Our Team
Michael Peterson
Co-Founder & Board President
michael@missionsake.com
Brittney Peterson
Co-Founder
brittney@missionsake.com
In 2005 Michael and Brittney, along with their children, Eliana and John Peterson came to El Salvador on a surf trip. It was on this trip when they made the purchase of their beach home in El Zonte. Over the next several years, they became friends with a number of missionary families in El Salvador and began allowing them to use their beach house as a place of rest. Through this interaction, the Petersons began to understand the struggles that missionary families faced living in a country marred by violence and poverty. The time spent with the missionary families opened their eyes to the growing need that missionaries face. This led them to eventually move to El Salvador and form, missionsake . In 2014 they officially open the first missionary guest house in El Zonte and then in Punta Mango. Their heart is to see missionaries in Central America living healthy lives to further the kingdom of God. The Peterson family returns to the United States every summer to run their seasonal family business in order to support themselves.
CRISTINA ROBECK
Director of Partner Relations & Operations
Cristina Robeck and her family are former missionaries to El Salvador. In the spring of 2014 they accepted a full-time missionary position with ENLACE, as the in-country program directors of their study abroad program. This program provided an opportunity for college and university students from the United States, to spend an entire semester abroad learning about community development, church leadership, the history of Latin America, and so much more. Prior to becoming a missionary, Cristina ran her own marketing and graphic design company for over 10 years. Her love for fundraising, marketing, and missionary care led her to accept the position of Director of Partner Development and Operations with missionsake .
Mandy Osborn
Administrative Assistant
Mandy Osborn brings her experience to joyfully serve missionsake as our Administrative Assistant. Mandy and her husband David raised their four children on the mission field in Guatemala. During their nine-year tenure there they taught at the Christian Academy of Guatemala and helped run an annual summer camp designed exclusively to meet the needs of missionary kids. In addition, Mandy worked with AMG International, a U.S.-based missions organization, as their Short-Term Missions Team Coordinator.
The Osborn family made first contact with El Zonte in 2003 when visiting from Guatemala. Since then God has developed a deep relationship with the local families. For over a decade, the Osborns have hosted an annual short-term missions team to El Zonte. This team of Christian surfers leads a Vacation Bible School and enlists the assistance of El Zonte’s youth to provide a fun program to deliver the gospel to El Zonte’s children. God has given the Osborns and their team members an agape love for our “Zonteños” and the Osborns are so happy to partner with missionsake’s Community Build program.
Board
Trey Sklar
Board Chair
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Trey Sklar lives with his wife and four children in Switzerland. He enjoys the joys of close friendships and hospitality as well as the adventures and challenges of travel and life in lands abroad. Trey’s career has spanned several countries and he is currently a manager at the Hilti Corporation in Liechtenstein. He has a degree in International Studies from Westmont College and an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird University.
Nicole Katona
Secretary and Treasurer
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Nicole Katona is an Assistant Vice President and Risk Manager for Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Nicole has over twenty years of experience in many areas of the financial industry having worked in Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Compliance, and integrated technology services with the title, escrow and insurance industry. Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business with an emphasis on International Economics, and a Minor in Spanish from Westmont College. She has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 2004, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) since 2010, and Certified System Information Auditor (CISA) since 2016. Nicole has previously volunteered and served on boards for Habitat for Humanity Santa Barbara, Silicon Valley, and East Bay/Silicon Valley, California. She and her family have also been active donors to missionsake for many years.
Ian Bare, MD
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Ian is a Family Practice physician living in San Clemente, CA with his wife and three young children. Dr. Bare shares a passion for international ministry, having traveled extensively providing medical relief through different non-profit organizations and seeing the lasting positive effects of investing in local churches. When he’s not at work or home with family, Ian enjoys competing in endurance sports and leading worship for their local church.
Josh Chartier
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Josh Chartier was born in Laguna Beach, California. As a Pastor’s kid, he moved often, living in Hawaii, California, and Connecticut before returning to Santa Barbara to attend Westmont College. Josh graduated in 1997 with a BA in Political Science and, more importantly, met his wife, Robin, while at Westmont.
Soon after graduation, Josh was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and spent the next 21 years in various levels of leadership. He was fortunate to work with foreign militaries and communities around the world – traveling extensively throughout Asia and the Middle East. Since December 2010, Josh and his family have been living and working in the Middle East and currently reside in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He retired from the Marine Corps in July 2018 and now works for L3 Technologies as a Regional Business Development Manager. Robin and Josh have four children: Calvin (19 yrs.), Carter (17 yrs.), Caleb (14 yrs.) and Camille (8 yrs.).
Pete DeSoto
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Pete DeSoto has a diverse background working in business, as well as with non-profits, and ministry organizations. Early in his career (2000) he helped launch a business unit for Regency Lighting (a national lighting supplier) that has since grown to be a leader in the industry. In 2005, Pete left the business and, with his family, served as a missionary in El Salvador supporting local churches to reach out to their communities. In 2007 his caravan in El Salvador was attacked by a gunman, and he was shot in the neck, left for dead. Miraculously, God protected his life, and he and his family remained in the country to continue serving until 2010. His inspirational story can be found in the book he co-authored, SHOT: A couple, a country, and the stubborn quest for hope.
Over the course of his career Pete has served as an executive director, college instructor, lead pastor, executive pastor, VP of sales, and business developer. He currently serves on a couple of non-profit boards, and has returned to the lighting/electrical industry doing business development for All Sale Electric, a subsidiary of Regency Lighting. Pete has been married to Dara for 22 years, and they have four kids (PJ is a junior at SDSU, Isaac just graduated Carlsbad High, Hannah + Kaya both attend Carlsbad High), and live in Carlsbad, CA. He spends most his free time on pool decks, as all four kids play competitive water polo. He also enjoys golfing and traveling to El Salvador to surf.
Terry Fowler
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Terry Fowler is President and Founder of Petro-Land Group, Inc. She began this company in 1984. She is wildly married to Eddie Fowler and has three beloved dogs. She is a true animal lover, enjoys the canvas of painting animals in their natural environment, enjoys the quietness of gardening, and creating on the scapes of homes and buildings through interior design. She is mesmerized by God’s amazing masterpieces on the beach and loves each sunset that He sets. While on her first mission trip to Belize in 1990 she fell in love with Central America and the beautiful people. She currently serves on the board of GraceWorks Counseling Ministry with Green Acres Baptist Church, and is on the Executive Committee for the HOA at The Phoenix in Belize. She and her husband have been faithfully serving missionsake for the last 3 years.
Jenny Paulson
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Jenny Paulson lives in Costa Mesa with her husband Erik, and their three boys, Jude, James, and Jonah. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a B.S. in Kinesiology, and subsequently earned a teaching credential in special education. She is currently a stay-at-home mom dedicated to raising her boys. Her family as a whole enjoys traveling together. They tend to choose their vacations based on waves and warm water, so Erik and the boys can surf. Their family is passionate about community care on a local and global basis. They are invested in their surrounding neighborhood, and the community in which they live. They have hosted several free community skateboarding events as a way to reach out and provide a safe environment for young kids. As a family they have partnered with the community in El Zonte via Mike Peterson, and relationships with people in that community. Jenny’s heartbeat definitely lies in mission care; she enjoys meeting missionaries, hearing about their journey and finding a way to support what they do. This is her first time being a board member and she feels quite excited to be part of missionsake.
David Wojnicki
David Wojnicki serves as Lead Pastor at Valley Center Community Church where he has ministered for the last 16 years. David is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Reformed Theological Seminary. David and his wife Hannah live in Southern California along with their three daughters.