Welcome to our webpage!
PACESETTERS. is the Club for MARS Seniors
The primary purpose of Pacesetters is to provide a social club for MARS Associates senior members (75+) to share life experiences, camaraderie, interesting speakers, meals, books, etc. via email interactions, “Zoom” like calls, and periodic lunch gatherings. Members are not required to pay additional dues beyond those of MARS Associates members.
If you are 75+ and have not joined PACESETTERS yet to enjoy the camaraderie of your retired senior friends please call Bill Wise at 720 636 5823 or email him at wisewj@aol.com.
LOCATION:
All PACESETTERS Meetings are held at the Landsdowne Arms 9352 Dorchester St, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Everyone pays for their own meal and separate checks are provided. A big thank you to the Landsdowne management (Rob) and hostesses.
A few words about logistics. Please be on time at 11:00 when the restaurant opens. Stick on your hand written name tag. This is to prevent forgetting your best friend’s name. Be ready to start ordering from the menu as soon as soon as the hostess comes.
REMEMBER: CARPE DIEM!
Club Point of Contact: Bill Wise (720) 636 5823 wisewj@aol.com
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PACESETTERS Mark Your Calendars for 2026
March 18, 2026: Orthopedic Joint Replacement Considerations
Presenter: Dr. Jason Jennings MD, DPT
Dr. Jennings is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon passionate about helping his patients achieve their activity goals. His unique perspective developed from years as a physical therapist allows him to offer personalized treatment plans for each patient. He performs joint replacements such as total knee and hip replacements, partial knee replacements, patello femoral replacements and revision knee and hip replacements.
Dr. Jennings has authored over 100 scholarly articles in the area of knee and hip replacement. He was honored with the James A. Rand Award in 2019 by the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons for his efforts in total joint related research. Additionally, he was an author on the Rose Excellence in Research Award paper in 2020 given by the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Research Committee. Dr. Jennings’ dedication to surgery and research led to his selection as one of two North American surgeons for the prestigious John N. Insall Knee Society Travelling Fellowship in 2017. Lastly, in 2023, he was inducted into The Knee Society which is an academic by-invitation-only membership organization currently consisting of approximately 200 members who are internationally recognized thought-leaders, innovators, mentors, researchers, and educators.
Dr. Jennings is a volunteer surgeon for Operation Walk Denver, a charitable organization which provides free surgical treatment for patients in developing countries. He is also a member of Operation Walk USA, a nationwide charitable program that provides qualified patients with free hip and knee replacement surgery.
April 15, 2026: ARTEMIS 2 MISSION AMAZING HIGHLIGHTS
Presenter: Mr. Paul Anderson and Mr. Paul Benfield
Paul Anderson is the Deputy Program Manager on the highly visible Orion/Artemis Programs, programs all across LM Space. Paul served as the Human Lander System Program Manager, Orion/Artemis II Vehicle Director, Orion Avionics, Power and Wiring Director. Most recently, Paul served as the Spacecraft Integrated Engineering Team (IET) director within the Spacecraft. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Geophysics from Colorado School of Mines and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from University of Colorado, Boulder.
Paul Benfield is the Lockheed Martin Orion Artemis 2 Mission Manager, reporting to the Orion Program Office and responsible for all aspects of mission-specific planning, and execution. Mr. Benfield completed his BS in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1989, and later his MBA from University of Houston, Clear Lake in 1993. An early intern with Lockheed Martin, Mr. Benfield worked on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs at NASA Johnson Space Center, before beginning his career with Lockheed Martin Denver in 2001. Mr. Benfield has worked across most Lines of Business in LM-Space while currently back in his area of true passion, human space flight.
May 20, 2026: Colorado Air Force National Guard
Presenter: TBD
The presentation will include the mission of the Colorado AirThe Air National Guard (ANG) is the Air Force component of the U.S. National Guard, a reserve military force with both state and federal missions, and its members train part-time to serve their states and the nation. The Air National Guard can be activated by a governor for state-level emergencies or by the president for federal deployments.
June 17, 2026: Estate Planning Strategies
Presenter: Mercer Advisors, Susan Travis, CFP, AEP, CTFA
All phases of estate planning will be explained interactively. It is so much better in person and they are extremely helpful with questions.
July 15, 2026: Exploration and Beyond
Presenter: Mr. James Crocker, VP and General Manager (retired) Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Mr. Crocker will discuss the question of why it’s been over half a century since we left the moon and what might need to change to keep history from repeating! The deep answer I believe is facilitating. My talk explores how our understanding of the cosmos underlies our actions and thoughts. The birth of human space exploration begins not with the launch of Sputnik but with the invention of the telescope and the paradigm shift in the early 1600’s of the planets not as gods but as habitual worlds.
This was part a larger debate stretching from the Ancient Greeks to the mid 1800’s referred to as “The Plurality of Worlds”. It was this debate that that set the stage for the revolution in cosmology that took us from Galileo to Apollo. It was also assumptions buried in this debate that have stalled our human space exploration endeavors. Only by recognizing the flaw in this debate can we understand the half century pause in human exploration and chart a new trajectory in our journey into the cosmos.
Mr. Crocker is a retired Vice President & General Manager of Civil Space line for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Space Systems Company. In this role he had executive responsibility for critical national space programs relating to human space flight and space science missions; including planetary, solar, astrophysical, and Earth remote sensing for civil government agencies. Some of these major programs include: the Orion Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle, Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, GOES-R weather satellites, Juno, GRAIL,MAVEN, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, and OSIRIS-REx planetary missions, and the company’s nuclear space power programs.
He began his career as a junior engineer working on Apollo 17 and designing electronics for the three crewed SkyLab missions. This solidified his passion for space science and human space flight. Crocker has led some of the world’s most important projects in astronomy and astrophysics. Notably, he is known for conceiving the idea and leading the team that developed COSTAR – the solution to the flawed optics of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). He worked closely with the crew of the STS-61 Space Shuttle mission to develop on-orbit repair techniques and crew planning for the installation of COSTAR, which successfully restored Hubble’s vision. He also led the system design effort of the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The addition of this instrument in 2002 improved the performance of the telescope exponentially.
Mr. Crocker played a major role in the design and construction of the largest astronomical observatory in the world, the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Northern Chile and served as project manager for the construction of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), considered one of the most scientifically important projects in astrophysics.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree from the University of Alabama – Huntsville and a Master of Science degree in management from John Hopkins University.
August 12, 2026: How do Drones Work?
Presenter: YouTube lecture video.
A drone is a remotely piloted or autonomous flying robot, formally known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This is an excellent YouTube video with a subject matter expert giving a lecture on Drones. He covers all engineering design aspects and tradeoffs.
Drones have a wide range of applications, from military surveillance and combat to civilian uses such as aerial photography, crop monitoring, package delivery, search and rescue, and recreation. They rely on advanced technology like GPS, sensors, cameras, and AI for flight control, with smaller models often using battery-powered propellers and larger models using jet or combustion motors.
PACESETTERS will have no September presentation.
Members can enjoy the Annual MARS Picnic. Don’t miss this MARS event of the year with amazing prizes.
October 14, 2026: Healthcare Research at Anschutz Research:
Presenter: TBD
Anschutz is a major medical research organization in Denver, Colorado. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful and disruptive area of computer science, with the potential to fundamentally transform the practice of medicine and the delivery of healthcare.
In this presentation recent breakthroughs in the application of AI in healthcare provide a roadmap to building effective, reliable and safe AI systems, and discuss the possible future direction of AI augmented healthcare systems. Recent scientific breakthroughs include advances in genetics and medicine, such as cures for sickle cell anemia and pancreatic cancer, and progress in using AI for drug discovery. In space exploration, we’ve seen a new way to turn sunlight into fuel, and in materials science, there are innovations for decarbonizing energy. Other advancements include progress in quantum computing and 3D printing for spinal cord repair.
November 18, 2026: What you need to know regarding Colorado’s “Health Directives” – Do you need them?
Presenter: Chris Scholari
There are several Colorado directives relating to incapacity and end of your life. They are entitled Medical Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Treatment Living Will, General Durable Power of Attorney and Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information. This presentation will explain each document and its purpose.
Chris is a subject matter expert on these directives, He is a trust and estates and corporate attorney with expertise in business planning and property law, including Colorado land and resource ownership and conveyance. In his practice, he is focused on working with individuals, business owners, and multi-generation families on an array of estate planning, estate administration, and probate matters ranging from the simple to complex, including the transfer of wealth and closely held businesses, as well as estate tax and gift planning, planned charitable giving, and supplemental needs trust planning. Chris works as both a legal advisor and trusted counselor.
Chris is a member of the Colorado Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section and Tax Section and is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Taxation from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.
December 2026 No Presentation “Holiday” MERRY CHRISTMAS
PACESETTERS Past Events
February 18, 2026: New U.S. Driving License Rule for Seniors Started October 2025 – What Over-70 Drivers Must Know
Presenter: Ms. Terri Cassidy, OTD, OTR/L, CDRS
Ms. Cassidy is the CEO and an Occupational Therapist at Fitness to Drive – Health Promotion Centers.
Did you ever wonder if you were “competent to drive? Today the Pacesetters Club members received information and insights on signs to look for in themselves and others. Terri Cassidy, Certified Driver Rehab Specialist, gave an outstanding presentation not only on driver capabilities but also on understanding your car. Her presentation is posted below.
January 14, 2026: Advancing our Understanding of Earth, our Solar System and Beyond
Presenter: Ms Tonya Ladwig
Ms. Ladwig is Vice President & Deputy for the Commercial Civil Space line of business for Lockheed Martin. In this role she is responsible for overseeing the management of commercial and civil space programs for human and robotic deep space exploration, weather and remote sensing and other cutting -edge technologies. She is a strong advocate of NASA’s ARTEMIS mission.
Ms.Ladwig gave an “out of this world” presentation regarding current and potential future programs within Civil Space. Tonya also shared her in-depth knowledge on some programs including the future of Orion. The luncheon was well attended.
Additional pictures will be posted on the MARS website under Event Photos.
A copy of Ms. Ladwig’s slide can be viewed below.
Lockheed Martin Space Overview
November 12, 2025: Neurological Science
Speaker: Dr Adam Wolff MD
Dr. Wolff gave a fascinating talk addressing many neurological issues faced by today’s seniors. He talked about diagnoses, treatments, and exciting new breakthroughs.
Dr. Wolff welcomes patients with all neurological problems and as a Neurologist has special interests in EMG and Botox therapy. Electromyography (EMG) is a medical test that measures the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. It helps diagnose conditions that affect the neuromuscular system, such as muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, and muscle spasms. He will also speak on Senior memory issues.
Dr Wolff did not speak to a slide presentation during his talk, but he has provided backup information in the presentation below.
October 15, 2025: Fraud and Scams Targeting Colorado
Speaker: Officer Scott Moore, Crime Prevention Specialist, Louisville CO Police Dept
Officer Moore addressed some of the top scams and frauds targeting older adults in Colorado. Learn how to recognize these threats, and what to do to protect yourself from being a victim. A link to Officer Moore’s presentation is included below.
September 17 2025: Upcoming Mission: Orion Artemis 2
Speaker: Paul Benfield, Lockheed Martin Space
Mr Benfields briefing was enthusiastically received by a large group of Pacesetters and followed by a lively Q&A session. The two short videos shown at the presentation can be seen at the links below.
August 13, 2025: Senior Living Options
Speaker: Marnie Blin, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Placement & Referral Specialist (CPRS), and President of the Colorado Placement Referral Alliance (COPRA)
40 club members attended and interacted with thorough questions. After the meeting a wonderful camaraderie session continued with positive comments and thanks regarding the informative presentation. Click the link below to see a copy of the presentation.
All About Seniors Presentation
July 16, 2025: Artificial Intelligence
Speaker: Dr. AD Alghourabi, University of Denver
Professor Alghourabi talked about the history of AI, current techniques/status, current use cases of AI, and what the future holds.
June 11, 2025: Ears, Nose, Throat (ENT) Topics for Seniors
Speaker: Dr. Nicolette A Picerno, MD.
Dr. Picerno and Audiologist Eliza Cioffi held a very informative session on Ears, Nose and Throat Senior Care. Dr. Picerno and Ms. Cioffi answered unending PACESETTER questions. Click the link below to see a copy of Dr Picerno’s presentation.
May 14,2025: Ophthalmological Senior Eye Care
Speaker: Dr. Shane Nau, Ophthalmologist.
Dr Nau provided an informative talk about eye issues that are common to seniors and various remedies and treatments that are available today. A copy of his slide package is included below. Approximately 18 Pacesetters were present and enjoyed the talk and the Q&A afterwords.
April 16, 2025: Dermatology
Speaker: Dr. Caroline Hagan, Dermatologist.
Dr Hagan gave a wide ranging presentation discussing skin diseases common to seniors and various ways for seniors to care for their skin. There was a strong focus on the various types of skin cancer, how to recognize them, how they are treated, and how to avoid them. Her presentation was very well received by the group, and can be viewed in its entirety at the link below.
February 19, 2025: NORAD-US Northcom, Purpose and Operations
Speaker: COL Pat Hanlon (30 year Air Force Retiree), past NORAD-US Northcom Command Center Director, F-16 pilot, Graduate of the Air War College, Chief of Nuclear Ops @ Air National Guard Readiness Center Andrews AFB, MD
Pat did two one hour presentations for us; the first on his experience as a Command Director for 2 years at NORAD-US Northcom in Colorado Springs in 2014-2017, and the second on his experience as a Flight Lead for Buckley’s F-16 120th Fighter Squadron’s deployment to Southwest Asia to support the 2003 Iraq War early in 2003.
January 15, 2025: Colorado Alzheimers Association Presentation
Speaker: Jeff Clawson.
The presentation discussed the definition and scientific profile of Alzheimer’s disease risk factors, prevention techniques that are empirically validated, how to obtain a diagnosis, treatment options and navigating the health care system, and help that is available for families.
November 13, 2024: “Blue Zones”
Speaker: Gene Dionne, retired Air Force Officer and former LM Vice President
Gene gave an introduction to the concept of “Blue Zones”, specific geographic places where people live unusually long and healthy lives. He then showed two TED Talks by some of the key scientific investigators of this topic, and we followed up with a lively discussion by the MARS attendees.