**PLEASE READ: Important note about seating for this free event. ADA seating for this event is available in the main auditorium on the main floor. Please email boxoffice@admiraltheatre.org or call 360.373.6743 to reserve ADA seating. Event sponsors and Tessera guests can reserve main floor seating by contacting Thomas Arend at Tessera directly at thomas.arend@tessera.org. Free seating is available in the upstairs balcony for the public to enjoy this event. If you require ADA seating, please contact us and let us know. Regardless of your preferred seating section, please complete the registration form below to help us track expected attendance.
Tessera Speaker Series: First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, U.S. Army (Ret.)
First Lieutenant (Retired), Purple Heart Recipient, Paralympian, Entrepreneur
Presented by Tessera
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Doors 9 a.m. | Lecture 10 a.m.
Online registration is now open. Please check in at registration in the Admiral Theatre lobby on event day. Thank you to our generous sponsors at Wounded Warrior Project, Alliant, Bank of America, and Chubb. This event is not included in Admiral Theatre ticket packages. Coffee and tea service is generously provided by Tessera. Parking includes free two and three-hour street parking options and paid lots around the theatre; one directly across the street.
In recognition of National Disability Awareness Month this October, Tessera, an employer dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities and supporting veteran employment, is proud to host this inspiring annual speaker series event. We are honored to introduce Retired US Army First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, a Purple Heart Recipient, Paralympian, and Entrepreneur.
Melissa now travels nationwide, sharing her story and inspiring everyone to overcome life’s challenges and adversity. Join us to hear her powerful message and celebrate the resilience and strength of those with disabilities.
Meet Melissa Stockwell / Co-Founder, Dare2Tri Paratriathlon Club
Melissa was born a patriot and was commissioned into the US Army in 2002.
After being deployed to Iraq in 2004, she became the first female American soldier to lose a limb in active combat, when her vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. She was honored with a purple heart and a bronze star and made a promise not to let losing a leg slow her down.
Four years later she became the first Iraq war Veteran to qualify for the Paralympic games, competing in swimming at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics where was selected to be the flag bearer for Team USA. She then turned to the sport of triathlon and went on to compete in the 2016 Paralympic games where she became a bronze medalist and again in Tokyo 2021 and is now training towards Paris 2024 in hopes of her 4th Paralympics.
She is a business owner with her husband, co-founder of Dare2tri Paratriathlon club but is most proud to be a mom to her two kids Dallas and Millie. She is a patriot in the truest sense!
About Tessera
Creating opportunities for people with disabilities
Founded in 1988 out of a desire to do good in our community, Tessera has carried forward our social mission "creating opportunities for people with disabilities" in all that we aspire to be.
From our humble beginnings in small-town America, we have grown to be the best value provider of choice for facility management and manufacturing sectors. Tessera does this by investing in our people first.
Tessera’s customers rely on Tessera to consistently deliver a quality product on time so that the customer in turn can accomplish their jobs. This drives Tessera’s core value proposition – We meet our mission when our customer meets their mission.
This philosophy is critical to our success as a team. At Tessera, we work diligently to sharpen our leaders’ skills so they can provide exceptional client support. Tessera is dedicated to ensuring specialized recruitment, career advancement, and job training methods are employed across the nation. Tessera is a national leader in disability and Veteran recruitment, hiring, and retention.
THANK YOU to our generous event sponsors Wounded Warrior Project, Alliant, Bank of America, and Chubb!
Online registration is now open. Please check in at registration in the Admiral Theatre lobby on event day.