design. He has 10 years of child welfare experience at direct-service and macro-policy levels, including work with out-of-home care programs, Medicaid policy, strategic planning, and research regarding child/family well-being and organizational change. Michael received his master’s in social work from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a licensed advanced practice social worker. When not working, Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking cakes and cupcakes, and reading historical fiction.

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Wendy Campau MSW

Management Consultant

Saint Johns, Michigan

Since 2022, Wendy has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Wendy is responsible for providing change and implementation support to child welfare jurisdictions across various project areas, including agency assessment, financing, continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, and the effective use of data toward achieving sustainable program improvements and outcomes.

Wendy has 25 years of experience working with state and local child welfare agencies, from front-line specialists to statewide leadership. Her experience includes work on behalf of multiple program areas, including child protection, foster care, adoption/guardianship, and juvenile justice.

Wendy received her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University. She enjoys the outdoors, music, and time with family and friends when not working.

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Susan Smith MSW, Ph.D.

Management Consultant

Issaquah, WA

Since 2022, Susan has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Susan is responsible for building client relationships, project management, data analyses, research, and drafting deliverables. With 20 years of experience in public child welfare, Susan has worked hands-on with state and local child welfare agencies, court systems, and tribes to develop data capacity and better access to information to improve outcomes for families. After spending more than a decade building the data advocacy team at Casey Family Programs, Susan began working at a prominent Bay Area food bank, forming their work on impact and evaluation, and serving as part of the leadership team. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and her MSW from the University of Washington. Susan enjoys spending time outside, vacationing with her adult children, and playing (bad) golf when not working.

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Stephen Forrest Ph.D.

Management Consultant

Helena, MT

Since 2022, Stephen has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Stephen is responsible for projects in Colorado and Oregon, with 15 years of experience working with the public and higher education sectors. Prior to working for the firm, he served as the chief information officer at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, focusing on team leadership, strategy development, and technology management. Stephen holds doctorates from the University of Oxford and Oklahoma State University, a masters degree from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from the Quantic Institute. He is a Certified Change Practitioner, a Project Management Professional, a SAFe Agilist, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He is also certified in Governance of Enterprise Information Technology and recently became ISACA Certification Exam’s top score recipient. When not working, Stephen enjoys coaching and teaching classes for rugby referees.

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Jill Hooper

Management Consultant

Olympia, WA

Since 2015, Jill has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Jill has managed projects for the Washington Department of Licensing and the Oregon Department of Transportation. She has been an organizational change management subject matter expert for assignments in Washington and Oklahoma and a quality assurance analyst for several Oregon projects. Jill has more than 25 years of experience working with the public sector in communications and organizational change management. Jill is certified in Prosci® organizational change management and a Northwest Public Health Leadership Institute graduate. Jill enjoys baking, watching movies, and spending time with her family when not working.

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Jeff Pearson CTFL

Management Consultant

Olympia, WA

Since 2016, Jeff has been a management consultant at Public Knowledge®. Jeff has been responsible for managing projects, leading module reviews for modular MMIS replacements, reviewing system security plans, and reviewing technical and business deliverables. Additionally, he has 22 years of experience bringing products to market in regulated and non-regulated industries and managing international design teams.

Jeff received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and is a certified tester foundation level (CTFL) from the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). Jeff enjoys hiking, downhill skiing, woodworking, robotics, and automation when not working.

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Our Team: North

Jillian Young MSW, CAPSW

Management Consultant

Kyan Bishop

Management Consultant

Tracie Cleveland LMSW

Management Consultant

Michael Hoffmeister PhD, MSW

Management Consultant

Wendy Campau MSW

Management Consultant

Susan Smith MSW, Ph.D.

Management Consultant

Stephen Forrest Ph.D.

Management Consultant

Jill Hooper

Management Consultant

Jeff Pearson CTFL

Management Consultant