LEADERSHIP TEAM

Alissa serves as the Customer Service Manager and helps to oversee the care our mission teams and church partners receive prior to their mission trip.

Throughout her time at PPM, she has led mission trips and assisted with the operations in multiple locations such as Belize, Puerto Rico, Appalachia, and Alaska. Alissa graduated from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul with a double major in Nonprofit Administration and Biblical Studies. She enjoys working in an environment where she can blend her passion for ministry with her gifts of administration.

Alissa lives in Minneapolis where she enjoys visiting local coffee shops, spending time with her nieces, and exploring both new and familiar places.

Annie currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Recruiting. She has worked for PPM since 2013, holding a variety of roles, including providing leadership over Haiti Operations and managing external relationships with other ministries and organizations as the Strategic Development Manager. Prior to PPM, Annie worked at Feed My Starving Children and completed graduate work at the University of Minnesota in music theory. Annie lives in Minneapolis with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She loves to travel, read, play music, and spend time outdoors.

Grant Hoel currently serves as the Director of Organizational Development and Disaster Response for PPM.  He rejoined the PPM staff in April of 2022 with a focus on implementing more effective systems for organizational performance and culture and expanding PPM’s disaster response efforts. Grant has served in various roles within youth ministry, campus ministry, and missions since 2005. Previously, Grant served with PPM as a full-time trip leader and Mexico Operations Manager. In 2011, he became a full-time Campus Missionary serving students at the University of Minnesota Duluth until summer 2021. Grant holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Spanish from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is currently working toward an Executive MBA from the University of St. Thomas and is passionate about aligning people's dreams, skills, and values toward a common purpose to serve God and humanity. He lives in the western Twin Cities with his wife Danielle and twin daughters. Grant loves to spend time with his family, learn new things, and enjoy all the outdoor activities Minnesota has to offer.

As the Chief Financial Officer for Praying Pelican Missions, Jeff is passionate about growing an ever-expanding network of interconnected, interdenominational churches committed to reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus. With a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting from St. John's University and a Mini Masters in Medical Technology Management from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business, Jeff has been a leader in the financial industry for nearly 30 years. Jeff currently lives in the greater Minneapolis area with his two daughters. He is active in his community, serving on various committees for organizations focused on developing youth leadership programs. Jeff shares his love of theater with his daughters and can be found taking part in various local productions.

Jennie currently serves as PPM's Director of Operational Standards. She began working with PPM in 2007. Over the years, she has led many mission trips, launched new locations, directed human resources, and developed operations in several countries. Jennie is passionate about connecting and encouraging the global Church through PPM. She earned her BA in Christian Education with minors in Missions and Youth Ministry from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She previously served as the Youth Ministry Director for Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa before moving to Minnesota. She and her husband Nate enjoy visiting family and friends, walking nature trails, staying connected with church, and playing card games.

Jim currently serves as the President of Praying Pelican Missions, previously holding the role of Vice President of Marketing and Development. Jim joined PPM in 2010 with a background in youth ministry, missions, and corporate sales. He has been a pioneer in the development of many of PPM's core strategies for connecting the local church and a key driver in launching over 20 locations. Jim's leadership responsibilities at PPM have included managing the operations in Haiti, developing new partnership locations, and overseeing the marketing and recruiting departments. Jim lives in the greater Minneapolis area with his wife and four children and enjoys the outdoors when not traveling.

Laura Yoch serves as Vice President of Operations. Starting with PPM as an intern in 2006, Laura has fulfilled various roles within the organization since then, serving in Belize, Costa Rica, and Alaska. In her current role, she loves meeting the local churches and pastors who host our teams across the country and learning how mission teams can best partner alongside them. Laura earned her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. She currently resides with her husband and five children in Woodbury, Minnesota. You can find their family making the most of Minnesota's seasons and visiting as many national parks as possible with their pop-up camper.

Mike currently serves as the Director of Web & Technology, where he oversees web and mobile development and manages technology systems. He has worked for PPM for over 13 years and has led mission trips in Belize, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. Before working for PPM, Mike held a technology position with the Cherry Creek School District (in a suburb of Denver, CO). Outside of technology, he brings a diverse vocational background including positions in the Church and Christian education. Mike lives in Centennial, CO with his wife, his nine-year-old daughter, and labrador retriever. In his free time, he enjoys music (listening, performing, and composing), video games, and the many outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.

Nathan serves as the Director of PPM Global, advancing our partnerships around the world and leading PPM365, our church sponsorship program. Prior to this position, he and his family served as full-time missionaries in Costa Rica with PPM for three years where they developed local pastors and staff to launch PPM's first international office. Before working with PPM, Nathan served as a Youth and Young Adult Pastor in Delaware for eight years. He and his wife, Laura, have been married since 2004 and have five children. They live in Alabama, and Nathan keeps busy with family activities, ministry with PPM, and serving his local church.

Therese currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for PPM. Her career has included executive-level management in the areas of Human Resources and Operations in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. She has been a key leader in helping PPM navigate the unique policy, compliance, employee development and relations, and compensation and benefits strategies that come with a multi-national dispersed workforce. Therese particularly loves developing relationships with staff members and clients in a setting that shares the good news of Jesus. She has attained certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources both through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Therese lives with her husband in a rural community outside of Minneapolis, MN. They have three children, all of whom are married, and they love spending as much time with their grandchildren as they can. They also enjoy camping, traveling, theater, music, and serving others.