Brent McLaughlin has served as the CEO of Branches since 2001. Mr. McLaughlin came to Branches with an extensive background in nonprofit management as well as experience in grassroots community development work. Mr. McLaughlin spent three years living in rural Haiti in the 1990s with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) serving as an agricultural extension worker.

Currently, Mr. McLaughlin is a member of Coral Gables United Methodist Church (UMC). He serves on the Outreach Ministries Committee of the Florida Conference UMC. Mr. McLaughlin is also a current Board Member of Chapman Partnership, past Chair and current board member of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and Board Chair of FRIEND long-term disaster recovery group in Miami-Dade County.

Mr. McLaughlin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Master of Business Administration from Barry University.

Most recently, Mr. McLaughlin was honored by United Way of Miami-Dade with the prestigious 2019 Monsignor Walsh Outstanding Human Services Professional Award which recognizes a human services professional who has dedicated his or her career to helping others.