Our Team

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.

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.

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 29 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.