A few weeks ago I had lunch with one of my new clients, a senior human resources executive of an Atlanta based company.  Our working partnership had been very business focused since the beginning and I wanted to forge a stronger personal connection which I enjoy with most of my other clients.  We made small talk about a number of subjects until our food arrived.  I said I was going to say a blessing over our meal and she was welcome to join me.  As I made the Sign of the Cross and started to pray, I noticed that she also made the Sign of the Cross.  I smiled to myself and said a silent prayer of thanks for the opening I had been given.

Between bites of salad, I asked her which parish she attended.  She gave me a funny look before responding with the name, then added “that’s a long story.”  I told her I would love to hear it and for the next half hour we talked about her faith journey, how much she loved her parish, her devotion to the Blessed Mother and her prayer life.  The awkward business focused exchange at the beginning of the meal had been replaced by a warm conversation about our shared Catholic faith.  I certainly achieved my goal of a stronger personal connection!

As we were preparing to leave, she shared that she never spoke of her faith in business settings and really enjoyed our discussion.  As we were leaving the restaurant, we speculated on why Catholics don’t discuss faith as openly as perhaps our Protestant brethren do.  I suggested it may be fear of persecution or lack of confidence in defending the teachings of the Church.  She suggested that it all came down to simple courage.  I asked her to explain and her response was, “When you made the Sign of the Cross in a crowded restaurant and said the blessing for all to hear, I realized that I never do that.  My fear of saying a simple blessing is a clear reminder to me that I don’t have the courage to share my faith outside of my comfort zone.  I am grateful that you don’t have that issue and also for this wonderful conversation.”

Driving back to my office I reflected on countless other business meals over the last few years which had turned into faith discussions, perhaps because of the simple act of making the Sign of the Cross and blessing the meal.  I don’t know if I see this as courageous as much as following the call of Christ and the teachings of our Church.  It is certainly food for thought and worthy of careful reflection.  What would happen if everyone who reads this makes a simple commitment to make the Sign of the Cross and say a blessing over every meal from now on, regardless of our companions?  How many incredible faith discussions would occur as a result of this simple and public act of faith?  I could easily argue the other side and share the possible negative outcomes, but can we live as faithful Catholics if we are paralyzed by fear?  The answer, I believe, is in the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 10:32-33: Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.

My oldest son has high-functioning autism.  You may know that children on the autism spectrum often live with a host of challenges around interacting with others, making friends and living independently.  Parents of children with autism often feel that they live in an isolated vacuum and wonder if anybody really understands how difficult our lives can be.

My wife received a call the other day from a friend of hers in our neighborhood who has had enormous struggles of her own.  She has fought her way back from a life threatening illness and her husband lost his job several months ago.  This woman would have every justifiable reason to retreat from the world, focus on her own problems and not worry about her neighbors.  But, this woman is different.  This woman is a true Good Samaritan because she called to ask if Alex would like a job watering her plants and collecting her mail while her family is on vacation this summer.  I don’t think she has ever even met Alex, but she was able to look past her own problems and show unbelievable kindness to our son.  I can’t tell you how overwhelmed my wife and I felt at her kindness and generosity.  I get teary eyed at the thought of it.

This may not seem like a big deal to you, but he has never had a job before.  He has never been held responsible for anything outside of school or our home before.  He has certainly never been paid for any kind of work outside of the home.  For seven days at the end of this month, Alex will be like the “other kids” who have summer jobs.  He will feel important, responsible and needed.  He will earn a few dollars to spend on something he wants and feel the satisfaction of using money he earned to buy it.  My wife and I will feel the cautious hope that some day other generous Good Samaritans like our neighbor will look beyond their own struggles and extend opportunities to our son as he makes his way in the world.  What an incredible gift she has given our family.

I am sharing this brief story with you as encouragement that we all have a Good Samaritan somewhere deep within us.  It is easy to get lost in our own problems, but we have opportunities every day to reach out to people struggling all around us.  Our neighbor was able to look beyond her own challenges and demonstrate a random act of incredible kindness to our son.

Who can you and I help today?

I am in my mid-40s, have been happily married for 15 years and am blessed with two sons, ages nine and 12.  This recent conversation with my father has been the catalyst for a lot of introspection about my life and the lives of my children.  I know my parents live on in me and their influence often manifests itself in how I behave as a parent, husband, leader and friend to others.  Isn’t this the way it plays out for all of us?  Don’t we hear the reverberating echoes of our parents and grandparent’s lessons in much of what we do and say as adults?

It wasn’t always so, as my younger days can attest.  I went through typical teen rebellion, thought I knew more than my parents and felt I could do better than their generation.  I was blind to all of the wisdom they had poured into me my entire life.  I took for granted the loving and encouraging home they made for our family.  The values they taught me seemed old and tired to my teenage ears.  I wasn’t appreciative of the work ethic they had instilled in me through their own tireless examples.  I grew callous to the strong faith they held and walked away from church as a teenager, not to return to any kind of faith until after two long decades in the spiritual wilderness when I joined the Catholic Church.  Through all of this, my parents never stopped praying for me.  They never stopped trying to teach me about life and they never ceased to love me.  I was blessed to have such a mother and am fortunate to have my father still with us.

I came to my senses in my mid-20’s and the many seeds my parents planted in me began to take root.  I was amazed at how smart my parents had become in the years since I had moved away from home!  There were numerous stumbling blocks in front of me back then as I was building my career, but their words of wisdom kept coming back to me: “Do the right thing”, “Work hard and let your results speak for themselves”, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”, “Put others before yourself” I find myself sharing these bits of wisdom with my own children and I am grateful for the solid foundation my parents laid for me when I was growing up.

Do you ever stop and reflect on the lessons you learned in your childhood?  Do you share those lessons with your children?  There is a desperate need today for a return to the values of past generations.  The “anything goes” mindset so pervasive in our culture today could benefit from clearer boundaries.  Our children would only prosper if they could actually be children for awhile and not forced to become shopping crazed consumers and addicted to technology at increasingly younger ages.  Teaching our kids about faith, values, morality, manners and the importance of a good work ethic is a critical responsibility for parents today.  What if we detach our kids from the electronic pacifiers and force them to play outside?  I grew up with a bike, books and a good imagination.  Playing outside and reading were my principal pursuits as a kid and yet, somehow I survived. Harken back to what I hope will be positive memories of the lessons you learned from your parents and grandparents.  Don’t we have a responsibility to pass along all that is noble and worthwhile to our children?

As I was thinking about some helpful advice to offer parents who read this article, I decided to not reinvent the wheel.  Below is a list of 10 practical suggestions that come from my vivid memories of how my parents passed along important life lessons to me and my sister.  I think we could all make a similar list from our collective past and I hope you find this to be useful:

• Model the right behaviors.  Lead by example.  Avoid “do as I say, not as I do!”
• Teach the importance of faith, values and the difference between right and wrong.
• Encourage excellence and independent thinking.
• Listen to their thoughts and ideas with patience and no judgment.
• Love children without reservation, but also enough to say NO when necessary.
• Expose them to God, nature, beauty, art, music, history and different cultures.
• Give them quality time.  Make family time the alternative to unhealthy habits.
• Instill an appreciation for hard work and how to be responsible with money.
• Create boundaries and explain the rules.  Discipline is important.
• Inspire them to give back to the community and help others.

You may have a very different list, but these are some of the most impactful ways my parents taught me and how I hope to pass along the same lessons to my children.  It is a scary world out there and I see a generation of children not being equipped to succeed in today’s culture.  If we don’t accept full responsibility for raising and teaching our children, than video games, TV, the Internet and their peers will likely fill the void.  That is the ugly reality.

I want to challenge you to do a few things.  If your parents are alive, give them a call and reminisce a little about your childhood.  Pick up an old photo album and be reminded of your youth and possibly better days.  Look at your children when they are sleeping tonight and think about how you can prepare them for the real world.  Ask yourself if they are on the path to be faith filled, values driven, hard working, and selfless people in a world that desperately needs these traits.  Finally, ask yourself if one day when they have children of their own, will they hear the echoes of your positive influence on their lives…and pass that priceless treasure on to their own children.

This year’s class of graduating seniors is understandably nervous and anxious about their career prospects.  Many have college loans to repay and parents who already made significant sacrifices to put their children through school are facing the prospect of continued financial support with no end in sight.  But, there are glimmers of hope.  A recent survey from NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) shows employers are planning to hire 5.3 percent more new college graduates in 2009-2010 than they did in 2008-2009.  The survey among contributing employers shows that So, what can be done?

One of the most significant paradigm shifts for job seekers (experienced or new college graduate) is recognizing that jobs will rarely come looking for you and that applying for jobs online is often a fruitless exercise.  Campus recruiters from top firms obviously still visit college campuses, but job offerings are sparse and they will likely only take candidates with the best grades.  This should not be a surprise.  It is an employer’s job market (for now) and they have the luxury of choosing  the best of the candidates referred to them, often with relevant industry experience.  A typical job posting online will often receive hundreds of applicants and you will be lucky to receive an automated response acknowledging receipt of your resume.

First and foremost, it is time for a radical shift in thinking.  Effective job search strategies have changed dramatically over the last few years, especially for new graduates. The changes will often feel uncomfortable and perhaps painful, but they are necessary. Before I share some very practical tips on how to jump start a job search, let’s take a look at some generational thinking which needs to change:

Old Thinking: Generation X and the Baby Boomers must do everything possible to understand and deal with Generation Y.  They think differently, live differently, communicate differently and we must engage with them on their terms.

New Thinking: Generation X and the Baby Boomers should respect Generation Y and their differences and do what they can to embrace, encourage, mentor and assist them in being successful in life.  They are our future.  For their part, Generation Y should recognize that they have much to learn from older Generations and must be willing to respect them and meet them half way.

Why is embracing this idea important?  Until the economy crashed along with Wall Street in late 2008, one of the most talked about subjects in companies was “The Millenials are coming! The Millenials are coming!”  It was almost comical to observe the lengths businesses were going to in an attempt to cater to Generation Y.  Yet, I think we have done Generation Y a disservice by placing them on a pedestal.  After the 2008 Wall Street crash when the new economic reality settled in, nobody seemed to care about dealing with the Millenials.  It was every man for himself.  “Save the ship!” was the new battle cry and this left a once mighty and feared group feeling marginalized.

The new reality must sink in that Generation X and the Baby Boomers occupy the vast majority of leadership roles in our country and they are making the hiring decisions in companies.  Generation Y must move in their direction and strike a mutually beneficial compromise.  This thought is the catalyst behind much of the practical advice I have for new college graduate job seekers.  Here are 10 practical tips on job search strategy for this group:

1. Use the right communication and social media tools. LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and e-mail are the preferred tools of Gen X and Baby Boomer professionals.  FaceBook and Twitter have their place, as does texting, but senior hiring managers are typically not adept at using these tools (and would rarely use them in the business world).  You could miss out on career opportunities by not fully utilizing the tools of the people who make hiring decisions.
2. Ask your parents for a different kind of help. Go to you parents for networking assistance.  Ask for introductions to senior executives where they work, church members, friends in business, etc.  This is the kind of assistance parents would love to provide, but they are not always asked.  Make the most of this largely untapped resource.
3. Cultivate a professional image. You just can’t go wrong with a business suit for all of your interviews.  Make sure all of your communication is crisp, respectful and conforms to accepted standards-have your parents or a friend in business review your correspondence.  I advocate mailing thank you letters over sending emails. First impressions are everything…so make a good one.
4. Do your homework.  If you have an opportunity to interview with a company, do extensive research to demonstrate interest and preparation.  Utilize LinkedIn and Google to learn more about the person conducting the interview.  Understanding their background and determining what you may have in common can help you score points in an interview.
5. Connect through Content.  Distinguish yourself by emailing links for articles (relevant to their business) to people you are trying to meet for interviews.  It shows that you are taking them and their time seriously.  It also demonstrates insight and a real desire to know their business.  You can also mail articles along with a well crafted letter instead of sending an email.
6. Tap into your school’s alumni group.  Your school career office can help you get access to the alumni database.  You can also search school alumni through LinkedIn and Google with ease.  This is an under utilized resource in many job searches, but it can be one of the most effective.  Once you locate an executive who graduated from your school, contact them in the hopes of getting advice and networking help for your search.  In my experience, there is a powerful bond among college alumni and a desire to help “one of their own.”  Make full use of their goodwill.
7. Practice Affinity Based Connecting.  Playing off the advice on alumni connecting, connect with people with whom you share affinity.  In other words, who shares your personal interests (skiing, tennis, hiking, etc.)? Who was a member of your fraternity/sorority? Who shares your faith?  Who shares your passion for the same non-profit causes?  The list of affinity based connections can be endless and this is easily searchable through LinkedIn and Google and to a lesser degree through FaceBook and Twitter.  It is so much easier to approach people through shared interests versus the ineffective: “I am looking for a new job, can you help me?”
8. Be a Volunteer.  Get involved in the community.  Volunteer for your favorite causes and make a difference.  You will often get an opportunity to interact with business professionals from companies who give back to the community.  This is an excellent way to give back to others and make connections.  In a perfect world, try to offer your volunteer efforts where you can utilize your educational background.  It goes without saying that you should be motivated primarily in this approach by a selfless desire to serve others.
9. Try a new approach to Internships. Internships are available in far fewer numbers these days and companies typically select the top of the graduating class for these opportunities.  Want to be radical?  Consider an approach advocated by Brandon Smith, a co-founder of Core Growth Partners and Senior Lecturer at Emory University: “Where graduates are having the most success today is through creative unpaid internships.  The most successful are proactively targeting companies, reaching out through their networks and offering to help them with one of their current struggles through an unpaid internship.  Companies today are still quite risk averse and resource strapped.  They don’t want to take on a freshly minted, and largely untested, graduate, train him or her and then wait and see how things pan out.  The graduate, who recognizes this and finds creative ways to reduce the risk and resources that would typically be invested, ultimately becomes the graduate who is not only employed, but is fast-tracked because of his or her initiative.”
10. Cultivate a circle of Mentors. Seek out senior business leaders who might be willing to provide guidance and mentorship.  Schools may be aware of business leaders who are willing to work with new graduates.  A more effective way would be to go through your alumni network, seeking out people who are leaders in companies you are interested in.  Your parents and family may also be able to make introductions to business people who will participate.  Look for business leaders who will challenge you, coach you and help you with connections. 

You may view this article as my firm grasp of the obvious or exactly the advice you have been looking for.  Either way, finding a good job in today’s economy demands innovation, tenacity, hard work and compromise.  I don’t claim to have all the answers and I can’t guarantee these tips will land you a new job.  I can promise you will be much more effective and see more opportunities with this strategy.

Generational differences are a real issue, which is where the need for compromise comes in.  Engage with Generation X and the Baby Boomers, seek their assistance, learn from their experiences and you will likely find them receptive to giving you the job opportunities you seek.  Remember that 20+ years from now you will be helping to run the world and a whole new generation of college graduates will be knocking on your door.  Hopefully your experiences today will positively shape your response to them in the future…and help talented college graduates not settle for jobs with drive-thru windows.

I speak to groups fairly often and this should not have been a big deal, but speaking to a large group of Protestants was pushing me way out of my comfort zone.  How would they respond?  Would they ask me questions I couldn’t answer?  Would they start quoting scripture and maligning the Church?  What if they insulted the Blessed Mother?  Would they criticize Pope Benedict?  What would I do?!

My friend tried to reassure me with what he thought were encouraging words:  “Don’t worry; most of them are former Catholics.” Good grief!  Not only was I speaking as a Catholic in a Methodist church, but I was speaking to a group of former Catholics who had left the Church.  How nice.  It would be just my luck if everyone there had lingering issues which they would love to take out on me.  Then I had an epiphany a few days before I spoke and remembered three important things:

1. I needed to stop worrying and start praying.  I needed to give up my fear and anxiety to the Lord, trust in Him and ask for strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2. This was an unbelievable opportunity to share the joy of my Catholic faith with my Christian brothers…many of whom were once Catholic.
3. I know my friend and he would not put me in a negative situation like the one my overactive imagination had cooked up.  I needed to have faith and trust in our friendship and his good intentions.  I needed to avoid giving in to unfair stereotyping, which I would resent if it was directed at me.

Before I share with you what happened at the talk, let’s take a brief time out and reflect a little on giving witness and ecumenical outreach. Do you recognize that I just illustrated the fear and anxiety many Catholics feel about sharing their faith?  I have heard countless times that we must be careful here in the “Protestant South.”  We may get questions about the Virgin Mary, or why we have priests hear our confessions or why we pray to saints.  There is a fear that they could pounce on us by using Scripture to attack our beliefs.  My caution to all of us is that a fearful and insecure Catholic often becomes a quiet Catholic, but Jesus expects more from us.  If we only share our faith and witness with other Catholics or worse, keep it to ourselves, how will the Church grow and spread Christ’s message of love?  “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).

In my professional life, I encounter new people every day.  Since my conversion to the Church in 2006 I have been very open and transparent with others about my faith.  In all of my numerous encounters with people of different faith backgrounds, I have had very few negative experiences.  I find people to be curious about Catholicism, not adversarial.  I am not naïve and I recognize there are people who have strong negative feelings towards the Church, but they may be doing so out of misguided intentions, misunderstandings or a lack of know.

We have an opportunity during these encounters to explain our Catholic Faith, dispel the rumors and refute the myths.  So many times in these conversations I have observed that we are more aligned than either of us realized and that often language and misunderstandings are the biggest barriers to agreement.  But, first we must know our Catholic Faith before we can explain it to anyone else: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame” — 1 Peter 3:15-16.

Now, back to that talk at the Methodist church.  The prayers worked and the Lord gave me the peace and strength I needed.  The group could not have been more kind or welcoming (is there a lesson here?).  I actually felt very comfortable when I rose up to speak and trusted in the Holy Spirit to convey the right words.  I started out by sharing my faith journey into the Church before launching into a talk titled “Priorities and a Life Filled with Meaning” where I outlined my life priorities and the practical actions I was taking to ensure that I stayed on the right path.  They heard quotes from saints and popes and lots of Scripture and Catechism references.  I hoped they would see me as a father and husband struggling with the same things they did and how keeping my focus on serving Christ and putting Him first in my life kept me on the right path.  The audience applauded loudly when I finished and many of them came up after to say that I really connected with them.  They asked for a copy of the talk which I was glad to provide them.  Many others asked if we could have coffee in the weeks ahead to discuss why I was so joyful about my Catholic faith as they were eager to learn more.

I didn’t do anything extraordinary and I am not a particularly gifted speaker.  The Holy Spirit worked through me, a Catholic, to reach these Protestant men in their church on a Sunday morning.  Many of us will likely have numerous encounters in our lifetimes with people of different faiths.  We are blessed as Catholics to possess the truth and the fullness of the faith.  All it takes is our willingness to share our joy, a little courage, humility, transparency, and prayer to give a powerful witness for our Lord.  Consider the words of Frances Fernandez from In Conversation With God:

On our part we are called upon to be good channels through which His grace will flow and to facilitate the action of the Holy Spirit in ourselves, in friends, relatives, acquaintances and colleagues…If our Lord never gets tired of giving His help to everybody, how can we who are only instruments ever become discouraged?  Once the carpenter’s hand is firmly placed on the wood, how can the tool ever have any reservations about doing its work?

Are we willing to let the Carpenter work through us today?

- All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented on LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees

- More than 1.4 million members self-identify as senior executives

- Most members tend to be between 30 and 55 years old

- LinkedIn is intended to appeal to its average user: the 41-year-old, white-collar professional with an income of $109,000 a year

For the purpose of this article, I make two basic assumptions: you are familiar with the Web site and you are interested in expanding your network for personal or professional reasons. With these assumptions in mind, let’s explore different ways to approach LinkedIn, changes to LinkedIn since the first version of this article, paradigm shifts among users of the site, and best and worst practices.

LinkedIn Philosophy

“I have a profile, now what do I do?” This is the question I hear most often. Whether you are a job seeker, a sales professional, a recruiter or simply interested in making new connections, you will see your best results by approaching LinkedIn with this mindset:

1. Have a “pay it forward” attitude. Be open and willing to actively help people connect to your network and accept invitations.

2. Focus on finding people you don’t know. This seems obvious, but it can be easy to fall into the habit of “collecting” contacts you already know. I find the real value of LinkedIn is connecting with people of different backgrounds and capabilities outside of your current network who can help you with your objective.

3. Reach out to those people you don’t know. A majority of people on LinkedIn are open to networking, so don’t be afraid to introduce yourself. Networking is likely why they joined in the first place.

4. View LinkedIn as an enormous spider web. Your direct connections and their connections and their connection’s connections are all part of your network. So, get as many direct connections as possible to ensure that you can run searches within a very large population.

5. Be transparent in your profile and complete it fully. Give clear descriptions of the jobs you have had and always include a bio under the Summary section. Also, I advocate sharing personal interests, charitable causes you support, hobbies, affinity and social groups, faith, etc. We will review why this is important later.

6. Recognize that the Internet does not allow you to hide. In the age of Google, it is practically impossible to hide work and personal information. Utilize LinkedIn to showcase the information you want to share. Therefore with the typically high placement of LinkedIn profiles in Google searches, you are likely to have this seen first by others.

7. Don’t let LinkedIn serve as a substitute for human interaction. Any people-oriented business thrives on relationships and face-to-face meetings. Utilize this tool to make the connection and build a bridge, but always follow up with a phone call and a meeting.

These approaches to working with and maximizing what LinkedIn offers have served me well. And it continues to evolve as my needs change and the technology becomes more sophisticated over time.

Paradigm Shifts

I am always keenly interested in how different people use LinkedIn and I routinely ask clients, candidates, friends and peers for their perspectives. The results may surprise you. Here is what I have learned over the last few years:

- Most of my clients look at a candidate’s profile on LinkedIn before he or she comes in for an interview. Their intent is to gain insight into the more personal side of the candidate as well as to check for resume inconsistencies. Don’t let this scare you! Sharing the right personal information just might give you the edge you need to land the position.

- A number of my friends in professional services utilize LinkedIn to research their client prospects and gain a competitive advantage by being well informed. The ability to discuss different aspect of a person’s professional and personal history adds depth and distinctiveness to the conversation. Candidates often do the same with prospective employers.

- LinkedIn is becoming an excellent way build a personal brand. Be deliberate in how you use this channel to market yourself and your particular areas of expertise. You should consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile at the bottom of your e-mail signature. This is becoming very common and I think it is a great idea.

- Corporate recruiters and executive search firms, including my own, have finally realized that LinkedIn is a rich source of high-quality candidates and use it as a primary recruiting source.

- Company managers are frequently looking at their own employee profiles to learn personal information for a variety of reasons. They also look to see if employees are job hunting, so use caution when checking the box that says you are interested in “Career Opportunities!”

- LinkedIn is a great channel for sharing content-your own writing, interesting news stories, etc.

- LinkedIn User Groups are exploding in popularity and are transforming into “mini-communities” of like minded users with shared interests.

There are likely countless others, but these are the shifts I’m hearing about most frequently. Just to reiterate, there are no secrets on the Internet and you have complete control over the content you share on LinkedIn. You must simply exercise good judgment.

Best LinedIn Practices

In general, aren’t we interested in learning a better way of doing things? Adopt that strategy with LinkedIn. Nobody has all the answers, so an open mind and willingness to innovate will serve you well when turning this into an effective tool. Here is a sample of the best and worst LinkedIn practices I have observed. First, the Best Practices:

1. Look at LinkedIn daily, especially the Home page to track movement in your network that may benefit you—job changes, promotions, new connections, etc. Because LinkedIn is continually refreshed throughout the day, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for new names that may be of value to you. You can also see if anyone from your school (s) has joined LinkedIn and look at the people who have viewed your profile that day.

2. Upgrade your account to the first level of pay service. The entry (free) level of LinkedIn is tedious if you are using it to make a large number of connections. Pay for the first upgrade level so you can connect to people in your network directly, and not wait weeks for a referral.

3. Have a transparent profile that will attract broad interest. You are screening in and not screening out on LinkedIn and it is important to connect with as many people as possible in the network. A broader sharing of your background is likely to gain more contacts for you and allow you to connect with others with similar backgrounds. Also, list personal and business accomplishments that will help showcase your achievements.

4. Post your picture on your profile. Your picture humanizes the connecting process and facilitates relationship building. I always tell people “I have a face made for radio and if I can put my picture on there, so can you!”

5. Have at least 5 Recommendations on your profile. Recommendations are analogous to a good Seller rating on eBay—you are viewed as credible and more likely to get a call back if a viewer sees that people think highly of you. You can recommend people in your network and they will be prompted to recommend you in return. This is a good “pay it forward” strategy.

6. When looking for people, run Boolean searches for prospects by keywords relevant to your background. My examples include “University of Georgia,” “Cub Scouts” and “Catholic.” Search any key words relevant and important to you that will help build a connection to someone who shares these words in their profile. Keep playing with key words and companies you are interested in until you find people you would like to meet. This is called affinity-based connecting

7. Focus on contacts who can help you get to the right person. Don’t focus exclusively on finding the decision maker, you’ll only be disappointed. Look for people in the target organization who share common interests, schools or LinkedIn connections with you. They are more likely to want to help you and make a friendly introduction to the right person—it’s so much more effective than a cold call. However, if you can’t establish common ground with someone in a target company, the cold contact may be necessary.

8. Always offer to help someone BEFORE asking for help. When reaching out via InMail (assuming you now have the upgraded LinkedIn account), never state your desire/need in the opening sentence. You’re not likely to get anywhere fast. I’ve had success with this approach: “John: I came across your background on LinkedIn and noticed that we both are UGA alums and involved in Cub Scouts. I run an executive search firm here in Atlanta and am always looking to grow my network. Would you be open to a call this week and perhaps a cup of coffee? I would like to see if there are ways I can help you and maybe we can share stories of our college days! You can check out my firm at www.belloaks.com and I can be reached directly at (678) 287-2000. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Randy Hain”

9. Invite every person you meet to join your network. This will help build your list of direct connections and expand your searchable pool. Mention when you meet that you will connect with them on LinkedIn to increase your chance of an accepted invitation. Also, if you click on the Add Connections button in the left-hand column of the home page, you will see Import Contacts at the top of the new screen. Click on that and LinkedIn will search your Outlook (or Yahoo, Google, etc.) address book and bring up a screen which shows which of your email addresses have LinkedIn profiles. You can invite them as a group (they receive individual invitations) to join your network. This is an effective to grow your network with people you know.

10. Join Groups to enhance your searches and help you be strategically identified. You can join affinity Groups on LinkedIn in almost every category ranging from Alumni Associations to HR Executives to Faith Groups. Groups become “safe havens” where you can easily gain new connections, share in discussions, etc. Choose wisely because your profiles are visible to everyone in that network and your choices should not raise eyebrows (like Recovering Shopaholics!).

11. Start your own User Group on LinkedIn. If you have a business, non-profit or group you would like to promote, this is an effective method. As the Group “owner” you will load a logo, mission/purpose statement and invite people to join. You will also be able to moderate very useful discussions and share news of interest to the members.

12. Make good use of LinkedIn Answers to get feedback on tough questions from your network. This usually nets a good response and gives you additional exposure to your network on their home pages.

13. Utilize the “I am working on…” feature at the top of your profile. This is a great way to let your network what you are working on and draw attention to your profile when it shows up on their home page. Reminder: another good reason to do this is because every change to a LinkedIn profile shows up on the home page of the people in your network. This keeps you on their radar.

14. The Reading List is an important feature on LinkedIn which allows you to share the books you recommend on your profile. This is another great way to share insight into how you think and what you like.

Worst LinkedIn Practices

1. Join LinkedIn, develop a profile and don’t accept new contacts or requests for help. Why go to the trouble if you are not going to use it? It won’t put you on a secret “bad” list, but don’t waste your time if you aren’t willing to utilize the true value of LinkedIn. Also, if the tables are turned one day and you need help, these people will remember.

2. Abuse your network. Be careful not to go to the same people again and again for referrals. They should be open to the request, but too many requests will create negative feelings and burn a bridge.

3. Be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know. This is a common stumbling block. Remember that LinkedIn users are generally open to referral requests and direct contact. Direct connections to people with whom you share something in common will accelerate your business development, recruiting or connecting efforts exponentially.

4. I don’t want my information “out there” on the Internet, so I won’t share much. I hate to tell you, but it is already “out there.” Google yourself and if you are a business professional with any experience, you probably show up. Show your career information and use discretion when sharing the personal information if you prefer. Remember, you control what is shared. This is the direction technology is taking us, so I encourage you to try and manage it!

5. Don’t share access to your connections. If you plan to ask others for access to their connections, you must be willing to share yours. Some people do use LinkedIn as a kind of master contact manager, but I argue that part of the value of the network is open and transparent sharing of information and referrals. If someone you don’t know or trust asks for a referral to one of your connections, simply say “no.”

6. Don’t fill out your profile completely. You can’t make LinkedIn work for you unless you have a profile that legitimizes you as a credible professional. I see many half-completed profiles and I wonder how many opportunities they miss.

7. Treat LinkedIn like Twitter and Facebook. Please don’t share the boring minutiae you often find on Twitter-we don’t care that you are going to the grocery store! Also, even though Facebook encourages this, don’t post a potentially embarrassing casual photo of yourself on your profile or anything else that would shed an unfavorable light on your professional image.

LinkedIn is Worth It

There are literally thousands of articles out there on how to use LinkedIn, so I certainly don’t profess to have all the answers. Most of what I do on LinkedIn has been self-taught through experimentation, observing others’ best practices, and logically evaluating what works best for me. Our firm generated 20-25% percent of our revenue from LinkedIn client and candidate sources over the last 3 years. So clearly there can be a significant ROI in utilizing LinkedIn effectively.

Starting today, view LinkedIn as an enormous network of potential new friends but with a word of advice—don’t let it become one of the omnipresent technological devices that make it so easy to hide behind. LinkedIn should be used as a catalyst, not a substitute, for human interaction and conversation.

Employ a “pay it forward” strategy of helping others through referrals and recommendations. Operate out of enlightened self-interest as you reach out to people and offer to help them first. Ask for what you want later, after rapport and common interests have been established. Use LinkedIn to promote your personal brand and develop your profile as a marketing showcase that will attract others. LinkedIn has become an effective networking tool for me and I hope it becomes the same for you.

With roughly one in 166 children diagnosed with autism, it is likely you have parents in your extended circle of family and friends who are raising a child on the autistic spectrum. For clarification and perhaps education purposes, you should be aware that people suffering from autistic spectrum disorder will always present themselves to you differently. These wonderful people are all unique and their symptoms can range from very low-functioning and non-verbal to very bright and verbal. A disorder that includes such a broad and varied range of symptoms is often called a spectrum disorder; hence the term “autism spectrum disorder.” The most significant and commonly shared symptom is in the area of social communication, which includes challenges with direct eye contact, normal conversation, communicating ideas, empathy and reading facial expressions or social cues.

I have not written specifically about Alex in the past and do so reluctantly now. My wife and I love Alex and his younger brother Ryan more than words can say and have always tried to protect them as best we can. We have both discussed Alex’s condition and challenges openly with friends since his diagnosis 9 years ago, but I feel compelled to share with others how he has inspired me to be a better person, a better father and certainly a better leader.

It dawned on me the other day after playing his favorite game of Trivial Pursuit and listening to an endless series of questions about my favorite baseball players, favorite songs and favorite Sponge Bob episodes that the way I interact with and “lead” Alex has strong parallels to leadership in the business world. The skills I have developed and the lessons I have learned in working and communicating with Alex have been spilling over into my professional life for years. So, I would like to share with my peers, friends and clients 7 vital leadership lessons I have learned from my gifted son.

1. Be Patient
Children with autism are just like any other children and they can try your patience! Peers, friends and co-workers can try your patience as well. Does losing our cool every really accomplish anything? Gaining an understanding of the motives or causes of the behavior that is causing your impatience will help you remain calm and achieve a faster resolution of the problem.

2. Be a Clear Communicator
Being unclear and ambiguous in communicating with kids like Alex is incredibly frustrating for them. It is a sure bet that our team members feel the same way. Be clear in sharing your thoughts, don’t send an email that can be misinterpreted, have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish in your communication and always, always, always avoid ambiguity and vagueness. Having a trusted proof reader around can be helpful!

3. Be Fair
Kids on the autistic spectrum require a lot of attention. Driving to therapists, providing structured and predictable days, facilitating appropriate conversations with others, dealing with a limited diet… the list is endless. Making sure our other son gets “equal time” and attention is a constant source of concern in our home. This has made me very sensitive to fairness in the workplace. Don’t play favorites, listen to all sides of an issue, give equal time, etc. An even-handed approach in your business and personal relationships will earn you trust and credibility over the long term.

4. Honor Commitments
If you say you will do something you can bet kids with autism will remember… and hold you to it. We have to be very careful about announcing everything from future family events to what we are having for dinner. This has taught me to be very careful about honoring my commitments in the workplace. It is difficult, but colleagues and the people on our teams deserve this courtesy. Alex relies on my commitments, why shouldn’t everybody else?

5. Celebrate Diversity
Alex is different and we have learned to celebrate his differences and recognize the special gifts he has to offer the world. Look around your organization. There are people with special skills, who come from different generations, who have different ethnic backgrounds and celebrate different religions. I am describing something bigger than traditional race and gender diversity. Our organizations are filled with unique and special people who have great value to offer, just like Alex, and we must celebrate their differences and harness their potential. My hope is that one day the world will advance enough in its thinking to welcome, celebrate and find the great value in Alex and other children with autism, too.

6. Speak Up and Get Involved
Having a child with special needs will fundamentally alter your outlook on life — ask anyone who is raising one of these gifts from God and I believe you will hear a similar view. Alex has helped me recognize that he can’t defend or speak up for himself without my help. Therefore, for the last few years I have been outspoken about autism and educating anyone who will listen. I also speak up and have gotten involved in a number of causes and issues that affect me, my Catholic faith, my family and our community. How about you? What catalyst exists in your life to motivate you to speak up, get involved and make a difference?

7. Practice Selfless Love
I love Alex unreservedly as a father should love his child — this type of love was called storge by the ancient Greeks and is the love that exists in families, often between parent and child. But, another kind of love exists between us which is called agape, or selfless and charitable love. Alex needs my unconditional and selfless love with no strings attached. I have learned to apply this type of love in the workplace as well. As a leader, I am here to serve my team, my company and my clients selflessly, thoughtfully and with a servant’s heart. Try putting all of your actions through the filter of selfless love and it will positively change you, your team and your organization for the better.

All of us could stand to learn important lessons from our children. Alex is a child with special needs, but first and foremost, he is a special child. The heroism he exhibits each day by simply interacting with a world that is often alien and unfriendly is a source of ongoing inspiration for me and the others who have gotten to know him. I am grateful that I have gained the humility to recognize that over the years I have been Alex’s father and supposedly the teacher in our relationship, he has been teaching me the entire time.

Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the teachings of our Catholic faith, the Catholic business people and professionals in our Archdiocese and beyond will be given the necessary catalyst to foster the spiritual growth critical for integrating their faith and work lives .

Why is this Conference important? Why focus on integration? Let me answer these questions by taking you back over 3 years to my own conversion into the Catholic Church. Prior to that time, I had lived over 20 years in what I call the “spiritual wilderness” — no faith life, no church, and God was not the focus of my life. I kept my work life and family life very separate and often, I am ashamed to say, my family existed for my work instead of the other way around. My conversion experience occurred not just out of a desire to “be Catholic” or “join the parish.” My true conversion happened during a riveting moment in an October 2005 Mass when I surrendered to His will and put God first in my life. I had never done that before. That surrender and “dying of self” which I experienced changed everything for me and the seeds of my passion for integration were firmly planted.

With a clear focus on God first, Family second and Work third, how could I live my life in a way which would be pleasing to God? It was clear that my old method of leading a compartmentalized life would no longer suffice. I needed to lead an integrated life where I could be the same person at all times and put His will first in every aspect of my life. I found it relatively easy to integrate faith and family, as I suspect many of us do. The real challenge I felt was integrating faith and work. I was fortunate during this time to meet a fellow parishioner (who is now a close friend) named Jim Schippers. Jim had recently founded the St. Peter Chanel Business Association and the mission of this parish ministry was (and is) to promote a unity of life, centered in Christ, that helps Catholic men and women integrate faith, family and work in their lives. I joined Jim and together, through the grace and blessings of our Lord, we grew the ministry with a combination of interesting and informative speakers at our monthly meetings who shared their faith journeys and inspirational messages. We also publish a monthly e-newsletter which provides book recommendations, articles, helpful website links and other information to promote the idea of leading an integrated life. The ministry meetings are open to other parishes and we average 40-70 attendees at each meeting, a number that is growing rapidly.

Through this ministry and the exposure I have had to so many Catholic professional and business people through my business career as the leader of an executive recruiting firm, I have made some important observations:

• Catholics rarely connect their faith with their work. The idea of acting, thinking and leading through the lens of our faith is for many an alien concept.
  
• Many define faith at work only as having a crucifix on their desks or leading lunch time Bible studies in the break room instead of the more achievable concept that people should be able to see Christ at work in you.
  
• Many Catholic professional and business people are unfamiliar with the rich treasure of Catholic teaching (which should guide us in the secular business world) that the Church and Christ have to offer. Think about Scripture, the Catechism, the Beatitudes, Catholic social teaching, papal writings, the Virtues, etc.
  
• Most Catholics I encounter are very interested in integration after we discuss the idea because they see a way to connect our faith to the place where we spend the majority of our adult lives.

The recent 1^st Annual Atlanta Business Conference, the St. Peter Chanel Business Association, the Woodstock Business Conference out of the Woodstock Theological Seminary at Georgetown, and numerous other ministries and groups sprouting up all over the country with the focus on living an integrated life are important. They promote the idea of consistency and represent a way for Catholics to see their work as a vocation and apostolate, instead of just a job. Consider what would happen if the millions of Catholics in this country became “lights for Christ” in the workplace and through acts of selfless love and the guidance of Christ and the Church’s teaching began to positively change their actions and inspire others to do good. We would permanently change the world.

What can you do to get involved and lead a more integrated life? It is important to think of the integrated life as more than just an idea — you have to live it. You can’t merely occasionally experiment and expect for this to be successful. Here is a list of 5 actionable ideas which will help you achieve integration:

1. Pray. You will not succeed in this effort without a prayer life. Pray a daily Rosary, pray before the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Adoration, pray in the morning, pray throughout the day, pray with your kids, offer your burdens up to the Lord in prayer… just pray . I also highly recommend the Jesuit Daily Examen.
   
2. View your work as a vocation. Dr. Michael Naughton writes in his article, A Labor Day Reflection: Three Views on Work: “A vocation enables work to become more satisfying, but understood not solely from the perspective of the self or even from the community, but informed by God’s grace. Work as a vocation transforms the worker and the object the worker produces by God’s grace. A vocation integrates the divine into the activity of work.” To be clear, notice the use of the little “v” in vocation. Our first Vocation (big “V”) as lay people is our marriage and family — our work should always be secondary.
   
3. Join or start a ministry that promotes this effort. Look around your parish for ministries that might help you in your effort to integrate or start one with the blessing of your Pastor. The Business Association concept is a good way to start because it will bring business and professional people together in the parish (and from surrounding parishes) and with the right structure/format, will be the catalyst for encouraging integration on a large scale.
4. Educate yourself. There are a number of incredible Catholic authors who have written about faith and work. I suggest reading Michael Naughton, Michael Novak, Peter Kreeft, James Nolan, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Gregory Pierce, Fr. William Byron and Chris Lowney to name a few. There is much wisdom to be found in two incredible documents: Pope John Paul II’s Christifideles Laici and Vatican II’s Gaudium et Spes. Also, Scripture, the Catechism, the Beatitudes and Catholic social teaching are critically important resources.
   
5. Surrender and put God’s Will before your own. This is the most challenging, yet the most rewarding and most necessary item on this list. If we are humble and God is truly first, everything else will fall into place and integration will occur naturally. Consider Saint Augustine’s famous motto: “Love God and [then] do what you will.” In other words, if you truly love God and His will, then doing what you will, will, in fact, be doing what God wills.

Integrating your life is not a cure-all; we are still sinners, after all. But, putting God first and blending your faith with every aspect of your life will promote balance, peace and help you on your faith journey toward a deeper relationship with Him. I can only share with you my experience and the experiences of the men and women I know whose lives have been positively impacted by this effort, but I truly believe Catholic professional and business people would see a dramatic change in their lives if they would embrace this idea. Integrating our faith and work is especially needed in these challenging times if we are to have hope and stay focused on doing the right things. The next step is moving beyond just ideas, conferences, and ministries and making integration a movement. Thank you and God bless you.

For a recap of the 1^st Annual Atlanta Catholic Business Conference and audio downloads of the speakers, click on this link: http://www.stpeterchanel.org/AdultEd/audiofiles/ACBC20090228/ACBC20090228.html

His priceless and timely question really made me think. It dawned on me that my wife and I have been carrying the recession around with us for months like a nagging cough that won’t go away. I decided at that moment to stop living in the recession and start being the guy who is working out of the recession. Showing my angst and stress is just making my hair fall out faster and accomplishing very little that I would consider productive. My attitude and actions need to reflect the hope I truly feel that better times are ahead.

Although I now have the inspiration of my son’s wisdom to guide me, surviving in business during these challenging economic times can often be a tough thing to accept. How are you coping? Surviving often means delaying or canceling important projects, laying off great people, reducing employee benefits, thinking about only today when we should be thinking about 10 years from now. Expense cutting becomes the dominant thought and paper clips and pens start to take on some magical value as if buying fewer office supplies will somehow restore lost profitability. All of the above is reality and is probably going on in your company.

I don’t care much for the concept of merely surviving. In my 20-year career, I have done plenty of surviving and have been through recessions before. You can’t cost-cut your way to sustainable profitability. Yet so many organizations are slashing budgets and shedding jobs by the thousands that panic has set in and it appears obvious that we have a confidence epidemic on our hands. Don’t get me wrong, prudent management of expenses and justified attrition are part of running a business. But, so is intentional and strategic growth.

If you will indulge me, I invite you to look at the current recession as a game of chicken. The economy, with all its challenges, is barreling right towards you. Will you blink? Will you move out of the way? Or, will you have the courage to stand your ground, embrace the economy and look for ways to “win” in this economic climate? Everybody else is running so why not buck the trend and transform your mindset from surviving to winning?

While not a trained economist, I do have broad experience in corporate leadership roles. I have led an executive search firm for several years and speak to senior business executives every day. My clients and extended network are a treasure trove of information and insights, and much of what I am sharing comes from my company’s experiences and theirs.

At the bottom of the agenda I give my team during our weekly staff meetings, I often write the phrase “Make Your Own Reality.” It is a bit clichéd perhaps, but it cuts to the heart of what I am asking all of us to consider: either let the recession put you out of business or find a way to win . If you are in a leadership role, look at your team very strategically and ask yourself these 10 important questions:

• What do my clients need right now that I can provide?
• Do I have the right people in the right jobs?
• Can I “win” with this team and achieve our goals?
• Do I need new talented people and where will I find them?
• Do we have the right compensation plan in place to incentivize superior performance?
• How would I describe my team’s morale?
• Are we thinking outside the box?
• Can we develop alternative revenue streams?
• What is our vision?
• Am I providing positive leadership?

We are buried every day in an avalanche of bad economic news delivered by the media, so there is little opportunity to escape an overwhelming sense of dread. But, if we simply resign ourselves to accepting all that we hear and don’t work diligently to help our companies grow, we will be out of business in six months. The only viable catalyst to making your business win in this economy is your people — they are your greatest resource. Employees have a clear obligation to perform well and meet their goals, but employers have the responsibility to treat people with dignity, professionalism and respect as well. You can’t sell a single product or service in the world without a human being playing a significant role, so let’s embrace, encourage, inspire, motivate and lead our greatest resource to growing our way out of this mess. In the immortal words of Tim Robbin’s character in The Shawshank Redemption , “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

As I continue to ponder the innocent question of my son Ryan, it occurs to me that we would benefit from looking at the world through the eyes of our children. Before they become exposed to the ugly side of life, kids have an innocence and a clarity of thought that always make me smile and occasionally make me think. I have a pile of work problems to deal with when I get to my office tomorrow, but I can’t wait to get home to play outside with my sons… and seek their advice.

The 1st Annual  Atlanta Catholic Business Conference for the Archdiocese of Atlanta is sponsored by: Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University amd The St. Peter Chanel Business Association.

The Conference is intended for the Catholic business and professional community who wish to more deeply understand the role of faith in the workplace.  The mission is to invest deeply in attendees’ knowledge and understanding of how to integrate their lives and let their Catholic faith guide their actions in the secular business world. Presenters include acclaimed authors and lecturers: Dr. Michael Naughton (national speaker and author of the newly released, Bringing Your Business to Life), Dr. Paul Voss (national speaker, president of Ethikos), and Dr. Phillip Thompson (speaker, author and executive director of Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University).

Location:

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church
McNamee Hall
11330 Woodstock Road, Roswell 30075

Date/Time:

Saturday, February 28, 2009
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mass begins at 8:30 a.m.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Register at http://www.stpeterchanel.org/

Registration before Feb. 20       $35 per person

Registration after Feb. 20         $45 per person

Registration covers light breakfast, lunch and materials.

Seating is limited, so register now!

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Speakers, breakout sessions & other content will help answer these questions:

~ What does it mean to lead an integrated life of faith and work?

~ What is the role of virtue in the workplace?

~ What role does ethics and morality play in my work life?

~ How can I view my work as a vocation?

~ Is there anything truly distinctive about being a Catholic professional?

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With questions regarding the Conference, Contact Deacon Mike Bickerstaff at seminar@stpeterchanel.org or Randy Hain at rhain@belloaks.com

~ Our Presenters ~

Dr. Michael J. Naughton is the Director of the John A. Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota He is a full professor with a joint appointment in the departments of Catholic Studies and the Opus College of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Society from Marquette University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He is the organizer of several major international conferences on Catholic Social Thought and Business and Economics. His many writings in business and Catholic life include Bringing Your Business to Life: The Four Virtues That Will Help You Build a Better Business and a Better Life with Jeffrey Cornwall, Managing as if Faith Mattered: Christian Social Principles in the Modern Organization with Helen Alford, and Rethinking the Purpose of Business: Interdisciplinary Essays in the Catholic Social Tradition. His awards include The University of St. Thomas Business Ethics Award and the National Outstanding Course Award for “Christian Faith and the Management Professions: An Entrepreneurial Perspective,” and First Place from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Paul Voss graduated with honors from the University of St. Thomas then earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of California (Riverside). He is an Associate Professor at Georgia State University and teaches courses on Shakespeare and 16^th Century literature. He is also Provost of Holy Spirit College. He publishes and lectures widely on a variety of topics. He authored Shakespeare, Spenser, Marlowe, and the Birth of Journalism. He also publishes in Catholic journals, has appeared on EWTN and radio programs around the country. He is also president of Ethikos, LLC, and lectures nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics including ethics, leadership, Shakespeare, the Renaissance, marriage and family. Paul has delivered executive-level workshops on leadership and ethics. His clients include the FBI Labs, Global Payments, General Electric Energy, ASCLD, British Petroleum, The Home Depot, PotashCorp, Federal Railroad Administration, Georgia Institute of Technology, Fairmount Minerals, Galls Uniforms and many other corporations.

Dr. Phillip M. Thompson is Executive Director of the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University. Prior to this appointment he directed the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. From 1999-2005, he was the Patricia A. Hayes Professor of Ethics and the Director of the Center for Ethics and Leadership at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. He has a Ph.D. in the History of Culture from the University of Chicago, a J.D. from the University of Georgia, and an LL.M. in Health Law from DePaul University. His publications are in the fields of Catholic social thought, business ethics, legal ethics, medical ethics and religion and science. He has a book forthcoming from Rowman and Littlefield titled, Between Science and Religion: the Engagement of Catholic Intellectuals with Science and Technology in the Twentieth Century. He received an award for the class “Catholicism and Economics” from the Templeton Foundation’s Program, Freedom’s Relationship to the Markets, Culture and Progress. He has been a consultant on ethics and leadership to a variety of organizations.

What People are Saying:

“There is a Renaissance, a rebirth, of the Catholic faith here in Atlanta.  You can feel the positive direction and momentum.  What a great way to further that momentum by bringing together the Catholic business leaders.”  

- Jeff Neppl, Partner at CarterBaldwin Executive Search

“I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the speakers from my friends.  This is one day that I’ll put on my calendar.  It should be a good networking opportunity as well as to learn more about integrating faith, family and work, from a Catholic perspective.”

- Bob Howe, President of Directo

“The business culture of our free market system is undergirded by ethics, which depend upon reason and faith. What a great forum to learn about the way in which our faith can play a greater role in our every work day.”  

- Charlie Douglas, executive with Wells Fargo and author of Rich Where it Counts and Awaken the American Dream

“The workplace is where we spend most of our adult lives.  It is important that we understand how to integrate faith and work, and this conference serves as a critical catalyst towards that end.” 

- Randy Hain, leader of St. Peter Chanel Business Association

“I’m excited to meet my fellow Catholic business associates; learn from the experts and the other attendees on integrating faith and work.”

- Joe George, Cox AutoTradernta