Officers
Harold Fickett became president of Catholic Exchange on January 1, 2010, after working in publishing and the media for twenty-five years. He is the author of eight books, including works of fiction, The Holy Fool, biography, Flannery O’Connor: Images of Grace, and works of inspiration and journalism, Conversations with Jesus and The Living Christ. He has also written for such publications as The National Review, Crisis, Books & Culture, and Slate.com. A convert from evangelical Protestantism to Catholicism of more than 20 years, Harold was heavily involved in developing the Catholic new media publication, GodSpy. He also co-founded the influential arts and religion journal Image. He is a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Tom Kyd is a co-founder of Catholic Exchange. He remains active with the website as director of customer service and user support. He served on the board of the American Family Media Foundation which provided funding for the distribution of the Passion of Christ movie, and produced the independent documentary Champions of Faith. Tom has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri, and his professional career consist of various sales management positions within Brown Group and Unilever Corp. He is an active member of San Rafael parish in San Diego where he has served on several parish committees. He is a member of the Legatus chapter of San Diego and is Area Councillor for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
Board of Directors
Donald G. Rez, a 1978 graduate of Harvard Law School, serves as Chairman of the Board of Catholic Exchange. He is a founder and a shareholder of the San Diego based law firm of Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel, providing business advice and handling all types of commercial lawsuits. He has been involved in complex multi-district litigation, and antitrust claims of virtually every kind. He is currently involved in giving seminars on predatory lending activities and potential remedies. Mr. Rez is a co-author of California Pretrial Practice & Forms (James Publishing Co., 2004 (Supp. 2005-2009). He has published articles in and served as editor for various legal journals. A member of the ABA and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Mr. Rez has also served as an adjunct professor at California Western School of Law and on the faculty at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is currently on the Board of Visitors of the University of San Diego School of Law.
Mr. Rez converted to Catholicism on the Feast of St Jude in 1997, was baptised in the Jordan River and received first holy communion on Mount Tabor at the Church of Transfiguration. Mr. Rez is a past president (and current Board member) of the Thomas More Society of San Diego and is a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Mr. Rez has been a member of the parish and finance councils at Our Lady of Refuge Roman Catholic Church, and was on the Diocesian Pastoral Council for the Diocese of San Diego (2002-2004). He and his wife of 25+ years are currently parishioners at All Hallows in La Jolla where they have taught in the RCIA program and helped teach confirmation classes. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Catholic Exchange, he was on the Board of American Family Media and helped roll that support organization into Catholic Exchange.
Tom Allen is co-founder and former longtime president of Catholic Exchange. He oversaw the popular daily website, produced and directed the inspirational “Champions of Faith ” films (www.championsoffaith.com ), and co-wrote and co-published the million-selling “A Guide to The Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of The Christ ” and other CE books. He has founded and managed other media organizations including American Family Media and Kolbe Communications, which provided over $10 million in distribution financing to Mel Gibson’s Icon Productions for The Passion of The Christ. Tom is a founding partner of The Maximus Group (www.maximusmg.com ), which promotes innovative faith-based organizations and initiatives. He began his media career withMovieMaker Magazine, where he was a noted entertainment journalist. Tom was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame and earned the Certificate in Film Production from New York University.)
Derry Connolly, PhD is President of John Paul the Great Catholic University. He has a PhD in Applied Mechanics from Cal-Tech; B. Sc. and M. Sc. in Mathematical Science from University College, Cork, Ireland; holds 8 US patents; has 15 years of industrial experience with IBM and Kodak; and 12 years of academic experience with UCSD. Derry and his wife Lidy have 5 children. They attend Good Shepherd Parish, Mira Mesa, CA.
Gareth N. Genner is President of Holy Spirit College and Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Genner was born and grew up in the United Kingdom where he studied law at The University of Wales and at the College of Law London. Since moving to the United States in 1994, Mr. Genner has completed both the Management Institute and the Certified Course in Accounting & Finance at Georgia Institute of Technology, Certified Mediator training at Oglethorpe University and Strategic Brand Marketing at Emory University. Mr. Genner is currently completing a PhD in Canon Law in a joint venture between the University of Wales and the Franciscan International Studies Center. From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Genner was the Managing Director of Independent School Counsel (ISC), a leading educational management and consulting firm operating throughout the southeastern United States. Mr. Genner has spoken on educational management issues at seminars and conferences sponsored by SAIS, GISA, PAIS, NAES, SAES and NCASE. Mr. Genner has served as educational advisor to the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Mr. Genner is a Knight of The Order of Malta, a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulcher, a Commander of the Order of Lazarus and a Knight Commander of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. Mr. Genner is a Lieutenant attached to the Regional Staff of USNSCC, a Member of the Coastguard Auxiliary and was a member of the Leadership Sandy Springs Class of 2006. Mr. Genner has served as an Honorary Consul to the City of Atlanta and as a Counselor to a United Nations Mission.
The Reverend Francis J. Hoffman: “Fr. Rocky” serves as Executive Director of Relevant Radio®. In 2004, Fr. Hoffman began as a special guest on Morning Air®. He then joined the Morning Air team on Tuesday mornings for the regularly scheduled “Question and Answer” segment. Fr. Rocky is also one of the hosts for “Go Ask Your Father,” which debuted on July 6, 2009. In September of 2009, Fr. Hoffman was asked by the Board of Directors to serve as Senior Director of Mission, Programming and Development and was then appointed Executive Director on April 23, 2010.
Born and raised in suburban Chicago (Mundelein), Fr. Hoffman has been associated with Opus Dei for over 30 years. Ordained as a priest for Opus Dei in 1992 by John Paul II, he holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, an M.B.A. from Notre Dame University, and a B.A. from Northwestern University in History. Prior to his ordination, he worked in sales for the Inland Steel Company, Chicago and later in tax and audit for Crowe, Chizek and Company, CPAs, South Bend. For over 30 years, Fr. Hoffman has ministered to the youth, serving in education since 1996. Just prior to joining Relevant Radio, Fr. Hoffman served as Chaplain of Northridge Preparatory School in Niles, Illinois, a college prep school for boys in grades 6-12. For the past 15 summers he has been Chaplain for the YSI (Youth Service International) Mexico Summer Service Projects in isolated and impoverished areas of Mexico. Fr. Hoffman’s column appears regularly in The Catholic Answer (Our Sunday Visitor) and The Catholic New World (Chicago).
Margot Kyd has served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Exchange since its inception and chaired the Board from 2005 to the spring of 2011. She currently serves as Board chairman for Life Perspectives and serves on the Board of the Women’s Resource Committee, the Los Angeles Urban League, and the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Margot is a former Board member of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Diego, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, the San Diego United Way and the Arthritis Foundation. Margot graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in business. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky. Margot is an active member of San Rafael parish in San Diego where she serves on the Finance Council and as Chair of the Pro-life Committee. She is a member of the Legatus chapter of San Diego and a Lady Commander for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Margot is Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company, wholly owned subsidiaries of Sempra Energy.
Paul M. Polito, CPA is the Managing Partner of Polito Eppich Associates, LLP, an accounting and consulting firm he founded in 1981 serving closely-held businesses and high-net-worth individuals in Southern California. He specializes in business consulting and strategic planning. Paul is a voracious reader and loves to write on spiritual and business topics. He has been an amateur luthier for over forty years building custom acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments. In addition to the board of Catholic Exchange, Paul serves on the boards of several non-profit charity and educational organizations. Paul earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Loyola University in Management and became a CPA in 1978. His life-long quest is to learn the Lord’s will for him and follow it, studying Business, Philosophy and Theology to reconcile Christian principles with sound business practice. Paul is a husband and father, married over 30 years to Helen with whom he raised five children.
Russ Scaramella is one of America’s outstanding entrepreneurs. His companies engage in fuel distribution, retail and real estate operations across the United States. Russ is the largest BP/ARCO AM/PM Franchisee in the United States, with over sixty-five locations in Arizona, Florida and Georgia. His companies generate over a billion dollars a year annually and employ over 750 people. He also currently owns and operates an olive grove in Tuscany, Italy. Earlier in his career he built a one-unit franchise into a 40 unit regional restaurant chain within 5 years and before that he handled special projects for Robert Price the founder of Price Club (now Costco).
Russ and his wife Lori have four wonderful children. Lori and Russ sponsor and support many charities throughout the United States and his family and he are members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dan Spencer III is currently the Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men serving over 75,000 men in annual conferences and small faith groups around the nation. He is active in his parish teaching Catholic history and apologetics, and is a lay advisor to the Kansas City Archdiocesan Evangelism and Anti-Porn initiatives.
Dan spent over 20 years as a senior advertising and marketing executive in national media organizations and more recently spent 10 years as a new media entrepreneur, investor and consultant. In 1998 he co-founded the Catholic Businesses Network and is currently active professionally as both a small business owner and a business coach. Dan writes and speaks nationally on various topics including Catholic integrated living, leadership, business & faith integration, sexual integrity and the need for engaged social activism in light of Catholic social teaching. He has appeared on EWTN television and radio programs as well as Vatican radio.
Dan and his wife of 35 years, Linda, along with their four neurotic dogs currently live in a Kansas suburb of Kansas City where their four adult children and extended family also reside.
Corporate Counsel
Mitchell L. Lathrop is a Member of the international law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., and divides his practice between the firm’s San Diego and New York offices. Mr. Lathrop is a 1966 graduate of the University of Southern California Law School and a 1959 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. After many years in commercial, insurance and reinsurance litigation, he currently focuses on alternate dispute resolution both domestically and internationally. He is the author of Insurance Coverage for Environmental Claims, published by Matthew Bender – Lexis/Nexis. Mr. Lathrop also serves as an expert witness on insurance and reinsurance matters. He has published over 50 articles in various legal journals, and has over 40 reported appellate decisions on cases in which he has been involved. Mr. Lathrop is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.); a Distinguished Neutral of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”); an arbitrator for the California Superior Court for San Diego County; and an arbitrator for the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Reinsurance Association of America, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Mr. Lathrop and his wife, Lynn, are members of the parishes of St. Agnes in San Diego and Queen of Angels in Idyllwild, California. Mr. Lathrop serves on the board of the International Dominican Foundation.
Editorial Staff
Mark P. Shea, Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange is a popular writer and speaker on various aspects of the Catholic faith. In addition to being co-author of the smash bestseller A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of the Christ, he is also the author of (Our Sunday Visitor), Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Basilica), This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence (Christendom Press), and The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code (Ascension). His most recent work is the acclaimed Mary, Mother of the Son trilogy (Catholic Answers). An award-winning columnist, Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register and his regular feature on InsideCatholic.com. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio and he is also a guest each Tuesday on “Heart, Mind, and Strength” radio and each Friday on “Sound Insight” with Dr. Tom Curran. He has also appeared numerous times on television to talk about the Catholic Faith, as well as maintaining the popular blog Catholic and Enjoying It. Mark lives in Washington State with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.
Webmaster
Joshua LeBlanc has been active since 2002 in the Information Technology field, managing computer systems and networks for numerous Catholic apostolates and organizations. He is the co-founder and president of cyberCatholics.com, a 100% Catholic webhosting service. He created and hosts the Annual Catholic Blog Awards. Josh is also the founder of DefendingCatholicTruth.com. Having spoken and written on a wide range of Catholic issues, Josh is the host of “Finding your Keys: The Field Guide for the Everyday Catholic” on Radio Maria begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting USA and also co-hosts a weekly live television show, Champions of the Truth, which airs in the Lafayette, Louisiana area. He is also a regular contributor, founding member, and panelist on thecatholicunderground.com podcast, a show which focuses on the relationship of Catholic faith and new media.
Joshua holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and the Liberal Arts from St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, LA (where he discerned that God was calling him serve in a capacity other than the ministerial priesthood) and is currently a candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. He is married to Annie.
Marketing Specialist
Margaret Schay was graduated from Southern Catholic College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and history. She holds certificates from Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Anthneum in Rome and the Theology of the Body Institute in Philadelphia. She has been involved in marketing and promoting the faith in a variety of capacities from both an educational and development perspective. She and her husband, Mike reside in Atlanta.
