MEET YOUR CHURCH
search team.

Hello, I’m Alex Purtell and I am one of the Co-Founders of Froot Group. Ever since I became a Christian and started serving as a worship leader, my heart has always been for the church and for the incredible ministry of worship.

I have seen the need for churches and worship leaders alike to have a simple and easy way to quickly connect when looking to fill a position in the church. After meeting with several pastors and worship leaders about this idea, I knew that I needed to take the next step and make this happen for churches and worship leaders across the country.

As a graduate from Cedarville University with a degree in Worship, and as a worship leader myself for over a decade, I understand the difficulties of trying to find a job. I’ve been there myself. At Froot Group, this is what we’re devoted to – placing candidates and helping fill open positions quickly. I strive to make Froot Group relevant and customer service driven.

My main responsibility is to keep Froot Group competitive through strategic planning, training and management of daily operations. I bring energy, care and drive to everything I do by focusing on people and partnerships. Let me help you spend less time stressing and more time doing what you’re called to do: Producing fruit for God. I look forward to personally working with you!

Hello, I’m Meggan Jacobus and I am one of the Co-Founders for Froot Group. I am a business leader, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with a passion for business development, talent acquisition, and organizational growth. As a Co-Founder of Froot Group, I specialize in human relations, marketing, project management, and social media strategy.

Entrepreneurship runs in my family, and I’ve always been driven to create opportunities and build meaningful connections. My passion for marketing and business development began while attending Franklin University, where I discovered my enthusiasm for helping businesses grow. With over a decade of ministry experience, I developed a deep understanding of the unique needs of churches and ministry staff. This experience, combined with my expertise in business operations, allows me to connect top-tier candidates with organizations where they can truly thrive.

Building strong, lasting relationships is at the core of what I do. I take pride in identifying talent and placing individuals in environments where their skills and personalities align with the organization's culture. My goal is to create meaningful connections and provide strategic solutions that support both professionals in their career journeys and churches in building high-performing teams.

Beyond my career, I’ve been an entrepreneur myself and come from a long line of entrepreneurs, which has shaped my passion for innovation and leadership. I’ve also been happily married to my husband, Nate, for 25 years, and together we have two amazing children, Aiva and Anastasia. Family is incredibly important to me, and I bring that same sense of care and commitment to the work I do.

I am passionate about helping others realize their full potential and making the hiring process as seamless as possible. Whether you're searching for your next career opportunity or looking to build a stellar team, I look forward to working with you!

Hello, I’m Matt Uitti and I am a Search Coach at Froot Group. I have had the privilege to serve as a pastor in family ministry since 2007. I love the local church and everything Next Gen!

Before obtaining my degree in Ministry Leadership from Cornerstone University, I was pursuing a degree in architecture. While also serving in Student ministry, God showed me how I was to use my skills of planning and vision, but in the church. God has given me a strategic mind for ministry, a zeal for developing staff and a passion to see the local church to thrive!

I understand the unique role and demands of Family Ministry in the church. I have served in multiple Family Ministry roles, serving infants through college, parents and grandparents. Currently, I am in a position that allows me to develop, disciple and launch ministry leaders from all generations, both locally and globally.

I look forward to partnering with you to find the next leader for your ministry!

Hello! I’m David Shane Barnett, and I serve as a Search Coach with Froot Group. I love Jesus, I love the Church, and I genuinely love helping ministries find the right leaders to move their mission forward.

I’ve been serving in full-time ministry since 2008, when I started as the classic “combo guy” — leading both worship and student ministry. Since then, the Lord has allowed me to serve across multiple areas of church leadership including discipleship, executive leadership, and teaching. I currently serve as a Co-Lead Pastor at Park Chapel in Greenfield, Indiana, where I preach regularly, help shape vision, and invest in staff and leaders.

Academically, I began my undergraduate work at Cedarville University and completed my B.S. in Religion from Liberty University. I went on to earn both a Master of Arts in Religion in Christian Ministry and a Master of Divinity in Professional Ministry. I have also completed my ThM in Applied Theology and Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary — degrees that deepened my passion for healthy church leadership, staff culture, and organizational clarity.

One of the things I care most about — and what fuels my work with churches — is identifying talent, calling, and chemistry. Resumes matter. Experience matters. But what matters most is alignment: theological, cultural, relational, and visionary. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than watching a servant of God step into the right environment and flourish. When the right leader is in the right seat, the entire church benefits!

I’ve been married to my wife, Alicia, since 2003, and we have two amazing daughters, Brooklyn and Ayla. As a family we love fishing, board games, movies, traveling when we can, and laughing… a lot.

I would be honored to partner with you as you prayerfully discern your next ministry hire. Our goal isn’t just to fill a position — it’s to help you find the right shepherd to serve your church for years to come.

I look forward to meeting you and walking alongside your team in the search process.

Hello, I’m Derek Harsch and I am the Marketing Director at Froot Group. I grew up in the church and accepted Jesus as a child while attending a church program called Awana. My love for Jesus and His Kingdom, has truly made me the man that I am today.

I started my marketing journey back in 2013 and have since led multiple businesses and organizations in their marketing direction, strategies, and efforts. I was also part of church ministry for 8 years and truly understand the needs that the local church faces in today’s society. Our family currently resides in the Midwest where I serve our local church on the worship and photography team.

I love spending time with my family, watching sports (I’m a sports junkie), playing music, and exercising daily. I recently ran my first ever 5k, where I took 2nd place in my age group!