Staff

Andrew Sears, Executive Director

Andrew has worked in community computer centers since 1997. He most recently served as the co-founder and director of the PREP Community Computer Center, which serves approximately 600 students annually. He regularly gives talks at conferences on faith based organization and the Digital Divide including CTCNet, Kingdomworks, the Christian Community Development Association and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. He grew up in an inner-city environment, and was the son of a Baptist preacher in a Black storefront church in Kansas City (Andrew's testimony). He later received his MS in Technology and Policy and MS in Computer Science at MIT. While at MIT, he co-founded the Internet and Telecoms Consortium, a research group with an annual budget of over $1 million. He has also worked as summer staff at the City Union Mission in Kansas City and at Cape Town City Mission Homes in South Africa. He and his wife Heather live in Dorchester, MA and are active in their local church.

Bil Mooney-McCoy , Director of Safe Families/Web Developer

Bil is spearheading the Safe Families initiative. He has been in the Information Technology field for more than 20 years, particularly as a computer programmer. He has also done extensive work counseling and teaching on pornography and its impact on families. He is a native of Boston, gratefully married and the father of three. Bil is a co-pastor at The Gathering Christian Fellowship, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational house church in Dorchester. He has a B.A. in Black Studies and Sociology from Brandeis University and a Masters of Music in Jazz Piano from New England Conservatory of Music.

Brittany Coulbert, Director of Program Operations

Brittany is responsible for overseeing the TechMission Corps program through such activities as training and supervising TechMission Corps members. In the fall of 2007, she moved to Seattle, and continues in her position from there. Brittany previously served as a TechMission Corps member at the Greenwood Shalom After-School Program in Dorchester. She has also spent time with InterVarsity in places such as Nairobi, Cairo, and Bangkok, as well as with Homeless Children International in Kenya, in order to study issues of poverty and injustice in the world’s poorest communities. Brittany graduated with a BS and an MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering from MIT, where she studied and tested low-cost household water purification systems for developing countries. While in Boston, she attended Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, where she has served on the World Missions Committee and in the Gospel Choir. In her free time, Brittany enjoys singing, baking, knitting, watching movies, and playing with her pets.

Rachel Valencia, TechMission Corps Program Assistant

Rachel assists Brittany in the training and supervising of TechMission Corps members, as well as with the recruitment, interviewing, and placement of new members. She moved to the Boston area in June 2008, so that her husband Juan could work on his M.Div. at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Previously Juan and Rachel were on staff with Here's Life Inner City, through which Rachel spent four years in Milwaukee, WI and one year in Louisville, KY. While on staff with Here's Life Inner City, Rachel assisted inner city churches in opening and operating their own S.A.Y. Yes! after school centers. Rachel holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and spent a year teaching first grade in a public school near her hometown in North Carolina before pursuing full-time urban ministry. She also spent 15 months in Ireland with World Harvest Mission and has traveled to England, France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco.

Harriet Hodge-Henry, Director of Administration

Harriet is responsible for the daily administration of the organization. She previously worked as an administrative supervisor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the New England Medical Center. She also worked at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Accounting Department. She was a production manager at Digital Equipment Corporation in Roxbury, MA. Harriet is an active member of her church – The Gathering Christian Fellowship – and she also is the director and founder of a youth organization – The Kids Klub of Roxbury. Harriet received her BS in Operations Management from the University of New Haven.

Melvina Daley, Administrative Assistant

Melvina is responsible for the bookkeeping entries at TechMission.  She also performs administrative tasks for the Operations Department and other departments as needed.  She previously worked at PREP in the computer lab at Bruce Wall Ministries. She is a regular attendee at  Beulah Pilgrim Holiness Church in Dorchester, MA where she sometimes is asked to preach.

Rev. Michael Liimatta, Director, City Vision College

Starting in January 2008, Michael has served as Director for City Vision College, TechMission's accredited distance-learning institution, which provides online instruction for urban ministry leaders. He previously served as Director of Education for the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, a position in which he managed Rescue College (now City Vision College) and the other instructional programs of the AGRM. To read his full biography and testimony, click here.

Dr. Fletcher Tink, Academic Dean, City Vision College

Dr. Tink serves as Academic Dean for City Vision College, as he previously did when the AGRM operated the college. He is also Executive Director for the Bresee Institute for Metro Ministries and adjunct professor of Urban and Compassionate Ministries at the Nazarene Theological Seminary. He is a prolific preacher and writer and has been involved in community development efforts on on several continents.Click here to read his full biography.

Ali McCracken, Lead Web Developer

Ali is our one of our Web Developers at TechMission, including programming for the TechMission Volunteer Search Engine, and serves as the Project Manager of the Tech Team. Ali previously served as a TechMission Corps member at the PREP Community Computer Center. She provided general computer lab support, computer and Internet instruction, and facilitated a computer club for youth. Ali has also worked under the supervision of Professor Russell Bjork to assist in the development of an Online Intramural Registration Program for Gordon College that allowed students to register for intramural athletics programs and staff to maintain intramural sports programs. She has also served as a short-term missionary to Piet Retief, South Africa. With her previous church, she attended and later co-led youth group missions throughout the United States as well as serving as the pastor’s assistant with the confirmation class. Ali graduated from Gordon College with a degree in Computer Science.

David White, Web Developer

David joined TechMission in June, 2009 and helps the Technology Team to maintain TechMission’s websites by programming and assisting with server administration. He also helps to maintain the office network. In May, 2009, he graduated from Covenant College with a B.A. in Community Development. The summer before, he spent 3 months doing a research internship in the Philippines with Food for the Hungry. Having taught himself most of what he knows in the IT industry, David is excited about pursuing a career combining his community development degree with his IT skills and experience.

Anna Gilliam, Graphic/Web Designer

Anna serves as part of our Technology Team. She provides graphic and web design for TechMission and partners' websites and print media, which includes theming and editing styles, redesign of homepages, creating web-ads and print ads and various printed materials. She also volunteers to organize social occasions for co-workers.
Anna is originally from the Ukraine; she came to the US seven years ago. She started her academic career by attending free Photoshop and Job Placement courses that were offered by the PREP Community Computer Center. She felt empowered to continue to community college, where she studied Web Technology. In the spring of 2006 she interned in Washingon, DC in National Public Radio's creative department. Anna graduated from Bridgewater State College with a BA degree in Graphic Design and Fine Art in May 2006.

Amber Brady, Graphic/Web Designer

Amber is originally from Indiana and moved to Boston in July 2009 to take a position as a Web Designer with TechMission. In May 2009 she graduated from Grace College with a degree in Graphic Design and Drawing and Painting. She has had her artwork featured in several exhibitions including the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. While attending college she worked for three years as lead layout editor for the college's student publications. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, painting, concerts, and keeping in touch with friends and family.

Sarah Funke, Grant Writer

Sarah supports the development team at TechMission doing research and drafting grants. Previous experience with Christian non-profits include an internship (2003-2004) with Generous Giving. After her internship concluded, she continued research/writing projects for Generous Giving in a freelance capacity. In 2004, she graduated with a B.A. in Music and a B.A. in Philosophy from Covenant College and in 2007, she received an M.A. in Music Criticism from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Natalie Parragué, Grant Writer

Natalie proudly supports the development team at Techmission, drafting grant proposals and providing essential research in securing funding for the organization. She received her BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota –Twin Cities and an AA in Liberal Arts from Normandale Community College. Before joining staff at TMC, she was a volunteer staff writer for 3 years at Grace Church of Eden Prairie, MN, writing for InTouch quarterly newsletter with a total distribution of 5,000 copies. She contributed to the Minnesota Women’s Press as editorial intern in Fall 2007, becoming an active voice in the women’s community. She also assisted kids with learning and developmental disabilities for Edina Public Schools in 2007-08, enriched by witnessing students succeed and changed by the unique bonds formed with students. Her passions include sports, fashion, poetry, music and ministry.

Theresa McLoyd, Internship Coordinator, City Vision College

Theresa is an Internship Coordinator with City Vision College for TechMission. She received her license to preach and her ordination as an Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal church during the tenure of Bishop John R. Bryant presiding Bishop of the 5th Episcopal District. She served as the Associate Pastor at St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Olathe, Kansas for 7 years. She has been a member of The Historical Friendship Baptist Church of Kansas City Missouri for 5 years.

Theresa has a heart to work with senior citizens and youth. She is currently teaching in the youth bible study class. Theresa is a member of many social and civic organizations to include, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Order of Eastern Star, National Association of Colored Women’s and Youth Clubs, Kansas City Missouri Announcers Guild, NAACP and various other organizations. It is her desire to continue to work by reaching out meeting the needs of all people. Theresa hopes to be able to develop educational programs to implement the trends of aging in the urban core community for senior citizens.

Theresa received her Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management in an online program At American InterContinental University. She is currently a student at Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, MO working on a Masters degree in Missions with an Urban Core Ministry focus.

Evan Donovan, Online Publications Editor

Evan works under Andrew on the content and structure of the UrbanMinistry.org site, as well as providing technical support for TechMission's websites and supervising the content submission projects undertaken by the Volunteer Coordinator team. Before joining the staff in July 2007, he served with TechMission Corps at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Dorchester, MA, as technology coordinator/program assistant. He received a B.A. in English from Covenant College, a small liberal arts college in Lookout Mountain, GA, in 2006. In his free time, he is active in a Dorchester, MA church plant, as well as in volunteering at Sanctuary, a youth arts outreach program which is part of Starlight Ministries. 

Cesar Espinoza, Online Publications Editor

Cesar has started working with TechMission in June 2009.

Becca Nelson, Online Publications Editor

Becca is an Online Editor, Partnerships Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for TechMission. Her undergraduate degree in Professional and Technical Communication and graduate degree in Media Communications and Teaching Technologies were both earned at Rochester Institute of Technology in her home state of New York. During her studies, Becca worked for a technology-for-nonprofits firm called VanDamme Associates (now Nimble User), as a public relations intern for University News and in marketing communications for JetBlue Airways. Becca’s passion for the poor has led her to live in other places of the world, taking off for winter academic semesters and spending months in Nairobi, Kijabe (Kenya), Ramallah (Palestinian Territories), and Croatia. During her stays in Kenya, Becca created a manual for the construction of solar powered computer centers (made from shipping containers) and has started a community based organization called Family Focus Foundation (please link to www.familyfocus.wordpress.com). Becca continues to manage the organization that cares for families in Kware and Mwiki (slums in Nairobi, Kenya), hoping to provide spiritual wholeness, emotional and physical health and community for its members. In Boston, Becca loves church, exploring, playing music and discovering new ice cream flavors.

Rachael Jarboe, Volunteer Network Coordinator

Rachael is a Volunteer Network Coordinator for TechMission. She is a graduate of Nyack College class of 2002 and of Alliance Theological Seminary class of 2004. While at Nyack College her undergraduate major was urban missions and music. She received her Master’s degree in Cross-Cultural studies to learn how to interact in urban ministry and global missions. While in college she was involved for six years of part-time outreach in a multicultural inner city setting with gospel teams. These groups are student run community outreach groups in the Bronx and Brooklyn boroughs of New York City. She was also involved for one year with small town outreach to disadvantaged youth and families in her hometown of Leonardtown, MD. During graduate school and until recently she has been involved in college student ministry in the areas of Assistant Resident Director at Nyack College to Assistant Food Service Director at Nyack College and Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA. In these positions her ministry was to serve the college students and show Christ’s love to them. She is currently helping with her church’s Sunday morning technology of sound / projection, and is also actively involved with youth ministry and leading small groups.

Miki Omori, Volunteer Network Coordinator

As of September 2007, Miki joined the TechMission team as a TechMission Corps volunteer network coordinator. She is responsible for recruiting and overseeing partner organizations and volunteers on ChristianVolunteering.org -TechMission's volunteer network service website. Though originally from Philadelphia, Miki graduated from Boston University in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism. At B.U., Miki served as a reporter, anchor, and producer for the university's radio and television stations, even working as a contributing live reporter for National Public Radio's Cape Cod affiliate during the 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election. She also was a regular member of B.U.’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. During her free time, Miki enjoys reading, playing ultimate frisbee, running, music, and spending time with friends and family.

Rakiesha Chase, Volunteer Network Coordinator

After graduating from Albright College in 2006 with a BS in Digital Media and Information Systems, Rakiesha spent a year working at a television station in the Philadelphia market before returning home to Baltimore, MD in search of a career. In the midst of her search, she happened upon Americorps and TechMission and the rest is history in the making. Rakiesha is working at TechMission as a Volunteer Network Coordinator assisting with adding and maintaining content on TechMission's websites. In her free time, Rakiesha enjoys touring Boston, video games and perusing the Internet.