Ann will be presenting: “Turning down the Temperature: 5 Tips for De-escalating a Heated Conversation”

Ann is the oldest of eight children in a close-knit Catholic family from St. Louis, Missouri.

Over the past two decades she has taught a range of courses in pastoral theology, homiletics, and catechetics while also serving in a variety of administrative positions including Director of Field Education, Director of Distance Learning, Director of the Aquinas Ministry Integration Project, Director of the Doctorate of Ministry program, and Director of the Masters in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Ann’s ongoing reflection on her experience as an educator and administrator has led to a number of publications and speaking engagements. She is the author of ten books, as well as numerous essays and articles. She has visited all 50 states and 20 countries, having spoken at over 250 diocesan, educational, health care, ministry, and business gatherings including:

• National Catholic Education Association

• Olin Executive Education at Washington University

• The Church Network

• Archdiocese of Chicago

• National Pastoral Musicians

• Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities

• National Association of Catholic Chaplains

• Association of Theological Schools

• Catholic Relief Services

• Boston College

• National Association of Church Personnel Administrators

• Catholic Health Association

• Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese

• University of Notre Dame

• LA Congress

• The Wexner Foundation

• Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers' Association

In 2013, Ann affiliated with Triad Consulting Group, a global corporate education and communications consulting firm founded by two members of the Harvard Negotiation Project. Ann has a passion for bringing the best research and practice around healthy communication and conflict management from the business world into the church world.

Ann now splits her time between offices in St. Louis, MO and Cambridge, MA and her apartment in Atlanta, GA where she resides with her very understanding husband.

Helena will be presenting: “Small Groups Led Simply”

Helena Dziadowicz is the Director of Evangelizaion and Student Housing at Saint Paul's Catholic Student Center on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. Helena studied pharmaceutical sciences at UW- Madison, then served with AmeriCorps as a high school math tutor, became a FOCUS missionary, and then worked as a Residence Hall Director at Franciscan University. She loves her alma matter the most and delights in bringing students to the beacon of light that is Saint Paul's! Passionate about the reality of God and the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church, Helena loves engaging students in difficult topics and provoking people to think more deeply about their lives. She also loves fitness classes, laughing constantly, enjoying smoked meats, and visiting Croatia!

Fr. Patrick will present: “Preaching the Gospel on Campus: Ways that Work”

Fr. Patrick grew up in St. Louis. Before he entered the Dominicans, he taught middle school at St. Michael Indian School on the Navajo Nation.

He professed first vows with the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great in 2010 and was ordained a priest on May 14, 2016.

Fr. Patrick has served at St. Paul's since 2016. He has directed campus ministry since 2016 and served as pastor since 2019.

In addition to his role at St. Paul's, he currently serves the National Eucharistic Revival as a National Eucharistic Preacher.

Sherry will present: “Marketing your Ministry: Sending Your Message Further and Faster”

Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media strategist, blogger, conference speaker, podcast guest and contributing author of the “Prayerbook for Mothers”. She serves as a social media manager for her parish American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA and St.Monica in Mercer Island, WA. Sherry has a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is grateful to be a digital disciple of Christ.

Jamie will present: “How a Catholic Center Builds a Culture of Feedback for its Staff and Volunteers”

Currently, Jamie is the president of Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center. With a track record for building and serving Catholic communities in the northeast, while improving organizational infrastructures and operational efficiencies, Jamie most recently spent eight years with Saint Thomas More, The Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University. On staff at Yale from 2006-2014, he served in the roles of development director, program director, and assistant chaplain, assisting students, exploring partnerships, and helping to lead fundraising, public relations, and marketing efforts.

Jamie graduated with a B.A. in speech communication from the University of Richmond and completed his M.A. in ministry from Saint John’s Seminary in Boston, as well as a master’s degree in development and philanthropy from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. Jamie and his wife, Kristina currently reside in Manhattan Beach, CA with their six boys and one daughter.

Elliott will present: “Becoming a Better Writer”

Elliott Gualtiere is Dean of Mission and Ministry at Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT.

He is beginning his 26th year in ministry work and his 18th year at Fairfield Prep. As Dean of Mission and Ministry, he coordinates the adult faith formation program which includes faculty/staff, parents and alumni.

He also oversees the Campus Ministry department which coordinates all of the religious and spiritual life programming for the students. Elliott has worked in ministry for the past 25 years as a theology teacher, campus minister, and parish youth minister.

Elliott holds a BA in Political Science from Fordham University (1995) and an MS ED Admin Catholic School Leadership from Fordham University (2009). Elliott received his Spiritual Direction Certification in 2019 from the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University. Elliott resides in Shelton with his wife Maura of 23 years and their two sons, William and Nicholas.

Marta will present: “Pastoral Universitaria: Attending the Needs of Latino Students on Campus”

Marta is the Director for the Office for Spirituality at the University of St. Thomas - Minnesota.

She is originally from Costa Rica and lived several years in Puerto Rico were she served as a Carmelite Missionary. She came to Minnesota in 2003 when she married her husband. She is a University of St. Thomas alum with majors in Theology and Catholic Studies and was part of the Latino Leadership Program.

She holds a Masters degree in Theology from St Thomas and a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from St. Catherine University. She worked for Latino ministries at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for two years.

Before joining the Office for Spirituality, Marta worked as a Campus Minister for Spirituality and Retreats at St. Catherine University and as an adjunct professor at St. Thomas collaborating with the Lay Ministry Spanish Program since 2013.

Montsey will present: “Pro-Life on Campus” as a prerecorded bonus item.

Montserrat Alvarado was born in Mexico City, Mexico and great up in Miami, Fl. She has worked at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty since 2009 and currently serves as its VP & Executive Director.

With a background in public policy and campaigns, Montse is part of the powerhouse team that has secured religious liberty victories at the Supreme Court against the contraceptive mandate, protecting the rights of churches to choose their leaders, and the free speech of crisis pregnancy centers and campus groups. She was recently profiled by the Wall Street Journal's Weekend Edition with the following introduction: "a defender of all religion, on the front lines of America’s culture wars."

Montse serves on the board of the Patients Rights Action Fund-- the leading advocate against the legalization of assisted suicide, and served on the Montgomery County Commission for Women in Maryland. She is a lay consultant to the USCCB's Religious Liberty Committee and although not attorney, she "plays one on TV" advocating for Becket clients on major television and radio networks. She has a B.A. from Florida International University and a Master's from George Washington University.