GLENN TOWERY
GLENN TOWERY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF AVAFEST 2002
Is a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the United States Navy. He is an artist, painter, filmmaker, writer, singer, composer, producer and entrepreneur.
He has earned a Bachelors of Arts Degree from Columbia College Hollywood where he graduated valedictorian in 1997. Glenn is also the founder of the Veteran Suicide Prevention Channel and AVAFEST. In 2013 Glenn became a National Gold Medalist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Creative Arts Competition as a representative from the state of California. Towery was the
TRISH ALGER
TRISH ALGER DIRECTOR OF AVAFEST TEMPLE TEXAS
Help Heal Veterans has been serving the veteran community for 51 years, with Trish Alger as supervising Craft Care Specialist in the Temple, TX Center for 5 of those years. A lifetime of community service, five decades of crafting and fine art exploration, as well as academic degrees in fine arts and art history, have positioned Trish to encourage the creativity in us all. As a wife to Bob of 38 years, mother of four inspiring daughters, and grandmother to 10 inquisitive grands, Trish understands the importance of faith, family, friends, and fellowship. Layer that with creativity and you can impact the world.
CARLTON CAUDLE
ACTOR, PRODUCER and HOST OF THE "NEW" VAWN TELEVISION SERIES: "VETERANS: FILM TAKE 2"
Carlton Caudle is a retired military veteran. He served both in the Air Force and the Army. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Carlton is an actor of stage, TV and film. Having appeared in over 50 films and television shows. In his eight years of acting he’s worked with 9 Oscar winners. Currently he is the host of the show Veterans to Film: Take 2.
JAMAAL COTTRELL
AVAFEST EVENT MANAGER
Jamaal “Trell” Cottrell, M.S.I.O, Coach, Trainer, SpeakerMaxwell Leadership Certified Team Member, Certified Behavioral Analysis Consultant, Maxwell Leadership Certified Consultant, Bookmark and Interview Consultant Maxwell Leadership Certified Consultant, Maxwell Method of DISC Consultant, Maxwell Leadership Certified Consultant Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Protocol Executive, Spirit of the Game Foundation-United States (Texas Chapter-NGO)-Non-Profit OrganizationMember, United States Chamber of CommerceMember, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Member, Castroville-Area, Chamber of Commerce Public Relations, San Antonio-Pearl, Rotary, Director, Event Coordinator Austin Veterans Arts festival avafestival.org
Jamaal Cottrell, MSgt, USAF, (Ret)
Chief of Readiness, Force Support Human Resources
(United States Air Force)
Chris Crawford
is one the Veterans of Comedy's premiere comedic performers. His ability to captivate an audience and elicit laughter seemingly at will through the use of clever story telling and over-the-top animation has allowed him to be recognized as a true stand-up standout by promoters and booking agents across the country. As a headliner, his unorthodox approach to comedy will certainly bring a smile to your face and put a laugh in your belly as he draws from his military career, married life, parenting, teaching and road gigging to ensure one hell of an entertaining experience.
TROY DUNSON
TROY DUNSON AVAFEST DIRECTOR OF GOLF TOURNAMENTS
Troy Dunson is a US Navy Veteran, and the Regional Director for The Hero Golf Tour – Austin League. Troy oversees and manages all fund raising, events and a team, for The Hero Golf Tour – Austin League. The Hero Golf Tour is a non-profit that is dedicated to saving veterans and first responders that suffer from PTSD. We achieve this through mentorship, a higher purpose, and golf. We host weekly golf tournaments across the nation where thousands of heroes can enjoy golf, relax with their friends, family, and other heroes at no cost to them. We mentor heroes that are struggling and train them to mentor those that are struggling, which gives them a greater purpose and is a lifelong solution. Veterans and first responders can golf free every week on the golf tour. Civilians who support our mission can also golf free every week on the tour. www.herogolfatx.org
AL GONZALES
AVAFEST DIRECTOR OF COMEDY
Al Gonzales has served as the AVAFEST Director of Comedy since 2019 and was a member of the first Comedy Show ever done for AVAFEST.
Al served as a United States Marine and credits his ability to make people to having a father who suffered with war related PTSD. He searched for ways to lighten his mood and make him laugh led to him being one of the best comedians today. Al Gonzales has appeared on network television comedy shows and comedy clubs throughout America. He is a very funny guy.
MARCUS HOBBS
AVAFEST DIRECTOR OF MODEL MAKING, OWNER of KINGS HOBBY SHOP and DIRECTOR of the CAMP MABRY AVAFEST EXHIBIT
King’s Hobby has been a resource and meeting place for the Central Texas Hobby Community since 1973. In 2009 Marc Hobbs took over the helm and developed relationships with the Texas Military Forces Museum, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Texas National Guard, the Wounded Warriors program, the BSA Scouts of America, the Council for At-Risk Youth, Firefly Academy, and now the AVA Fest. Hobbies such as scale modeling, model railroading and model rocketry offer a wide variety of benefits from relaxation and stress management to developing and rehabilitating fine motor skills. Hobbies employ three-dimensional reasoning, STEM principles, and historical research. But hobbies also employ the principles of color and composition like any classic form of art. Scale modeling encompasses a variety of media such as acrylics, oils, lacquers, enamels, woods, plastics, metals, and polymers. There is a meditative quality to focusing on the minute detail of a museum-quality model. And there is a therapeutic element to telling the stories that one has experienced first-hand. I have had the pleasure of presenting a veteran with an exact replica of the machine they operated, and it is a profound experience. I am so thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this year’s AVA Fest.
Walter Bruce Hodge
DIRECTOR of TOURNAMENTS and CAR SHOWS
15-yr Army Veteran, Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel and Austin Veterans Arts Festival Representative, is passionate and dedicated to assisting fellow Veterans in finding resources, quality of life assistance, and to ensure they see the comradery of sharing their military and or
life experiences with others is important. A proud family head, a church representative, friend to many, and motivated advocate for Veterans! Through military service, leadership school, State and Federal employment, and personal experience, a commitment to Veteran service was born.
BRIAN "BYDEE" JOSEPH - CURATOR "AVAFEST RICHARD OVERTON EXHIBIT"
At the Austin Revitalization Authority - 1154 Lydia St, Austin, TX 78702 October 12- December 2022
Brian Joseph started painting at the age of 33 in 1986, and created his own style based on the fictitious Bydee People and thus he is called the Bydeeman. BYDEE is an acronym for Bringing You Delightful and Entertaining Experiences. His art focuses on education, and promotes diversity with positive messages. He is an artist, poet and a motivational speaker. He has painted several murals in Austin, as well as in other cities in Texas. He was born in Trinidad and is a self-taught artist. He has a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Tougaloo College and a MA in Urban Studies from Trinity University.
Brian resides in Austin, Texas, and I can be contacted in the following ways. Email: bydeeartgallery@gmail.com, Facebook; Brian Joseph and Bydee Art Gallery, Twitter: Brian Joseph on Twitter, and Website: www.bydee.com
ASHLEY MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF VETERANS BOOK FAIR -
Ashley Marie Booker-Knight is an author and positive life influencer. She is the owner of an independent bookstore called Words Unite Bookstore. Which is a veteran-owned, woman-owned and black-owned business. Her store gives authors a platform to highlight their books in a store-front environment and ignite the passion for reading for our nation's readers. All copies of our independently created material purchased in her store are signed copies for the readers to enjoy and cherish. She lives her life in the positive lane and makes it her mission to influence these same principles into others. She lives by the motto “Lead from the Front” and “Be the change you want to see!”
RACHEL PERKINS
AVAFEST Director of Health and Wellness
I am a creative STEM student who knows the ins and outs of health and wellness. My superpowers include empathy, resilience, and unflappability, gained from education and experience in lifestyle medicine. I am gifted in being able to decipher the needs of clients.
My joy comes from helping others find their full potential through lifestyle medicine. I also enjoy writing, art,and reading which helps prevent burnout.
If someone you know has questions about lifestyle medicine or health and wellness please reach out!
KURT DAVD RITTERSPUSCH
AVAFEST DIRECTOR of BELTON, TEXAS
I am a figurative painter. (Plein air and studio) I am a combat veteran and therefore, an artist warrior. I kept my art alive while serving and now I paint to capture the beauty in our country. While I am not from Texas, as Lyle Lovett sang, “ That’s right you’re not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway."
VECEPIA ROBINSON
AVAFEST DIRECTOR OF POETRY
Vecepia Robinson is a veteran of the UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. She is also a winner of the popular television show "SURVIVOR" when she won "SURVIVOR MARQUESAS" in 2005. This will be the 2nd year that Vecepia will be the AVAFEST DIRECTOR of Poetry and her show last year was phenomenal
THOMAS "STRICK" STRICKLAND
AVAFEST DIRECTOR OF DISC GOLF
Thomas Strickland is the Owner of BOGEY FREE GOLF who served in the UnitedStates Marine Corps. Disc Golf has become a huge sucees for veterans and it offers them a form of fun and competition pitting them against each other in a fun sport that calls on the practitioners to hone their skills to win.
As the owner of BOGEY FREE GOLF "Strick" wants to introduce veterans to Disc Golf for fun and for wellness reasons.
I will send some more pictures and Bios later today. Please post these asap.
On the landing page please post the Cover of the VFW National Magazine belo in the first position at the top very prominently, followed by everything that is already there.
JACKIE WILLIAMSON
DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER COORDINATION
Raised in North Bend WA I am an avid adventurer and scuba diver.
I love serving my community and have done that through real estate investing, nursing, and currently an operations manager for Microsoft. I am passionate about enabling success and sustainability.