meet the team

Matt Parker

“We can’t help free those affected by human trafficking if we aren’t actively looking for them. “

As our Co-Founder and CEO, Matt is continually providing vision and oversight for the organization. He has a communications degree and spent a decade working in a local faith community before he began undercover work in SE Asia with police. Currently, he travels and speaks on behalf of the organization, designs the organization’s covert gear, and works with field teams as they press forward for freedom. He has lived overseas several times and traveled extensively doing humanitarian work over the last 15 years. Matt is married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, with whom he founded the organization. They have three kids and love being outdoors in the mountains of Colorado. You can learn more about how he started The Exodus Road here.

Laura Parker

“No human being should have to live as a slave. It’s not the kind of world I want help build.”

Laura is Co-Founder and President of The Exodus Road as well as the Chief Communications Officer. She has a degree in middle grades education, and a second major in English. She began her career as a teacher, and later merged into writing, starting her own blog and writing for various online and print publications. She now directs the Marketing & Communications team and oversees development within the organization. Laura loves collaborating with the field teams and bringing back stories from the front lines. After living in Asia for six years, she now lives in Colorado with her three children, and her husband, Matt Parker. Matt and Laura have been married for over 18 years and are high school sweethearts. You can read the story of how they started the organization by going here.

Stephanie Steinbart

“Entering the world of counter-human trafficking has been a journey for me and certainly not one that I ever anticipated being part of. It’s dark, messy, and excruciatingly sad. But it’s real. And it’s happening every day in every country in our world. Slapped with this truth, I had a decision to make. Would I turn away and pretend I didn’t know? Or would I accept the call to use my feeble gifts in an effort shine just a ray of light in the darkness of this reality? Certainly, the ordinary can do extraordinary things.”

Stephanie is The Exodus Road’s VP of Advancement. While originally from the midwest, she spent most of her career in the South before moving to Colorado. Stephanie has a degree in education and comes to us with over 15 years of nonprofit experience! During her tenure, she has worked for a multitude of organizations including the Susan G. Komen foundation. She has a passion for using her gifts of organizational leadership and collaboration to empower donors to have a hand in the mission of an organization and plans to continue to do just that. She is looking forward to beginning this new chapter in the beautiful state of Colorado working to help find and free victims of human trafficking. Stephanie is excited to share the gorgeous mountain views with her three sons and her husband.

Ryan Cole

“Nobody should be forced to do something against their will, especially what many victims of human trafficking face. I look at my own daughter and would do anything in the world to protect her from the kind of abuse we hear about at The Exodus Road.”

Say hello to Ryan Cole, our VP of marketing! In short, Ryan is responsible for leading the marketing team’s strategy and content. In his own words, “we have so many fantastic stories of the rescues happening throughout the world, it’s our job to capture these stories and motivate our audience to help end human trafficking.” We couldn’t agree more, and we are so excited to see his expertise and experience at work for the team. Ryan has been happily married for nine years and has a six-year-old daughter that keeps him on his toes. In his spare time, he loves to ride his bike around town–make sure to leave him some room on the road!

Cara Bohannon

“Trafficking is another way that women and people are abused, and abuse is not okay in any form.”

Cara joins our team as our Director of Finance and Business Administration. Cara has a strong background in both the non-profit and corporate world and is a wizard when it comes to all-things HR, finance, and business. We appreciate her hard work and determination for our organization. Her love of problem-solving and putting new systems in place allows our behind-the-scenes team to function in a streamlined and consistent way. When Cara is not at work, she loves reading and biking. She is also an accomplished flutist and has even appeared as a soloist on an album.

Stephanie Simer

“I learned about human trafficking from my father who worked with a Federal Law Enforcement organization–but I never knew just how virulent human trafficking was until I stumbled upon The Exodus Road. From there I kept digging and learning and I felt a calling to serve. I knew that if my skills could support TER in their noble mission, it would be a true blessing.”

Financial Integrity is important to us at The Exodus Road, and it’s important that we have a strong team to reflect that! Stephanie is our Accountant who serves the Finance team by assisting with the financial management of TER–everything from day to day accounting entries to audit prep. She graduated from CU Denver with a business degree (emphasis on Accounting) and began her accounting career as a financial auditor. During her down time, Stephanie and her husband enjoy being out and about with friends, finding new breweries, and taking their dogs (and cats) for runs and hikes around the area. We’re very fortunate to have found Stephanie, whose experience and passion will be a force to be reckoned with!

Kyle Bush

“To me, freedom is the most basic human right. I can’t think of anything that is more important than fighting for those who have been deprived of that right.”

After earning his degree in Film and Video Technology from the Colorado Film School and working for Discovery Church as a Media Director – Kyle has joined our team. We have loved having a Multimedia and IT Specialist in house! Kyle is the technical genius behind many of our videos, including “Sunlight on Her Face”. He’s also on standby to resolve all of our basic IT issues. Kyle blows us away with his mastery of technology and talent for storytelling. Kyle lives in Colorado with his wife and daughter and is also pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. His dedication to his family and our mission makes him a great asset to the team. The best part about Kyle? His heart for social justice.

Jamie Smith

“After witnessing the signs of human trafficking first hand on more than one occasion, the thought of someone being held captive in this industry just broke me.  It was something I couldn’t turn a blind eye to.  I’ve felt prompted to enter into this space for quite some time now and am responding to this in an act of obedience in helping these victims.”

Meet our Director of Donor Engagement, Jamie! She is responsible for developing relationships with donors and giving them a high-quality experience with our organization that fosters long-term engagement and investment. Her strong background in communications and proven initiative from both running her own photography business and years working in the non-profit realm makes her a perfect fit for our Advancement Team. When she isn’t in the office, Jamie loves to spend ample time outdoors hiking, camping, and sitting by the bonfire with her husband, three kids, and their two dogs. She also likes to indulge in her guilty pleasure of binge-watching investigative crime shows.

Zach Ferlise

“Human Trafficking is an issue I have experienced first hand when working in North Aurora combatting poverty and homelessness. Once I saw humans being trafficked in my own community, I felt wholeheartedly committed to eradicating this issue.”

Zach helps build strategy and processes within the Advancement Department as their Development Manager. Before joining us at TER, he was Assistant Director of Operations at the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region. His background in organizational leadership and non-profit management makes him the ideal person to lead our team to success! In his spare time, Zach enjoys reading and writing, playing soccer, and binge-watching the latest shows at home with his girlfriend, their corgi, and two cats.

Charlotte Burton

“In my opinion, there is no greater human rights issue in this day and age than modern day slavery. During my college studies, I focused on the issues that affect women globally, and nothing seems more pressing to me than the women and children who are being held against their will…Once you see this, you can’t not see it.”

Charlotte has joined our advancement team as a Donor Engagement Specialist and we are thrilled to have her on board! Her passion for Women’s rights led her to get her degree from High Point University in International Relations and minors in Women’s & Gender Studies and Performance Theatre. She even spent some time working as a hotline fellow for POLARIS, a giant in the anti-trafficking field. Charlotte is excited to build relationships with donors and offer appreciation to those who support the mission of TER. In her spare time, Charlotte is very involved in the local theatre scene and is a devoted dog mom to her chihuahua, Regina.

Marlena Outlaw

“Human Trafficking has always been heavy on my heart, especially having witnessed it the first time I traveled overseas. To see it and know it is always happening, I cannot let that happen on my watch. It is not okay and it feels like such an overwhelming problem, but knowing that I can help just one person out of a dark place makes this huge issue feel that much lighter.”

Marlena was one of the very first employees of The Exodus Road team back in 2012. She was an integral part of the growth of TER and was willing to lend her many talents to any task thrown at her. After working for several other non-profit organizations, she is back with The Exodus Road and we couldn’t be more excited. In her current role, she connects with donors to keep them feeling informed and important. Marlena is married to her best friend and together they have two young children. They are an adventurous family who love being outside and spending time with friends. In addition to being a wonderful team member, wife, and mother, Marlena also teaches yoga. Her willingness and drive make her a valued member of our advancement team and we are so glad she found her way back to our organization.

Kelly Turner

“I was once asked, “What breaks your heart?” Without hesitation it was the thought of children who have lost their freedom and are being trafficked. “You can choose to look away. But you can never say again, you did not know.” –William Wilberforce“

There’s no way we could pull off any of our Galas without our Event Coordinator: Kelly Turner! Previously the Owner and Wedding Planner of Luxe Weddings in Colorado Springs, Kelly has a knack for coordinating important celebrations. She also has an extensive history planning galas, walks, festivals, and other large corporate events for large companies such as Google and Southwest Airlines. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and three children. They love the mountains just as much as the beach and make an effort to get to both as often as they can.

Matt Parker

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Laura Parker Board

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Matt Stowell

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Steve Leigh

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Nate Griffin

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Cliff Clarkson

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Tori Murphy

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Daniel Murphy

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