Leadership Directory

Jamie Palagi

CEO

Jamie has dedicated her career to serving children, families and individuals facing vulnerability for more than 27 years, including having served in leadership roles in state government and the private and non-profit sectors. 

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Family Science and Child Development from Montana State University and received her master’s degree from Concordia University, in Human Services Leadership. 

Jamie is a purpose-driven leader and brings significant expertise and experience to Intermountain, specifically in the areas of public policy, organizational development and operations, strategic planning, program design, and service delivery. Jamie has lived in the Helena community for 18 years and has two children. She enjoys a variety of activities, including live music, baking, Bobcat football, cheering her son on in high school football and spending time with friends and family.

“I am honored to join the Intermountain team. I cannot think of a higher calling than providing hope and healing for children and families through relationship-based support and care. I am committed to ensuring Intermountain continues to provide best-in-class service and experience for our staff, communities and families. This is our privilege and obligation."

Melaney Swenson, LCSW

Regional Director of Gallatin and Yellowstone Counties

Education:

• Master of Social Work, Boise State University
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Montana

Melaney was born and raised in Montana. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, Melaney decided to expand her horizons by moving to Cincinnati to work in a Family Resource Center. After earning her MSW, Melaney worked with the newly formed Catholic Charities of Idaho, developing and supervising counseling, family support, and immigration programs. She then returned home to Montana to work in schools, providing mental health services to children and families.

Melaney joined Intermountain in August of 2021 to supervise school-based mental health services in Gallatin County. In June 2023, she was provided the opportunity to supervise and develop programs at Intermountain’s Family Support Network in Billings. Melaney enjoys working with the Intermountain teams in Bozeman and Billings. She considers it an honor to support Intermountain’s professionals in providing hope and healing to children and families.

In her free time, Melaney enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Meegan Bryce, MSW

Executive Director of Residential Services

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts, Carroll College
• Master of Social Work, University of Montana

Meegan Bryce began her work at Intermountain with children and families as a Direct Care Counselor. She has since been a Cottage Supervisor, Child and Family Therapist, the Residential Manager and now serves as the Executive Director of Residential Services. Meegan is a Montana native and enjoys all the outdoor activities that Montana has to offer, especially river rafting. Intermountain employee since 2004.

Jennifer Williams

Chief Administrative Officer

Education:

• Associate of Applied Science – Business Technology, Helena College

 

Jennifer was born and raised in Montana. She grew up in Townsend. After high school, she moved to Helena where she met her husband. They have been married 23 years and have one son. Before joining Intermountain, Jennifer spent 14 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana focusing on claims training and project support and five years at New West Health Insurance as the acting claims supervisor as well as the compliance specialist.

She joined the Intermountain accounting team in 2018 before transitioning to billing then policies and contracts. She served as the billing supervisor prior to accepting the Chief Administrative Officer position. Jennifer admits she did not know much about Intermountain when she started just that it was an opportunity for a new job.

“Why I stay is I believe there is a need for the work that Intermountain does and we have an opportunity to improve the lives of the children and families in our community,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer enjoys camping, scrapbooking, and photography.

Tyler Zimmer

Chief Growth and Development Officer

Education:

• Master of Business Administraion, Jack Welch Management Institute
• Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Chemistry, Carroll College

Tyler spent the first 18 years of his life in Bellevue, Washington. He then moved to Helena in 2012 to study chemistry and mathematics at Carroll College (Go Saints!). Immediately after graduating from Carroll, he accepted a job as the analyst at the Montana Lottery and was then recruited by Scientific Games to be their account manager, contracting with the California Lottery. His roles in the lottery were heavily tied around the axle of programming, statistics, and sales.

Madeline, Tyler’s then-girlfriend and now his wife, was still studying nursing in Helena. So, Tyler made a phone call to the Development Director at Intermountain at the time and started his role with the organization as the database administrator for the Development Department. Since then, he has held the roles of annual campaign manager, development director, and now CIO.

This current role heavily leverages his experience with statistics and data from the past, while also utilizing his relationship building skills garnered in his time in Intermountain’s development department.

“I will forever try to look at things from a multi-faceted perspective,” Tyler says. “If it’s not easy and compelling for a client to participate in Intermountain’s services, employees to fulfill those services, or for a donor to support the organization, I’ll have a hard time getting behind it."

Madeline likes to say that Tyler has gone from “vice to virtue” in his career and Tyler couldn’t agree more. Intermountain is so much more than his job; he sees it as a ministry and lifestyle. His proudest achievement are the dozens of evenings he has spent cooking for or hanging out with children in Glacier and Sunrise cottages on the Helena Residential Campus.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys five hobbies in a very particular order: skiing, fishing, hunting, hiking, and general exercise. In a perfect world, his wife and best friend, Madeline, and their two dogs, or many friends and family are enjoying one of these hobbies with him. His mother was born and raised in Butte, so Montana runs as deep as the Berkeley Pit in his blood. And his father raised him properly to be a fisherman and a Seattle Mariners fan.