Staff

The Exodus Road’s main and most valuable staff members are the brave men and women in the field who are investigating sexual slavery, who are supporting the legal community to prosecute traffickers, and who are helping to rehabilitate rescued victims. Unfortunately, for security reasons, we are oftentimes unable to reveal their names or their faces.

We currently have 26 investigators working in an official capacity with The Exodus Road, and we are in partnership with five after-care facilities. We work with 16 organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental, and it’s important to note that our coalition is not specific to any religious or political affiliations.

We do have a Director of Operations on the ground in SE Asia who manages our financials, equipment, operative care, and investigative cases. We have a team of investigators we support in India, as well.

Our stateside office includes:

Matt Parker, Founder & CEO

With over 14 years of nonprofit experience, working with churches and humanitarian organizations both nationally and internationally, Matt was thrust into the counter-trafficking world of investigations because of the constant wrestling with this question: “What if it were your daughters?”

Living for 2 1/2 years on the ground in SE Asia, becoming deputized by the local police himself, and working with other undercover investigators, local government, and the NGO community, he began recognizing the need for a coalition in both targeted intervention and quality after-care. As a natural networker and visionary, and with the help of brave men and women on the ground, he began pulling together members of the coalition with the concept that more can be accomplished with shared resources. He is honored to spearhead the efforts of The Exodus Road that support undercover agents and empower more rescues. Currently, he and his family live in the United States.

Matt is available to speak at events about his experiences in undercover work in brothels throughout SE Asia.

Laura Parker, Vice President, Communications and Fundraising

Laura, Matt’s wife, lived the realities of sending her husband into brothels on a continual basis during their time overseas. While there, she gained a heart for those trapped in dark places and an underlying belief that the world must not be allowed to ignore the plight of victims of modern day slavery. An avid blogger and freelance writer, she is passionate about telling stories from the field for those who can’t speak for themselves– both the brave investigators who must remain undercover and the children and women suffering injustice.

Laura blogs personally at LauraParkerBlog and also edits the site for humanitarian workers, A Life Overseas. You can also find her on twitter: @LauraParkerBlog.

Kelley J. Leigh, Content and Project Management

Kelley brings experience to The Exodus Road. She is a freelance writer who has worked in marketing, local church development, and as a consultant with non-profits.  Kelley and her husband Steve have four sons — two in high school, two in college.  When all of her sons complete school, Kelley hopes to buy an used scooter, complete with a very dorky helmet.

Trish Friesema, Accounting

Bio and picture coming soon

Kelli Stephenson, Executive Assistant

Bio and picture coming soon

*****

Volunteer Staff

Steve Leigh  |  Fundraising and Business Development

Matt Steiner  |  Media Relations

Amy Garcia  |  Social Media Content and Development

Misty Griffin |   Exodus Road Blogger Community

Summer 2013 Interns: Jack Stephenson, Alyssa Scherb

****

Looking for an Internship? We can help! We are looking for committed, creative people to join our team in Colorado. Check out the internship positions we have currently available.

We are also honored to have many other volunteers who empower rescue with us through their generous gifts of time, skills, and resources. Check out how you can join the team.