Opening Plenary Session
2026 Convocation Survey: Report of Findings and Roundtable Discussion
Workshops
Opening Session 8:45-10:00 am |
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| Survey Results 2026 - Navigating People, Financial and Stewardship Risks in US Dioceses | Country Club Ballroom | Moderator: Kathleen Schulz, Gallagher Panelists: Sr. Elizabeth Worley, Archdiocese of Miami; Delaney Clement, Archdiocese of St. Louis; Kevin Kiley, Diocese of Fall River |
Session 2 — 10:10-11:10 am |
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| 2.A Diocesan Risk Prevention and Management in the Workplace and with the Public | Bowman | Jennifer Gniady, Stradley Ronon; Kevin Kiley, Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon; Mark Chopko, Stradley Ronon; Doug McKenna, TNCRRG |
| 2.B Reinvigorating Your Diocesan 403(b) Employee Offering | Merrick | Jennifer Jenkins, Voya; Nicole McIvor, Voya; Taylor Booth, Voya |
| 2.C The Changing Healthcare Underwriting Cycle | Stoneman | Kathryne McGowan, Reta Trust |
| 2.D At the Threshold of Death, the Church Gives Life | Danielson | Keith Parsons and Joe Szalkewicz, Catholic Management Services; Tom May, Archdiocese of Denver |
Session 3 — 11:20 am-12:20 pm |
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| 3.A Diocesan Risk Managers Forum—Sharing Best Practices | Bowman | John Cavallaro, Diocese of Portland in ME; Mike Scarpato, Diocese of Austin; Peter Persuitti, Gallagher |
| 3.B Diocesan Sponsored Retiree Health Plans: Solutions for Medicare Eligible Clergy and Retirees | Bowman | Cheryl Hertfelder, Diocese of Jefferson City; Joe Kenney, Gallagher; John Airola, Gallagher |
| 3.C Managing Work Comp the Right Way/Smart Claims, Strong Outcomes | Stoneman | Jordan Dalrymple, Diocese of Orlando; Michelle Sears, Gallagher Bassett; Francheska Pinto-Alexander, Gallagher Bassett |
| 3.D Technology Roundtable: Demonstrating 5 Solutions | Danielson | Art Taylor, BAS; Hailee Sahs, FACTS; Mike Walsh, PushPay; Ashton Balch, Gallagher Bassett; Aaron Aragon, Gallagher |
Session 4 — 1:30-2:30 pm |
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| 4.A Diocesan Risk Prevention and Management in the Workplace and With the Public | Bowman | Jennifer Gniady, Stradley Ronon; Kevin Kiley, Archdiocese of Portland in OR; Mark Chopko, Stradley Ronon; Doug McKenna, TNCRRG |
| 4.B Faith and Financial Markets | Merrick | Kevin Yousif, Yousif Capital| Will Sorrell, Crossmark; Kevin Schmid, Gallagher |
| 4.C Beyond Compliance: How New Tech Is Challenging Child Safe Environments | Stoneman | Jack McCalmon, The McCalmon Group, Bill Mitchell, Archdiocese of Cincinnati; Sandra Price, Archdiocese of St. Louis |
| 4.D School Choice and the New Federal Legislation: The Impact on Catholic Schools | Danielson | Chana Finch, Archdiocese of San Antonio; Hailee Sahs, FACTS |
Session 5 — 8:45-9:45 am |
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| 5.A Implementing Digital Transformation: Onboarding and Launching New Technology Across Your Diocese | Bowman | Jill McNally, Diocese of Madison; Mike Walsh, PushPay |
| 5.B Before the First Guest Arrives: Practical Security and Preparedness Insights | Merrick | Aaron Aragon, Gallagher; Austin Lyon, Gallagher |
| 5.C Innovative Strategies to Reduce Your Diocesan Pension Plan Liabilities and Transferring Risk | Stoneman | Colin Henty, Gallagher; Tim Maxson, Gallagher |
| 5.D The Challenge of Financing Diocesan Casualty Risk | Danielson | Tony McLaughlin, TNCRRG; Rich Woytus, Munich Re; Emily Apostolides, Gallagher Re |
Session 6 — 10:00-11:00 am |
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| 6.A Implementing Digital Transformation: Onboarding and Launching New Technology Across your Diocese | Bowman | Jill McNally, Diocese of Madison; Mike Walsh, PushPay |
| 6.B When Disaster Strikes: A Collaborative Approach to Diocesan Property Loss Recovery | Merrick | Kim Hartz, First Onsite; Bill Maly, Archdiocese of Cincinnati; Anita Kiehne, Gallagher |
| 6.C Executing Effective Risk Management at Scale: A Diocesan Case Study | Stoneman | Derek Gaskin, Diocese of Oakland; Aaron Aragon, Gallagher |
| 6.D Faith and Financial Markets | Danielson | Kevin Yousif, Yousif Capital| Will Sorrell, Crossmark; Kevin Schmid, Gallagher |
| Closing Keynote — 11:15 am-12:00 pm |
Closing Plenary led by Leadership Roundtable
Many of us are familiar with Leadership Roundtable, an organization of lay, religious and clergy that promotes best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications and human resource development of the Catholic Church in the US.
Structural Reform (Deanery Leadership) and Cultural Transformation (Department Excellence) Work Together To Create Thriving Dioceses!
Shared governance only works when support functions shift from gatekeepers to enablers.
Keynote speakers
As managing partner at Leadership Roundtable for almost two years, Kathleen works with dioceses that support our communities. Temporal administration is the focus of Leadership Roundtable's outreach over the past 20+ years.
Before joining Leadership Roundtable's, Kathleen held several interesting positions, including superintendent of the Partnership Schools and senior visiting fellow for almost 12 years at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Before that, she was a senior advisor, Policy and Instruction for The College Board. Noteworthy as well was her time as director of Teacher and Principal Professional Development and Recruitment in the Archdiocese of Washington.
As a senior leadership director at Leadership Roundtablem Father Kevin draws on his parish and business experience every day. A veteran priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, he brings tremendous pastoral and professional experience, including chief financial officer at Medifacts, LTD, and compliance associate to the General Counsel at Neuberger Beman. He hold a Doctor of Ministry, Operational Leadership and Theology as well as an MBA Strategic Management and Finance.
According to a 2021 article about Father Kevin in Catholic Standard, a friend invited him to attend Mass at the parish on Purdue's campus when Father Kevin was working on his MBA. He hadn't been to mass for about a decade. The article quotes Father Kevin: "I came to the priesthood after a career in business and believed that the Lord called me out of that career for a specific purpose. I have been able to use my leadership experiences in various ways in the last 26 years (as a priest), and now I believe my transition to Leadership Roundtable is a natural progression of my vocation."