Barry Rowan is a Harvard Business School graduate who spent his entire career serving in C-Suite roles. He has been instrumental in building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communication space, with one selling for $10 billion. His leadership experience spans both private and public companies, including Gogo (the inflight connectivity company), Vonage, Nextel Partners, and Fluke Corporation.

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Based on his belief in giving back, Barry serves on both for-profit and non-profit boards, mentors young leaders, and leads international study trips. His non-profit boards have included InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the Gonzaga University Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and advisory boards for Harvard Business School. He also served as president of Bellevue Christian School.

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Deeply immersed in Scripture and the classic spiritual writers, Barry is deeply committed to contemplation and prayer which led him to complete a month-long silent retreat immediately following his retirement from a full-time executive career. His friends have dubbed him a “corporate mystic.” 

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Barry is married to Linda, his wife of over forty-two years, and they have two adult sons. Together they are now engaged in multiple lines of service including walking with the poor and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their commitment to the poor has taken them to Central America over twenty times. They are members of the National Leadership Council of World Vision and support local organizations breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs.

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The Spiritual Art of Business may be purchased at Amazon.com and at leading booksellers and the free downloadable Discussion Guide may be found at barrylrowan.com.

Rob Hays is the former President and Chief Executive Officer, and currently a member of the board of directors of Ashford Hospitality Trust, a publicly-traded hotel ownership company with more than 70 hotels across the United States. Mr. Hays worked at Ashford for nearly 20 years before his retirement from the company in 2024.  He is an investor and a board member in several other companies including ExoStat Medical and Presidio Healthcare.  Mr. Hays has spoken frequently at industry and Wall Street investor conferences and appears often in both print and television media.

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Mr. Hays is involved in several charitable, formative, and faith organizations. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Aquinas Institute for Catholic Life at Princeton University and the Chairman of the Board of the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) in Washington DC. He co-founded the Business Ethics Forum, which meets quarterly to provide Dallas-area business leaders regular formation in ethics, philosophy, natural law, and Catholic Social Doctrine. He is the lead organizer for the annual Dallas Successful Fathers Conference, now going into its 25th year.  He and his wife Alicia have hosted nearly 50 lectures over the past decade in their home, called the Cottonwood Lectures, on topics of faith, family, and culture.

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Mr. Hays earned his A.B. in Politics with a certificate in Political Economy from Princeton University and later studied philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. He and his wife, Alicia, have been married 20 years and are blessed with 7 children.

Justin Fatica has impacted over two million people by sharing a message of hope wherever he goes. Whether on a stage or in a Panera Bread, his message gives people a chance to choose hope amidst their suffering. Justin’s gift for motivating others has resulted in the development of strong leaders who prioritize uplifting others. His commitment goes beyond mere enthusiasm; it is a lifestyle aimed at helping every individual recognize their inherent greatness. Justin dedicates his energy and resources to ensure that each person understands their incredible value. 

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Justin has spoken at over 1,500 live events, speaking professionally for over 25 years in 4 countries and 46 states. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education. 

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Justin has been featured on numerous media outlets such as Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, TBN, Our Daily Bread, and was the subject of an HBO film called “Hard as Nails". Justin is also featured in a 10 episode television series on EWTN called “You’re Amazing with Justin Fatica,” which focuses on the impact that he has made while traveling on the road. Justin is the author of 5 books, including 2 best sellers, “Hard as Nails: A Mission to Awaken Youth to the Power of God’s Love” and “Win it All: The Way to Heaven for Catholic Teens.” 

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Currently, Justin coaches an AAU Basketball team, Team Amazing. Justin’s passion for encouragement has overflowed into the team, bringing them together in a brotherhood that is impacting the culture of young athletes. “In The Paint” is a 6-part docu-series following Justin and his team of players as they strive to follow their dreams and make a difference in the world. 

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Justin is the Executive Director of You’re Amazing Fitness (youreamazingfitness.org) and Hard as Nails Ministries (amazingnation.org). Justin, along with his team of amazing staff and volunteers, are dedicated to bringing encouragement and hope to every person they encounter.

Maryanne Miller is a retired 4 star General for the United States Air Force.  Her last position before retirement in October of 2020 was Commander, Air Mobility Command. As the Air Component Commander for U.S. Transportation Command, General Miller was responsible for directing global air mobility operations in support of national objectives. She was the highest ranking woman in the entire defense department until her retirement.

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General Miller was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at The Ohio State University. She is a command pilot with more than 4,800 flying hours in numerous Air Force aircraft. 

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Maryanne spent 39 years serving as an officer and pilot in our Air Force but now serves on the Boards of Bristow, The Leaven Kids and is a Trustee of Manhattan College in NY.  She also serves on the Council for Criminal Justice and the Veterans Justice Commission.  And since 2013 has been a volunteer and co-worker for St. Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity serving the poorest of the poor around the world.

Reinier Cruz retired as Senior National Security Intelligence Officer within the Department of Defense and National Intelligence Community, after 33 years of service. He holds the distinction of serving as the Senior Leader in every Division in the Directorate of Intelligence. He is highly decorated for his achievements in Global War on Terrorism during his multiple deployments to combat zones.

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The preponderance of his career was focused on strategic, operational, and tactical applications in the disciplines of analysis, targeting, systems, collection, acquisition, and management of global intelligence capabilities.

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He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a minor in Aviation Applications. He’s a graduate of the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program and possesses extensive multi-disciplinary training.

Sr. Mary Faustina is a member of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, AL. She entered the community in 2011, and professed her final vows in 2019. Her community’s apostolate is evangelization through catechesis and retreats, and she lives this out in a variety of ways by teaching once a week at a small Catholic school, providing support and resources for FOCUS missionaries in her region, and presenting on the Faith at a variety of conferences and retreats such as the Annual Courage Encourage National Conference. She has a long history of devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio, and has had the opportunity to pilgrimage in his footsteps through Turin, Oropa, and Pollone, and to deepen her understanding of him at his family villa in Pollone. Sister continues to assist her community in Alabama as vocations director and teaches formation classes for the community’s Novitiate. She also oversees landscaping and property maintenance for the Sister Servants’ convent and retreat house, and is completing her studies in the Augustine Institute Masters in Theology program this spring.

Ben is an executive coach and founder of Sands Leadership, a

leadership development & training company. He has been helping

leaders and teams work better together for over two decades.

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Ben is a trusted partner to leaders at global companies such as

Morgan Stanley, Comcast, and Gartner, as well as countless

Private Equity-backed businesses and family-owned enterprises.

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Before founding Sands Leadership, Ben was a Managing Director

at Water Street, a consulting firm he founded with former

partners at McKinsey & Co. It was this experience (as well as the

intervention of a very special priest) that led him to his current

vocation.

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Ben grew up in Connecticut, earned an undergraduate degree

from Duke, and now lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his

wife and five children.