Our Team

Dr. Brenda Bachechi, is excited to lead the collaboration of families in Portola Valley, to form Branch Services. She is passionate about the organization’s mission to provide adults with IDD and Autism, the community based services needed to support an individual’s self-determination goals. Prior to launching Branch Services, Dr. Bachechi was an educator on the Peninsula.

Brenda earned her Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, her Master’s from University of Arizona, and her Doctorate from San Francisco State/UC Berkeley. 

Sarah has over 20 years’ experience as a community service leader, nonprofit trustee, and disability advocate, including serving on the Portola Valley Town Council from 2020–2024, with one term as Mayor, and as Board Chair of several national organizations supporting the Down syndrome community. Sarah is the founder of Special Match, a personalized matchmaking service for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Earlier in her career, she worked at Williams-Sonoma leading e-commerce channels and previously worked in consulting.

Elizabeth is a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Oracle, and previously worked at Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco. Before attending law school, Elizabeth worked in the Mayor’s Office for the Disabled in Los Angeles, coordinating the city’s response to a mandated survey under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and providing job placement services for persons with disabilities. Elizabeth previously served on the board of a nonprofit organization focused on Down syndrome. Her younger brother has Down syndrome and lives in Palo Alto.

Mike has been a finance leader for the past 20+ years, serving as CFO for 5 cleantech and fintech businesses in Silicon Valley. For the past 14 years, Mike has been active in the Portola Valley community, serving on the Board and as Board President of the Alpine Hills Club. Together with his wife, Aimee, and 4 children, education and personal development are priorities in their volunteer and charitable support.

Patrick was appointed Head of School at Woodside Priory in 2020 after serving as Principal at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco for 11 years. He has been an educator for 30 years, teaching and coaching at four different schools, including Loyola High School in Los Angeles and Boston College High School in Boston. Patrick and his wife, Kerry, have two boys, and he earned his BS from Georgetown University and master’s degrees from Loyola Marymount University and Boston College.

Laurel Miranda has been a San Mateo County resident and nonprofit board member supporting education and people with disabilities for over 20 years. Earlier in her career, Laurel worked for Schwab, Wells Fargo and Oracle. She has two adult children, one of whom has epilepsy and autism. She earned a BA from Stanford University and a JD/MBA from UC Berkeley.

Dr. Brenda Bachechi, is excited to lead the collaboration of families in Portola Valley, to form Branch Services. She is passionate about the organization’s mission to provide adults with IDD and Autism, the community based services needed to support an individual’s self-determination goals. Prior to launching Branch Services, Dr. Bachechi was an educator on the Peninsula.

Brenda earned her Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, her Master’s from University of Arizona, and her Doctorate from San Francisco State/UC Berkeley.