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Robert Hess III, Founder and CEO, Hess III Consulting

Founder Biography

Robert Hess III is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hess III Consulting, LLC — one of the most experienced health and human services consulting firms in the United States. Since founding the firm in Phoenix, Arizona in 2007, Robert has led engagements with 200+ organizations in 43+ states, securing over $40 billion in Medicaid managed care revenue for clients and impacting over 85 million lives.

Robert’s consulting practice sits at the intersection of three disciplines that most consultants treat separately: systems design, business development, and operational implementation. He doesn’t just write strategy. He builds the systems that execute it — and he stays in the room until the work is done.

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Education and Credentials

Academic Credentials

  • Degree: Master of Public Health (MPH), International Health — Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Degree: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) — Arizona State University (cum laude, inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society)
  • Certificate: Strategy for Healthcare Delivery — Harvard Business School Executive Education
  • Certificate: Disruptive Business Strategy — Harvard Business School Executive Education
  • Certificate: Affordable Housing Development — Harvard Graduate School of Design
  • Certificate: Reducing Mental Health Disparities Leadership Academy — Georgetown University
  • Certificate: NCQA LTSS Best Practices Leadership Academy (2022)

Professional Certifications

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) — Project Management Institute | PMI Authorized Training Partner and Instructor
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LEAN SSBB) — Acuity Institute
  • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) — NAHQ, 2015–2024
  • Certified Investor Agent Specialist (CIAS) — 2025
  • AAPC Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) — 2021
  • Arizona Department of Real Estate Salesperson License — 2025
Robert Hess III Speaking
Career and Impact
Robert in India

Robert founded Hess III Consulting in 2007 based on his personal and family experience with mental health, including six years of chronic homelessness. The firm began as a grant writing practice and grew into a best-in-class boutique management consulting firm for health and human services payers, providers, and government agencies. Today it is recognized as one of the most credentialed and experienced firms of its kind in the United States.

Over 18+ years, Robert has led the design and implementation of some of the most consequential health system initiatives in Arizona history — including serving as the primary clinical and operational consultant for the $7 billion Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care ACC-RBHA contract, the largest Medicaid-funded integrated care contract in Arizona history, covering 700,000 lives. He has personally authored 80+ Medicaid managed care proposals with a 92% win rate, securing $40 billion+ in revenue for Fortune 50 managed care organizations across 43 states.

In the Media

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Robert Hess III has been cited as an expert by major Arizona and national media outlets on Medicaid, ACA, and behavioral health policy:

Media Coverage
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Robert's Philosophy

“I started this firm because I’ve lived the consequences of a health system that doesn’t work. When I sit across the table from a managed care organization, a behavioral health provider, or a government agency, I bring 23 years of expertise — but I also bring the perspective of someone who needed those services and couldn’t access them. That combination is why our clients trust us to do work that other firms can’t.”

— Robert Hess III, BSW, MPH, PMP, LEAN SSBB | Founder & CEO, Hess III Consulting

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Robert Hess III’s credentials?

Robert Hess III holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University, executive certificates from Harvard Business School and Harvard Graduate School of Design, a Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LEAN SSBB), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and Certified Investor Agent Specialist (CIAS). He is a former SAMHSA National Technical Assistance Partnership member and Harvard Business Review Advisory Council member.

What does Robert Hess III specialize in?

Robert specializes in Medicaid managed care strategy and proposal development (92% win rate, 80+ proposals, $40B+ secured), behavioral health systems design and evaluation, psychiatric crisis system design, SMI/SED population services, health and human services operations, and health information technology. He has 23+ years of experience and has served 200+ organizations across 43 states.