PUTTING TOGETHER PRESIDENTIAL EVENTS

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
| Location of Session: Rogers Hall
Adult Sessions

Start of Signing: 3:00 PM
| Signing Location: Adult Signing Tent

My Schedule

About the Event

Behind every seamless political campaign appearance and presidential affair lies the meticulous work of professionals who transform logistics into performance—advance teams. Staffers for President George H. W. Bush Jean Becker and Tom Collamore (Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance) will highlight memories and stories about the modern American presidency, including never-before-told tales, near disasters and last minute saves, insider intrigue, dramatic events, and humor.

About the Authors

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Author

Jean Becker

Jean Becker served as chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush for nearly 25 years. She’s the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush; author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush’s Post-Presidency; and Character Matters… and Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush. Prior to her post as chief of staff, Jean served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush and was a newspaper reporter for ten years, including a four-year stint at USA Today. Her new book, Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance, was written with Tom Collamore.

Photo Credit: Ian Wagreich

Tom Collamore

Tom Collamore first met President George H. W. Bush in 1978 as his driver and became part of his inner circle of staffers. Tom served in various roles throughout the 12 years of President Ronald Reagan’s and George H. W. Bush’s administrations and has been an adviser to the George & Barbara Bush Foundation for over 30 years. After government, Tom enjoyed a long career as a senior corporate executive and trade association leader. He’s the founder of Collamore Consulting Group, which provides strategic counsel to CEOs of companies, associations, and nonprofits. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Jacqueline, and they are the proud parents of four grown children.

His book, Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance, was written with Jean Becker.

Moderator

Heather Welder Russo

Heather Welder Russo, CFRE serves as Assistant Vice President for Development and Strategic Partnerships at the University of Texas at San Antonio since 2022. Heather oversees fundraising efforts, serves as a member of the Principal Gifts team, and oversees the Corporate and Foundation Engagement team. Heather brings more than two decades of experience in philanthropy and advancement, with a career distinguished by success in capital campaigns, strategic leadership, community engagement, special events, and relationship-building. Her professional background includes advancement roles with the Witte Museum, the University of the Incarnate Word, the Texas Wildlife Association and Foundation, and World Vision Armenia.

A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major European History. She currently serves on the Saint Mary’s Hall Alumni Council, the board of the San Antonio Book Festival, and the Battle of Flowers Association. Her past service includes leadership with the M.D. Anderson Advance Team and the Junior League of San Antonio. Heather was named to the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2015. Heather lives in San Antonio with her husband and son.