About

Overwhelming-Icon-Business-Card

Hello!

My name is Evan Schmalz, and I am the Founder and Operator of Help Me Understand Agency. As it stands, I am just in the beginning stages of starting this Agency, and am the sole Thought Partner and practitioner of it.

I have a simple but firm belief that things can always be better, even as life changes and our world grows more and more complex. I pair that with the belief that when you have hit a complicated stopping point, your first best place to start is by creating, refining, and discovering understanding.

Curious about one of the icons on my business card? Just ask!

I believe I can help you to understand and that you can make things better.

In others' words:

"Working with Evan in many capacities has been a transformative experience that has left a lasting impact on both my personal and professional life. His ability to offer perspective through kindness, compassion, and intention has helped me grow tremendously. Through his thoughtful coaching and authentic collaboration, I’ve learned how to align my actions with my values while remaining empathetic, efficient, and proactive. Evan’s steady support has taught me to think critically, honor my integrity, and navigate complex decisions with clarity and confidence. This impact shows up in my life daily—I’m more self-aware, grounded, and assured in how I work, lead, and live, thanks to the growth I experienced through my time working with Evan."

Kyrstyn C.

Training Specialist | Colleague

"...I was impressed by the way he immediately and effectively engaged with this challenge and how quickly he assimilated into a team in the midst of a significant change journey. In the short time that Evan was with my team he immediately added value by bringing an outside perspective to the problems we were working to solve, introducing an innovative twist to some of the change management tools that we teach our clients to use on a weekly basis."

Director of Ops.

Executive | Supported by Evan

"I worked with Evan for around two years, and in that time I had the opportunity to get to know him not just as a coworker but as a good human being as well. Evan is a dedicated worker who takes the time to think about his environment; looking for things that he can do to improve it.
Evan and I worked on different projects together and collaborated to make our team’s work more impactful and streamlined. He has a spectacular eye for details and puts in the time to help things run smoothly for everyone.
In addition to being an asset [for] our team, Evan also took the time to invest in relationships outside of work as well. His kindness and willingness to be open are admirable qualities that I look for when building friendships. Evan also has a way of creating thought-provoking conversations that dig deep and help people to examine themselves closer. He has a way of creating a safe space so people can look at themselves without judgement. "

Morgan S.

Training Specialist | Colleague

"Evan has a deep understanding of the Prosci methodology and, more importantly, he excels at applying it to real-world projects. One notable example of his work was leading the change management efforts for the implementation of the TerryBerry platform, a tool designed to foster recognition and kudos across our organization. He approached this initiative with inclusivity and empathy, ensuring that all impacted groups were heard and supported throughout the transition. In addition to his platform work, Evan contributed significantly to a process improvement initiative where he developed helpful, easy-to-use resources for managers—tools that are still in use today. He also worked closely with the project sponsor, demonstrating strong stakeholder management and communication skills."

Courtney M.

Sr. Specialist, CPMO and Process Excellence | Colleague

A note on research & the mission.

Why it is offered as a service, and why I conduct it myself.

If you work with HMUA, you’ll feel our passion for values, mental health, and the approach taken to the work. In today’s information-saturated environment, true wisdom lies not just within access to data but in the deliberate interpretation and application of that knowledge and relevant context.

We wish to help you to understand, and we will always continue to build our own understanding as well.

Understanding is a complicated, multi-faceted, intangible thing; but, that doesn’t mean creating, refining, and discovering it is impossible. We hope you’ll join us on this shared mission.