Introducing Our Speakers:

Chris Stefanick, President and Founder, Real Life Catholic

Chris Stefanick is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and television host who has devoted his life to sharing the love of Jesus, and helping others do the same. His live seminars, TV, radio, and video ministry have reached millions, and his educational initiatives are turning the tide in the Church.   Chris authored the Chosen Confirmation program which has formed almost a million people for confirmation, the popular SEARCH program and most recently released another best seller, Living Joy. Chris is a recipient of the Papal Benemerenti (Benny-ma-ren-tee) Medal which was previously given by the pope for Military valor, but today is given for achievement in ministry. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Chris is also the founder and president of Real Life Catholic, a non-profit organization that makes his initiatives for renewal a reality. Above all he’s proud to be husband to Natalie and father to their six children, and two grandchildren!

To learn more about Chris’s work, please visit www.RealLifeCatholic.com.

Dr. Ansel Augustine, New Orleans Area Director, Vagabond Missions

Dr. Ansel Augustine is the New Orleans Area Director for Vagabond Missions. He is the former Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Previously he served as the Associate Director/Coordinator of Black Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the CYO Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and his Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans. He received his Certification in Youth Ministry from Xavier University of Louisiana's Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Dr. Augustine earned his D.Min from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Dr. Augustine has served on several national boards including the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA) and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). He also has worked in Campus Ministry at St. John's University in Queens, NY, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Loyola University New Orleans. He began his career in ministry over 20 years ago when he became the youth minister at his home parish of St. Peter Claver in the Treme area of New Orleans, which he helped to rebuild following hurricane Katrina. Dr. Augustine is a highly sought after speaker and has given keynotes and workshops around the country. He has also written various pieces related to ministry.

Kevin Cotter, Author and Executive Director, The Vine Foundation

Mr. Reyna is a native Texan and a recipient of numerous awards including the LBJ School Alumni Association’s 2003 Distinguished Public Service Award acknowledging his wide-ranging efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as in the private nonprofit sector.

At the local level he was a founding member of Meadowview Community Action serving low income Sacramento, California residents and served as an appointed member of various local boards, including as chairman of the Sacramento City Planing Commission. At the state level, he served as a principal financial and budget advisor to the California Legislature and led California’s effort to implement multi-year billion-dollar plus effort to create and implement a comprehensive state financial information system. And at the federal level, he was nominated by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate on an unanimous bipartisan vote to serve as a member of the federal Farm Credit Administration (FCA) board of directors, including as its Chairman and CEO. In the non-profit sector, he served as the executive director of the Consumer Attorneys of California, a statewide professional association representing some 3,000 plaintiff attorneys.

Mike is a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, having recently completed serving two years as Grand Knight of Council #10373 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Pflugerville, Texas. He believes it is important to put our faith in action by reflecting God’s love and mercy to all those we meet on our journey through life, understanding God has no hands and feet on earth but our own.
Mike and his wife Karen have been married for 41 years and together they have two loving and talented sons and five independent and beautifully fierce granddaughters.