Board of Director Biographies
CEO/Co-Founder:
Micaela Brancato is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is currently serving as an Air Force Officer in the California Air National Guard and student at the National Defense University. She grew up in Fargo, ND, before attending the Air Force Academy in 1996, where she studied Human Sciences & Engineering. After graduating college in 2000, she served on Active Duty in Cannon AFB, NM; Charleston AFB, SC; and at the Air Force Academy, CO as an instructor. She served in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 2008-2014, where she and her husband Matthew called Detroit Lakes, MN home. After purchasing the Holbrook Farms Retreat property in 2010, the vision for hosting retreats for military survivors began in 2011 after military-related fatalities of close friends. In 2011, she deployed to Afghanistan and 2014 had the honor of serving in the Pentagon as Strategic Communications and Executive Officer for Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. She is a business owner representing Rodan + Fields Skincare, which directly contributed to opening Holbrook Farms 5 years ahead of schedule. She currently lives with Matthew in Washington, DC.
President/Co-Founder:
Matt Brancato is the Co-Founder and president for Holbrook Farms Retreat. He is currently serving as a pilot in the Air National Guard in Memphis, TN, after completing school at The National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Aurora, IL before attending the Air Force Academy in 1995, where he studied General Engineering. After graduating college in 1999, he served on Active Duty at Aviano AB, Italy; Laughlin AFB, TX; Charleston, SC; and at the Air Force Academy as an instructor. He joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2008, where he and his wife, Micaela, landed in Detroit Lakes, MN. After purchasing the Holbrook Farms Retreat property in Detroit Lakes in 2010, the vision for hosting retreats for military survivors began in 2011 after military-related fatalities of friends. In 2014-2016, Matt was assigned to Andrews AFB, MD, then moved to California for a command assignment in 2017-2019.
Vice President
Jessica Domitrovich is the Vice President for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is a native of Missoula, Montana, a mom to two little girls, a military spouse, and a business owner. She graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in Airport Management and put that degree to good use by working at airports before starting her own airport consulting business in 2003. She traveled the world helping make airports safer and had a lot of fun meeting people from all across the globe. Jessica developed a strong sense of devotion to Holbrook Farms mission after losing several friends in the military. She has always been an ardent lover of our great nation and after the loss of her friends, her love grew into a passion of wanting to help the Survivors mourn and find a way to build their next chapter. This loss has led her to her passion of giving back to those families that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. She now works part-time with her second business as a market developer for Rodan + Fields. Jessica is married to Christopher Domitrovich and they have two children, Sophia and Scarlett.
Treasurer:
Ivonne brings over 30 years of experience to the position of treasurer for Holbrook Farms Retreat. Over the past 24 years, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States as the wife of a now retired military member. Ivonne has been married for 30 years and has 3 wonderful children. During her years as a military spouse, she dedicated countless hours performing charity work in support of military families. Since earning her Accounting Degree, she acquired extensive experience with Government and private industry. Ivonne worked for CIA, Department of the Air Force and Department of the Navy. Ivonne is also an entrepreneur as an independent Rodan + Fields Skincare consultant and a Travel Professional for Inteletravel. Ivonne was born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico and currently resides in Maryland. In her spare time, Ivonne likes to relax by quilting and embroidering. She's passionate about service to military families and is excited to be doing work that benefits others.
Secretary:
Jadee Purdy joined the Holbrook Farms Retreat Board of Directors first in an informal role in 2018 as a strategic advisor and then more recently became our Secretary in 2019. Jadee’s passion for the Holbrook Farms Retreat mission grew from the relationships she developed during her time in the Air Force as well as from her role as part of a military family. Her direct connection to the board came through our founders, but she has formed life-long lasting relationships with all the board members and is extremely proud to serve as a team member for such a remarkable philanthropic organization. Jadee’s favorite part of HFR is the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much for others as well as the chance to support a cause that is truly a grass roots organization. HFR’s powerful impact is a direct result of all the efforts of the amazing volunteers/donors. The huge amount of self-sacrifice that the team shows every day to ensure HFR is a world-class survivor of heroes’ wellness retreat is inspiring. Originally from Iowa, Jadee currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Jason, who serves in the Air Force, their three daughters, and their retired racing greyhound.
Survivor Representative:
Sarah Merwin is the Survivor Representative for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is a native of Fargo, North Dakota, and an Air Force veteran. Sarah graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2003 and served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer for 7 years. Sarah is also a Military Survivor. Her husband, Air Force pilot Captain Eric Ziegler, died when his aircraft crashed in June of 2011. After several years as a single mother to their daughter Anna, Sarah is now remarried to her husband Bob. They welcomed their second daughter, Emma, in 2016. Sarah and her family live in Las Vegas, Nevada, and spend summers with friends and family in the Fargo/Moorhead/Detroit Lakes area. Sarah enjoys playing golf and tennis, volunteering time teaching children’s Bible study, and spending time on Lake Eunice in the summer. She is especially passionate about giving back to the Military Survivor community through Holbrook Farms Retreat. Sarah hopes to share the hope, healing, and peace of Holbrook Farms with as many Survivors as possible.
Operations Officer:
Trudy was born and raised in North Dakota, where small-town fun involved kick the can and playing sports. She lives with her husband, Derek, and their three children along with their golden retriever in West Fargo, ND. Her husband is full-time in the North Dakota Army National Guard and they have always taken pride in the fact they are a military family.
Her professional career has been providing occupational therapy services to children in the school setting, psychiatric inpatient setting and in an outpatient clinic setting. She loved building relationships with the children and families, celebrating goals and milestones. Recently Trudy had a career change where she is now the Child & Youth Program Coordinator for the North Dakota National Guard. Being a military family, this career change was close to home. After hearing about Holbrook Farms Retreat and their mission, she felt an immediate connection. She is excited to put her background and efforts into an organization close to her heart. If you are looking for Trudy, you will find her at a sporting event, social get together, playing league volleyball, or at the lake with her family.
Micaela Brancato is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is currently serving as an Air Force Officer in the California Air National Guard and student at the National Defense University. She grew up in Fargo, ND, before attending the Air Force Academy in 1996, where she studied Human Sciences & Engineering. After graduating college in 2000, she served on Active Duty in Cannon AFB, NM; Charleston AFB, SC; and at the Air Force Academy, CO as an instructor. She served in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 2008-2014, where she and her husband Matthew called Detroit Lakes, MN home. After purchasing the Holbrook Farms Retreat property in 2010, the vision for hosting retreats for military survivors began in 2011 after military-related fatalities of close friends. In 2011, she deployed to Afghanistan and 2014 had the honor of serving in the Pentagon as Strategic Communications and Executive Officer for Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. She is a business owner representing Rodan + Fields Skincare, which directly contributed to opening Holbrook Farms 5 years ahead of schedule. She currently lives with Matthew in Washington, DC.
President/Co-Founder:
Matt Brancato is the Co-Founder and president for Holbrook Farms Retreat. He is currently serving as a pilot in the Air National Guard in Memphis, TN, after completing school at The National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Aurora, IL before attending the Air Force Academy in 1995, where he studied General Engineering. After graduating college in 1999, he served on Active Duty at Aviano AB, Italy; Laughlin AFB, TX; Charleston, SC; and at the Air Force Academy as an instructor. He joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2008, where he and his wife, Micaela, landed in Detroit Lakes, MN. After purchasing the Holbrook Farms Retreat property in Detroit Lakes in 2010, the vision for hosting retreats for military survivors began in 2011 after military-related fatalities of friends. In 2014-2016, Matt was assigned to Andrews AFB, MD, then moved to California for a command assignment in 2017-2019.
Vice President
Jessica Domitrovich is the Vice President for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is a native of Missoula, Montana, a mom to two little girls, a military spouse, and a business owner. She graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in Airport Management and put that degree to good use by working at airports before starting her own airport consulting business in 2003. She traveled the world helping make airports safer and had a lot of fun meeting people from all across the globe. Jessica developed a strong sense of devotion to Holbrook Farms mission after losing several friends in the military. She has always been an ardent lover of our great nation and after the loss of her friends, her love grew into a passion of wanting to help the Survivors mourn and find a way to build their next chapter. This loss has led her to her passion of giving back to those families that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. She now works part-time with her second business as a market developer for Rodan + Fields. Jessica is married to Christopher Domitrovich and they have two children, Sophia and Scarlett.
Treasurer:
Ivonne brings over 30 years of experience to the position of treasurer for Holbrook Farms Retreat. Over the past 24 years, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States as the wife of a now retired military member. Ivonne has been married for 30 years and has 3 wonderful children. During her years as a military spouse, she dedicated countless hours performing charity work in support of military families. Since earning her Accounting Degree, she acquired extensive experience with Government and private industry. Ivonne worked for CIA, Department of the Air Force and Department of the Navy. Ivonne is also an entrepreneur as an independent Rodan + Fields Skincare consultant and a Travel Professional for Inteletravel. Ivonne was born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico and currently resides in Maryland. In her spare time, Ivonne likes to relax by quilting and embroidering. She's passionate about service to military families and is excited to be doing work that benefits others.
Secretary:
Jadee Purdy joined the Holbrook Farms Retreat Board of Directors first in an informal role in 2018 as a strategic advisor and then more recently became our Secretary in 2019. Jadee’s passion for the Holbrook Farms Retreat mission grew from the relationships she developed during her time in the Air Force as well as from her role as part of a military family. Her direct connection to the board came through our founders, but she has formed life-long lasting relationships with all the board members and is extremely proud to serve as a team member for such a remarkable philanthropic organization. Jadee’s favorite part of HFR is the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much for others as well as the chance to support a cause that is truly a grass roots organization. HFR’s powerful impact is a direct result of all the efforts of the amazing volunteers/donors. The huge amount of self-sacrifice that the team shows every day to ensure HFR is a world-class survivor of heroes’ wellness retreat is inspiring. Originally from Iowa, Jadee currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Jason, who serves in the Air Force, their three daughters, and their retired racing greyhound.
Survivor Representative:
Sarah Merwin is the Survivor Representative for Holbrook Farms Retreat. She is a native of Fargo, North Dakota, and an Air Force veteran. Sarah graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2003 and served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer for 7 years. Sarah is also a Military Survivor. Her husband, Air Force pilot Captain Eric Ziegler, died when his aircraft crashed in June of 2011. After several years as a single mother to their daughter Anna, Sarah is now remarried to her husband Bob. They welcomed their second daughter, Emma, in 2016. Sarah and her family live in Las Vegas, Nevada, and spend summers with friends and family in the Fargo/Moorhead/Detroit Lakes area. Sarah enjoys playing golf and tennis, volunteering time teaching children’s Bible study, and spending time on Lake Eunice in the summer. She is especially passionate about giving back to the Military Survivor community through Holbrook Farms Retreat. Sarah hopes to share the hope, healing, and peace of Holbrook Farms with as many Survivors as possible.
Operations Officer:
Trudy was born and raised in North Dakota, where small-town fun involved kick the can and playing sports. She lives with her husband, Derek, and their three children along with their golden retriever in West Fargo, ND. Her husband is full-time in the North Dakota Army National Guard and they have always taken pride in the fact they are a military family.
Her professional career has been providing occupational therapy services to children in the school setting, psychiatric inpatient setting and in an outpatient clinic setting. She loved building relationships with the children and families, celebrating goals and milestones. Recently Trudy had a career change where she is now the Child & Youth Program Coordinator for the North Dakota National Guard. Being a military family, this career change was close to home. After hearing about Holbrook Farms Retreat and their mission, she felt an immediate connection. She is excited to put her background and efforts into an organization close to her heart. If you are looking for Trudy, you will find her at a sporting event, social get together, playing league volleyball, or at the lake with her family.