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Legatus
Bestows Honors on Exemplary Catholics at 2023 National SummitNEWS PROVIDED BY
Legatus
International
March 7, 2023
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 7, 2023 /Christian
Newswire/ -- At its annual national Summit in Orlando Feb. 7-9 this year,
Legatus International – the renowned peer group for Catholic executives begun in
1987 by Tom Monaghan, now with over 5000 members – awarded key Catholic
executives and priest-chaplains for their exemplary leadership, Catholic
integrity, and shepherdship. With nearly 100 chapters nationwide and continuing
expansion, Legatus remains the peer group of choice among top Catholic business
leaders.
Five premier national awards were bestowed, among a number of others, to these
Legatus members:
2022 National President of the Year.
As president of Legatus' Cincinnati Chapter and a
member since 2019, James Akers is recognized as the chapter president who
has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service – which is evidenced in
the health and vibrancy of his chapter, its new-membership growth, and
strong retention. His wife, Jody Akers, serves as the chapter's program
chair. Mr. Akers is Chairman of Akers Packaging Service Group, with 13
facilities among six Midwestern states.
2022 National ACE of the Year. North Atlanta Chapter
member, Michael Carlton, received the ACE Award in recognition of his
recruitment of the most new members over the past year. Carlton, son of
former NFL football star, Wray Carlton, is Global Vice President of MiMedx,
a worldwide orthopedic biologics company in medical devices. A convert to
Catholicism, Carlton has launched two Catholic ministries in the Atlanta
area – one called "Why Catholic" at his parish, and another (with his wife,
Laurie) called MAC ("Marriages Are Covenants") for married people. He has
been a guest on EWTN Radio's "Deep In Scripture," EWTN TV's "The Journey
Home," and is a popular speaker.
2022 National Chaplain of the Year. Fr. Xavy (short for
Elixavier) Castro, originally from Puerto Rico, is chaplain of Legatus'
Tampa Bay Chapter. He has been recognized nationally as a commendable
chaplain who serves his chapter faithfully and heroically, not only for
specified duties, but also through his apostolic witness in calling Legatus
members to a deeper experience of Christ, His Church, and His true
teachings.
2022 National Ambassador of the Year. In recognition for
his outstanding Christian witness professionally and to the broader
community, Rob Reynolds of the Tampa Bay Chapter received this noteworthy
award. Formerly a high school teacher who transitioned into
entrepreneurship, Reynolds is founder/president of Cross Boss Media. A
devoted Catholic husband and father of seven, he founded Cross Boss Media in
2018 as a faith-based media company for children. Its flagship creation,
Studio 3:16, is a high-production-quality educational comedy program for
schools/parishes, which makes the Gospel relevant through great
storytelling, music, and humor. He is also the 2010 co-founder of Avesta, a
real estate company with over $1.7 billion in assets under management and
national recognition in Fortune's Top 100 Medium Workplaces. He then became
a regional finalist for E&Y's international Entrepreneur of the Year in
2017. He also co-founded the Society of St. Joseph, a large Tampa-based
men's group.
2022 Bowie Kuhn Award. Recognized as the member-couple
exhibiting significant efforts to spread the good news of Jesus Christ among
their peers – and for their noteworthy dedication to the mission of Legatus
– Orange County Chapter members Rob and Bernarda (Berni) Neal received this
prestigious award. Rob is a managing partner with Hager Pacific Properties,
overseeing the firm's acquisitions and dispositions. An active community
member, he has likewise held board positions with the Catholic University of
America; Catholic Relief Services; The Papal Foundation; The Becket Fund;
Catholic Leadership Institute; The Boy Scouts of America (Orange County);
Second Harvest Food Bank, and Christ Catholic Cathedral Corporation.
Following a career in marketing and advertising, Berni dedicates her time to
evangelization and philanthropy, and serves on the boards of Catholic
Leadership Institute, ENDOW, EWTN, Magnificat Foundation, Legatus, Live
Action, Pueri Cantores, and Thomas Aquinas College.
A special 2022 Defender of the Faith Award was also given to
Mark Houck, co-founder/president of The King's Men. Houck, who gave an
impassioned guest speech at this year's Summit, was in the national news in late
2022 after his FBI arrest last September for an alleged altercation between
himself and an abortion facility employee outside a Planned Parenthood location
in Philadelphia. At the time of the incident, Houck was praying outside Planned
Parenthood with his 12-year-old son, when a Planned Parenthood employee began
harassing the boy, and Houck shoved him away. Houck was ultimately found not
guilty after a months-long legal ordeal and great stress on his family. The
King's Men is a nonprofit organization seeking to unite and build up men as true
leaders, protectors, and providers with the goal of eliminating pornography.
For more information, photos, or to interview award winners, please contact:
Christine V. Owsik, Communications Director at Legatus International.
COwsik@legatus.org or 215-230-8095.
Legatus International is the singular peer group
organization for Catholic CEOs and business leaders, founded in 1987 by Thomas
S. Monaghan, former owner of Domino's Pizza and the Detroit Tigers. Legatus –
which means "ambassador" in Latin – helps executives become exemplary Catholics
in their business, community, and personal spheres of influence. With nearly 100
chapters and 5000+ members throughout the U.S. and Canada, Legatus offers
members regional, national, and international networking meetings, retreats,
conventions, and inspiring travel – along with the award-winning monthly Legatus
Magazine. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI.
www.legatus.org
SOURCE Legatus International
CONTACT: Christine V. Owsik, Communications Director, 215-230-8095,
COwsik@legatus.org