Board of Advisors
At Catholics for Hire, we hold firm to the principle that establishing a robust foundation is paramount for sustainable growth and success. To fortify this cornerstone belief, we have meticulously curated and established a distinguished Board of Advisors comprising esteemed professionals who epitomize excellence within their respective fields. Each member of our advisory board brings an unparalleled depth of expertise and experience, strategically chosen to steer and enlighten our operations as a pioneering Catholic Digital Media Company.
Our commitment to leveraging the collective wisdom and insights of these industry-leading advisors underscores our dedication to fostering innovation, maintaining ethical standards, and delivering unparalleled value to our stakeholders. Through collaborative decision-making and informed guidance, our Board of Advisors serves as an invaluable asset, providing astute counsel and strategic direction that empowers us to navigate the dynamic landscape of digital media with precision and purpose.
By embracing the expertise and counsel of these distinguished individuals, Catholics for Hire remains steadfast in our mission to uphold the highest standards of excellence, while continuously striving for growth, innovation, and positive impact within the realm of Catholic digital media.
Members
Matt Pinto loves his Catholic faith. He believes the Lord Jesus is the truth who sets us free and that His work of salvation is carried out through the life-giving Gospel, teachings and sacramental life of the Catholic faith. Since his early 20s, Matt has felt called to carry out this mission through dynamic ministries and business ventures.
Matt founded Ascension Press in 1998 and served as the president and CEO for 23 years, leading the Catholic publisher and media outlet to global prominence. He also co-founded Envoy Magazine, CatholicExchange.com, and the Theology of the Body Institute.
Matt is the founder and managing partner of The Genesis Group, a Catholic private capital firm focused on ushering in a new era of Catholic business investment, providing founders capital and counsel to help them build their visions.
A New York Times bestselling author, Matt has written a dozen books and Catholic educational resources. He is a founding member of the Catholic Marketing Network and a recipient of the Outstanding Catholic Leadership Award from the Catholic Leadership Institute.
Steve Ray is a Catholic speaker, author, and pilgrimage leader. In 1975, Steve started his own business with a $5 investment and homemade business cards. His building services company, Distinctive Maintenance, grew to over 600 employees at its height. Prior to 1994, neither Steve or Janet had ever set foot in a Catholic Church. After studying many books to convince their best friend and recent convert, Al Kresta, that the early church was evangelical, Steve and Janet backed their way right into the Catholic Church.
On Pentecost Sunday, 1994, they entered the Church at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Steve began writing a letter to his father explaining why they became Catholic. This letter soon became the book Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historic Church, published by Ignatius Press.
Since then, Steve’s passion for the depth of truth found within the Catholic tradition has led him to walk away from his business and pursue what he really loves—writing, speaking, producing Catholic films, and leading pilgrimages to biblical lands. Steve and Janet have been to the Holy Land over 170 times exploring, filming, and leading thousands of pilgrims.
Steve is a regular guest on Catholic radio and TV including Catholic Answers, Ave Maria Radio, Relevant Radio, and EWTN. He also writes Bible studies for Catholic Scripture Study International.
Ken Stager is a father, husband, and accomplished professional. Ken received his Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University, specializing in Paper Engineering (Applied Chemical Engineering) and went on to receive advanced training at Wharton School of Business, a testament to his commitment to excellence and continuous learning.
Throughout his career, Ken has showcased an exceptional blend of expertise in both domestic and international arenas. His professional trajectory spans diverse roles encompassing engineering, sales, management, and international business, where he has consistently surpassed business growth targets. Ken’s invaluable contributions have extended to orchestrating pivotal restructuring initiatives across multiple locations, spearheading global strategies focused on product launches, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty, and enhancing overall company profitability.
Currently serving as the Vice President of KPR Paper and Board, North America at ANDRITZ, Inc., Ken holds a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and success in a very competitive market landscape.
Ken served for over a decade, alongside his wife, in volunteer work as part of the Marriage Preparation Team in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin. His commitment to promoting family well-being extends further as a trained Natural Family Planning instructor, certified through Family of the Americas. Additionally, Ken has received specialized training in “I AM” Healing Ministry from the esteemed John Paul II Healing Center.
Ken’s multifaceted background encompasses significant experience in family-run and small business environments. His upbringing and extensive involvement in multiple family-owned enterprises have provided him with a profound understanding of the unique challenges encountered by businesses at various stages—be it a small startup, a burgeoning enterprise, or an established corporation. This invaluable perspective has enabled him to offer comprehensive mentoring and strategic guidance, integrating faith-based servant leadership principles with astute business strategies to nurture the growth and success of future generations of entrepreneurs.
Dr. Robin Goldsmith is a wife, mother of four sons and an Anesthesiologist. After attending the University of Notre Dame for undergraduate studies and University of Wisconsin for medical school, she completed a residency and then fellowship in OB Anesthesia at the University of Iowa. She received the Gertie Marx Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology research award for study of mid-gestational brain injury in utero in sheep during fellowship and remained on faculty at the University of Iowa.
She returned to Wisconsin for private practice and served as a delegate or alternate delegate for the American Society of Anesthesiology in her specialty for over 15 years.
She co-founded the St. Gianna Clinic and the St. Gianna Molla Guild NEW. She served as President of the Guild which was named Outstanding Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) in 2015. She was one of two State Directors that helped pilot the CMA State Director program which then was solidified and approved as a formal part of the CMA. She concurrently served as CMA Regional Director and a member on multiple CMA committees. She now serves as an At Large National CMA Board Member, Regional Director, Regional Director Representative Committee Member, State Director of WI along with serving as Co-Chair of the Catholic Clinics Committee in addition to many others.
Dr. Goldsmith also co-founded the St. Gianna Molla Clinic in 2014. St Gianna Clinic was given a formal decree as the first “Catholic Teaching Clinic ” in the country by Bishop David Ricken. The clinic continues to grow and serves as a sustainable, replicable model for the entire country which provides truly excellent, truly faithful medical care for all people while evangelizing to patients and families throughout the diocese and beyond.
Dr. Goldsmith has received various awards for her faith-based prolife efforts, including the Catholic Medical Association Distinguished Guardian of Faith Award, the ProLife WI Activist of the Year, Solidarity Health Innovator Award (national), and the Green Bay Diocese Faith At Work Award. She is a Dame in the Order of Malta, a member of Legatus, and serves on various boards to further the
faith.
John is a husband, father, lawyer, and entrepreneur. After law school he spent most of his career working in the Ave Maria Foundation family of nonprofits founded by iconic entrepreneur and corporate chairman Tom Monaghan. His work on the senior executive management teams at Ave Maria School of Law and Legatus are his professional highlights.
Today he focusses his efforts on leading the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, an international professional association of Catholic executives; and the Catholic Finance Association, the membership organization for Catholic financial professionals, broadly defined. He serves on boards, writes and speaks, helps his friends with their businesses, and is a professional consultant.
Dr. Pat Fagan has been a grade school teacher, a clinical therapist specializing in child, family and marital therapy. During his career he as been Executive Director of the Free Congress Foundation, a member of the staff of Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Family and Social Policy at HHS under President George Herbert Bush, the Senior Fellow on Family and Culture at the Heritage Foundation, then as founder and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at Family Research Council. Fagan now directs MARRI at The Catholic University of America. He is also the publisher and editor of Marripedia.org. He has authored over thirty synthesis papers and has commissioned dozens of original research projects in marriage, family, child development and religious practice. He and his wife Theresa have eight children and twelve grandchildren.
David is a graduate of The University of Notre Dame and received his MBA from The University of Michigan. He is a Certified Public Accountant who worked as a consultant for Deloitte & Touche LLP for 5 years. Mr. DiFranco is the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Travel Services.
