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, Chief Executive Officer at Amani Family Services, and Senior Program Manager at Welcoming America.  

• Irene is the Founder and Executive Director of The Language Access Lab. Her personal journey fuels her passion for leading nonpartisan initiatives that bridge barriers and promote economic vibrancy.
• In addition to a master's in business administration from Indiana University, she holds a master's in international diplomatic sciences from Universita' 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 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) is Vice President of Operations at Petra Solutions, LLC and joined us 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. 

• Since discovering the power of AI in creating human-focused solutions, Andrew Applegate has established himself as a leader in innovative nonprofit management who leverages AI technologies to transform how mission-driven organizations operate and raise funds. Find out more at https://www.co-crafted.com/andrew-applegate 
• 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. 

Hannah Shoue is the Grant Strategy Specialist for Petra Solutions, LLC and joined the team in 2026. Before Petra, Hannah worked as the Grant Manager for YWCA Northeast Indiana, a local nonprofit providing domestic violence services, addiction recovery services, and sexual assault services. Through her previous role, Hannah gained in-depth experience in grant writing and grant management, helping YWCA secure millions of dollars through foundation and government grant sources. 

• Hannah became a certified grant writer through Learn Grant Writing in 2022 and has been working in the field since 2020.
• Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Purdue University, West Lafayette, with minors in Creative Writing and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Theological Studies online from Wesley Seminary.
• Hannah is a founding member of the Grant Professionals Network of Northeast Indiana, established in 2024. She has also completed training in inclusive leadership, graduating from YWCA USA’s Emerging Leaders program in 2024. 

When she isn’t helping nonprofits or working on grad school, Hannah enjoys reading, writing, cultivating houseplants, tending her garden, and taking dance or yoga classes. She and her husband, David, live in Huntington, Indiana with their two cats, Fitz and Indigo. 

Judy Thomas joins Petra Solutions as a consultant and lead grant writer. She has over 30 years of grant writing experience with numerous arts and social service agencies with budgets ranging from $150,000 to over $4,000,000. Her varied client base and long

history in the not-for-profit field give her a strong understanding of both the grant process and foundation requirements. Judy has always loved writing and enjoys working with clients to help support their mission.

• Judy has completed training in fund development and grant writing through the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy and various professional grant writing workshops.
• Judy holds a B.A. in accounting from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and worked in the field of accounting for 10 years including five years in corporate settings as a staff accountant and financial analyst, and five years as a controller for a small business. This background gives her a strong understanding of budgets and a keen eye for details.
• After 10 years as an accountant, she made the life changing decision to enter the not-for-profit world in 1996 as the Development Director for the YWCA of Northeast Indiana. After five years at the YWCA and a one-year hiatus to add twin boys to her family, she pivoted again in 2021 to begin working as a freelance grant writer.

 In her spare time, Judy enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, and watching the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and IU college sports with her husband. She and her husband hope to spend more time traveling, especially to visit their sons now living in Washington DC and the state of Washington.