Speakers

The CHI St. Joseph Health MatureWell Lifestyle Center is a new concept providing health and wellness services to adults 55 and over. Our facility offers a wide range of services and amenities, including primary care from a board-certified geriatrician, rehabilitation therapy, and a Senior Wellness Program, complete with a gym and indoor pool.

Bio: Michele Buenger, BSN, RN, is the Patient Advocate at CHI St. Joseph’s MatureWell Lifestyle Center. Michele has been a nurse for 11 years working in the areas of cardiac care, hospice admissions, skilled nursing admissions, and post-acute transitions of care. She utilizes her multi-disciplinary expertise to connect individuals with services, resources, providers, and care coordinators, effectively eliminating barriers to healthcare and promoting health management outside of the acute care setting for those aged 55 and older. Michele also manages and teaches classes for the CHI St. Joseph Lifestyle Club, which provides educational and social opportunities for learning and support, promoting the highest level of lifestyle change and self-advocacy. While Michele is an expert in resource connection, she too never stops learning and is currently studying to obtain the Senior Advisor Certification.  In addition to her full-time job at CHI St. Joseph MatureWell, Michele serves on several local community committees, including the BV Health Coalition-Community Impact Committee and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Logistics Sub-Committee.

Because of Dr. Tomberlin’s commitment to protecting the environment while helping others, he, along with a group of close friends, started EVO Conversion Systems, LLC .The mission of EVO is to protect the environment while producing protein with the black soldier fly. Through EVO, individuals are trained to mass produce the black soldier fly as well as partner with other companies that are a part of the EVO Consortium.

Bio: Dr. Jeffery K. Tomberlin is an Associate Professor & AgriLife Research Fellow in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He is also the Director of the Forensic & Investigative Sciences Program at Texas A&M University, and the principle investigator of the Forensic Laboratory for Investigative Entomological Sciences (F.L.I.E.S.) Facility (forensicentomology.tamu.edu) at Texas A&M University.

Research in the F.L.I.E.S. Facility examines species interactions on ephemeral resources such as vertebrate carrion, decomposing plant material and animal wastes in order to better understand the mechanisms regulating arthropod behavior as related to arrival, colonization and succession patterns. The goals of his program are numerous; however, a major focus of his research is on waste management in confined animal facilities as well as concerns with food waste being placed in landfills. His research efforts for the past 19 years have been developing methods for the production of alternate protein sources for use as livestock, poultry and aquaculture feed from these resources. Predominately, these efforts have been accomplished through his research with the black soldier fly. Since arriving on campus at Texas A&M University in 2007, nine Ph.D. and seventeen M.S. students have completed their degrees under his supervision. Dr. Tomberlin welcomes those that are interested in collaborating or gaining experience in black soldier fly as a sustainable system to produce protein or other areas of his research to visit the F.L.I.E.S. Facility.

Dr. Christie, Whitbeck, Superintendent

Dr. Christie Whitbeck is a career educator with more than 30 years of experience in public education. She served as deputy superintendent for Fort Bend ISD for four years before becoming superintendent of Bryan ISD in April 2017.

In her role as deputy superintendent, Dr. Whitbeck oversaw major district initiatives and assisted in passing a $500 million bond to benefit schools. She was the liaison for community engagement initiatives and chaired the Academic Advisory Council. She led numerous high profile initiatives and was responsible for planning and designing a Career Technology Center and a New School Task Force for a district with 75 campuses, 74,000 students and 10,000 employees.

Prior to serving in Fort Bend ISD, Dr. Whitbeck was the assistant superintendent of academics in Alvin ISD. She led elementary and secondary campuses, overseeing curriculum, technology, federal programs, special education, fine arts, assessment and other areas for the district’s 19,000 students and 23 campuses.

From 1989 to 2011, Dr. Whitbeck served as principal, where she specialized in opening new campuses and hiring staff for multiple schools in Katy ISD. One of her campuses went on to become a TEA Exemplary High School and a Newsweek Top 1,500 Public High School (Top 2 percent). In addition, one of her junior high schools was named a Texas Exemplary School and a Texas Recognized School.

Dr. Whitbeck served as principal of Winborn Elementary in Katy ISD from 1992 to 1998. The school became a Texas Blue Ribbon School, an Exemplary School, a Distinguished Title One School and was recognized with the Governor’s Performance Gain Award under her leadership.

She earned her first post in school administration in 1989 as assistant principal in Katy ISD after beginning her career as a teacher, language arts specialist and team leader in Alief ISD.

Whitbeck earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University in 1982. She obtained a master’s degree in administration supervision and a mid-management certification from the University of Houston in 1987. She earned her Ph.D. at Texas A&M University in 2011 in public school administration (summa cum laude).

Ginger Carrabine, Chief of Staff

A dedicated educator with a career spanning 26 years, Carrabine previously served as executive director of strategic planning in Fort Bend ISD. She led District’s recent rezoning project and oversaw Fort Bend ISD’s process to become a District of Innovation. Before serving as executive director of strategic planning, Carrabine was Fort Bend’s executive director of curriculum and instruction for four years. She oversaw elementary curriculum, secondary curriculum, career and technical education, fine arts, advanced academics and digital learning and assessment.

 Carrabine’s service in campus leadership included serving as a middle school principal, elementary principal, elementary assistant principal and team leader/teacher. She is married to Mike Carrabine, who was recently named the new basketball coach at Rudder High School. They have three adult children, graduates of Texas Tech, the University of Texas and the University of Alabama, respectively. Carrabine earned a bachelor of science degree from Lamar University and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston.

Matthew LeBlanc to lead Bryan ISD's communications teamWith 16 years total experience in media and public education communications, LeBlanc has served as the Director of Communications for Temple ISD for the past three years.  Prior to that, LeBlanc was responsible for starting the KAGS (NBC affiliate) television station in the Bryan-College Station area, serving as the news director and anchor. 

While he served as the Temple ISD Director of Communications, LeBlanc successfully marketed a voter-approved $136.5 million bond package. He also focused on highlighting positive stories throughout the district, while engaging with various stakeholder groups and being active in the community. 

LeBlanc earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Ithaca College and began his career as a reporter working in various markets in Texas.

A resident of Bryan for the past seven years. His wife, Amanda Reynolds, is a Bryan High School graduate and works for the Texas A&M Foundation in its Donor Relations department.

Steve was born in Roswell New Mexico in 1954 to Richard and Rella Aldrich as their second son.  He grew up in Eastern New Mexico and West Texas.  Steve moved from Midland to Corpus Christi and then to New Orleans LA to finish High School.   He started his college education at the University of Arizona and then transferred to Texas A&M in 1976 to finish his degree in Geography / Urban Planning and Environmental Studies.

While attending Texas A&M Steve developed a deep appreciation for the great life in Brazos County and returned to Aggieland in 1979 to settle down, grow deep roots, raise a family with his wife Lisa and eventually raise two boys.  Since 1980 Steve has developed his professional career as a Registered Representative and Registered Principal in the investment securities, investment management and financial consulting business.

As an Eagle Scout, Steve’s love for the tenant in the Scout Oath “to help other people at all times” led him to be active in our community as a volunteer and elected official.  He served for 12 years as a College Station ISD Trustee, 3 years as a City of College Station Councilmember and currently serves as Brazos County Commissioner Pct 1.