Classmate Spotlight - John Braden

Name: John Braden ’06
Hometown: Hondo, TX
Currently residing: Kyle, TX

Activities involved in while at Texas A&M: Aggie football sideline photographer for the Association of Former Students, Writer/Photographer for the Texas Aggie Magazine, Writer/Photographer for the AgriLeader Magazine.

What is your most memorable Aggie experience? Softly calling “here” for my grandfather, Maurice “Metz” Zerr ’46 at Muster in 2009. It was Metz who whole-heartedly lived his life by the Aggie Code of Honor in everything he did. Still to this day I’ve never met a more passionate or devoted Aggie. It was because of him that both of my parents, Barry and Ginny, class of ’77, brother, Chris, class of ’03, and myself (among numerous others he taught over the years) decided to attend A&M. The Muster for my grandfather was the most moving experience I’ve ever witnessed. It’s not that I didn’t truly understand Muster’s depth and importance until then, but I’d never had it hit home before. Since then, I haven’t missed a Muster and don’t plan on ever missing another one. I’ve been the Muster Chair for our Hays County A&M Club several times, knowing that there’s always somebody in that crowd who is having the same experience I had at the Muster for my grandfather. It makes me proud to dedicate my time and effort to such an important cause. The men and women who hosted Muster for us in 2009 probably have no idea the kind of impact it had on me. Trust me when I say, though, that I will never forget it.

How has your time at Texas A&M impacted where you are today, personally and/or professionally? During my senior year at A&M I worked for the Association of Former Students in the Marketing/Communications Department. A small group of student employees, myself included, were given the unique opportunity to develop a new marketing campaign for the Association. Our project, the “My Story” campaign, grew into the Association’s main marketing plan for the year, including signage up around campus and our video getting played at major events and every home football game. Getting to see the video I co-wrote and co-directed being played for 80,000+ people every week was something I was not only proud of, but something that confirmed for me the direction I wanted to take my career. Since then, I’ve been involved in photography/graphic design/video editing in every position I’ve held professionally. I am currently a certified Photogrammetric Technologist with a large surveying firm in Austin where I use my Photoshop skills daily. I’m also the lead video editor for our department and work with the marketing team to create videos for trade shows and private meetings.

What makes you most proud about being an Aggie? If you’ve been around Aggies for any extended period of time, I’m sure you’ve heard them talk about the “Aggie Network.” I have had the privilege of seeing the Aggie Network in action since I graduated and I can say with 100% seriousness that I would not be where I am today without it. When I graduated and was looking for my first post-A&M opportunity in the journalism field, my current manager was able to call up a classmate of his and practically guarantee me a position with her company. It wasn’t a full-time position, however, so after a few months I needed to find something more permanent. An Aggie I met while at that company led me to my next job, where the hiring manager was… you guessed it… an Aggie. Got that job too. After several years there, I knew I wanted to move to a bigger city that was closer to home so I started looking in San Antonio and Austin. I was hired by my current company (after being interviewed by a UT grad) and have a position now that I truly love, thanks mostly to the Aggies inside the organization that have shown me constant support since I was hired. Fellow Aggies in my professional life have fought for me, backed me up, offered assistance and guided me every step along the way. I’m proud to say that I’m part of an Aggie Network that includes former students from all ages, always willing to go out of their way to help each other.

What would be impossible for you to give up? Watching Aggie football on weekends in the fall!! WHOOOP!!

Email Address: Jbraden06@gmail.com