NEWS RELEASE. Catholic Charities Atlanta Announces the Graduation of the Members of the 2013 Leadership Class

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1 NEWS RELEASE Catholic Charities Atlanta Announces the Graduation of the Members of the 2013 Leadership Class ATLANTA, GA (January 27, 2014) Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA) recently graduated the 42 Catholic men and women of its 2013 Leadership Class. This is the third year of the program and its success continues to grow as young faithful Catholic Leaders look for opportunities to learn servant leadership and incorporate their faith in the workplace. Randy Hain, Principal with Serviam Access, and Co-Chair of the Leadership Class steering Committee, explains that the Catholic Charities Leadership Class Program strives to assist class members to become better servant leaders, increase their awareness of the many Catholic programs available in the Atlanta Archdiocese while raising much needed funds and awareness for Catholic Charities Atlanta to support the outreach programs and services that help people in need, of all or no faiths. As a group of 42 individuals, this year s class collectively volunteered over 150 hours of their time to the agency. They helped sort and distribute gifts for the Catholic Charities Atlanta Christmas Connections program. They collected baby items for the Pregnancy and Parenting program, participated in speed interviewing skills training and set up an apartment for refugee clients. Class members have become agency advocates by serving as parish talk speakers for the Christmas parish second collection. The class collective fundraising power helped raise nearly $88,000 for the work of the agency and those in need in our community. At each graduation, one class member is asked to speak about their experience being part of the CCA Leadership Class. This year s speaker was Melissa Tribble, Operations Manager for Guardian Products. Melissa s speech clearly articulated the impact of the Leadership Class program on her business and professional life and included the following words of wisdom to her fellow class members: One thing I really wanted to get from this leadership class is finding more of a purpose in my day to day world how do I serve when my business isn t healing or helping or directly bettering someone s life? But the reality that I have come to understand is many of us are not in positions 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 1

2 where we directly serve, yet we still have the chance to make a difference. During the panel discussion we had the opportunity to hear three successful and faith filled business people discuss their experience with servant leadership and faith at work. Bringing your faith to work might not mean leading a lunch time bible study, but caring about the people around you and being committed to them is a part of faith. Leading with morals and ethics that is a way of serving others. Walking into work every day with the purpose of helping someone with a smile and sincere heart that is a way of serving others. And utilizing the talents you have to the utmost of your ability that is serving God. A gallery of photos from the graduation ceremony are available at this link: em A kick-off reception was held at the home of Archbishop Wilton Gregory. The new class members were nominated for their accomplishments as leaders in the workplace, in their parishes and in the community. Over the next several months, the class members were exposed to amazing speakers and presentations on developing servant leadership skills. They participated in a half-day retreat where they learned more about the work of CCA as well as were exposed to the tenants of Catholic Social Teaching by Deacon Mike Bickerstaff and Dr. Phil Thompson. Paul Voss, President of Ethikos, talked about The Vocation of a Business Leader. Terry Trout, CBeyond, inspired the class with her presentation on Servant Leadership: How My Catholicism Propels My Career. Raellyn Kovich, Associate Partner at Bell Oaks Executive Search, led an engaging group of panelists who shared their life experiences to discuss Using Your Talents to Glorify God through Servant Leadership. Graduation is not the end of the class member s journey, but just the beginning. Each of the class members has been matched with a senior Catholic business leader to serve in a ninemonth mentorship program. The mentors are some of the most influential and impressive Catholic leaders in the Atlanta business community who have made a commitment to be involved in the spiritual and professional lives of these new servant leaders. For more information about the 2014 Leadership Class, please contact,, at or by at. Nominations for the 2014 Class will be accepted from February 1, 2013-May 1, Please visit for nomination forms, mentorship opportunities, and sponsorship opportunities Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 2

3 2013 Leadership Members by Parish All Saints Catholic Church Greg Pyne Director of Operations, North American Securities Catholic Center at UGA George Barkley Managing Partner, Sovereign Systems, LLC Cathedral of Christ the King Sean Claire Regional Sales Manager, Silverpop Systems John Elrod Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP Veronica Esquivia-Lee Director of Operations, Virtue Media Christine Faas Communication and Training Consultant, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. Bernadette Flowers Stewardship Director of Time and Talent, Cathedral of Christ the King Betsy Harvey President, BrandSwell Yovany Jerez Corporate Training Manager, AT&T Jim Komperda Vice President - Institutional Real Estate Group, KeyBank Megan Martin Assistant Real Estate Manager, CBRE Margaret Piekarski Director, Sales Training and Development, Given Imaging Pilar Plazas Project Services Manager, Quintiles 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 3

4 Steve Schreck Sr. Manager, Community and Alliance Management, Global Regulatory Affairs, UCB, Inc. Melissa Tribble Operations Manager, Guardian Products, Inc. Liza Vega-Smart Direct Marketing Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity International Holy Cross Jessica Martinez Development Intern, Grady Health Foundation Holy Spirit John Breen AVP of Marketing, Equifax Jonathan Linn Analyst for Supply and Risk Management, Gas south Kelley Thomas Creative Director/Principal, Push Creative Bill Vargo Corporate Director of Risk Management, Nordic Logistics & Warehousing, LLC Keith Watson Senior Audit Manager, SunTrust Banks, Inc. Holy Trinity Michael Tigue Owner, Web4u Corporation Our Lady of Perpetual Help Christy Sammon Government affairs Director, Smith, Gambrell & Russell 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 4

5 Our Lady of the Assumption Caitlin Miller Attorney, Mary A. Miller & Assoc., LLC Saint Pius X Andrew Gowasack Agent, Ashford Advisors St. Alphonsa Catholic Church Arun Kanjira Secondary Science/Math Teacher, Gerard Preparatory School Jeffrey Savier Graduate Student and Rehab Technician, Emory Healthcare St. Ann Kenneth Bowman Global Account Manager, Salesforce.com St. Benedict Catholic Church Beth King-Howard Founder, Inspired EdSourcing, LLC St. Brigid Dan Cole Sales Vice President, Southeast Region, UnitedHealth Group St. James the Apostle, McDonough Katherine Ames Assistant to Senior Vice President Metro Atlanta Region, Georgia Power Company 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 5

6 St. Joseph, Marietta Hernan Morales Insurance Claims Supervisor, Progressive Insurance Company Caroline Rittenhouse Principal Consultant, Midtown Consulting Group St. Jude the Apostle Jose Espina President, Tortillas De Casa LaRhonda Julien Construction Support Administrator, Georgia Transmission Corporation St. Peter Chanel Adriana Bonilla-Ramirez Management Consultant, CSR - LLC Paul Kleinkauf Director, Merrill Corporation St. Thomas Aquinas Cinthya Rojo Billing Specialist, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. St. Thomas the Apostle Michael Foy U.S. Tax Director, Invesco Ltd. St. Thomas Moore John Lanier Director, Ray C. Anderson Foundation Transfiguration Rob Means Financial Advisor, Edward Jones 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 6

7 About Catholic Charities Atlanta Catholic Charities Atlanta is an advocate and friend for individuals and families facing adversity. We provide a holistic combination of accredited social services life skills education, counseling, family stabilization, and immigration legal services that remove barriers to self-sufficiency and wholeness. Our services are tailored for the unique circumstances of the people we serve, and our impact is real and measurable. We are faith-based and serve our neighbors professionally, compassionately, in multiple languages and regardless of background or faith. Since 1953, we have helped over one million people reach wholeness and self-sufficiency from adversity Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA Page 7