Who We Are Meet the staff, faculty, and consultants who support the work of the INSPIRE Project.   Daniel Gast Director Daniel Gast has been director of INSPIRE since its inception in 2004. The work is a happy match with his personal learning dedications for several years: introducing leadership, organizational development, and pastoral leadership studies to a local parish communities and church institutions. He is co-author with Dr. Barbara Fleischer of a coursebook on Pastoral Leadership and Organization for the Loyola Institute of Ministry at Loyola University of New Orleans. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) of Loyola University Chicago, the university co-host of the INSPIRE project. He serves in leadership development with colleagues at the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Personnel Services. Dan has served in ministry settings of educational and catechetical leadership at local and diocesan levels, and in catechetical and religious publishing. Dan and his wife Kathy are proud parents of three young adults, and brand new grandparents as of April, 2006.   Reverend Jeremiah (Jerry) Boland Lead Team Fr. Jerry Boland currently serves as the Archbishop's Delegate for Externs and International Priests. He is the administrator of Holy Family Church. He has been an associate pastor at St. James in Arlington Heights and Mary, Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge. He has served as the executive secretary of the diocesan priest's placement system. He has served as the Chairman of the Association of Chicago Priests and the Presbyteral Council. He was a participant in the Louisville Institute's Pastors Working Group and completed a sabbatical at the North American College in Rome. The Inspire program is one of the more exciting projects to come along. The program affords much needed resources in assisting those in pastoral ministry to grow spiritually, personally and professionally.   Dr. Mary Elsbernd, OSF Lead Team Mary Elsbernd received her STD and Ph.D. from Kathiolieke Universiteit Leuven and serves as Professor of Pastoral Theology in Social Ethics and graduate program director of the M.A. in Social Justice. Mary's area of research and publication are Catholic social teachings, justice, peace and nonviolence, and social context. Mary has been involved in INSPIRE from its beginnings as part of the writing team for both drafts and then serving on the Leadership Team. She is currently doing research on the parish practices that nurture and support ministers and practitioners of justice.   Dr. Robert T. O'Gorman Lead Team Robert T. (Bob) O'Gorman, Ph.D., is Professor of Pastoral Studies and Director of the Graduate Programs Master of Divinity (MDiv.) and Master of Pastoral Studies (MAPS) at the Institute of Pastoral Sudies Loyola University Chicago. Bob received his B.A. in philosopy from St. Louis University (1963), his M.R.E. from the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola Chicago (1970) and Ph.D. in religious education from Notre Dame (1975). He pursued special studies in catechetics at Lumen Vitae in Brussels, Belgium (1965-1966). Bob has taught at the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago since 1989. He was the founding Graduate Program DIrector of the MDiv. degree and served as field education director until 2006. Bob's research and publications have been in religious education, with a focus on U.S. church history; liberation theology and base communities of Latin America; the study of church community. Among his publications is a work he co-authored with Mary Faulkner, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism (2000). He has served as the President of the Religious Education Association of the United States and Canada and Chairperson of the Association for Theological Field Education. Bob lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Mary Lou who is the Director of Pastoral Care at St. Thomas Hospital. He has commuted to Chicago each week since joining the faculty in 1989. They have three adult children: Daniel (Chicago), John (St. Louis) and Timothy (Nashville) and a deceased infant son, Mark.   Carol Walters Lead Team Carol A. Walters is the Director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is a certified Pastoral Associate and served in that capacity at St. Andrew Parish, Chicago for 6 years. Carol is also a licensed attorney. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, 1977; Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, 1980; and Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, 2005.   Tony Colantoni Parish Consultant Tony Colantoni is a principal in the SGC Consulting Group, a Chicago-based organization development consulting frim that specializes in helping organizations through the growth and change process. Tony concentrates his efforts in the areas of strategic planning, team development, leadership development and organizational change. In addition, he coaches executives and managers to achieve higher levels of performance. Tony has experience in many settings, such as manufacturing, technology, transportation, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, food, health care, higher education, human services, community based organizations, and church ministries. His client list includes Mercury Marine, the Kellogg Foundation, Kraft, Motorola, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Diagnostics, CTA, Unilever, UOP, the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, Loyola University Chicago, and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Tony received his Bachelor's degree from Villanova University, his Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law Center, and his M.S. in Organizational Development from Loyola University Chicago. He has engaged in additional professional development through the Center for Creative Leadership, the Organization Development Netowrk, the American Society for Training and Develoment, the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Psychological Type. He is visiting or adjunct faculty at DePaul University and Elmhurst College, teaching leadership, group dynamics, team development, and organizational theory and development to graduate and undergraduate students.   Sr. Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ Parish Consultant Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ is an organization development consultant experienced in participative planning and work design, strategic planning, change management, and leadership and team development. Her extensive experience in organization development and leadership has been primarily in health care, education, and non-profit organizations. Phyllis has been associated with INSPIRE from its beginnings as facilitator and consultant to parish teams. Phyllis has a Masters of Science in Organization Development from Loyola University Chicago, a Master of Arts from Middlebury College, and a Bachelor of Arts from Gannon University.   Mary Catherine Meek Parish Consultant Mary Catherine Meek has served the Church of Chicago since 1982 at both the Parish and Diocesan levels. As a Lay Ecclesial Minister, she currently serves at St. Michael in Old Town Parish. Previous positions include Director of Evangelization at Ascension Parish in Oak Park, Pastoral Associate at St. Giles in Oak Park, Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Victory Parish on the Northwest side of Chicago, and a Consultant in the Office for Catechesis. Mary Catherine has a Masters in Pastoral Studies and a Masters in Organizational Development, both from Loyola University Chicago.   Dominic Perri Parish Consultant Dominic Perri is a facilitator and organizational development consultant who has worked with Catholic dioceses, presbyterates, religious communities, parishes and national Church organizations throughout the United States. Dominic provides facilitation, strategic planning, board development and executive coaching to his clients. He has facilitated priest convocations for six dioceses. Some of the other groups with whom he has worked are: Georgetown University, Loyola University (Chicago), Paulist Fathers, Irish Christian Brothers of the US and Canada, Jesuits of the New England province, National Catholic Development Conference and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Dominic has worked as INSPIRE consultant since Spring 2005. He leads INSPIRE's learning history development and is an INSPIRE parish consultant. Dominic holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the Catholic University of America and Master's degrees in Economics and Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park.   Sr. Lois Prebil, OSF Parish Consultant Lois Prebil is a consultant who is part of INSPIRE as a Parish Consultant. She loves to consult with the parish leadership teams as they expand their team and leadership skills! In addition, Lois presents workshops with the Office for Racial Justice in the Archdiocese of Chicago. A native of Chicago and member of the Joliet Franciscans, Lois holds a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University in addition to a master’s in mathematics from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Francis. Previously, Lois has served as staff member for St. James Parish in Chicago, as member of her congregation’s Governing Board, and as high school teacher and principal.   Dr. Ron Rojas Parish Consultant I was born in Washington DC , moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 8, where I graduated from High School and eventually obtained a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Puerto Rico ( Mayaguez ). Then I was commissioned as an officer in the USAF, completed my four years, and went back to PR. Worked in the academic sector as a Chairman of the Management and Marketing Department (over 500 business students, Catholic University of Puerto Rico), then in the  manufacturing sector with Intel Corporation (yes, in PR). Stayed in the Air Force Reserve till this date (30 years of service). Moved to Tampa , Florida (1991). I am currently the Managing Associate of the PRISM Leadership Consulting Group (my own consulting business) and have been a management practitioner and consultant in the electronic manufacturing, educational, military and non-profit sectors for over 20 years, having recently conducted over fifty leadership development workshops, seminars and retreats for over 1000 participants attending. I have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Illinois University with a concentration in Engineering Management, and a doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Sarasota/Argosy ( Florida ). I am also a Healthcare Administrator, certified International health Specialist (IHS) and full Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, and still live in Tampa. Ordained as a permanent deacon since 1987. Hobbies include wind-surfing, mountain-biking, and reading. Right now I have leadership development and consulting contracts with Loyola University ( Chicago ), Connecticut Counseling Services ( Norwalk , CT ), Workplace ReConnections ( Dayton , Ohio ), and the Institute for Priestly Formation (Creighton University, Omaha) and a few minor workshop contracts in the Tampa Bay area. I've published books on Collaborative Leadership, Spirituality in Management and Leadership and in the process of finalizing and a book on the spirituality of leadership. Finally, I'm assisting five doctoral students from different Universities throughout the U.S. with their dissertations, all on spirituality and management and teach graduate courses (business research, business research) at American InterContinental University-Online. INSPIRE has provided me the opportunity to further understand and help develop not only the basic business skills in parishes, but also help each parish leadership team understand and work towards nurturing a stronger sense of spiritual community.   Anne Burkle Thomas Parish Consultant Anne Burkle Thomas is a Change Management Consultant with the INSPIRE Project. Anne has worked for one of the world's leading consulting firms based in Chicago. She has expertise in strategic planning, leading people through change processes, team training, and helping people work effectively. Before working as a consultant, Ann was a Campus Minister at the University of Missouri, Columbia, a high school Theology Teacher and Spiritual Life Director in Iowa. Anne holds a master's degree in Organizational Development from Loyola University, Chicago and a bachelor's degree in Theology from Briar Cliff University. Anne and her husband Brandon happily parent three young children, Jedidiah, Honor and Asa.   Carole Veronesi Parish Consultant Carole is a principal with the SGC Consulting Group and holds a B.S. from Northern Illinois University and an M.S. from George Williams College/Aurora University. She has participated in ongoing development and learning with National Training Laboratories (NTL), the Consulting Psychologists of the American Psychological Association, and she has been trained in the Conference Model for large systems change. Carole has taught in the Graduate Program at Loyola University Chicago and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst College, teaching classes in team development, group dynamics, and group leadership skills. She is a member of the Organization Development Network/Chicago, and previously served on its board. She is published in the 2001 Annual for Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, leaders in human resource development. For more than twenty years, Carole has practiced in a variety of settings, including manufacturing, technology, professional services, health care, higher education, human services, and church staffs and ministries.   Mark Bersano Program Associate Mark Bersano has worked with INSPIRE as a Graduate Assistant through the Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies since January 2006. Upon receipt of the M.A. in Social Justice in August 2008, Mark transitioned to full-time status working with INSPIRE events, information management, and administration. He has a B.A. in English from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and is slowly working to complete an Associates Degree in Fine Arts at Joliet Junior College. Before coming to Loyola and INSPIRE, Mark served as both the Chief Deputy Recorder and the Systems administrator for the Will County Recorder of Deeds. He has also worked as a Technical Writer at Platinum Technologies, a software Business and Quality Assurance Analyst at Geneer, and an English Language Instructor at Northeast Normal University in the People's Republic of China. He has done internship work with the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, and the 8th Day Center for Justice. Mark's passion lies in greening the Earth through the promotion of simple living, economic justice, and viable alternatives to consumerism. He believes that the power and wisdom of local communities can transform the world.