Events

Jay Patton, curator of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library’s America 250 exhibition, E Puribus Unum: Celebrating the American Experience, is an accomplished cultural heritage leader with over 20 years of experience shaping how the public connects with history.  As the Supervisory Museum Curator, he directs the Museum’s curatorial vision, and creates exhibits that educate the community about American history and the life and times of President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.  With an academic foundation in historical research and museum studies, Patton develops engaging, world-class programming and remains dedicated to preserving vital historical narratives and keeping the American story vibrant and relevant for audiences today.

Joel Hammond is the President of the College Station chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Sleep in Heavnly Peace is the leading non-profit dedicated to providing beds for chilren in need.  In their history, they have delivered over 395,000 beds and have over 100,000 kids still waiting.  They utilize volunteer help as well as donations to accomplish their mission.

Joel is a husband, father, grandfather, Christian, 6th generation Texan, and a proud member of the Texas Aggie class of '88.  He grew up in West Texas and has lived i Bryan/College Station for the past 41 years.

In addition to his career love of software development, Joel enjoys nature, his dogs, and working on home projects.  Since retiring from Texas A&M 7 years ago as an IT Manager, Joel has worked to help members of the community in need.

Dr. Mary Parish graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 1986 and served her residency in Amarillo Tx.  With her husband’s interest in rural Ministry with the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, she moved frenquently and served as a physician in a number of small towns.  She has served on the Texas Medical Association Committee on access and distribution (of Physicians) and also on the Committee on Primary Care.  She has been involved in a number of charitable organizations including serving as a physician locally for Health for All.

In 2024 she joined the Texas Silver Haired Legislature, whose focus is to help older Texans lead healthier, safer, happier, and more independent lives. They provide information and advocacy to the Texas Legislature that has helped mold laws affecting seniors, for over 40 years.

Risa Meyer graduated from Texas A&M in 2005 and George Washington University in 2008. She then returned to College Station to work at Mays Business School for several years before leaving to stay home with young kids. In 2014 she and her husband Jared opened Caring Transitions of Brazos Valley. Caring Transitions is a company that specializes in senior transitions, including relocation management, estate liquidations services and downsizing. In 2021 she got her real estate license where she specializes in downsizing and senior real estate transactions with Miles of Grace Realty.  She and her husband have three children, and she is actively involved in her church, her children’s schools, and various other community activities. She enjoys living, working, and serving in the Bryan/College Station community.

Cheri Blankenship is the owner of Caring Transitions of Brazos Valley & The Woodlands, Houston Metro & Sugar Land, and also serves Richmond, Rosenberg & Fulshear. A Bryan native and Texas A&M graduate with a degree in Accounting, Cheri brings a diverse background in senior services, business operations, sales, marketing, and customer service. After personal experiences caring for her mother and managing estate liquidations for her mother and brother, Cheri opened Caring Transitions of Sugar Land in 2022 and grew the office into a top-10-producing franchise among more than 450 locations nationwide. She and her husband, Dean, are excited to bring their hands-on approach to serving seniors and their families as the new owners of Caring Transitions of Brazos Valley, a community Cheri knows and loves. Cheri is also actively involved in the Aggie and Fort Bend communities through the Sugar Land Lions Club, Fort Bend Aggie Mom’s Club, and Houston Aggie Women.

Tim Kolczak is a U.S. Army veteran, documentary storyteller, photographer, and founder of The Veterans Project, a long-form documentary initiative dedicated to preserving the experiences of American veterans.

Kolczak served with D Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2009–2010. His own military experience became part of the foundation for The Veterans Project. Through the project, he has traveled more than 800,000 miles documenting and sharing the stories of more than 80 veterans across generations and conflicts through photography and long-form interviews.

His work has been exhibited at the University of Texas at Dallas, and his work on Remind the Nation was presented at the Sundance Film Festival. His professional background spans documentary filmmaking, photography, multimedia production, nonprofit storytelling, and communications.

Kolczak holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Communications from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and a master’s degree in Emerging Media and Communication from the University of Texas at Dallas. He currently works in multimedia production at Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

He continues his documentary work through The Veterans Project and Kozak Creative and is currently directing a legacy documentary centered on military service, faith, family, and the experiences that shape a life.

Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei is the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Technology Executive Officer supporting both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. He leads an over $5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise in accelerating the discovery and development of solutions for Airmen and Guardians. He is responsible for formulating a comprehensive technology portfolio that anticipates future warfighter needs while promoting risk-taking and problem-solving across a 6,000-member government workforce. He accelerates the delivery of multi-disciplinary solutions through partnerships with industry, academia and international allies, and executes an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development. Through the laboratory’s technology and functional directorates, AFWERX, and the 711th Human Performance Wing, his team produces a deep technical and medical bench, pushes the boundaries of modern technology and improves the science for tomorrow.

​Brig. Gen. Bartolomei was commissioned in 1997 from Marquette University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. During his career, he has held a variety of senior acquisition positions. He served as Director of the Sentinel Systems Directorate, where he was responsible for the development, deployment and sustainment of the next-generation Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. Additionally, he served in the Global Reach Programs Directorate as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), where he supported the Air Force's tankers, airlift, special operations and trainer fleets. Furthermore, he served as an engineer in the F-22 System Program Office and as an assistant professor of engineering mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was also a Service Chiefs Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a Military Legislative Fellow for Senator Orrin G. Hatch, and a Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow, while assigned to the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. He holds a PhD in Engineering Systems from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

​Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Bartolomei served as the Program Executive Officer for Weapons and Director of the Armament Directorate, where he was responsible for the planning and execution of all life cycle activities for air-delivered munitions.

EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
2001 Master of Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Systems Engineering, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2003 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Doctor of Philosophy, Engineering Systems (Technology, Management and Policy), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master’s Certificate in Legislative Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Science, Distinguished Graduate, Marine War College, Quantico, Va. (Paul Van Riper Writing Award)