Men’s Spirituality Series - Fall 2023
2023 Executive Speaker Series:
Empowering Professional Men for Holistic Success
Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, & 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Fireside (in Saint Clement School)
In the fast-paced world of business, professional men often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, leaving little time for personal growth and development. Recognizing this challenge, we have curated the upcoming Executive Speaker Series in October, a unique platform designed to equip professional men with insights and strategies for holistic success.
October 4 - Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth
On October 4th, Fr. Ken Simpson, Former Pastor of Saint Clement, Marco Oropeza, Partner at Aberdeen Advisors, and Jason Samikkannu, COO of AmTab Manufacturing Corporation, will guide a session on spiritual growth. They will provide actionable strategies to enhance spiritual progress, a crucial aspect often overlooked in the pursuit of professional success, leading to inner tranquility and overall wellness.
October 11 - Unlocking the Power of Balance
On October 11th, Hans Montgomery, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, will lead a session on achieving balance in life. He will share practical tips to maintain work-life harmony and balance physical, emotional, and mental health. This session is designed to help professional men navigate the complexities of modern life, leading to greater success and joy.
October 18 - Conquering Stress and Burnout
On October 18th, Jim Hoeg, Managing Partner at Alyeska Investment Group, will tackle the issue of stress and burnout. He will offer valuable insights and strategies for effective stress management, self-care, and family life. In a culture that glorifies busyness, this session is a must-attend for professional men seeking to prioritize their well-being, leading to greater peace and balance.
October 25 - Forging Authentic Connections and Building Successful Networks
On October 25th, Jay Flaherty, Managing Partner of Corby 2.0, LLC and a member of the Board of Fellows at the University of Notre Dame, will focus on creating genuine connections and building successful networks. He will share his journey of success and provide practical techniques for building strong and authentic connections, a key factor in achieving greater success and achievement in every industry.
The Executive Speaker Series is not just another event; it's a value-add opportunity for professional men to learn from respected leaders in their fields. Our last session in the spring of 2023 received rave reviews from over 150 attendees who found the series insightful and transformative. This is a testament to the quality and relevance of our discussions.
Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself. Join us at the Executive Speaker Series and equip yourself with the tools you need to thrive in all areas of your life. We can’t wait to welcome you to our 2023 Fall Executive Men’s Session.
Register here and join us for all or any of the sessions.
Meet our speakers!
Fr. Ken Simpson - speaker on Oct. 4
Father Kenneth Simpson was born and raised in the Chicago area and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1978. He has served in small ethnic, large suburban and city parishes across the Archdiocese as well as seminary, campus ministry and Archdiocesan administration. He began at St. James in Highwood and St. Michael in Orland Park. He taught Theology and served as Dean of Formation and Vice Rector at the Archdiocesan College Seminary. And then served as Chaplain/Director of the Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University.
He was Pastor of Saint Clement and a Dean in Vicariate 2 and Administrator of Old St Patrick in Chicago. Cardinal Blase Cupich appointed Fr. Simpson to a newly created position as Vicar for Professional and Pastoral Development of Priests. He now acts as consultant for Priest Ongoing Formation and lives with seminarians in their propaedeutic year.
He has also proudly served first responders as Chaplain, EMT and Firefighter with a number of Fire Departments.
Fr. Simpson holds a Masters of Divinity degree from the University of St Mary of the Lake and a Masters in Applied Spirituality from the University of San Francisco.
Marco Oropeza - speaker on Oct. 4
Marco is husband to Christina, father to Marco Ted (a PreK3er), member of the Parish Pastoral Council, and one of the leaders of Alpha at Saint Clement. Marco is currently a Partner at Aberdeen Advisors, a boutique business and technology consulting firm where he specializes in growth strategy, innovation, and organizational transformation topics. Previously, Marco spent time at the Archdiocese of Chicago leading the design and implementation of the movement of spiritual renewal and started his career at the Boston Consulting Group’s Chicago office. Marco holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
As a lifelong Catholic, Marco has always recognized the value of faith but it was not until recently that his faith in Jesus truly came alive. Over the years, his passion for finding ways to help others discover what a life of faith in Jesus can mean has grown exponentially and it is a key part of his present ministry.
Jason Samikkannu - speaker on Oct. 4
Jason is COO and Director of AmTab Manufacturing Corporation. In his role, Jason oversees all day-to-day administrative and operational functions the business, including Accounting and Finance. AmTab designs, manufactures and furnishes cafeteria and classroom furniture for the K-12 Education market. Prior to joining AmTab, Jason was a Manager at PwC in the Transaction Services practice. Specifically, he performed financial due diligence for buy-side and sell-side M&A deals. Jason started his career in the Audit/Assurance practice of Deloitte, where he specialized in the Financial Services industry.
Jason graduated with a BBA in Accountancy and Master of Science (MSA) in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Jason lives in Lincoln Park with his wife Brenna and daughter Reese. In his down time, he enjoys playing golf, watching sports and movies, and reading. Jason and Brenna are actively involved at Saint Clement Church and various charitable organizations; two of their favorite ministries are Alpha and Feed My Starving Children.
Hans Montgomery - speaker on Oct. 11
Hans Montgomery joined the Chicago office of BCG in 2006 and is a Managing Director and Partner focused in BCG's Financial Institutions Practice. He supports his corporate clients with a range of topics including strategy, growth and transformation.
At BCG, he led the Midwest Financial Services Practice and the North America Wealth Management practice. Prior to BCG, Hans worked in manufacturing operations management for Procter and Gamble. He graduated with an MBA with High Honors from Chicago Booth, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Hans is a Board Member for Saint Clement School, and also served as Founding Advisor and Board Member for Community Desk Chicago. He is a proud husband and father of three children, and enjoys golf, movies, reading, travel, Texas Longhorns, and the New Orleans Saints.
Jim Hoeg - speaker on Oct. 18
Jim Hoeg is Partner at Alyeska Investment Group and leads a team of investment professionals focused on investment opportunities within the Consumer and Internet sectors. Prior to joining Alyeska, Jim was a Partner at Citadel Investment Group from 2005 – 2015 and led the Consumer sector in the Global Equities Division. Prior to Citadel, Jim was a Vice-President and Senior Analyst in the Global Investment Research Division of Goldman Sachs from 2000-2005. Jim joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 after receiving his MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Prior to attending graduate school, Jim was an Associate in the Financial Advisory Services Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers. In 2008, Jim was designated a Top Hedge Fund Analyst by Global Alpha Magazine. In 2010, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022, Jim was named a TopGun Investment Mind by Brendan Wood International. Since 2005, Jim has served on the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees at the Big Shoulders Fund, an independent charitable organization that serves Chicagoland schools with demonstrated need, and provide a quality, values-based education for Chicago’s children.
Jay Flaherty - speaker on Oct. 25
James F. Flaherty III is Managing Partner of Corby 2.0, LLC and Chairman of VSCP’s Strategic Advisory Board. These two entities invest in a variety of healthcare and healthcare real estate transactions. Previously, Mr. Flaherty was Managing Partner of NorthStar Healthcare Finance (2014–2017) and Chairman and CEO of HCP, Inc. (2002–2013), the third largest REIT in the United States. Prior to joining HCP, Mr. Flaherty served at Merrill Lynch & Co. (1983–2002) in a variety of investment banking, capital markets, and private equity functions, and was head of Merrill Lynch’s Global Healthcare Group. In May 2020, Mr. Flaherty was elected as a Fellow of the University. He received a BBA in accounting from the University of Notre Dame in 1979 and earned an MBA from the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1983. From 1979 to 1981, he was a certified public accountant in the Boston office of Ernst & Whinney. Mr. Flaherty is married to the former Mary Monica Hesburgh, also a 1979 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. They reside in Los Angeles, California, and are the parents of three fourth-generation Notre Dame graduates: James Patrick Flaherty (’06 BBA, ’07 MS ACCT), Mary Catherine Flaherty Unis (’08 BA), and Maureen Flaherty Searles (’14 BA). The Flahertys have six grandchildren.