Opening Plenary Session
2026 Convocation Survey: Report of Findings and Roundtable Discussion
Workshops
Opening Session 8:45-10:00 am |
||
| 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 |
||
| 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 |
||
| 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 |
||
| 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 |
||
| 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 |
||
| 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
Kathleen Porter-Magee serves as managing partner for Leadership Roundtable. Before joining Leadership Roundtable’s team, she was superintendent of Partnership Schools, a network of eleven Catholic elementary schools that serve economically challenged neighborhoods in New York City and Cleveland. Under Kathleen’s leadership, Partnership Schools expanded from six schools in New York City to 11 schools across two dioceses. Partnership Schools graduates gain acceptance to some of the most prestigious prep schools in the nation.
Kathleen began as a classroom teacher and has served in leadership positions at the College Board, Achievement First (a charter school network), the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. She's a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow and has served as an education fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Throughout her career, she has published widely on topics such as curriculum and Catholic education.
Rev. Dr. Kevin C. Kennedy serves as a senior leadership director with Leadership Roundtable, is a faculty member for the Toolbox for Pastoral Management and accompanies parish and diocesan leaders in developing their capacity to thrive and lead effectively. Kevin is a Standards for Excellence licensed consultant, is certified to use the Immunity to Change change management process and is certified by the Center for Creative Leadership to deliver the Catholic Leadership 360 assessment tool. He has 27 years of pastoral experience at seven parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington and served as a Dean (Vicar Forane) in three deaneries. For 15 years, he taught graduate courses in organizational development and leadership at The Catholic University of America. Before ordination, Kevin worked in the capital markets and corporate finance.