Pam Brandon

Pam brings over 20 years’ experience in family and professional caregiver education. Having engaged and trained thousands of care-partners and organizations, she is passionate about helping others embrace positive change. She is privileged to lead and direct this fast-growing company to new heights of success. Originally from the Chicago area, she has lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since 1981, and proudly calls it home.

Laura Ellen Christian

Laura Ellen comes to AGE-u-cate with 17 years of experience in the senior living industry. She began her career as an Activity Director for a senior living community, which quickly led to the opportunity to an expand her reach. For the past 14 years she has led The Arbor Company in the development and implementation of comprehensive dementia training programs for care partners and innovative engagement programs for seniors at large. “As evident in my tenure with the Arbor Company, I take pride in aligning myself with well-rounded, compassionate people. I quickly found that connection with the AGE-u-cate team several years ago and feel fortunate to open the next chapter of my career with this organization.”

Laura Ellen leads the strategic development of AGE-u-cate’s brand awareness, product accessibility across market channels and quality collaborative partnerships.

She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and lives in Smyrna, GA with her husband and two boys.

V’Ann Luedke Giuffre

V’Ann has been an education specialist in school, business and conference settings for over 26 years. She finds great satisfaction in making learning come alive for people, whether aged 3 or 93. She brings her energized teaching style to her role as Master Trainer for Dementia Live™ and Compassionate Touch® and is a Certified Ageless Grace™ Educator. As AGE-u-cate’s Vice President of Operations, V’Ann keeps the balls in the air, juggling logistical details. Born and raised in rural Central Texas, V’Ann now lives in Fort Worth.

Julie Boggess

Julie joined the AGE-u-cate team in 2020 after working 31 years in nursing home operations. Starting in social services and admissions, she moved into management and executive positions in 1990 after obtaining an Illinois nursing home administrator license. Her passion for dementia capable care came early in her career where she had the good fortune to work with and learn from culture change pioneers. Julie is also an adjunct instructor in Gerontology and Aging Services at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She has two adult children and lives in the Northwest Chicago Suburb of Schaumburg with husband and three fur-babies. She is convinced that she was a lounge singer in a former life.

Cris Castellano

Cris began her career as a Physical Therapist Assistant in various healthcare systems, where she began to see the need for education about resources available to people facing complex healthcare issues. She also witnessed first-hand the impact dementia has on care partners through her experience with her grandfather. For the last eight years, marketing has become her passion as she has found power in utilizing her voice and creativity to help others. Cris earned her MBA in 2022, the first in her family to do so. When Cris joined AGE-u-cate she knew she had found her home where she can help others through heartfelt messaging and a creative spirit.

Jessica Smith

Jessica comes to AGE-u-cate with 12 years experience in the senior care industry. She started in home care as Marketing Director, to leadership positions including managing dementia care units and becoming a licensed nursing home administrator in Ohio and Michigan. She knows that education is a powerful tool for both family members and caregivers to advocate for their loved ones in their later years and is excited to be a resource to other senior living leaders and their communities by working with the AGE-u-cate team. Her passion for the seniors in her community began with a close relationship to her grandfather and a desire to give back to those who deserve a dignified life in their aging years.

She graduated from Ohio University, where she met her husband. They have two young children and enjoy living the country life in rural Northwest Ohio.

Ann Germany

Ann Germany brings over 18 years of marketing and sales experience to Age -u-cate Training Institute. With a background in Public Relations, Corporate Communications, and Strategic Marketing/Sales, Ann combines her experience working with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations and her own marketing company to bring a diversity of experiences to ATI. Having experienced the dementia journey with her own mother, Ann is passionate about sharing AGE-u-cate’s platform to educate the medical, professional and private sectors about normal aging and dementia.

Born in Seoul Korea, a proud daughter of an Air Force Colonel, and a classically trained pianist, Ann is a mother to seven amazing children. She lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area and is passionate about living every moment to its fullest!

Andrew Azzarello

Andrew discovered his passion for aging services in his 20’s when he helped his grandmother move into Assisted Living. Very soon after, he began his career in aging services at a CCRC as the Human Resources Director. In the 25 years since, he has experienced Long Term Care firsthand from every possible angle. Professionally, he has continued to work in Skilled Care in HR, but also Admissions and Marketing. Personally, he has been a caregiver for both his parents from hospital to Skilled Rehabilitation to Hospice and every step in between. Joining AGE-u-cate is where Andrew can now combine all of his experiences and bring his expertise to igniting change through training the people who can do the most good with it – The caregivers.

Andrew and his partner, Michael, are making the move from Illinois to Michigan with their two adopted dogs, Beauregard and Grayson, to enjoy bigger back yards and being closer to family.

Kathy Stevens

Kathy brings more than 25 years of experience to the Accounting Department at the corporate office. She has worked in accounting and bookkeeping for non-profits, as well as the automotive, construction and customer service industries.

Kathy grew up in Hurst, TX, in the D/FW Metroplex and she and her husband currently live next door to Kathy’s childhood home. When not working, she loves spending time with her family which includes 3 (and soon to be 4) grandchildren.

Tammy Craig

Tammy brings over fifteen years of administrative assistant experience to the AGE-u-cate team. Tammy brings varied experience in project design, meeting timelines, problem solving and effective communication skills. Working out of the corporate office in the D/FW Metroplex, Tammy works with coaches, trainers and clients to ensure they are supported throughout the training process and program implementation.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tammy has called the Fort Worth area home for over 30 years.

John Brandon

John Brandon serves as the chief technology officer for AGE-u-cate, performing multiple roles including website design and implementation, graphic arts, video production, and company finances. His experience comes from years of professional sound and video recording when he lived in Nashville where he grew up as well as running his own company for over 27 years. Over the years, John has become experienced with computer programming and the production of videos designed for training, marketing, and community education.

John now lives in Colleyville, Texas with his wife Pam.

Patricia (Dee) Hutchinson

Dee serves as the manager of our fulfillment facility. This includes the procurement of supplies, assembling the products, and managing the staff while preparing the Dementia Live® gear packs. Dee’s right hand helper is Ashley, her daughter. Ashley is amazing with the fine details. Both Dee and Ashley appreciate Ageucate for not only hiring adults on the Autistic spectrum, but also for offering interesting work for a fair wage.

Dee and Ashley live in Fort Worth, Texas. Ashley enjoys reading as well as writing her own science fiction stories. Ashley has been a volunteer at the Bedford Library for over ten years. Dee loves time with her family (she currently has 5 grandchildren), and her hobby is making stained glass windows. Dee’s mother-in-law is currently in memory care and she is involved with her care on a daily basis.

Ann Catlin OTR, LMT

Ann Catlin, OTR, LMT is a recognized expert in the field of skilled touch in eldercare and hospice. A respected author and award-winning educator, she guides professionals in rediscovering “touch-as-medicine” in person centered dementia care. Drawing upon 30 years’ experience, she develops AGE-u-cate training programs and is a master trainer for Compassionate Touch® and Dementia Live®.

Originally from the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, Ann now lives in Springfield, Missouri.

Jeannine Forrest, Ph.D., RN

Jeannine Forrest, PhD., RN, offers guidance and education to family caregivers and organizations impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. For over 30 years, she has focused her clinical practice, education, and research in the care of older adults with dementia; pain; palliative and end-of-life care. Served as faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Rush University. Held Board positions for the Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization and Chicago End-of-Life Care Coalition. Provided consultations in China with the support of the World Health Organization. Author of journal articles and book chapters on pain and geriatric related issues. Collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Association studying outcomes of comfort focused care for residents with advanced dementia in nursing homes. Holds a Fellowship in the Institute of Medicine of Chicago.

Dr. Forrest mentors home care, home health, hospice, acute care, memory care, assisted living, skilled care providers in their quest to offer dementia competent and sensitive care. Current Advisory Board member for the Dementia Society of America; Board member for the Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee of Illinois. Offers free monthly webcasts, “Dementia Unplugged,” for all family and professional care partners/providers in collaboration with the Dementia Society of America.