Meet Our Board
Martha McMinn
President
Year Joined: 2012
Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Background/Specialty: Lifelong dog lover, Father and Uncle both served in Air Force, Great Grandfather served in Civil Union Army
Why Partners for Patriots: Love dogs, love and respect veterans, have represented dogs in court cases.
Favorite Dog Breed: Rottweiler
Virginia Masters
Secretary/Treasurer
Year Joined: 2019
Hometown: Hubbard, Nebraska
Background/Specialty: Accounting and dog trainer.
Why Partners for Patriots: Believe in the mission of aiding our veterans to live a productive and independent life with their service dog. Father is an Air Force veteran.
Favorite Dog Breed: Labrador
Gerry Holtrop
Vice President
Year Joined: 2017
Hometown: Hospers, Iowa
Background: Had a service dog for 10 years trained in drug detection, tracking and evidence recovery. Does fundraisers and transports trained dogs all over the USA.
Why Partners for Patriots: Veterans have done so much for us, it’s the least he can do.
Favorite Dog Breed: Black Labrador
cindy brodie
Director/Lead Trainer
Year Joined: 2009
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Background/Specialty: Cindy graduated from Drexler’s in 1983 as a Certified Trainer/Behaviorist and has trained many dogs for Obedience, SAR, Protection, Law Enforcement K9, and as Service Dogs.
Why Partners for Patriots: Cindy and her late husband Jim founded Partners for Patriots in 2009. She feels veterans are our finest and figured the hardest battle most faced was accumulating back into society and knew dogs could help.
Favorite Dog Breed: German Shepherd
Brenda Klassen
Director
Year Joined: 2022
Hometown:
Background/Specialty: Brenda grew up in the Midwest listening to her uncles and older cousins talk about service in whichever branch they enlisted in.
Why Partners for Patriots: After hearing a talk about this wonderful non-profit Brenda decided to volunteer to assist Partners with some time and whatever skills she has to offer.
Favorite Dog Breed:
Gary Engel
Director
Year Joined: 2015
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Background/Specialty: Years of work with dogs. Being a veteran, understand veterans.
Why Partners for Patriots: Gary served in the Army for 10 years. I love seeing the joy the service dogs bring to the veterans we help to help the veterans in their daily lives.
Favorite Dog Breed: Labrador
Master sergeant Dana K. Martin
Director
Year Joined:
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Background/Specialty: Dana currently servers in the Iowa Air National Guard as a full-time member. She graduated with a degree in Information Management from the Community College of the Air Force.
Why Partners for Patriots: After hearing a talk about this wonderful non-profit Brenda decided to volunteer to assist Partners with some time and whatever skills she has to offer.
Favorite Dog Breed:
Madison Heisler
Assistant Trainer
Year Joined: 2019
Hometown: Emmetsburg, Iowa
Background/Specialty: Started as a Puppy Raiser and is currently in training as Assistant Trainer to eventually take over as Director/Lead Trainer.
Why Partners for Patriots: Madison’s dad was an Army Veteran. He passed away in 2014. Madison is dedicated to honoring Veterans.
Favorite Dog Breed: German Shepherd