Espresso Shot 32 with Alyssa Duany

Sarah Chrastecky is the director of the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center, where she oversees all aspects of the operation.

Chrastecky graduated from Texas Lutheran University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art and a minor in psychology. Upon graduation, she moved to the Bryan/College Station area.

In the summer of 2009, Chrastecky began working for the APCC and caught the industry bug. During this time, she had the opportunity to expand her knowledge and passion by attending and graduating from the IAVM Venue Management School. In October of 2012, she transitioned to an associate director position for Chartwells Catering at Texas A&M University to continue her experience and business interests. She returned to the APCC as the manager in the summer of 2015. In February of 2017, she stepped in as interim director until June of 2018, when she accepted the director position.

Chrastecky is the mother of two beautiful boys and wife to a golf course superintendent. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, game nights, family movie nights and entertainment provided by sarcastic 10 and 4-year-olds.

Jamie is the marketing manager at the APCC. She started as assistant manager in 2014, moved to manager in 2018, and transitioned to her current role in 2020. She has over 15 years of experience in event planning, marketing and communication. Previously, she coordinated events and managed marketing efforts as a sales and marketing coordinator for a healthcare consulting firm in Dallas and managed several competitive dance studios in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Jamie graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a minor in tourism management. She graduated from IAVM Venue Management School in 2019, has her CVP (Certified Venue Professional) certification through IAVM and is a professional certified marketer through the American Marketing Association with a Marketing Management Certification.

When not working, Jamie enjoys spending time with her dog Ginger and her friends and family, watching Aggie sports, traveling, photography, dancing and listening to live music.

Alyssa Duany serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy. She leads the Center's marketing initiatives by creating promotional materials, strategically planning and managing marketing campaigns, and coordinating with other MarCom departments.

Before coming to Aggieland, Alyssa worked as a Volunteer Coordinator for a midsized nonprofit in Tallahassee, FL. In that role, she was able to network with other nonprofit organizations in the area to gain a robust understanding of the nonprofit sector and its unique benefit to society. In 2019, she served as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC in the North Central Region, where she led and managed a team of Corps members. This service year solidified her passion for helping nonprofits increase their capacity and value to communities.

Alyssa graduated from the Bush School in 2022 with her Masters in Public Service Administration, focusing on Public Policy Analysis and Nonprofit Management. Originally from South Florida, Alyssa graduated from The Florida State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and is still a proud supporter of the FSU Seminoles! She has found Aggieland to be an extremely warm and welcoming place.