Board of Directors
NATHAN BURK (CO-FOUNDER)
Nate graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. He works as a Risk Management Consultant at INTL FCStone where he helps originate feedstocks and manage risk for renewable fuel plants. He is married to Joy Burk, has three daughters and a son, Ellerson, Breslyn, Tiernan, and Callahan. Nate and his family reside in Ankeny, IA.
MATTHEW PATITZ (PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER)
Matt earned his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Iowa State University, then spent 5 years working as a software engineer in Redwood City, CA. He returned to Iowa State and spent the next 5 years earning his Ph.D. in theoretical Computer Science. He is now an associate professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where his research is focused on algorithmic self-assembly and natural computing. He is married to Andrea Patitz and has two daughters, Josie and Vivi.
PATRICIA (TRISH) PATITZ (Vice President)
Trish graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a B.S. in Accounting, then earned a C.P.A. and held various positions in middle and top financial/accounting management for both private and public companies during her career. She and her husband Dan retired to a home on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri in 2014.
RENEE SPRATT (TREASURER)
Renee earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting, then worked in public accounting for 4-1/2 years earning her CPA before returning to Iowa State University for a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture. She has worked at Country Landscapes for over 20 years, currently as the Nursery Stock Manager.
Kelly dickerson (secretary)
Kelly Dickerson is the owner of two small transportation companies and the HR Manager of 4 small, related businesses. Kelly and her husband currently split their time between Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and Buchanan, Michigan with their two dogs and two cats.
JENNIFER CASTENSON
Jennifer serves as director of thought leadership content at Hanley Wood. Previously she served as VP of Marketing for Organized Living and in various marketing roles at other global and national nonprofits such as Easter Seals Work Resource Center and Society of Petroleum Engineers. Jennifer graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.A. in public relations and a B.A. in Spanish.
ANDREA PATITZ
Andrea earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Iowa State University. She worked for firms in Minneapolis, MN, Burlingame, CA, and Ames, IA as well as the City of San Jose, CA before dedicating her time to raising her daughters, Josie and Vivi, and her volunteer duties with PTO and Miracle Travel Works. She is married to Matt Patitz.
AARON HORN
Aaron earned his degrees in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurial Studies from Iowa State University. Aaron is the Director of IT for the Iowa Interstate Railroad in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and serves as Board President of three nonprofits (BeatCancerToday.org, CandlelightersNYC.org, and Newbo.co) in addition to serving on the board for Men’s Style Lab and Miracle Travel Works. Aaron’s oldest son Eli (www.elihorn.com) battled cancer for four and a half years and the Horns were beneficiaries of MTW while they traveled back and forth between Iowa and New York for Eli’s treatments. Aaron understands firsthand the valuable service that MTW provides families like his.
PAUL DICKERSON
Paul runs and owns a small basket of service companies in the Fats Oils & Grease space. He was born on the south side of Chicago in Flossmoor until his family relocated to Atlanta, GA in 1991. Paul finished High School and started College in 1994 at GA Southern UNIV where he met his wife, Kelly Dickerson, while in college and they have been together since January 1996 or as long as she will have him. They have no children and spend most of their time together working on the business, their farm or traveling. When they do find free-time, they enjoy traveling, fine dining, and a plethora of live music. Paul keeps in shape while cycling on the country roads and playing awful golf. He is a member of Vistage, the nation’s largest CEO peer to peer network, to which he commonly jokes “I am getting an on the fly MBA, with 3x the cost and none of the paper reward in the end.” Kelly and Paul are active with several charities including MTW.
Stephanie Gott
Stephanie is a passionate, strategically-minded executive people leader and coach. In her field for more than two decades and experiencing multiple disciplines and industries, she has developed an expertise in partnering with business leaders to provide strategic guidance on human capital formation, engagement and culture development throughout the organizations she has served. She also enjoys giving of her time and talents in the community and currently participates in 100 Women Who Care, mentors students at the University of Northern Iowa through their Professional Readiness Program, board member of Engage Ankeny and is a member of the advisory board at Prairie Ridge Church. She has held previous positions serving on the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Iowa, on the executive committee with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night event, Iowa Rush board, United Way and others. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and three busy kiddos. Growing up in Newton, Iowa she spent the majority of her life in central Iowa and returned in 2011 after spending ten years in Phoenix, AZ and Green Bay, WI.
Previous Board Members:
TRAVIS BURK (CO-FOUNDER)
Travis graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, then went on to get a Law degree at the University of Iowa. He has primarily practiced personal injury law in Kansas, and recently moved back to Des Moines, Iowa.
JOE BURK
Joe earned a B.S. from Iowa State University, a Masters in Natural Sciences from Hamline University, and PhD. in Educational Leadership from Capella University. Joe has been a high school science teacher in South St. Paul, MN for 14 years and is happy to work with a group that helps children. Joe and his wife Nikki’s second son, Ethan, was in the NICU for 10 weeks and they understand the stress that comes from having a sick child and spending a lot of time away from home.
JOY BURK
Joy graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and received her master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught elementary education for 8 years in Iowa and Arizona.
LINDA BURK
Linda graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Education and received her master’s degree from Viterbo College in Education. She has taught business education and technology classes for 35 years at the high school, middle school, and college levels.
KILEY SKADBURG
Kiley graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Public Relations and a focus on Journalism and Marketing. She has 7+ years working in the advertising industry and currently works at Two Rivers Marketing, where she serves as an Account Executive for a global business-to-business client. Kiley is also actively involved in the Junior League of Des Moines, AAF of Des Moines and St. Boniface Catholic Church.
SUE KMET
Sue earned her Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics with minors in Aviation Safety and Business Administration, as well as her Master’s in Business Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She also holds certifications in Aviation/Aerospace Safety, a Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR), a Global Professional of Human Resources (GPHR) and an OSHA Training Certificate. As for outside the classroom, she has an extensive background in Human Resources, Business and Management.
In an effort to serve her community, she served as President of the Board of Directors for Bras for the Cause, sat on the Foundation Board for Eyerly Ball Mental Health Facilities and is a voting member, representing employers, for the Iowa Workforce Development Board.
She is married to her husband of 32 years, John, and enjoys spending time with their family, relaxing at Lake of the Ozarks and traveling.
STEPHANIE KENNEBECK
Stephanie is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. She has worked at CCHMC since 2002 as a Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician. She is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She is the physician director of the Electronic Health Record for the CCHMC emergency services group. Her research interests include, biomedical informatics, interplay between human factors and the electronic health record, and family centered care. She is also the mother of three children, Allison, Madelyn and Ryan, and wife of Greg Kennebeck.
MIA ELLIS
Mia is an Executive Coach to purpose-driven leaders across the country. She is passionate about helping leaders and organizations unlock their potential and amplify their impact. She has done this as an Executive Director, Wilderness Leadership Instructor, group facilitator, board member, board chair, and now, as a non profit consultant and executive coach. Mia holds a BA from the University of Colorado and an Advanced Executive Coach Certification through The Hudson Institute. A Northwest native, she now lives in Ankney, Iowa with her husband, Todd, and their 3 daughters.