O’Meara Ferguson 2010 Conference – Speaker Information

Cardinal Francis George is the first Chicago native to become Archbishop of Chicago. Installed in May 1997, he arrived by way of the west coast, where he had spent less than a year as Archbishop of Portland, Oregon and five years as Bishop of Yakima, Washington. He is the thirteenth Ordinary for Chicago since its establishment as a diocese in 1843.

The northwest side native, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is the sixth Cardinal to lead the Chicago Archdiocese’s 2.3 million Catholics. He has assumed a prominent position among U.S. Cardinals, and, as the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, his pastoral leadership encompasses international and national audiences.

Locally, he shepherds his diverse flock with an energy that belies his 72 years. He is the first Cardinal Archbishop to visit all of the Archdiocese’s 363 parishes, and to communicate digitally, electronically and in three languages.
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Prior to joining O’Meara Ferguson Asset Management, Mr. Ashton was a partner with the Radcliffe Fund, a multi-strategy hedge fund primarily focused on convertible bond investing. While with Radcliffe he engaged in equity, credit and volatility analysis, trading, hedging, portfolio selection and management. He also sourced and structured privately negotiated investments in public companies (PIPES) for both the Radcliffe Fund and the management firm’s previous fund, Rose Glen Capital.

Prior to joining Radcliffe, Mr. Ashton worked for Evercore Partners, an investment banking and private equity firm located in New York. While at Evercore, Mr. Ashton participated in a wide variety of principal and advisory engagements including CBS’s $38 billion merger with Viacom, Tenneco’s break-up of its packaging and automotive businesses, and Evercore’s $767 million purchase of American Media Inc. Mr. Ashton has worked as a summer analyst with Argus Research in New York, where he covered the Telecom and Technology sectors with an emphasis on the PCS wireless industry.

Mr. Ashton received his A.B. in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 1991 and his M.B.A. from the Dupree School of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1998, concentrating in finance and accounting.
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Mr. Conway has taught in the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s Institute for Stewardship and Development since l993, and he writes a regular column on stewardship themes, The Good Steward, for diocesan newspapers and other publications.

During the past 12 years Mr. Conway provided consulting services to more than 30 Catholic organizations, including archdioceses, dioceses, seminaries, Catholic schools, and religious communities. A graduate of Saint Meinrad College, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Indiana University and a Master of Religious Education from St. Meinrad School of Theology.

An active volunteer, he recently served as a board member for both the Sacred Heart Village Retirement Community in Louisville, Kentucky and the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana.
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Prior to 2005, Carlos spent 11 years with New York City-based domestic and international banks and institutions including Citigroup, Calyon (France), and UBS (Switzerland). At Citigroup, Carlos managed a team of 10 professionals and personal client portfolio of over $325 million of assets under management.

Carlos graduated from the Florida State University in 1987 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1988-1991 with duty stations and deployments to Japan (Okinawa), South Korea, the Marianna Islands, Honduras, and the Persian Gulf. In 1993, following his military service, Carlos earned an M.B.A. from George Washington University. He serves on the not-for-profit advisory board and steering committee for the World Fund and the American Bible Society’s the Bible in Hispanic American ministry. Carlos is also part of the founding group and a board member of the recently-formed Catholic Association of Latino Leaders. Carlos is bilingual (English-Spanish), a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus and serves as secretary to his parish’s finance council. Carlos resides in Florida with Cynthia, his wife of 18 years, and their two young children.
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Prior to Marian University, President Elsener served the community and education as the Executive Director of the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and Project E Indiana. As executive director, he was a member of the board of directors, responsible for the planning, administration, and implementation of initiatives of the foundation.

Since his inauguration in 2001, President Elsener has been steadfast in his commitment to Marian University. Working together with the Board of Trustees and other key constituencies, he has pledged to build a great Catholic university by building on Marian’s strong foundation and advancing the university’s mission to provide excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Under President Elsener’s dynamic leadership, the university is committed to elevating its academic stature to a superior level; creating a more vibrant campus through expanded social, intellectual, cultural, and recreational activities; enriching the Catholic and Franciscan dimensions of the university; and providing the financial resources to advance the university’s transformational mission. Marian is on a trajectory of success, celebrating record-high enrollment, innovative academic programming, new and improved campus facilities, and increased partnerships with alumni and community leaders alike. In short, Marian is on the move and making history!

President Elsener holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska. He is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association and Chief Administrators of Catholic Education, American Council on Education, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Indianapolis Chapter of Legatus Board of Directors, Franciscan Colleges and Universities, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, The Indiana Academy, and the Indiana State Board of Education. When called upon, he proudly serves these organizations (and others) as a consultant and/or speaker on topics such as excellence in education, leadership development, stewardship and development, planning, and institutional advancement.

Dan and his wife, Beth, find great joy in their children, grandchildren, Church, many civic activities, and, of course, leading Marian University to become a great Catholic university!
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Before joining Marriott, Mr. Ferguson was a partner at the consulting firm of Putnam, Hayes and Bartlett, Inc., where he specialized in strategic planning, deregulation, organization development, and staffing. Previously a principal at the firm Tim D. Martin & Associates, Frank Ferguson focused on process reengineering, benchmarking and best practices, and organization development across a variety of regulated industries. He was also an associate with the consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc.

Mr. Ferguson holds a B.S. degree in Economics with honors from Villanova University and an M.B.A in International Business also with honors from George Mason University.
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Mr. Flynn has structured and executed a wide variety of transactions ranging from new money general obligation issues to tax-increment refunding bonds. In addition to his underwriting experience, he has significant experience analyzing and executing structures involving derivative products, remarketing agreements, and credit facilities.

Over the past three years, Mr. Flynn led our Swap Advisory Team in successfully executing approximately $2 billion in swaps, for clients such as the City of New Britain (CT), County of Cook (IL), Diocese of Oakland, Diocese of Orlando, State of Indiana Bond Bank, Loyola Academy, Nazareth Academy, Northwestern University, Presbyterian Homes, Springhill College, St. Ignatius College Prep and St. Norbert College.

Mr. Flynn holds a B.A in Economics from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg (Northwestern) School of Management. He resides in Westfield, Indiana with his wife and two children.
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Bill has presented on a variety of topics including: child & youth protection; internet safety; the importance of enterprise strategic information; and non-profit strategizing at a number of conferences including: the Diocesan Information System Conference (DISC), the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the National Lawson User Group Conference (CUE), the Catholic Academy of Communication Arts Professionals Assembly, and MacWorld.

Bill has a Master of Business Administration from the Loyola College Sellinger School of Business and Management and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
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Mr. Lago has served on many committees interfacing between the Church and civic communities, most notably as delegate to the White House Briefing on National Alliance Against Pornography (1990-1991) and in 1994 for the White House Briefing/Debate on National Healthcare Reform. Mr. Lago serves and has served on multiple boards and has received numerous civic and ecclesial awards including the
Appreciation Award from Joseph Cardinal Bernardin in 1996 and in 2001 he was honored with the
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal.

Mr. Lago holds a B.A. degree DePaul University and master’s degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from the University of Illinois and Loyola University. He has also pursued post-graduate studies in IT Management from DePaul University and the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management.

Jimmy and his wife reside in Berwyn, Illinois with their twin sons.
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In addition to being the co-editor of the theological quarterly Nova et Vetera, Dr. Levering has authored a number of books including: Christ’s Fulfillment of Torah and Temple, Scripture and Metaphysics, Sacrifice and Community, Participatory Biblical Exegesis, Biblical Natural Law, Ezra and Nehemiah, and Christ and the Catholic Priesthood.

Dr. Levering is also the co-author of Holy People, Holy Land and Knowing the Love of Christ and co-edited Vatican II: Renewal within Tradition, Rediscovering Aquinas and the Sacraments, Aquinas the Augustinian, Reading John with St. Thomas Aquinas, and John Paul II and the Jewish People.

Additionally, he has published articles and reviews in numerous journals including Letter and Spirit, Nova et Vetera, The Thomist, Pro Ecclesia, Modern Theology, New Blackfriars, International Journal of Systematic Theology, Irish Theological Quarterly, Angelicum, Logos, American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, and First Things.

Dr. Levering has served as a member of Evangelicals and Catholics Together since 2004 and is a Contributing Editor of Assembly: A Journal of Liturgical Theology.
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Father Mahan was ordained to the priesthood in 1988. Until 2006, he served as pastor and associate pastor of parishes throughout Central and Southern Indiana. Now he serves full-time in stewardship ministry, making presentations to diocese and parishes throughout the United States, Canada, in Australia and the Philippines, and most recently in China. He has served as a faculty member and the Director of Formation for the Institutes and Conferences of the International Catholic Stewardship Council.

He is the author of More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest, published by Saint Catherine of Siena Press.
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Sharon has been directly involved with the successes of numerous organizations in her last nine years with O’Meara Ferguson including a $30 million campaign at Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas, Nevada, and a $12 million campaign for Cleveland Central Catholic High School in Cleveland, Ohio that raised funds for endowment, as well as renovation and additions to an inner city school campus.
She also directed the $20 million major gifts phase of the $110 million dollar Archdiocese of Indianapolis capital campaign and the $23 million major gifts phase of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s $95 million campaign.

Ms. Mainero’s distinguished 14-year career represents a wealth of knowledge and experience from previous positions with prestigious organizations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Boston University, and the Girl Scouts of America.

Ms. Mainero earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Boston College and has attended Indiana University’s Center of Philanthropy, and The Fund Raising School.

Sharon serves on the Board of First Book-Charlotte, an international organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Sharon and her husband Al reside in Charlotte, North Carolina and are active in their community.
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Prior to becoming Moderator of the Curia, Monsignor McClory served as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Administrative Secretary to Cardinal Adam Maida, and as an associate pastor at two suburban Detroit parishes.

Monsignor McClory was sent to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology in 1998. Ordained in 1999, Monsignor McClory completed his license in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 2000. He was given the title of “Monsignor” and made a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

In addition, Monsignor McClory holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and communications from Oakland University, a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University, and a law degree from The University of Michigan.
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At Blair, Dave led a team of professionals in the Debt Capital Markets Department that focused on raising capital for not-for-profit corporations and middle market companies. These capital formation activities typically involved the funding of growth, acquisitions and working capital through public and private offerings of tax-exempt bonds, bank credit facilities, mortgage notes, subordinated debt and preferred stock. Dave has worked with a wide variety of educational, cultural and healthcare institutions in the not-for-profit market and middle market companies in numerous industries. He has a thorough understanding of the financial and credit issues encountered by both the issuer and the investor.

Prior to joining William Blair & Company in 1983, Dave worked as a management consultant for Price Waterhouse. He received his B.A. degree from St. Louis University and his M.B.A. degree from The University of Chicago.
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Mr. O’Meara has spoken to audiences in North America and Europe on topics of Catholic Education, Evangelization, and Church Management of temporal affairs, including Mission Advancement, Accessing the Capital and Commercial Marketplace, and Strategic Planning. He has been quoted in Bond Buyer and Time Magazines, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal and has also frequently appeared on EWTN, Fox, CBS, ABC affiliates, and Catholic Answers Live.

He currently serves as Pontifical Overseer for the Dominican House of Studies Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Mr. O’Meara is a member of Legatus, is on the council of Scholars for NA PCIS (National Association for Private, Catholic, and Independent Schools), and serves as Chairman of the Board for Saint Catherine of Siena Foundation. Mr. O’Meara previously served on the Finance Council for the Diocese of Arlington. He also worked for the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama.

Mr. O’Meara holds a degree in Philosophy and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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He oversees all Mission Advancement multi-church campaigns and continues his work with individual parishes. Mr. Votaw joined the staff of Mission Advancement Services with 10 years of business experience and nearly 20 years experience in Christian ministry. He is a graduate of Wheaton College and Princeton Theological Seminary. Motivated by a deep love for Christ, Paul Votaw desires that people and parishes reach their full potential serving Christ, His people, and the world.
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