Mary Jo Smith received her masters of theological studies from the University of Dallas Institute of Religious and Pastoral Studies. As a member of the faculty of the St. John Bosco Conference, she coordinates the catechist certification track. Mary Jo is also a marketing representative for Ignatius Press. She has co-authored the pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade curricula of the Image of God textbook series and was general editor of the series. She hosted a national cable TV series for children which appeared on EWTN. For 25 years Mary Jo was director of the pre-school/kindergarten religious education program for St. Raphael Parish in Crystal, Minnesota. Currently she is the RCIA coordinator for that parish.

Gloria F. (“Gigi”) Zapiain has been involved in catechetics on the parish and diocesan levels for more than 25 years, having served as a parish DRE and catechetical consultant for the Archdiocese of Washington and diocesan director of faith formation for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, and Bridgeport, Connecticut. She holds an MA in religious studies and a pontifical catechetical diploma from the Notre Dame Institute of Arlington, Virginia. She is currently director of catechesis and adult faith formation for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, a board member for the Association for Catechumenal Ministry, and an adjunct professor of catechetics at the University of Dallas.

Gary has been leading RCIA teams for the past twenty five years in the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and most recently in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He studied Theology and Catechetics at Maryvale Institute in Birmingham England and earned certification in RCIA at the St. John Bosco Conference in the early years of the conference. Gary is a member of The Association of Catechumenal Ministry, ACM, working as the current chairman of the board and a presenter for team training and catechist training. He has worked alongside his wife Patty coordinating the St John Bosco Conference RCIA Track for many years. Gary and Patty have six children and ten grandchildren.

Patty is the Director of Religious Education at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Milford, OH. Involved in adult formation for many years, she specializes in the RCIA process as a speaker and seminar director for the Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM). She is a regular contributor to the Catechetical Review and through her column, Practically Speaking: Notes from the Parish, addresses the reality of parish life and catechetical leadership. With her husband Gary, she coordinates the RCIA Track at the St. John Bosco Conference in Steubenville, OH.

Gina Bauer is a dynamic presenter to audiences of all ages. She has 30 years of experience serving the Church as a youth director, religious educator, and speaker. She is able to convey Catholic teachings in a compassionate, down-to-earth style that reaches hearts of listeners. She speaks to audiences of youth, women and youth ministers nationwide. Gina is passionate about sharing Christ through a variety of topics, while remaining faithful to the Church and the truths she espouses. Her inspirational speaking style moves her listeners and equips them with practical tools to live holy lives in today’s culture. Gina has trained and mentored youth ministers throughout the country. She has designed and implemented an effective Eucharist-centered youth ministry program. She is gifted at spiritual formation and team cohesion amongst adults and youth. She has an authentic heart and knowledge for the dignity and vocation of women in the Church, inspired by Bl. John Paul II writings. Gina Bauer earned a master’s degree in pastoral theology from the University of Dallas Institute for Religious and Pastoral Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Currently, Gina is the senior high youth director at St. Joseph in West St. Paul, MN. She and her husband, Duane, have four children.

Jim Beckman has been involved with youth ministry and the evangelization of teens for more than 20 years. He graduated from Franciscan University in 1987 and has served in various roles of leadership in national, regional, and local youth ministry ever since. A dynamic and passionate speaker with a great love for young people, Jim has built solid and thriving youth ministry programs in several parishes over the years. He is an Associate Professor of Leadership for the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO. Jim and his wife, Meg, live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, with their five children, Aaron, Claire, Daniel, Jonathan, and Brian.

Marc Cardaronella is Director of the Office of Discipleship & Faith Formation at the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Franciscan University with a Master’s Degree in Theology and Catechetics, and served for 12 years as a parish director of religious education. Marc is the author of Keep Your Kids Catholic: Sharing Your Faith and Making It Stick, published by Ave Maria Press. His articles have appeared in CATECHIST, The Catechetical Review, and numerous websites including National Catholic Register, AmazingCatechist.com, and CatholicMom.com. Marc blogs about discipleship, catechesis, and parenting with faith at MarcCardaronella.com. He lives in Olathe, KS with his wife Shannon and their two boys John and David.

Martha Drennan is the director of Adult Faith Formation & Liturgy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia. She directs parish faith formation for the adults in a 4,000-family parish in the Northern Virginia suburbs. Her work involves setting up parish missions, parish retreats and pilgrimages, guest speakers, adult formation classes, and RCIA. She also coordinates the parish liturgy, which involves working with hundreds of volunteers who serve in the various liturgical ministries. She also coordinates all parish funerals. Martha holds a bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1998, she graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a master’s degree in Theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in Catechetics. Martha has served in three dioceses in their catechist formation process. She has also revised the 7th Grade Image of God textbook series, both the Catechist and Student books, working under the direction of the General Editor, Mary Jo Smith. Martha is a presenter at the St. John Bosco Catechetical Conference and a member of the DRE track faculty.

Dino is an instructor and the Director of the Office of Family Life, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He holds a B.A. in Theology and Philosophy and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He began his professional service to the Church as Director of Religious Education in a 5,500 family parish where he served for almost a decade. He has taught and mentored more than 1,000 catechists and other Church leaders.  A contributor to the RCIA Leader’s Manual (Association for Catechumenal Ministry, Liturgical Training Publications), he has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Sacramento and trained Master Catechists for the Diocese of Oakland. In the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, he has been an adjunct professor for the Bishop Helmsing Institute and a facilitator for the Adult Faith Formation Team training process for 20 parishes.  Raised Methodist, he was received into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1995.  Dino and his wife Cathy have 9 children and live on a small farm near Kansas City, Missouri.

Steve Greene is Director of the Kino Catechetical Institute for the Diocese of Phoenix, and co-host, with his wife, Becky, of The Catholic Conversation radio show heard weekly on Immaculate Heart Radio in Phoenix, and podcasted on iTunes. He holds a Master’s degree in Catholic Thought and Life from St. Meinrad School of Theology. Steve has taught and presented on Catholic philosophy, morality and theology for over 15 years, and has made frequent guest appearances on Catholic radio and television programs to discuss the Catholic Faith. He has also written for Crisis Magazine and The Catechetical Review. Most importantly he is a husband, and father to five wonderful children, with one little intercessor in Heaven.

Michael Hall is the director of Training for Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), Ottawa, Ontario, a university student movement dedicated to evangelization serving on campuses across Canada, and has been a missionary with CCO since 2003. He also serves as a co-director of the Summer Institute in the New Evangelization, a joint initiative between CCO, St. Paul University, and Mission of the Redeemer Ministries. Michael lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with his wife, Amy, and their four children.

Dr. Wm. Christopher Hoag has ministered in diocesan, school, and parish settings for over 20 years in the areas of catechesis and liturgy. He is currently is the Associate Director of Catechesis for the Office of Catechetical Formation and Education with the Diocese of Cleveland. He concurrently serves as adjunct professor of Church History at St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School (Wickliffe, Ohio) in Theology as well as Lecturer in Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a past adjunct professor in Theology at Notre Dame College of Ohio. Additionally, Dr. Hoag has taught religion at the high school level as well as religion, history, English, and Latin at the junior high school level.
Dr. Hoag received his Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary Seminary in 2013 where his doctoral dissertation examined the implementation of Summorum Pontificum in the Cleveland Diocese. Dr. Hoag holds additional graduate degrees in Theology from John Carroll University and Church History from the Catholic University of America. His areas of theological interest include catechesis, liturgy, and ecclesiology.
He was certified as a lay ecclesial minister for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2009. Dr. Hoag holds membership in the National Catholic Education Association, the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the Society for Catholic Liturgy, the American Catholic Historical Association, the Tolkien Society, and the Mythopoeic Society. He is also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a member of the Confraternity of St. Peter and the Marian Catechist Apostolate.

Ann Lankford is the Director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin. She has held this position for eight and a half years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in French and Education from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. She received her MA in Theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1998 and received the St. John Bosco Conference Certification in the Apostolate of Director of Religious Education.

Dr. Joshua Miller is the co-founder of Inscape, which is devoted to helping people discover and embrace their own personal vocations. He is a leader in the field of narrative based motivational assessment and for the last 18 years has applied his expertise in a variety of applications, including coaching, executive search, and talent management. Dr. Miller helped build The Center for Leadership at Franciscan University of Steubenville where he currently serves as a vocation coach and vocation coach trainer for faculty and staff of the institution. He has a PhD in Philosophy from Duquesne University. You can catch Dr. Miller on www.inscapevocations.com where he blogs and leads a podcast series called Inscapes: Stories of Personal Vocation. He and wife Brooke live in Steubenville, and have six children.

Ken Ogorek, currently the Director of Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, has given numerous presentations to a variety of Catholic conferences and workshops throughout the country. For over 20 years Ken has been involved with religious education in nearly all its facets. Having earned a masters degree from the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies he serves as an archdiocesan staff person while authoring religious education resources for a broad range of age groups. His most recent book is “The Gospel Truth: A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults.” Born in 1965, and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Ken lives in Indianapolis with his wife of 19 years and their three children.

Lucas Pollice is the Associate Professor of Theology and Catechetics for the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado. He previously served as the director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. He holds a BA in theology from Franciscan University and a master’s in theological studies from the Institute of Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University. Lucas has worked in catechetical ministry, the RCIA process, and adult faith formation at both parish and diocesan levels. He is the author of Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Discovering Catholicism, a complete curriculum for RCIA published by Emmaus Road Publishing. Lucas and his wife, Mary, have five children and live in Denver.

Rania Saade has been handing on the faith in Catholic high schools for 10 years. After earning her MA in theology and Christian ministry with a specialization in catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville, she went on to teach at St. Pius X High School, a co-ed archdiocesan school on Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the last four years, she has been teaching at Jesuit High School, an all-boys college preparatory school in Tampa, Florida. Rania has taught a variety of courses in theology and has taught students in every grade level of high school.

Dr. Schutte achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Dayton and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Ohio State University. He also has an Independent License in Social Work. For over 22 years, he has worked as a Therapist in many different fields of counseling. These include: Hospital Discharge Planner, Hospice Counselor, Crisis Counseling, Mental Health Therapist, & Marriage/Family Therapist. Currently, he is the Director of Marriage Works! Ohio which is a department of Elizabeth’s New Life Center in Dayton, Ohio. The Elizabeth New Life Center received the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) third largest grant, in 2006, and one of the four largest grants, in 2011, in the United States to do Marriage Enrichment. With this, they created and continue to run Marriage Works! Ohio. In 2009, Marriage works was selected by the federal Office of Family Assistance as one of eight Promising Practices in Marriage Education in the United States. Over the past several years, Greg has had a passion for building healthier relationships and reducing the divorce rate and domestic abuse in America. He is actively doing this in his role at Marriage Works! Ohio. Greg has spoken at numerous marriage conferences, locally and nationally, on many different topics regarding marriage and family. He hosts the radio program “Living Out the Sacrament of Marriage” on Radio Maria, every Monday from 11am-12pm EST. He has been married to Stephanie for over 23 years and they have 7 children

Mary Ann currently serves as the Director of Evangelization and Parish Life for the Archdiocese of Miami. Her parents are Mexican immigrants to the U.S. She was born in Kansas City, Kansas, but grew up speaking Spanish in El Paso, Texas. Following a bachelors degree in human biology from Stanford University, she worked four years in Texas as a caseworker, helping undocumented children from Central and South America reunite with their families. Then she decided to supplement her Stanford degree with a master’s in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She served the Diocese of Oakland, California, for eight-and-a-half years, most recently as Associate Director for Evangelization and Catechesis. She made the move to sunny Miami in 2016.