About Miracle Travel Works
Miracle Travel Works was founded in September 2010 by a group of close friends who witnessed firsthand the financial difficulties experienced by family and good friends as they attempted to cope with their children’s terminal and chronic illnesses. Recognizing the significant needs faced by these families and many others, we wanted to do more than just make a small donation. For this reason, we formed MTW to ask for your help, too. Together, we can help even more families through their difficult times.
At Miracle Travel Works, our mission is to support and assist families facing the unimaginable challenges of having seriously ill or injured children. We understand the profound impact of medical crises on families, both emotionally and financially. Our commitment is to alleviate the burden by providing essential financial assistance for travel expenses.
We believe families with a seriously ill or injured child should be able to access the medical treatments they need without the added worry of financial strain. Our vision is to empower families to prioritize medical decisions based on securing the highest quality care for their children, rather than being limited by the affordability of travel.
Meet our board of directors
Nate graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He works as a risk management consultant at StoneX where he helps originate feedstocks and manage risk for renewable fuel plants. He is married to Joy Burk and has three daughters, Ellerson, Breslyn, and Tiernan, and one son, Callahan. Nate and his family reside in Ankeny, Iowa.
Matt earned his BS and MS in computer science from Iowa State University, then spent five years working as a software engineer in Redwood City, California. He returned to Iowa State and spent the next five years earning his PhD 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.
Trish graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a BS in accounting, then earned her CPA. 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 earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting, then worked in public accounting for four and a half 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 is the owner of two small transportation companies and the HR manager of four 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.
Andrea earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Iowa State University. She has worked for firms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Burlingame, California, and Ames, Iowa as well as the City of San Jose, California, before dedicating her time to raising her daughters, Josie and Vivi, and her volunteer duties with Miracle Travel Works. She is married to Matt Patitz.
Aaron Horn is the Chief Information Officer at Benchmark, a roof and pavement consulting company headquartered in Cedar Rapids. Prior to Benchmark, Aaron was the Executive Director at the nonprofit NewBoCo. Aaron earned his degrees in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurial Studies at Iowa State University. Aaron also serves as Board Chair for Candlelighters NYC in New York City, Co-founder and President of Beat Cancer Today in Cedar Rapids, Board Secretary for NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids, and District 9EC Childhood Cancer Chair for Lions Club International. 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 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 and grew up there until his family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1991. Paul finished high school and started college in 1994 at Georgia Southern University where he met his wife, Kelly. They have been together since January 1996 and will stay together “as long as she will have him,” according to Paul. 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 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 at three times the cost and none of the paper reward in the end.” Kelly and Paul are active with several charities in addition to MTW.
Stephanie is a passionate, strategically minded executive, people leader, and coach. With over two decades of experience spanning multiple disciplines and industries, she has developed expertise in partnering with business leaders to provide strategic guidance on human capital formation, engagement, and culture development throughout the organizations she has served. Stephanie also enjoys giving her time and talents to the community. She is currently an active participant in "100 Women Who Care," mentors students at the University of Northern Iowa through their Professional Readiness Program, serves as a board member of Engage Ankeny, and is a member of the advisory board at Prairie Ridge Church. She has previously held positions on the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Iowa, served on the executive committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night event, as well as the Iowa Rush Board, United Way, and others. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and three busy kiddos. Growing up in Newton, Iowa, she spent most of her life in central Iowa and returned in 2011 after spending ten years in Phoenix, Arizona, and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Bret is a senior copywriter based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas in the advertising/public relations sequence and has written copy in many applications for several local and national advertising agencies and as a freelancer. Currently, Bret works remotely as a writer and marketing coordinator for the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He and his wife, Angie, live in Fayetteville with their son, Cooper, and dog, Geddy.
Previous board members
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.
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 earned a BS from Iowa State University, a Master 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, Minnesota 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 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 eight years in Iowa and Arizona.
Linda graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in business education and received her master’s degree in education from Viterbo College. She has taught business education and technology classes for 35 years at the high school, middle school, and college levels.
Kiley graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in public relations with a focus on journalism and marketing. She has more than seven years of experience 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 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 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 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 nonprofit 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 three daughters.
