PETRA SOLUTIONS LLC

Irene Paxia (she/her) founded Petra Solutions, LLC in 2020.  Her consulting practice draws upon 20 years of diverse experience in immigration, fundraising, academic education, and government planning. Irene has worked with a wide range of organizations.

Her professional background includes positions as Multicultural Information Exchange Program Director at the American Red Cross, Language/Culture Lecturer at Purdue University, Community Development Specialist at the City of Fort Wayne, and Chief Executive Officer at Amani Family Services.  

• Irene currently serves as Certified Welcoming Senior Program Manager at Welcoming America. Her personal journey fuels her passion for leading initiatives that create a more inclusive society and promote the civil responsibility of companies and service providers.
• In addition to a master's in business administration from Indiana University, she holds a master's in International Diplomatic Sciences from the Università di Bologna (Italy), along with certifications in Fundraising Management (CFRM) and Project Management.
• Irene's dedication to positive change extends to private businesses, government institutions, and volunteer groups, driven by her genuine passion for humanity.  Her work with refugees earned her recognition in a July 2021 mural by the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Irene grew up in Italy, where her name is pronounced "Ee-reh-neh." However, she's perfectly fine with the English pronunciation as well, reflecting her adaptability: "As long as people talk to me, I don't worry about it."

Andrew Applegate (he/him) joined Petra Solutions, LLC in 2022, bringing extensive experience in grant writing and qualitative reporting, strategic planning, and community needs assessments, as well as hospitality, with companies ranging from nonprofit entities to government, and private clubs. 

• Andrew owns ApplegateVO, with a voice-over studio he runs from home. He uses his recorded voice to narrate stories, explain information, as well as in telephone prompts, media, and other presentations.  
• Andrew's work experience includes the roles of planning coordinator at Brightpoint, administrative support at Allen County Commissioners' Office, and suite manager at Parkview Field. Andrew is passionate about improving processes to build efficiencies and loves to support collective impact projects. He has experience in programs that include financial education and nutrition.  
• Andrew's studies include a master's in public administration at Indiana University and a bachelor's in hospitality management at Purdue University, besides certifications in Fundraising Management (CFRM), ROMA Trainer (Results-Oriented Measurement and Accountability) and Project Management. 

Andrew loves to travel and read books about history, fantasy and sci-fi. He enjoys cooking and building things in his garage for his family. He is happily married to his wife, Irene Paxia, owner of Petra Solutions, LLC.