Katherine (Kathy) Ames Assistant to Senior Vice President, Metro Atlanta Region Georgia Power Company Parish: St. James the Apostle Catholic Church Kathy Ames is Assistant to Senior Vice President (SVP), Metro Atlanta Region at Georgia Power. In this position, she is responsible for assisting the SVP with the successful implementation of the duties of the office. Since joining Southern Company in 1986 as a customer service representative at Gulf Power, in Niceville, Florida, Ames has served in various leadership roles at Gulf Power and Georgia Power. At Gulf Power, she served as dispatch center supervisor, local manager in Niceville, Florida, and customer service supervisor in Panama City, Florida. In 2008, she joined Georgia Power as customer service manager in Columbus, Georgia. In 2010, she was named customer service manager at the Customer Care Center in McDonough. Ames earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of West Florida. Within Georgia Power, Ames served as chair of the Customer Service Leadership Development Program and currently serves as chair of the External Effectiveness Roundtable. In the community, Ames is actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and St. James the Apostle Catholic Church. She and her husband of 24 years, Gary, and their son, Nicholas, live in McDonough. She enjoys watching Nascar races, NFL and college football in addition to going to Braves vs. Cubs or Braves vs. Phillies baseball games. George Barkley Managing Partner Sovereign Systems, LLC Parish: Catholic Center at UGA George Barkley is the Cofounder and Managing Partner of Sovereign Systems, an Atlanta-based technology consulting firm recently named by Inc. 500 as one of the country s fastest growing private companies, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle s Top 10 Best Places to Work in Atlanta. Previous to Sovereign Systems, Barkley worked in corporate communications for The Coca-Cola Company and in technology sales positions with IBM and EMC Corporation. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in International Business and from Emory University with an MBA in Marketing. He also attended St. Pius X high school in Atlanta. George, his wife, Julie, and their three children, Reed, Anna and George, reside in Athens. They attend the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia. They are an active family and the kids play tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, volleyball and piano. Additionally, since Barkley is one of 11 children, he and his immediate famiily enjoy spending time with extended family around holidays and birthdays. In his free time, George enjoys golf, traveling, and watching college (UGA) sports.
Adriana Bonilla-Ramirez Management Consultant CSR-LLC Parish: St. Peter Chanel Adriana Bonilla-Ramirez is a dedicated bilingual English/Spanish Management Consultant with significant experience leading the development and implementation of IT business solutions, such as ERP and CRM systems, as well as sales reporting tools. Bonilla-Ramirez currently works as a management consultant with CSR. During her career in the United Kingdom and the U.S., she has demonstrated strengths in analyzing operational issues and identifying gaps, reengineering concepts and optimizing processes to improve business efficiency. Adriana is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Management of Technology at Georgia Institute of Technology. She expects to graduate in December. Adriana enjoys spending time with her family, which is spread across the globe in Colombia, England and the U.S. She enjoys being outdoors and playing and watching sports including tennis, football and Formula 1 racing. Andriana also enjoys reading, movies, traveling, and is involved in breast cancer awareness and research in her spare time. Kenneth Bowman Global Account Manager Salesforce.com Parish: Catholic Church of St. Ann Ken Bowman is a Global Account Manager for Salesforce.com in Atlanta. Originally from Los Angeles, Ken graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and now lives in East Cobb. He held enterprise sales roles at Blackbaud and Cisco Systems, prior to joining Salesforce.com in 2011. Ken is married to his high school sweetheart, Amy, and together they have three children (5, 3, and 1). Ken and Amy are active members of the Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta, and try their best to support Sheltering Grace Ministries, the Wounded Warrior Project, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is a former/ wannabe athlete and wishes he was a better t-ball coach. Ken is also an active member of the Knights of Columbus and plays a mean air guitar. He secretly longs to have his own show on the Food Network and has a non-functional 1965 Buick Skylark sitting in his garage. Ken also wants to be a better dad, husband, son, neighbor, and leader in his church, company, and community. He looks forward to the opportunity to grow in faith, learn from those around him, and help others in any way he can during this Leadership Class journey.
John David Breen AVP - Marketing Equifax, Inc. Parish: Holy Spirit Catholic Church A native of Tampa, Florida and born in an Irish-Catholic family, John Breen was baptized as a baby though not confirmed in the faith until he moved to San Francisco after graduating with a civil engineering degree from Georgia Tech. From that time Breen worked for seven years as a civil engineer, including work on the Golden Gate Bridge, before obtaining an MBA and shifting to a career in economics, strategic pricing, and revenue management. He worked almost ten years with Delta Airlines, during which time he negotiated and implemented financial agreements with Air France and a dozen other partners before spending three years leading strategic pricing for Delta s cargo unit. From Delta, John spent three years at Coca-Cola before assuming his current responsibility leading strategic pricing for Equifax s mortgage service business. John has been married for 19 years to a wonderful woman, Rita, who was member of the 2012 Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership Class. Together they have two sons, ages 12 and 8. His highest priority is to spend his free time with his family. Among his other favorite activities are reading (particularly history, economics and philosophy) golf and travel. Sean Claire Regional Sales Manager Silverpop Systems Sean Claire is a Gen Y er, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After studying Psychology at University of Toledo, Sean moved to Atlanta and took employment in the Technology Sector as a Sales/Marketing professional. Starting out at Bellsouth Business Systems as an Account Executive, Sean has strategically moved his way to a position with Silverpop Systems as one of their top Regional Sales Managers. A tenacious relationship-builder and self-driven marketing professional, he is known to offer an innovative approach that improves profit margins and accelerates time to revenue. With more than a decades worth of experience in sales cycle management, new logo acquisition, and territory expansion, Sean has a proven background in securing high-profile relationships and exceeding revenue assignments. Sean boasts that he is six years married to the love of his life, and together they have an adorable daughter, two cats, and two big boxers that think they are lap-dogs. Family is very important to him and he feels blessed to have such an amazing one! He is also happy to announce that he and his wife welcomed a son in August. Sean strongly believes one should never stop learning and challenges himself daily to be better than he was yesterday. He has volunteered his time with the March of Dimes, St. Francis Table and the United Way. He is an avid reader, marathoner, and loyal Browns fan.
Daniel Cole Sales Vice President, UnitedHealthcare Southeast Region UnitedHealth Group Parish: St. Brigid As Regional Sales Vice President, Dan Cole is responsible for working with UnitedHealthcare s market Sales VPs and Health Plan CEOs to retain and grow UnitedHealthcare s business in each Southeast Market. Prior to working at UnitedHealth, Dan was a manger for Eli Lilly and before that he worked as a consultant for ZS Associates. Dan graduated from West Point and served as an Infantry Officer for nine years. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago s Booth School of Business. First and foremost, Dan sees himself as a husband and a father. He and his wife of 20 years live in Johns Creek with their four children (ages 6-15). He is a former collegiate athlete and remains an avid runner and an occasional triathlete. They attend mass weekly and participate in several parish ministries and are active in their Catholic schools events and activities. He appreciates watching a good independent film and sharing a good meal with friends. John Elrod Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, LLP John Elrod is a Shareholder with the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, specializing in business bankruptcy, creditors rights, and commercial litigation. He typically represent financial institutions, creditors committees, and corporate debtors in bankruptcy/insolvency situations across the United States. Previous to his work at Greenberg Traurig, John was an attorney at Burr & Forman and a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge Tamara O. Mitchell. John is happily married and he and his wife have three children under the age of six; John, Mac and Caroline. They love to spend time together and are involved in school and sporting events. They also enjoy trips to visit the grandparents. John is enthusiastic about spreading the message of the Church through charitable activities and attends the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. When he is not working or having fun with his family, John likes to read, travel and watch sports.
José Espina President Tortillas de Casa Parish: St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church José Espina was born in Puerto Rico, but has lived in Atlanta for 20 years. He is the president of a tortilla manufacturing plant, Tortillas de Casa, with over 35 employees. Tortillas de Casa is located in Atlanta, Georgia and is a premier manufacturer of corn and flour tortilla products as well as flavored wraps for both food service and retail. José has been married for 25 years and he and his wife have two daughters who recently graduated from the University of Georgia. He loves to spend time with his family cooking, grilling and participating in outdoor activities. Jose also is an avid squash player, likes to draw and paint, and enjoys doing construction projects around the house. José and his family are parishioners at St. Jude the Apostle, where he is involved in the Nocturnal Adoration Society. In the past he has been involved in a ministry teaching English to Spanish and Portuguese people. José would like to grow his faith and expand his leadership qualities, as well as help others! Veronica Esquivia-Lee Director of Operations Virtue Media Veronica Esquivia-Lee serves as Director of Operations for VirtueMedia and Catholics Come Home media nonprofits specializing in sanctity of life and evangelization television commercials and web videos. She has been an integral part of the VirtueMedia and Catholics Come Home nonprofits since 2010. In her current role, Ms. Esquivia-Lee is responsible for planning the workflow schedules to support operational demands and business objectives. Prior to her current role as Director of Operations, she worked as the Spanish spokesperson for CatolicosRegresen.org (the Spanish language site of CatholicsComeHome.org) and as the assistant media buyer for both nonprofits. Veronica holds a BS in Industrial Engineering Technology, with a minor in Math and Biology from Southern Polytechnic State University. She has volunteered over 400 hours as a bilingual translator (English and Spanish) in community healthcare clinics. Veronica enjoys participating in activities which allow her to build relationships and grow. At Christ the King, the Women s Evening Bible Study and Sunday U provide ways for her to learn more about her faith while meeting and connecting with people at her parish. She also enjoys teaching health and fitness as a Zumba and TRX instructor. Mentoring others to help them achieve their personal and health goals by use of strength and cardio techniques gives her great joy. Spending time with family and friends especially her niece and nephews, occupies the rest of her time.
Christine Marie Faas, PHR, RCC, CMC Communication and Training Consultant The Southeast Permanente Medical Group Inc. Christine Faas is very passionate about helping create affordable healthcare for all. Since 2008, she has been working at Kaiser Permanente as a Communication and Training Consultant. She coached doctors on their communication skills and bedside manner. She is a certified managerial coach and provides communication and management coaching to physician leaders. Faas received her BA in politics from Rollins College and has studied in Australia and Russia. Christine enjoys doing volunteer work and is currently teaching Theology of the Body to Hispanic teens at the Holy Spirit Catholic Center. This is part of their confirmation training. She also recently completed CRHP at Christ the King and helped host a CRHP weekend. When she is not working or volunteering, Christine enjoys hiking with her dog, Sweet Pea. She also likes to swim, take yoga classes, travel and hang out with friends. She is very close to her extended family and loves to spend time with them. Bernadette Flowers Stewardship Director of Time and Talent Cathedral of Christ the King Bernadette has worked for more than five years at Cathedral of Christ the King. Previous to her work in the parish ministry, she worked in the telecommunications, publishing and insurance industries. Bernadette strongly believes that people can make a difference in the world if they just understand the value of what they can do. She hopes to inspire others to do what God has called them to do. Bernadette has a BBA in Marketing from the University of North Florida, Jacksonville and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Florida State University, Tallahassee. She is active in the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community. In her free time, Bernadette loves to watch professional football, crime dramas and British period dramas such as Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs. She likes to explore all things related to social media and technology, as well as learn more about her faith. She also enjoys cooking for others and reading. She is currently preparing to run in her second St. Jude s Memphis Half Marathon in December.
Michael A. Foy U.S. Tax Director Invesco Parish: St. Thomas the Apostle Michael is a U.S. Tax Director with Invesco. Previous to that, he worked at Pricewaterhouse- Coopers for ten years. He graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Accounting and a Master of Accounting. Foy is also a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in Georgia. Originally from Florida, he has lived in Atlanta for 13 years now. Michael and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Sarah (9) and Hannah (6). The whole family attends St. Thomas the Apostle. Michael is actively involved with multiple charitable organizations including: D.A.D.S. - Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome, Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and Catholics Care - A Special Needs Network, among others. When Michael is not spending time with his family, he enjoys running and exercising. He also participates in activities that support children and adults with special needs, including the Special Olympics. Andrew Gowasack Agent Ashford Advisors Parish: Saint Pius X Andrew Gowasack is an Agent with Ashford Advisors a financial services firm working with clients in the Atlanta area providing them the tools to help achieve a greater level of confidence and financial security. He recently graduated from Benedictine College with a double major in finance and economics. Andrew is from Conyers, Georgia and is the second oldest of four children. He is not married, so his family life consists of his parents and three sisters. Being close to his mom and dad and siblings has been a blessing to him. They have taught him to develop a balanced life with different perspectives. Outside of work and family, Andrew trains in Brazilian jiu jitsu, plays chess and watches soccer. He is a member of St. Pius X and is a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus member. When not at work Andrew seeks to support the less fortunate in his community by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and local soup kitchen. He enjoys a good coffee, chess and the occasional cigar.
Betsy Harvey Director of Marketing The Children s Museum of Atlanta Betsy Harvey has been passionate about communications since she was in elementary school. Her love of visual, written, and verbal communications led her through a variety of career experiences in youth ministry, non-profit development, sales, corporate communications, and marketing over the past 18 years. Over the past four years, Betsy has been serving as the Director of Marketing at The Children s Museum of Atlanta. She oversees the Museum s marketing strategy, branding, and public relations. Prior to the Museum, Harvey launched CMajor Communications, a marketing and communications consulting practice that worked in partnership with small businesses and non-profits to fine-tune their branding and communications strategies. Her previous work experience included leadership roles in corporate communications, marketing and branding with Raving Brands, Inc., BellSouth, and Roanoke College. Betsy earned her bachelors of arts in English from Roanoke College and has participated in continuing education programs throughout her career. Betsy s most important role is being married to her husband Terry and playing and learning with her two young sons, Atlee (3) and Jack (16 months). She and her family enjoy being outdoors, making music together, and being involved in their neighborhood and community. Betsy has completed three marathons, five half marathons, and three triathlons. Yovany Jerez Corporate Training Manager AT&T With 13 years of sales, marketing, negotiation, and management experience, Mr. Yovany Jerez has worked in several industries: manufacturing, packaging logistics, external affairs, banking, consulting, and telecommunications. Yovany started his career with AT&T as a Commercial Seller. He quickly distinguished himself through results and was promoted to be a Corporate Talent Manager. In his current role, Yovany helps recent college graduates through a very intense 20-week curriculum that transforms participants into AT&T Commercial Sellers. The training includes telecommunications solutions ranging from office phones, internet services, laptops, cell phones and productivity applications. Yovany is a highly involved member of the community, clocking in 800+ annual volunteer hours. In fact, in 2011 & 2012 he received The President s Volunteer Service Award. He serves on the Board of ALPFA Atlanta and Young Ivy Plus (YIP). He participates in purpose-driven treks where he raises funds for orphans while visiting some of the world s most remote and iconic location (eg. 2012 Aconcagua in Argentina, 2010 Mount Everest in Nepal, and 2009 Mt. Cotopaxi in Ecuador). Yovany was raised in Havana, Cuba for the first 12 years of his life. His family endured a 9-month migration that took them through Panama, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Yovany made it to Boston on July 3, 1993 just in time to celebrate his family s freedom on Independence Day. He attended Phillips Academy (Andover, MA) and East Boston High School, graduating as Valedictorian, President of the Honor Society, Captain of the baseball and swimming team, Boston Athlete of the Year, and as the first Hispanic to become Senior Class President. He continued his community involvement and held several leadership positions at Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 2003 with an AB Sociology and an AB Spanish Literature.
LaRhonda Julien Construction Support Administrator Georgia Transmission Corporation Parish: St. Jude the Apostle LaRhonda Julien was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana but moved to the Atlanta area in 2000. She has a degree in business from the University of Phoenix. She is also a graduate of the United Way Volunteer Investment Program and was part of the 20th anniversary class. Julien currently works at Georgia Transmission Corporation as a construction support administrator. She has over a decade of experience in the construction industry with a versatile skill set including business development, business analysis, budgeting, project management, internal and external reporting, and systems and process improvements. LaRhonda has two children ages 17 and 4. She enjoys living a quiet and contained life, spending time with her kids or at church. She loves to write poetry in her spare time. LaRhonda spends a great deal of time helping charities. She believes this is an important aspect of her life. She specifically likes to be engaged with nonprofits geared towards helping children and babies with special needs. She is involved with all of the following charitable organizations: EMC Inspire, Inc., Women s International Network of Utility Professionals, More Than Conquerors, Inc., Christ Child Society of Atlanta and Project Management Institute. Arun Jose Kanjira Secondary Science/Math Teacher Gerard Preparatory School Parish: St. Alphonsa Malabar Catholic Church Arun received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia in 2010 and is a graduate of Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. He currently teaches science and math at Gerard Preparatory School. Arun has been leading the youth of his church for 3 years, and has taken on a leadership role among the staff at Gerard Prep. He looks forward to learning how to be a better leader and how to better serve others. He wants to build up the youth group in his church and eventually be able to lead the adults in becoming more involved in their surrounding community, as well as keeping the traditions of their church. Professionally, Kanjira s school works with an organization called the Adonaijah Foundation, which is a youth-focused charitable non-profit organization. Through his church, Arun does fundraising for the India Run for Hope and Relay for Life, which are both events through the American Cancer Society. Previously, he was involved with the Atlanta Community Food Bank as well as working at the soup kitchen at St. Francis Table. Outside of work, Arun enjoys playing and participating in sports, such as basketball, football, wrestling, mixed martial arts, swimming, and soccer. He enjoys reading books and comics, as well as playing video games. Cooking is also of great interest to him.
Elizabeth King-Howard Founder Inspired EdSourcing, LLC Parish: St. Benedict Catholic Church After nine years in Catholic school administration with Pinecrest Academy, Beth launched Inspired EdSourcing to provide enrichment programs and administrative services to home, hybrid and private independent schools. She is a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church and the Regnum Christi Lay Movement, and is active in the Bowdoin College Alumni Association. King-Howard also supports Synchronicity Theatre s Playmaking for Girls. When she isn t working, Beth likes to spend time with her family. She and her husband, Jason, have been married for 24 years and they have 2 daughters. She and Jason enjoy stimulating dinner conversations, watching movies and spending time with their distant family. Beth also enjoys cycling, history, and politics. Through her work and church life, Beth wants to help the youth to become more aware of their world and how they can change it for the better using the framework of their Catholic faith. Paul Kleinkauf Director Merrill Corporation Parish: St. Peter Chanel Paul Kleinkauf has been with Merrill Corporation since 1996. During his tenure at Merrill, Paul has handled domestic and international strategic inititatives for the legal and corporate finance communities while based in Atlanta, Frankfurt, London, Australia and New York. He has an extensive background in strategic planning, new market development and execution of new business development. Paul has a Masters Degree from Clemson University and a B.S. from Central Connecticut State University. He is actively involved in the Association for Corporate Growth, the Turnaround Management Association, the Society of Corporate Secretaries and the Governance Professionals Chapters in Atlanta. Paul and his family are active parishioners of St. Peter Chanel. Paul is the incumbent Treasurer for Knights of Columbus Council 13217. He and his wife, Katya, reside in Roswell with their two children.
Jim Komperda Vice President - Institutional Real Estate Group KeyBank Jim Komperda serves as a Vice President in KeyBank s Institutional Real Estate Group. He joined the team in 2009 after successfully completing Key National Bank s rotational program. Jim s responsibilities include the structuring and execution of syndicated debt transactions for the bank s institutional real estate clients, with a primary focus on non-investment grade and non-rated REITs, REOCs and fund clients. He began working with the group as an Associate. Prior to joining the IREG team, Jim was a member of KNB s rotational program and had rotations through KBREC s Income Property Group, Asset Recovery Group and Syndicated Finance team. Additionally, in 2006, Jim interned with KBCM s equity research team. Jim has his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Miami (OH) University. Jim s primary interest outside of work is his family - his wife, Teri, their dog and their newborn son. Outside of family his favorite activities are basketball, baseball and golf. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys coaching, attending and playing most sports. He and his wife also love to travel. John Lanier Director Ray C. Anderson Foundation Parish: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus John is the Director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a non-profit corporation located in Atlanta. The Foundation s mission is to promote a sustainable society by supporting and pioneering initiatives that harmonize society, business and the environment for the present generation and tomorrow s child. In his role, John oversees the Foundation s grantmaking, operations, outreach and Foundation relations. Prior to joining the Foundation, John was an associate attorney with the Federal Tax practice group of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP in Atlanta. His practice included representing corporations, partnerships and individuals in tax planning, audits and appeals. John also represented various non-profit organizations, assisting with formation, application for tax-exempt status, and legal compliance. John received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. in History and Economics from the University of Virginia. A Georgia-native, John is a graduate of Marist School, where he is still actively involved in the Alumni Association as the Vice President for Service and Spirituality. He enjoys an active Catholic lifestyle and relishes opportunities to delve into theological conversations. John also enjoys times on the golf course and watching any sport that is in season. Hiking and snow skiing are other passions, as is trying local beers anywhere he travels.
Jonathan Linn Executive Compensation Analyst Pearl Meyer & Partners Parish: Holy Spirit Catholic Church A 2012 graduate of the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance and a minor in Philosophy, Jonathan Linn is an Executive Compensation Analyst with Pearl Meyer & Partners. He studied finance and philosophy because he feels like business is more than just about making money. It is about becoming a better person, who makes the world a better place. He often contemplates how his work fits into the bigger picture of faith, and he looks forward to expanding his knowledge in this leadership class. He is very much interested in how theological concepts relate to the ethics of business. Jonathan is a newlywed, having married his wife in July. They met at the UGA Catholic Center, where both were heavily involved before graduating. They love to try new restaurants, cooking, exercising, as well as deepening their faith together. When Jonathan is not working or spending time with his wife, he can be found on a local trail either running or mountain biking. He also loves to snow ski. Megan Martin Assistant Real Estate Manager CBRE A 2006 graduate of Saint Mary s College, Notre Dame with a BBA in Business Administration, Megan Martin has been working in the Commercial Real Estate field since 2007. Martin is currently working as the Assistant Real Estate Manager for CBRE at a 1.5 million SF office complex in the central Perimeter area. Previous to her role with CBRE, she was the Property Administrator at Parkway Properties. Megan is the Co-President for the Saint Mary s College Atlanta Alumnae Club and is also a member of the Building Owners Management Association (BOMA). She also has a Real Estate License for the state of Georgia. When she is not working, Megan enjoys reading, exercising, watching Notre Dame football and Atlanta sports and traveling. She also loves to spend time with her family and friends.
Jessica Martinez Development Intern Grady Health Foundation Parish: Holy Cross or St. Brigid As the Development Intern for the Grady Health Foundation, Jessica Martinez contributes her knowledge and expertise in fundraising, special events, database management, and administrative services to the Foundation. She has contributed to updating and maintaining the Foundation s donor database, as well as creating a network of volunteers and assisting with grant research and proposals. Previously, Jessica was the Development Intern at Catholic Charities Atlanta. Prior to joining the Grady Health Foundation, Jessica was the Patient Services Assistant at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She achieved one of the highest records for the First Connection Program in the history of the Georgia Chapter. Jessica is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy. She enjoys volunteering her time to various organizations including the American Heart Association, Himalayan Children s Charities, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, and Camp Twin Lakes. Jessica focuses on her passion to bring awareness to heart disease and raising funds to help those in need of cardiac procedures. She is actively involved with the Larry King Cardiac Foundation raising funds through Peerto-Peer fundraising, as well as a spokesperson for the Foundation. Jessica has been featured in Women s Day Magazine and has been a speaker for numerous events, including the Women s Day Red Dress Awards, An Evening with Larry King and Friends, and the American Heart Association Go Red for Women. Before beginning her career in the fundraising and non-profit industry, Jessica aspired to be a pediatric cardiologist, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Robert Rob Means, Jr. Financial Advisor Edward Jones Parish: Transfiguration Catholic Church Rob Means worked in the technology field for twelve years and is a survivor of the dot com era. He has worked in financial services for nine years as a mortgage broker and more recently as a financial advisor. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill as an economics major. Prior to living in Atlanta, Rob has moved 13 times! But, he likes it so well in Atlanta, he has made it his home for the last 20 years. Rob is involved with a variety of social and charitable organizations including; Business Network International, Cobb Cherokee Brokers, job fairs with the Woodstock Lions Club, financial workshops with the Woodstock Senior Center, and ALTA Tennis. When Rob is not working or spending time with his social and charitable efforts, he loves to spend time with his family. They spend time outdoors hiking, rafting or playing tennis or garden golf. Rob also enjoys playing bridge, cooking, white water rafting, traveling, and health and fitness endeavours. He is a singer/songwriter and has been the musical scorewriter for three films for the 48 Hour Film Project.
Patrick B. Metz, Jr. Risk Assurance Associate PricewaterhouseCoopers Parish: St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Patrick is a Risk Assurance Associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. He graduated in 2012 with his Masters degree in Accounting from the University of Georgia. Patrick enjoys spending time with his parents and ten younger siblings, one of whom is a seminarian with the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He is also a member of Regnum Christi. He occasionally volunteers with the Missionaries of Charity. Patrick has stated, "I desire to lead through service and Catholic Charities is a good outlet for me to live my faith." Outside of work and family, Patrick enjoys reading and trying craft beers. He also loves to spend time in nature camping and hiking. Caitlin Grace Miller Attorney Mary A. Miller & Assoc., LLC Parish: Our Lady of the Assumption Caitlin is an attorney with Mary A. Miller & Associates. She received her law degree in 2010 from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Prior to law school, Caitlin received her bachelor s degree in Political Science from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Being involved in social and charitable organizations is important to Caitlin. She spends some of her free time with the Junior League of Atlanta, Dekalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and playing club sports. She is close to her family, immediate and extended. She serves as a lector in her parish. She hopes that her involvement in the Leadership Class will bring her faith and work life together and will allow her to make a meaningful contribution.
Hernán Morales Insurance Claims Supervisor Progressive Insurance Company Parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church Hernán is an insurance professional with over 17 years of experience. He has worked for Progressive Insurance Company since 1998 in many different positions of increasing responsibility, scope and complexity. In his current role, he leads a unit of experienced auto appraisers. He serves on the National Executive Board of the Progressive Insurance Latino American Networking Association. Originally from Puerto Rico, Hernán is committed to making a difference and strongly believes that having diversity and inclusion helps everyone from organizations to employees and the communities that we represent. He has a special interest for community outreach, education and volunteerism. He demonstrates this in his personal life serving as a volunteer for American Red Cross and MUST ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Married for 16 years to Maritza, he and his wife have a 13 year old daughter, Sofia. He loves to spend time with his family and he and his wife can often be found watching Sofia playing volleyball. Hernán also enjoys working out and bowling! Hernán proudly served in the Army Reserve and National Guard for six years. He holds a Bachelor s degree in Communications from Campbell University and a Master s degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Margaret Piekarski Director, Sales Training and Development Given Imaging Margaret Piekarski is currently the Director of Sales Training for Given Imaging Inc. With 21 years of medical industry experience, Margaret is an accomplished proven professional. Throughout her career she has consistently achieved results and demonstrated leadership over a diverse range of responsibilities encompassing Sales Training, Capital and Consumable Medical Sales, Sales Management, Marketing, and Customer Education. Margaret s professional qualifications and education (Lehigh University BS Biochemistry 88 and MBA 91) in conjunction with her take action" approach have resulted in numerous achievements and she has developed a reputation as a respected leader and team player that consistently strives for excellence, achieves results and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Margaret is a servant leader at Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta GA. She actively supports the parish community and is committed to helping parishioners become integrated into the life of the parish. She serves as a member of the Christ Renews His Parish leadership team, has served as a presenter and facilitator for the Women s Bible Study Ministry and has travelled to the Dominican Republic as a missionary for Mustard Seed Communities. In her down time, Margaret can often be found travelling, cooking and enjoying time with her family and friends.
Pilar Plazas, MS, MBA, PMP, CSM Senior Project Services Manager Quintiles Parish: Originally from Colombia, Pilar Plazas received a degree in Microbiology from Los Andes University at Bogota. She graduated with honors, Summa Cum Laude, from TUI University with a Master of Science in Clinical Research Administration. She also has an MBA from Drury University. Plazas is currently a Senior Project Services Manager for Quintiles where she has worked since 2007. Prior to her work at Quintiles, Pilar worked for both private companies and nonprofits including the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Pilar loves to travel as much as possible, especially overseas. She believes that the best way to learn about other people is by immersing yourself in their culture and by experiencing their food. She really enjoys the planning phase because reading about her destination beforehand allows her to start living the experience before the trip. Family is the most important part of Plaza's life. They support each other and define goals together. They make it a point to maintain a relaxed and simple approach as much as possible, so they can enjoy the small things in life. Gregory Pyne Director of Operations North American Securities Parish: All Saints Catholic Church Gregory Pyne is the Director of Operations at North American Securities, a family owned alarm installation and monitoring company. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Iona College. He has worked as a human resources professional, in public relations, and founded and owned the Brooklyn Cafe in Sandy Springs from 1992-2005. As a human resources professional he wrote four employee manuals and developed training for new employees. While he worked in public relations, he started a grass roots marketing project that wound up in the Wall Street Journal. Pyne is heavily involved in social and charitable organizations, volunteering considerable time to causes that he cares about. He is active in his parish serving in the Media Minisry, is an usher and lector, and assists the Live Teen and Edge programs. Greg is active with the Laymen and Fideles at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He also works with Camp Twin Lakes, Divine Mercy Small Groups, Knights of Columbus, the Dunwoody High School Swim Team, and XLT Atlanta. Being a good husband and parent is very important to Pyne. He supports the endeavors of his wife and children and spends as much time with them as he possibly can. He and his wife attend their kid s sporting events, cultural events, musical events, and educational events. Greg is also a published author of a novella titled Waking Up Dead.
Caroline Rittenhouse Principal Consultant Midtown Consulting Group Parish: St. Joseph Catholic Church Ms. Rittenhouse, a Principal at Midtown Consulting Group, is an experienced professional with over 17 years of experience in change management, project management, training, and managed learning function consulting. Her experience ranges from change management strategy and implementation to project and program management and business process assessment and development. She has experience in large companies in various industries, as well as large and small-scale consulting companies. Caroline received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing/Management from Siena College in Loudonville, New York and an MBA in Human Resource Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Caroline has been married to her husband, John, for 10 years and they have three children. She is an active member of her parish, serving in ministries such as Eucharistic Minister, PSR instructor, Small Church Communities, and Christ Renews His Parish. She also serves as a volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic School, which her children attend. Cinthya Rojo Billing Specialist Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Parish: Saint Thomas Aquinas Born in Mexico City, Cinthya is fluent in English and Spanish and is proficient in French. A 2010 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Cinthya is an avid Yellow Jacket football fan. She currently works as a billing specialist for Turner Broadcasting. Through Turner, she is part of Turner Women Today - dedicated to encouraging and empowering women to achieve their full potential and continue to grow Turner s competitive edge, TurnerUno - composed of employees who support and/or have an interest in the Latino and Hispanic culture, and Turner NextGen - an organization that serves as the foundation for emerging leaders to position Turner for growth in the digital era. Ms. Rojo is active in her parish where she serves on the pastoral council at Saint Thomas Aquinas, as well as participates in their Hispanic young adults group. In her free time, Cinthya loves to spend time with her parents and extended family. She travels at least twice a year to Mexico to visit relatives. She also enjoys reading foreign language and policy books and is a soccer enthusiast. Cinthya is currently training for her first 10k race.
Christy Sammon Government Affairs Director Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Christy Sammon is a Georgia native who was born and raised in Carrollton. She graduated in 1990 from West Georgia College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. In 2006, West Georgia College honored Christy with their President s Award. Christy is currently a contract Lobbyist with Smith, Gambrell & Russell. Christy has been married to her husband, Tom, for 24 years. Together they have two boys; Steven who is a senior at the University of Georgia and Daniel who is a sophomore at Ole Miss. Both she and her husband are very close their parents and siblings and are often found spending lots of time with them at the lake. Christy is involved with the Boys and Girls Club and is on the Board of Trustees for the Conservative Policy Leadership Institute. She is currently a member of the University of West Georgia Alumni Association and is a member of the women s Bible study group and a Sunday school teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Carrollton. When Christy is not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, traveling, and tennis. Jeffrey Savier Graduate Student/Rehab Technician Emory Healthcare arish: St. Alphonsa Catholic Church Born and raised in New Jersery as an Indian-American, Jeff s parents immigrated to the United States from India in the mid 1980 s, so that he and his brother would have the best education, living experience, and diverse social interactions possible. Jeff recently graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and is aspiring to be a physical therapist. He is currently a Rehab Technician at Emory University Hospital. running. In his spare time, Savier serves as a youth leader at St. Alphonsa Catholic Church. He is also active in the Student Alumni Association at Georgia State and the Physical Therapy Interests Organization. Jeff also volunteers at the Shepherd Center and enjoys playing basketball and
Steven Schreck, Ph.D. Senior Manager, Community and Alliance Management, Global Regulatory Affairs UCB, Inc. Steve has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 14 years in various positions in clinical development, quality assurance and compliance, and regulatory affairs. He has a Bachelors degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of South Carolina. Since moving to Georgia in 1999, Schreck has been involved with or has volunteered with Mustard Seed Communities, Villa International, The Carter Center, and other numerous Archdiocesan groups. On a professional level, he has been involved with the Drug Information Association, Regulatory Affairs Professional Society, and the Society of Quality Assurance. He especially loves interacting with people of all cultures and nationalities and draws a lot of interest in learning from others from all walks of life. In his free time, Steve enjoys traveling. He has visited many countries in Europe and sailed in the Caribbean. He has also traveled to the Galapagos Islands. Bradley Spitznagel Analyst Norfolk Southern Parish: St. Francis de Sales Brad is from Indiana and moved to Atlanta in May of 2012. He graduated from Purdue in 2009 with a degree in Economics and Psychology. He is currently working as an analyst for Norfolk Southern where he analyzes rail traffic to improve transit efficiency. Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, he worked at JP Morgan Chase as a personal banker. Spitznagel is involved in the Men s Club and Knights of Columbus at St. Francis de Sales. He was a core member for Life Teen while he lived in Indiana. He also helps out at the soup kitchen for Immaculate Heart in downtown Atlanta. In his free time, Brad enjoys going for walks and runs outdoor. He likes to hang out with friends and having "conversations of consequence" on topics such as theology, business, and politics. He also enjoys participating in sports related activities including tennis, golf, swimming, and basketball.
Kelley Conlon Thomas Creative Director/Principal Push Creative Parish: Holy Spirit Catholic Church Working in the advertising/marketing/public relations industries for over 30 years, Kelley Thomas brings an uncommonly diverse background to any project she heads up today. While Owner, Creative Director, and Copywriter remain her technical titles (at Push Creative, a company she founded in 2000), Kelley also works as an Account Manager, Marketing Strategist, and on-call Muse with projects ranging in size and scope, depending on a client s needs. At UCLA, Kelley graduated from the university s prestigious School of Communications with a focus on Mass Media. Soon thereafter, she worked at various record companies in their publicity and promotions departments. She was assigned to develop local and tour press for numerous bands and record launches, most notably Michael Jackson s Thriller. She then took her talent to hype talent to a new arena: advertising. In 1998, Kelley fell in love with a guy in Atlanta. She moved south, got married, and had a baby in short order. She then opened Push Creative, where she manages an arsenal of creative talent based in Atlanta and Los Angeles with the simple goal of producing work as smartly strategic as it is uncompromisingly creative. She lives in Buckhead with her husband, Paul, and son, Cade. Spare time finds her chasing around town as a LAX mom, antique hunter, community volunteer/advocate, and insatiable Scrabble junkie. Michael Tigue Owner Web4u Corporation and Vocation Supply Company Parish: Holy Trinity Catholic Church Michael Tigue is the owner of Web4u Corporation and the Vocation Supply Company which provide website design, e-marketing, promotional products, mobile apps, and customized software solutions. He served for nine years as the Lay Campus Minister at the Emory University Catholic Center. Prior to Emory, he taught high school religion courses at Peoria Notre Dame High School in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a Bachelor s in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Tigue is involved in his church where he serves as a lector and takes personal time each day to pray, reflect, read, and meditate. He and his family are active with all of the following groups: Franciscan University Alumni of Georgia, Canongate Country Club, Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Cancer Home, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Bronx, NY, and Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Michael loves to spend the weekends with his family. He and his wife have four children. They enjoy watching movies, swimming and visiting Disney World. Michael has completed two marathons so far in 2013. He has also developed several mobile apps including a Confession App: Catholic and MyAdorationPal: Catholic, which are available on the Android and Apple markets.