Join us in Arizona this spring for our Theology of Gift Conference! Hosted by our friends and partners at Mary College at ASU.
Theology of Gift Conference
Speakers
Fr. James Keiter is a Priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha. He has served at several parishes since his ordination on June 2, 2001. His first assignment was Associate Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk, NE, then Fr. Keiter moved to Omaha to become Pastor of Assumption Parish in South Omaha, president of Assumption Guadalupe Catholic Elementary School, and became the founding President of St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School. He served in South Omaha through June 2011, then moved to Fremont to serve at St. Patrick’s Parish and Archbishop Bergan Catholic High School.
In July of 2019, Fr. Keiter became Pastor of Holy Family Parish with Churches in Bow Valley, Wynot, and St. Helena, as well as St. Rose of Lima Parish in Crofton in addition to All Saints Parish. He also taught 7th grade, 8th grade, and Senior Theology at Cedar Catholic High School from October 2014 through 2020.
In August 2022, Fr. Keiter graduated with an MBA from the University of Mary in Bismark, ND. Then, this past July 2023, Fr. Keiter was given additional duties as Pastor of 5 more parishes, bringing his current family of parishes to 8 parishes / 12 Churches.
Matt Reinkemeyer and his wife Jen are parents to five children ages 10 down to 1. He serves as the Director of Leadership Giving in the Stewardship Department for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. His undergraduate degree is in Theology, Catechetics, and Youth Ministry from Franciscan University, and he has an MBA with a concentration in Catholic Philanthropy from the University of Mary. He previously served in both parish and diocesan youth ministry and evangelization. He has served in both operations and donor engagement roles within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Stewardship Department, where he has the pleasure of working with individuals, families, pastors, and parish staff from across the 19 counties of southwest Ohio. His passion is encouraging a life of stewardship while thinking strategically about our work for the Church, sharing vision and mission with people, and inviting them to be a part of it.
Nic Prenger founded Prenger Solutions Group in 2018 to help Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools thrive in the world of digital fundraising and communication.
Today, PSG serves as a trusted advisor to more than 120 dioceses, helping them with fundraising, communications, and technology solutions. PSG’s social media management platform is used by more than 1,000 parishes across the United States.
Nic’s leadership experience includes serving on the national advisory board for the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), working for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Cande de Leon currently serves as the Chief Mission Engagement Officer for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to this role Cande served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the National Eucharistic Congress and the Executive Director of the Office of Mission Advancement for the Diocese of Phoenix.
Cande has a blend of business acumen and ministry experience with proven strategies in teaching mission advancement through capital campaigns, annual appeals and parish stewardship. Cande has received recognition with several awards from the International Catholic Stewardship Council, and is often requested to give missions and workshops throughout the U.S. Catholic Church.
Cande served in the Marine Corps, graduated from Texas A&M Corpus Christi with a BBA, and earned a MA, Theology at Holy Apostles Seminary and College, an MBA from University of Arkansas, Grantham and has been married to his wife Rosemary for 27 years with four daughters.
Since 2006, Mark has financially supported his family through the faithful contributions of mission partners so that he can serve as a missionary and leader with FOCUS. For the last 5 years, he has trained thousands of staff in missionary fundraising and spiritual investment for donors currently in the role of Sr. Director of Mission Partner Development. His leadership has led to a 93% increase in MPD revenues and tens of thousands of new benefactors!
Mark loves to build the body of Christ through sharing the Gospel! Hailing from Lakewood, CO, where he lives with his wife Angie and eight amazing children!
Sharia Smith currently serves as the Executive Director of the Kathleen S. Craft Foundation in Tulsa, OK. Prior to this role, Sharia worked in Catholic education advancement both as Assistant Director of Philanthropy for Bishop Kelley High School and most recently with the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma as Director of the Tax Credit School Program, an SGO for the 19 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. With a near decade of development and capital campaign experience, Sharia is grateful to see the application of this knowledge and expertise in her role as a mission and strategy partner with the many Catholic organizations and apostolates served through the Kathleen S. Craft Foundation. Sharia is passionate about service and is an active volunteer in her parish and community. She also gives back as a girl's lacrosse coach. In her free time, Sharia loves hiking and is working her way through exploring all of our nation's national parks.
Sarah Sochacki is a Managing Director at CCS, bringing over 15 years of experience in philanthropy, with a focus on Catholic fundraising and faith-based initiatives. Sarah has led multi-million-dollar campaigns, strategic planning studies, and development assessments, guiding organizations through transformational giving. She works closely with Catholic schools, dioceses, and faith-based nonprofits to align mission and fundraising goals, emphasizing the importance of meaningful partnerships.
Sarah frequently presents at industry events, including with the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC), and guest lectures at the University of Mary. A passionate advocate for mission-driven philanthropy, she believes successful fundraising is about more than dollars—it’s about building relationships that inspire lasting impact.
Sarah lives in Chicago with her husband, daughter, and their rescue dog. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Fundraising Management from Columbia University.
Jeremy Beer is the co-founder of and executive chairman at AmPhil, a 100-person national firm that provides consulting and professional services to nonprofits, including many Catholic organizations. He is the author of several books related to philanthropy, including The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity, The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising: Practical Advice and Contrarian Wisdom for Nonprofit Leaders, and, most recently, The Quest for Belonging: How the Most Effective Nonprofit Leaders Understand the Psychology of Giving. Jeremy is an alumnus of Indiana University and the University of Texas at Austin. He obtained his doctorate in psychology from the latter institution. He and his wife, Kara, live in Phoenix, Arizona.
Anthony Vultaggio is the philanthropy officer for The Orange Catholic Foundation, a published author, and a dynamic speaker. Formerly with Merrill Lynch, he has over 30 years of experience in financial services, wealth management and transfer, and estate and business continuation planning. Anthony’s expertise in leveraging financial strategies to benefit parishes, ministries, and Catholic schools reflects his passion for empowering the Catholic community through sound stewardship. He also hosts a Catholic radio show focused on the writings of Bishop Fulton Sheen. Anthony holds a BA in classical philosophy and religious studies and holds both the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations. For the past 20 years, he has chaired the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission for the Diocese of Orange, making him a respected voice in both financial and spiritual arenas. Audiences value his blend of financial acumen and commitment to faith-based service.
John Flynn has served as the Vice President of Philanthropy for FOCUS and the FOCUS Mission Foundation since 2009. During this time, FOCUS has more than 5x the number of missionaries and 7x locations served. Under his leadership, FOCUS successfully achieved a $250 million comprehensive goal for the Run So As To Win campaign. A highly committed and passionate advocate for Catholic ministry in higher education, John helped co-found Petrus Development and Domus Development, with whom he remains a Principal. Through the course of his more than 25-year career in development for the Catholic Church, he has consulted with over 60 Catholic campus ministries across the United States, helping many implement new development programs and helping others enhance and expand their existing programs. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. He resides in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife, Lucy.
Chuck Duginski is the chairman and CEO of Canvas Energy, a private oil and gas producer based in Oklahoma City. He is currently the vice president of the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma board and serves on its Executive Committee. Chuck has also served in various roles at the archdiocesan and parish levels, with a focus on construction projects and Catholic education. Chuck and his wife, Robyn, have raised three adult children and have a grandchild on the way.