Ashley Schwader, Founder of Two Suns Consulting, has extensive experience working across multiple sectors. She has dedicated her life to serving others and works with leaders and purpose-driven organizations to align inner clarity with practical, intentional systems so they can grow impactfully and sustainably. Her approach combines coaching, consulting, and facilitated experiences to support others through growth, transition, and change.

Ashley’s work is grounded in over two decades of experience across the nonprofit, education, government, and private sectors. She previously served on the senior leadership team as Director of Youth Programs at No Barriers, where she led national initiatives focused on leadership development and experience-based learning. She also partnered with high-need communities through Alliance for a Healthier Generation and contributed to large-scale wellness and culture initiatives within Poudre School District and Hewlett Packard.

While her background spans strategy, program development, and systems work, Ashley’s deeper focus is on the connection between personal well-being and effective leadership. She helps leaders step out of constant doing and into a more grounded, clear, and intentional way of leading—one that strengthens both their teams and their mission.

Through Two Suns, Ashley creates spaces where leaders and organizations can reconnect with themselves, clarify what matters most, and build aligned ways of working that support long-term impact. Her work is especially focused on supporting those who serve others so they can also sustain themselves in the process.

At the core of everything she does is a simple belief: when people are supported from the inside out, everything around them—including the systems and organizations they find themselves in—has the potential to change.

Jared Schwader is the Co-Founder of Two Suns Consulting, where he helps purpose-driven organizations translate vision into clear strategy, aligned systems, and practical execution. His work focuses on simplifying complexity, strengthening operational foundations, and building scalable solutions that allow organizations to grow with clarity and confidence.

With over 18 years of experience across government, enterprise, and consulting environments, Jared has led and supported large-scale modernization, cloud transformation, and organizational change initiatives. He brings a systems-oriented mindset to every engagement—helping leaders connect strategy to execution through thoughtful design, strong technical foundations, and efficient processes.

Jared currently serves as a senior leader in solution architecture and professional services at ECCO Select, where he works closely with executive teams to assess challenges, define roadmaps, and deliver solutions that drive measurable outcomes. His experience spans software development, cloud architecture, DevSecOps, automation, and program leadership, giving him a well-rounded perspective on how organizations operate and evolve.

At Two Suns, Jared complements the leadership and coaching work by focusing on the structural side of growth—ensuring that systems, processes, and technology align with the organization’s mission and leadership vision. Together, this creates a balanced approach where both people and systems are supported.

Known for his practical, solutions-oriented approach, Jared helps organizations move from ideas to action—reducing friction, increasing clarity, and building systems that sustain long-term impact.

Outside of his professional work, Jared is deeply rooted in family life and enjoys building, creating, and spending time outdoors. He values efficiency and intentionality, always looking for ways to simplify life and focus on what matters most.

Merritt has spent recent years with an innovative Montana-based Health Consulting company, Healthy Is Wellness, developing a comprehensive framework and curriculum for training, certifying, and scaling teams of community-based Health Coaches across the region.

She has remained actively engaged in community outreach, most notably through providing support and public speaking to youth programs in her years as an elite level Track and Field athlete representing Nike N7. Currently, she passionately promotes community wellness, personal development, health behaviors, movement, and nutrition through multiple initiatives including an Indigenous student recruitment and retention program within Montana State University, as well as the “Unreserved” school based project supporting rural and tribal students across Montana.
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Merritt Grace Davis, Natoyii Nimoikin Aki (Holy Lily Woman), is a descendent of the Muskokee Creek Nation and relative of the Blackfeet Nation. She holds a Masters of Public Health with a focus on Community and Behavioral Health Science and a Specialization in Maternal and Childhood Health from Tulane University of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Merritt holds numerous accolades from years as a competitive Pole Vaulter, including the New Orleans Sugar Bowl and the Tulane University Halls of Fame, and considers herself a lifelong athlete whether this means chasing her kids on hiking trails or competing in local races.

She lives in the Valley of the Flowers (Four Corners, Montana) where she loves to ride her horses, hike, paddle board, create indigenous artwork, and attend community events. Most of all, Merritt loves to take on adventures with her husband, Steven, and their two sons.

Nichole has lived and worked in the Gallatin Valley for the past decade. Throughout her career, she has gained skills in communication, grant writing, and professional development. Nichole connects her expertise with organizations and businesses while bringing positivity, focus, and organization to her work.

Nichole received her bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Champlain College in Burlington, VT. After moving to Montana, she worked in adventure travel as a group travel planner, developing skills in logistical planning and project management. With a desire to provide greater support to her local community, she transitioned to the role of Development Coordinator for Thrive. Here she learned skills in fundraising and donor retention.

Nichole grew with Thrive and soon found her passion in Grant Writing. In her role as a grant writer, she identified and pursued new grant opportunities, while developing and maintaining new and existing grantor relationships. Nichole saw notable success securing Federal, State, and foundational grants.

Beyond working for a non-profit, Nichole dedicates her time to other organizations in the Gallatin Valley.

Nichole has served as a board member, volunteered as a CAP Mentor, and participated in many local events to help bring positive impacts throughout the community.

Nichole lives in Bozeman, Montana with her husband, two young children and golden retriever Emmy Lou. Outside of work, she can be found horseback riding, hiking, skiing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Kallie Cooper has spent over a decade working as a freelance graphic designer, specializing in helping businesses develop their unique brands.

Kallie currently serves as the Communications Director for a large charter school, establishing the school’s brand identity with internal and external audiences by managing a multifaceted communications strategy in support of the school’s mission and vision.

Kallie has a passion for building a culture of entrepreneurship, previously working as the Executive Director of the Wellington Main Street Program, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to revitalizing downtown commercial districts.

In 2021, Kallie was named Colorado Main Street Manager of the Year and was the recipient of the BizWest 40 Under 40 award for her work in the community, developing innovative strategies to support small businesses.

Kallie is an Iowa native and graduated with a degree in Television Production and Marketing from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Kallie and her husband Brandon moved to Colorado in 2017 with their two boys. She loves all things art and music and in 2018, partnered to illustrate the children’s book, “Ivan the 1/2 Inch Worm.”