Speakers

Nikolai Bogost is the tasting room manager for Hush & Whisper Distillery in Downtown Bryan. 

Nikolai joins the Hush and Whisper team with six years of bartending and restaurant experience. He moved to Bryan, Texas from Fort Hood at the age of 21, and started learning the craft of bartending just down the street at The Downtown Elixir. Since then he has bartended, head bartended, and managed the Front of House at Gate 12 Bar and Grill. He has several awards from bartending, including claim to one of the top 12 cocktails in the US from the International House of Lustau, and is an active member of the Chilled 100. Realizing he missed shaking cocktails and forming relationships with his guests in a bar setting, he comes to Hush and Whisper excited to showcase our local spirits and work with experienced bartenders to bring one of the most authentic cocktail experiences to Downtown Bryan. On his spare time he enjoys the company of his dogs, cats, and chickens, experimenting with cocktails, and sharing his passion with others.

Unlimited Potential is an organization that serves youth that has aged out of foster care from ages 18-25. They provide things like housing assistance, case management, educational assistance and more. Executive Director Kelyn Wardlaw knows how many challenges individuals face when they are no longer in the foster care system.

“Homelessness is rampant for this population once they turn 18 and often they’re told where you want to go and they’re given their possessions and they’re dropped off and told good luck,” said Wardlaw.

According to The Texas Tribune over 1,200 kids age out of foster care in Texas every year.

“Based on a variety of factors they may not be eligible for housing then what do we do,” said Wardlaw. “Residential would provide that stabilizing location where they can come, we can figure out all of their needs and start working on a plan instead of moving you from hotel to hotel or shelter to shelter.”

“We want our clients to learn how to live in a family-type situation where there are going to be some problems. There are going to be some ups and downs but we hope to get through that and learn some skills that will do them well,” said Hays.

TBA