Deacon Ray Aguado
Founder/Executive Director of Trinity House & Permanent Deacon
Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Pensacola, FL
Deacon Ray Aguado is the Founder and Executive Director of Trinity House, LLC, which operates two transitional homes for homeless senior citizens known as Trinity House. These homes help individuals transition from homelessness to independent housing by providing counseling and case management and helping clients access community resources. Trinity House LLC, in partnership with the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee—where Aguado is also a Permanent Deacon—is currently developing property for the construction of Trinity Village, a tiny house community featuring nine new residences. These tiny houses will be provided at reduced rents to low income senior citizens who are experiencing housing insecurity.
Luke Arredondo
Executive Director
St. Brendan Center for Evangelization and Spirituality
Pensacola, FL
Luke Arredondo serves as the Executive Director of the St. Brendan Center for Evangelization and Spirituality in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. He earned his M.A. in Theological Studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana and his Ph.D. in Comparative Religious Ethics at Florida State University. Luke formerly served as the Director of Faith Formation in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas for 4 years. He and his wife live in Pensacola with their five children.
Sister Karen Burke, CSJ
Leadership Council
Sisters of St. Joseph
Brentwood, NY
Sister Karen Burke, CSJ, Ed.D. is a member of the Leadership Council for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She holds a doctoral degree in instructional leadership and an advanced certificate in campus sustainable innovation. In response to the Congregation’s Land Ethic statement, Sr. Karen has led the Congregation’s environmental initiatives since 2016, coordinating efforts to implement new initiatives related to land conservation, woodland restoration and preservation, solar energy, landscape options, and wastewater management. Sr. Karen has conducted professional presentations in more than 45 countries, and has also worked with the Indigenous people of the Shinnecock Nation on Long Island. She has been both an advocate and activist, working to ensure a more just distribution of privileges, opportunities, and resources.
David Dawson
Assistant Vice President
Sunbelt Investment Holdings, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ
David Dawson serves as Assistant Vice President at Sunbelt Investment Holdings, Inc. (SIHI), where he leads underwriting and leasing efforts for SIHI’s retail developments in Arizona, and supports SIHI’s operating portfolio throughout Arizona and Southern California. David has worked on retail and mixed-use development projects throughout the Southwest and Midwest, most notably The Union Dallas (Dallas, TX), Block 23 (Phoenix, AZ), and Buckeye Commons (Buckeye, AZ). David holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning from University of California Los Angeles, with a concentration in urban design and real estate development, and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Gonzaga University, with a concentration in Catholic studies. David lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and three (soon-to-be-four) children.
Conor Dugan
Partner
SouthBank Legal
Grand Rapids, MI
Conor Dugan is a husband, father of four, and attorney from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his legal work, he has represented a variety of religious organizations. He serves as the outside general counsel for a Catholic diocese. He has an interest in serving Catholic organizations and businesses and reducing the friction of the law to allow those organizations and businesses to pursue their missions. In his free time, Conor enjoys writing and reading. His work has appeared in The Catholic World Report, Humanum, and Church Life Journal.
Alexis Duval-Arnould
President
Duval Companies
Minneapolis, MN
Alexis Duval is the President of Duval Companies, related businesses that design, develop, and manage mission-driven real estate projects. Prior to founding Duval Companies, Mr. Duval was a Director in the family office, capital markets group, and architecture firm of John Portman. There he managed the design and financing of projects in the United States, China, Korea, and India. Mr. Duval earned the Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University. He is on the board of the Harvard Club of Minnesota, was a member of the Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board and is an oblate of Saint John’s Abbey.
Katie Elliot
Executive Director
St. Margaret's House
South Bend, IN
Katie Elliot is leading an organization on the front lines of poverty in South Bend, Indiana, and is inspired by the vision of a world in which all women and children have access to the resources they need to thrive. She is currently working to make this grassroots, much-loved organization of 35 years sustainable for many more decades to come via strategic investments in women and children who have been historically excluded. Katie holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, earned her M.Div. and Ph.D. in theology from the University of Notre Dame, and has more than 20 years of pastoral experience. She and her husband have two daughters.
Mark Franzen
Director
St. Gregory's Hall at Mary, Mother of God Parish
Chicago, IL
Mark Franzen is the inaugural director of St. Gregory’s Hall, a parish-based center that promotes Catholic culture through the arts, literature, theology, and social teaching. Before helping to found St. Gregory’s Hall, Mark managed programs for over a decade at the Lumen Christi Institute, a Catholic intellectual apostolate serving the University of Chicago. His interests range from baseball to modern European philosophy, liturgical theology to monastic spirituality. Mark received a B.A. in art and philosophy from North Park University and an M.A. from the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Jeremy Helmes
Director
Parish Vitality, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Jeremy Helmes is Director of Parish Vitality for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, responsible for parish life, pastoral planning, leadership development, worship & sacraments, and parish stewardship in the Church of southwestern Ohio. He holds a B.S. in economics and an M.A. in theology. Jeremy is the chair emeritus of National Pastoral Musicians and currently serves on the board of the Diocesan Planners Network. Jeremy is the author of Three Great Days, published by Liturgical Press, and articles in Pastoral Music and Worship. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife Karen, and their sons Nate and Will.
Marco Izzia
Founder and CEO
San Giuseppe Real Estate Ltd. Co.
Madison, WI
Marco Izzia is the founder and CEO of San Giuseppe Real Estate Ltd. Co., a consulting and real estate development company working at the intersection of Catholic Social Thought and real estate finance, created to fulfill the vision of using real estate to secure a stable financial future for faith communities and help the Catholic Church thrive. He is a native of Milan, Italy. He earned an M.S. in real estate and urban land economics and an M.S. in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a focus on real estate private equity, affordable housing, and sociology of finance.
Jarah Jacquay
Managing Principal
Virtuous Cycle LLC
Pensacola, FL
Jarah Jacquay is a Catholic convert, husband, and father of six above-average children. A Pensacola resident and a native of Northwest Florida, he started his career in healthcare and is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Pittsburgh. He currently serves as the Managing Principal of Virtuous Cycle LLC, a faith-filled and human-scale real estate development and consulting firm, and volunteers on a number of community boards and committees, including as the co-founder and board chair of Bluffline Inc.
David Kimbell
Chief Financial Officer
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Pensacola, FL
The Catholic Church has always been the setting for David’s life. From early years growing up with the Holy Name sisters at Saint Andrew’s parish in Pasadena, California, to college with the Benedictines at Saint Anselm in Manchester, New Hampshire, then to the Holy Cross at Notre Dame for the ACE program, the TOR Franciscans at Steubenville where he did his M.B.A., and working these past 15 years for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida, varied experiences and charisms across the country and across the Church have indelibly influenced David’s identity and vocation. He and his wife, Erin (ND ’09, ’11) have six children and are parishioners at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola.
Brenda Kresky
Director of Pastoral Planning
Diocese of Saint Cloud
Saint Cloud, MN
Brenda Kresky has devoted over 30 years to serving as a lay ecclesial minister in the Catholic Church in parish and diocesan levels and holds a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry from Saint John’s University School of Theology. Currently serving as the Director of Pastoral Planning for the Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Brenda brings extensive experience and passion for guiding faith communities. She is a dedicated wife of over 30 years, a mother to four adult children, and is deeply committed to fostering spiritual growth and pastoral leadership.
Bret Mitchell
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Mitchell Classical Design LLC
Alexandria, VA
Bret is an experienced Program Manager, who holds a master's in business administration from Ashford University and maintains a current project management professional (PMP) certification. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. At Mitchell Classical Design, Bret serves as the Managing Director, overseeing business operations. With a passion for history and art preservation as an evangelization tool, Bret serves as the Vice President of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums (501c3).
Gracia Mitchell
Co-Founder and Principal Designer
Mitchell Classical Design LLC
Alexandria, VA
As a graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Gracia has received an excellent education in traditional and classical architecture. Throughout her professional career she has focused on Catholic Church design and liturgical furnishings. She has also worked on institutional, educational, and custom residential projects, with great expertise in 3D-modeling and rendering. Born and raised in El Salvador, Gracia is an active member of the Hispanic Community in Virginia and Washington, D.C., where she is involved in several activities. She also serves as the Treasurer of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Washington D.C. Chapter.
Jacob Preciado
Director of Asset Management
Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Jacob Preciado is the Director of Asset Management for the Archdiocese of Chicago, where he has served for over 16 years. A licensed stationary engineer with more than 30 years of experience, Jacob brings extensive expertise in HVAC, mechanical systems, and energy efficiency. He leads facilities management across pastoral centers, active and closed parishes, ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. His deep building knowledge and commitment to stewardship support the Archdiocese’s mission through proactive maintenance, strategic planning, and cost-effective asset oversight.
Mallory Root
Owner
Roots Brew Shop
Co-Founder
The Cottage on Turner
Grand Rapids, MI
Mallory Root is the owner and steadfast captain of Roots Brew Shop, a coffee shop on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Roots grew out of a desire to bring people together and engage in all of life’s moments over a delicious cup of coffee. Inspired by the fruits of this work, Mallory recently co-founded a new business focused on responding to the crisis of loneliness within remote work. The Cottage on Turner is a neighborhood co-working club building community through the way of beauty. She holds a B.A. in art from Hillsdale College and loves people more than coffee.
Mary Roque
Founder
3Tents and 3Tents Foundation
Boston, MA
Mary Roque is an attorney practicing in the areas of trust and estates and elder law in Massachusetts. Also the owner of concierge service provider Entrust Care, she founded 3Tents as a housing provider for older adults who want to thrive both intellectually and spiritually in their older adult years. Her goal is to help all residents and staff of the communities she builds and to help them to realize the transcendent value of their lives. In addition, Mary spent some years as a consultant to affordable housing developers who were nonprofits to help obtain financing for over 150 units of housing. Currently, she serves on a board that manages Woodhaven, a town-owned residence for older adults in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
Jim Schultz
Director of Mission and Catholic Identity
Seton Catholic Schools
Milwaukee, WI
Jim Schultz has spent his career working with Catholic K–12 schools, universities, parishes, and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. His expertise includes Catholic ethics and systematics, urban education, instructional leadership, faith formation, and professional development. In his role as Director of Mission for Seton Catholic Schools, he collaborates with schools to develop Catholic culture within students, faculty, and partnering communities. Currently, he is working on a Faith Immersion Program, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. for nurturing prayer and worship in schools. He holds a master’s in theology from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in education from Marquette University.
Brother John Steilberg, OP
Syndic (Treasurer)
Province of St. Albert the Great
Chicago, IL
Brother John is a member of a vowed religious community known as The Order of Preachers. In 1216, Saint Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Friars, to combat the heresies of its day by preaching the Truth of Jesus Christ. The Order synthesizes the contemplative life and active life of ministry within the Roman Catholic tradition. Today the Dominican Friars live as Christian men centered on prayer, study, community, and preaching. Br John has taken the religious vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity as a member of the Province of St. Albert the Great.
Fr. Anthony Stoeppel
Faculty Coordinator for Church Management
Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business
Washington, DC
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology
Athenaeum of Ohio: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
Cincinnati, OH
Fr. Anthony Stoeppel, a bi-ritual Latin-Byzantine priest, serves as the Faculty Coordinator for Church Management at Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology in Cincinnati. Previously, Fr. Anthony served as Vice Rector and Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies as well as Director of Liturgy and Sacred Music at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He was also the vicar general of the Diocese of Tyler, president of Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic Schools, and pastor of two multi-lingual parishes. Fr. Anthony earned a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kentucky’s Martin School. Prior to ordination, he grew up on a beef cattle farm and worked for Clearbrook & Co. LTD, a private equity firm in Lexington, Kentucky.
Emily Yeager
Data Analyst
Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago, IL
A Colorado native and 2021 graduate of Notre Dame, Emily Yeager started her career in healthcare consulting in Chicago before beginning her current role as a data analyst for the Archdiocese of Chicago in early 2023. Driven by a desire to strengthen her data skills while incorporating her faith, her work ranges from designing PowerBI dashboards to data transformation and data governance. Her PowerBI reports support numerous departments, including Parish Operations, Stewardship and Development, Real Estate, and Finance. Emily is passionate about providing data-driven tools to empower users to share Christ’s Church and mission with the world.
2025–27 Eucharistic Culture Project Cohort Consultants
Patrick Jordan
President
Heron Community Consulting Inc.
Bethesda, MD
Patrick has supported affordable housing and community development, in collaboration with faith-based institutions, development corporations, and government agencies in over 100 cities over 20 years. In 2021, he founded Heron Community Consulting to enhance neighborhood-led development and has trained dozens of churches in faith-based development. He previously worked at Enterprise Community Partners and HUD providing capacity building to governments and nonprofits. Patrick taught high school math and physics at Gonzaga College High School before founding a nonprofit housing organization in Washington, D.C. He holds a law degree and public policy certificate from the Catholic University of America.
Matt Reichert
Leadership Consultant
Catholic Leadership Institute
Matt Reichert serves as a Leadership Consultant with the Catholic Leadership Institute. His work focuses on providing support and formation to parish and diocesan leaders, especially around pastoral planning and leadership development. Matt previously served as Director of Outreach at GIA Publications and Director of the Center for Learning at OCP. Matt is a graduate of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the University of Notre Dame. When he’s not on the road or in a Zoom meeting, Matt is an avid reader, gardener, runner, beekeeper, and woodworker. He lives in central Minnesota with his wife and four daughters.