SENT Summit gathers 500+ Catholic founders, CEOs, and investors building serious companies. World-class speakers, daily Mass and confession, and peer relationships that outlast the event.
2025 Summit Jubilee
IGNITE WITH HOPE
Summit 2025: Sold Out Success
Over 400 Catholic founders and executives gathered at the University of Notre Dame for Summit Jubilee 2025—and every seat was filled. Attendees left inspired, connected, and equipped to build companies of consequence rooted in faith and excellence.
We’re excited to announce Summit 2026 will take place in Denver, Colorado from September 8-11. Last year sold out so don’t wait to register!
Catholic Entrepreneurs Are Building the Future. Here's How.
AI is transforming how millions discover truth. A generation searches for beauty and meaning. Communities hunger for authentic connection. The opportunity for Catholic entrepreneurs has never been greater.
25 Catholic leaders gathered in Vatican City to chart the path forward. This report reveals their strategic roadmap—five bold initiatives to harness technology, inspire through beauty, revitalize parishes, build thriving communities, and defend the vulnerable.
Who should attend?
You are a Catholic CEO, founder, investor, mission leader, or another growth-minded business leader
You feel too Catholic for your business friends, but too driven for your Catholic friends
You want to take your business and spirit to new heights
What will I get out of it?
Meet and interact with the leading Catholic founders and investors in the US
Participate in the 3rd annual Catholic Venture Pitch Competition and 2nd Annual Mission Showcase
Get strategy guidance for your business from other top CEOs
Refuel and be inspired for the next stage of your business and spiritual life
"The Summit was one of the best conferences I’ve ever been to. I got a number of new friends, people who will likely be lifelong friends. I also received new coaching clients who share my faith and values."
– MIKE DEL PONTE
3X FOUNDER, VC & COACH
“I usually hate conferences, but I was blown away by the caliber of the participants at the SENT Summit.”
– ZAK SLAYBACK
PARTNER, 1517 FUND
“You're bound to meet someone who's going to challenge you to think about your business in ways that you didn't before.”
– DAINA ANDRIES
COFOUNDER, EPIDARIUS HEALTH
Speakers
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David Henrie is an actor, director and Emmy-nominated producer who has been in the entertainment business for more than 25 years. He started acting at the age of 9 and has starred in more than 200 episodes of TV shows and a dozen films. He’s won two Emmys for his starring role in Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and has more than 14 million followers on social media, making him one of the most followed Catholics in the world. Most recently, Henrie starred and Executive Produced Disney's record breaking hit, Wizards Beyond Waverly place. He starred as a young Ronald Reagan in the film, “Reagan” alongside Denis Quaid. He also directed “Monster Summer” starring Mel Gibson, Kevin James and Mason Thames, which premiered in early October. Henrie lives in California with his wife and three children.
One of the world’s most followed Catholic influencers
Actor, director and Emmy-nominated producer behind hit Disney projects
Director of Monster Summer starring Mel Gibson
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Dave Durand is a powerful Catholic speaker, bestselling author, popular YouTuber and high-impact executive who brings together the timeless truths of the Catholic faith and the best of modern leadership strategy. As a current CEO and business leader, Dave is known nationally for helping individuals and organizations thrive by mastering virtue, building influence, and pursuing excellence in alignment with eternal truth.
A serial entrepreneur, Dave built and sold a nine-figure company from scratch and has led organizations with over 100,000 people. He’s been named one of Glassdoor’s Most Respected CEOs and recognized among America’s Top 100 Minds in Personal Development. His rare ability to translate Catholic anthropology and virtue ethics into the language of leadership has made him a sought-after speaker in both secular and religious circles.
He is the co-founder of Lighthouse Catholic Media, a 23-year contributor on Relevant Radio, a Trustee of Ave Maria University, and a Fellow of the Institute at Ave Maria University. He is also the author of six books, primarily focused on leadership and personal development, including the best-selling Catholic title, The Fountain of Youth: Confession, the Only Way to Live Forever.
Early in his career—before his conversion to the Catholic faith—Dave was certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnotherapy, disciplines he now views as dubious and limited in comparison to the transformational power of grace and the sacramental life.
As the founder of Leading Giants, Dave offers personal development and influence training rooted in the cardinal virtues, positive psychology, and Catholic anthropology. His training methodology focuses on optimizing the Big Five personality traits through skill-building, habit formation, and the pursuit of truth, beauty, goodness, and unity.
Executive Chairman of one of the fastest growing media companies in North America
Named Most Respected CEO 3x by Glassdoor and Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young
Built & sold companies with $1B+ in combined sales
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Myles Harrington is the President and Co-Founder of Grant Street Group, a 500-person remote fintech/govtech company that provides software-as-a-service to state and local governments for revenue collection and electronic payments. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching—particularly St. John Paul II’s Personalism and the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva—Myles helped shape a mission-driven company culture that has fueled 25 years of 25% average annual organic revenue growth. He holds a BA from Georgetown and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon, and previously spent 15 years as an investment banker. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education in Princeton, NJ, and the Board of Directors for Center for Thomas More Studies at University of Dallas.
President and co-founder of a 500-person remote fintech company
Drives mission-driven culture inspired by Catholic Social Teaching
Experienced leader with 25 years of consistent 25% growth
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Tim Connors is a Catholic venture capitalist and systems thinker from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Stanford University, and Harvard Business School. As founder and managing partner of PivotNorth Capital, Connors invests in early-stage computer science startups addressing global challenges. His investment philosophy aligns with Catholic Social Teaching, focusing on vulnerable families, the planet, and the Church. Connors has contributed to the success of companies like Chime and Zipline.
Beyond his venture work, Connors serves as a trustee at the Catholic University of America and is involved with the Diocese of Nashville's finance council and investment committee. He founded the Connors Foundation for Catholic Activities (CFCA) alongside his wife, Wendy and their three children, which funds initiatives such as the first software developer at the Vatican. Connors is also a director of FADICA.org and participates in the Vatican’s Builders AI Forum, advocating for ethical AI development. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Catholic venture capitalist and founder of PivotNorth Capital
Invests in early-stage computer science startups addressing global challenges
Trustee at the Catholic University of America
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JP De Gance is the founder and president of Communio and the co-author of the book, Endgame: The Church’s Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America. JP is also the author of the Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships. Communio is a ministry originally incubated as the Culture of Freedom Initiative at The Philanthropy Roundtable, where he served as the organization’s executive vice president. The Initiative raised and spent $20 million over three years in three different states seeking to identify the most effective strategies to boost marital health, family stability, and church engagement. From 2016 to 2018, the experimental initiative worked with an ecumenical network of churches and drove down the divorce rate by 24 percent in Jacksonville, FL.
Today, Communio serves churches across the United States, helping them evangelize by applying the learnings from their successful intervention in Jacksonville. A husband and father, JP lives in Virginia with his wife and eight children.
Founder & President of Communio
Co-author of Endgame, focused on faith and family
Led initiative reducing divorce rates by 24% in Jacksonville, FL
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Frank Hanna is CEO of Hanna Capital in Atlanta, Georgia. He invests as a merchant banker in technology and financial services, and has started and sold a number of businesses over the last thirty-one years. Prior to going into the investment business, he was a corporate attorney. He is featured in the PBS documentary, The Call of the Entrepreneur.
Mr. Hanna has been involved in education for the last 37 years. He has been instrumental in the foundation of thirteen new educational institutions, from preschool through post-secondary. He served as Chair of a Commission on Education Excellence under President George W. Bush.
He has been a frequent speaker to various groups and mass media regarding macroeconomics, education, and philanthropy. He is the author of two best-selling books: What Your Money Means, and A Graduate’s Guide to Life.
He currently serves on and advises the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, both within the Catholic Church, and in the secular world, including EWTN, the Acton Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute.
Mr. Hanna is the founder of the Solidarity Association. Of most significance, the Solidarity Association serves as Trustee of the Mater Verbi/Hanna Papyrus Trust, which safeguards in the Vatican Apostolic Library the oldest copy of the Gospel of Luke (and the oldest copy of the Lord’s Prayer) in the world.
In recognition of his charitable efforts, Mr. Hanna has received the William B. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, and the David R. Jones Award for Philanthropic Leadership. He is also a Knight of Malta, of the Holy Sepulchre, and was named a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI.
Philanthropic leader recognized with major awards for charitable efforts
Corporate attorney turned entrepreneur, started and sold multiple businesses
Author of two bestselling books on money and life
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John Johnson is a Catholic husband and father of seven kids (10 and under) who founded Patmos Hosting. Patmos was recently recognized as one of Newsweek’s top five tech startups to work for and featured on the front page of the Wall Street journal as the leading builder of jobs-dense AI data centers. John credits the success of Patmos to its foundations in first principles including the dignity of the human person, subsidiarity, anti-technocracy, and a pro-family work culture. John has degrees in philosophy and theology. His graduate work focused on the beatific epistemology of St. Thomas Aquinas and the eschatology of St. John the Evangelist – both of which have served to inform his thought leadership on the emerging ubiquity of artificial intelligence. John is a staunch generalist. Besides Patmos, he’s founded a number of thriving, mission-driven businesses including the Albertus Magnus Institute, an online college alternative that relentlessly promotes and provides traditional, liberal education to over 1,000 students – as well as Pizza Norcia, a California based wood-fired Pizza restaurant dedicated to the Monks of Norcia with whom John briefly discerned a religious vocation before launching into marriage. John lives on a farm in the California foothills where he attempts to grow things.
Founder & CEO of Patmos Hosting, recognized for AI data centers
Builds mission-driven businesses rooted in Catholic first principles
Philosopher and theologian shaping AI thought leadership and education
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Matthew began his career as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Forces before entering seminary at The Catholic University of America. When he discerned a vocation to marriage instead, he left and worked for Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and later in consulting. He then joined the Archdiocese of Toronto, serving Cardinal Collins as Special Projects Manager, before founding Longbeard.
Through Longbeard, Matthew collaborated with Vatican bodies such as the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and helped build the technological foundation for the Holy See’s Migrants and Refugees Section—overseen personally by Pope Francis—at Cardinal Czerny’s invitation. Longbeard is focused on AI-driven platforms: Magisterium AI, a Catholic faith Q&A engine in use across 165 countries and 50 + languages, and Vulgate, a cutting-edge library system for Pontifical universities in Rome leveraging computer vision, NLP, and generative AI.
Matthew also serves as CEO of the Humanity 2.0 Foundation in Washington, DC, a Venture Advisor at Kluz Ventures, an advisor to The Institute at Ave Maria University, and an Executive Mentor at UCLA’s Starburst aerospace accelerator. After five years in Rome and two in Malta, he now makes his home in Cape Town, South Africa.
Former Infantry Officer turned Catholic tech innovator and founder
Founder of Longbeard, building AI tools - like Magisterium AI - to serve the Church in 165 countries
CEO of Humanity 2.0 Foundation, focused on accelerating human flourishing
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Caroline's professional journey reflects her commitment to excellence, strategic leadership, innovation, and making a positive impact in the investment landscape.
Currently serving as the Managing Director at IrishAngels, one of the largest and most successful angel investing networks in the U.S., Caroline leads a dynamic team focused on strategic investments in high-performing startups across the U.S. At IrishAngels, she oversees the full investment process from sourcing, conducting due diligence, and supporting portfolio companies across various industries including B2B SaaS, vertical SaaS, fintech, consumer, and supply chain and logistics. Caroline manages a growing portfolio of 100+ companies across 180+ rounds of capital and 250+ investors.
Prior to moving into early-stage investments, she held pivotal positions at two boutique private equity firms (one of which she co-founded) including raising $330mm+ across multiple funds investing in energy, real estate, and international gaming.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Caroline is deeply involved in her community through volunteer work and philanthropy advising and mentoring emerging founders and fund managers, chairing record setting fundraising committees, serving on the boards of nonprofit organizations and foundations, and receiving recognition for her outstanding contributions to various causes.
Caroline earned a B.S. in Science-Business from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in Finance and an M.B.A. from the University of Denver.
Managing Director at IrishAngels, overseeing 100+ startup investments
Raised $330M+ across private equity and venture capital funds
Active mentor, board member, and philanthropic leader in her community
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Michael Ortner is Chairman of the Ortner Family Foundation, Religious Freedom Institute, and Cana Academy. He also serves on the boards of St. Jerome Institute, Catholic Education Partners, and the Classic Learning Test. Mike is the founder of Capterra, an online marketplace for business software which won awards from Inc Magazine for being one of the fastest growing companies in the United States and from Washington Business Journal for being one of the best places to work before selling the company to Gartner in 2015. He is also the founder of Run with Saints, a platform to connect practicing Catholics who live near each other and share similar interests. He is a coauthor of The Catholic School Playbook, published earlier this year by Word on Fire, which highlights the renewal happening within Catholic primary and secondary schools. He is also leading the Catholic Village project which will bring senior housing to parish campuses within the Arlington Diocese of Virginia. Mike has a finance degree from Georgetown University and a philosophy degree from University of London. He lives in McLean, VA with his wife Liz and their six children who he has coached across more than 100 sports teams, including soccer, basketball, and baseball, since 2010. They are parishioners of St. John the Beloved Catholic Church.
Founder of Capterra, sold to Gartner in 2015
Chairs and supports leading Catholic education and religious freedom initiatives
Coauthored The Catholic School Playbook with Word on Fire
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Alessandro is one of the co-founders of Hallow, the #1 prayer app in the world. Alessandro graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in finance and economics. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, but after a series of life-changing experiences in prayer, he left Wall St to join his friends in building Hallow. Alessandro was recognized in the Forbes 30under30 class of 2021 for consumer technology. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic Institute of Technology and on the Advisory Board for the Department of Economics at Notre Dame.
Co-founded Hallow, the first religious app in history to reach the #1 spot in the App Store
Forbes 30under30 recipient
Venture partner at the 81 Collection, early-stage VC fund
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Kathryn Nichols is a business leader, recruiter, and founder of Nichols Virtual Sourcing (NVS), a national talent acquisition firm serving clients across multiple industries. With twenty years of experience spanning strategic hiring, leadership consulting, and business development, she brings a mission-driven approach to every role she serves. A proud Texan, cancer survivor, and devoted Catholic, Kathryn is also a faithful wife and mother of two. She integrates her faith into every facet of life and work and is passionate about helping others boldly embrace their God-given vocation.
Founded Nichols Virtual Sourcing, a national talent acquisition firm
20 years experience in strategic hiring and leadership consulting
Cancer survivor and devoted Catholic integrating faith into work
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Father Ambrose Criste is a Norbertine canon regular from St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County, California. He grew up in Colorado and graduated from Colorado College with a degree in Classics/History/Politics. He won the Rhodes Scholarship and began a graduate degree at Oxford University before answering God's call to religious life and the priesthood. He entered the monastery in 2000, made solemn profession in 2006, and was ordained a priest in 2008. He finished his priestly studies in Rome with pontifical degrees from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) and the Pontifical Gregorian University. He has served in various roles for his abbey community, including vocations director, novice master, and director of seminary formation. He currently resides at Corpus Christi Priory in Springfield, Illinois, and is the director of the Evermode Institute, a new program of catechetical formation.
Norbertine priest, Rhodes Scholar who left Oxford for priesthood
Ordained 2008, studied in Rome at pontifical universities
Directs Evermode Institute catechetical formation program
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Kristina Chapple is a General Partner at 11 Tribes Ventures- an early-stage fund that proactively invests in the resilience of their founders. In the industry, she is known for asking thoughtful and empathetic questions that challenge conventional approaches to diligence and post-investment support.
Kristina joined 11 Tribes as the first hire, helping the firm grow by deploying the remaining checks from Fund I ($11M) and supporting the Fund II raise ($46M). She is the "front door" of the firm, responsible for bringing 11 Tribes to market to source founders and assess companies through diligence. Thus far from Fund II, Kristina has led investments in companies like Alloy Market, LegalKarma, GoNanas, Nutrad, LeaseUp, and Circadian Risk.
Kristina graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. In 2024, she was listed as Forbes 30 Under 30 for venture capital and Chicago Innovation 25 under 25.
General Partner at 11 Tribes VEntures, building a $46 M early-stage fund
Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital
Morehead-Cain Scholar from UNC Chapel Hill
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Alex is the CEO & Co-Founder of the Hallow app, a Catholic prayer and meditation app to help people find peace in God. The app launched just over six years ago as Alex came back to his faith. It was deeply personal for him as he built it primarily for himself, but it is now, by the grace of God, the largest prayer app of any faith in the world, with over 25 million downloads and over 950 million prayers prayed.
Alex grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame School of Engineering in 2015 and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 2020. He worked professionally in consulting in Chicago before Hallow at McKinsey & Co as an Engagement Manager, and now lives in Chicago with his wife, daughter, and two sons. He’s been named a member of Forbes 30 under 30 with his two co-founders, Erich Kerekes and Alessandro DiSanto, and a member of the inaugural University of Notre Dame Domer Dozen, as well as given the Legatus Bowie Kuhn Evangelization Award. Alex has appeared on NPR, Fox News, the BBC, the Tucker Carlson Network, the Wall Street Journal, The Free Press, and more.
CEO & Co-Founder of Hallow, world's largest prayer app
Notre Dame engineer, Stanford MBA, former McKinsey consultant
Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient with 25+ million app downloads
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Phil is a Partner at Sovereign’s Capital where he invests in Seed and Series A stage technology companies led by faith-driven entrepreneurs across the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Phil was previously the CFO and CPO at Mindoula, a healthtech company that serves populations with complex behavioral health, medical, and social challenges. Prior, Phil was with the Maryland Venture Fund, Foundation Capital, and TDF Ventures, leading investments in early and growth stage technology companies. Phil began his career at KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice in Silicon Valley and co-founded the Jeremy Lin Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to serve at-risk youth through education and leadership development in underserved communities.
Partner at Sovereign's Capital, investing in faith-driven entrepreneurs
Former CFO at Mindoula, a healthtech company
Co-founded Jeremy Lin Foundation serving at-risk youth
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Rich is the CEO and Co-Founder of Innovest Portfolio Solutions, advising institutions and families across more than 300 client relationships, overseeing over $50 billion in assets. Innovest employs over 60 professionals, including 19 partners. Rich holds a degree in Business Finance from Western Colorado University and is a frequent author on fiduciary and investment topics, with work published in Financial Advisor Magazine, Pensions & Investments, Accounting Today, PLANSPONSOR, and various faith-based publications. He is also a regular speaker at conferences nationwide.
Rich has held numerous leadership and board positions. He is a trustee at Western Colorado University and serves on the boards of John Paul the Great High School and the Augustine Institute. He previously served on the boards of Arrupe Jesuit High School, Colorado Family Action, and was President of Legatus of Colorado. He also founded Katalyst, a nonprofit supporting Catholics in public life, and is involved with the Philanthropy Roundtable and the Presidential Advisory Council for FOCUS. Rich and his wife Joanie have been married for over 40 years and are the proud parents of Alex and Reagan, and grandparents to Sofia Rose and James Todd.
CEO & Co-Founder of Innovest, overseeing $50+ billion in assets
Frequent author and speaker on fiduciary investment topics
Founded Katalyst, a nonprofit supporting Catholics in public life
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Fr. Nathaniel Haslam was born in Harrisburg, PA in 1976. He is an RPI graduate with Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Minor in Mechanical Engineering. While working for Xerox, he planned to create his own Fortune 500 company before God called him to the priesthood. During his 12 years of priestly training, he received degrees in both Philosophy and Theology as well as founded the ‘International Leadership Semester’, a certified leadership study abroad program at the European University of Rome. He also helped organize and coordinate the Vatican Executive Summit in which world economic leaders were invited to discuss a global ethics strategy to respond to the economic crisis in 2009. He was ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ in Rome in 2010.
Living in Houston for 14 years, Fr Nathaniel has served as chaplain of the Lumen Institute (www.lumeninstitute.org) for business and cultural leaders. He has also served as the National Corporate Ethics Advisor for the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is currently the International Chaplain for the Lumen Institute. Fr Nathaniel has also published three books: ‘The Future of Leadership’(2020), 'The Source and Summit of Leadership'(2022) as well as his autobiography 'Seek the Treasure: Lessons on Life and Leadership' (2022). In 2025, he completed his Doctorate in Theology and Pastoral Leadership at the University of St Mary of the Lake. Fr Nathaniel enjoys the outdoors (hiking and biking), reading, travel, good conversations over coffee and helping leaders bridge Sunday-into-Monday through one-to-one life-coaching and small group gatherings.
Ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ in 2010
International Chaplain for the Lumen Institute, serving business and cultural leaders
Completed Doctorate in Theology and Pastoral Leadership in 2025
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Jeffrey is Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Angel, the distribution studio behind crowdfunded shows like Dry Bar Comedy and recent box office hits His Only Son, After Death, and Sound of Freedom. Jeffrey played a key role in creating Angel's groundbreaking Pay it Forward ticket model which enables moviegoers to purchase tickets for others so they can see a film for free. This model helped propel Sound of Freedom to the top-grossing movie in the US during its July 4th release, earning over $250 million worldwide.
Jeffrey, and his co-founders, are the unlikeliest of candidates to be executives at a movie studio. They grew up working the potato farms of southern Idaho with just three TV stations. In a Babylon Bee interview (2022) Jeff recalled he could count the films he had seen in the dollar theater on one hand. Making movies wasn’t even on his radar as a child.
Prior to Angel, Jeffrey co-founded Orabrush, Inc. in 2009 and served as its CEO from 2009-2010. (Orabrush won startup of the year in 2010.) While at Orabrush, Jeffrey is credited with having helped Google/YouTube invent the “skip ad” button allowing viewers, for the first time, to skip ads after 5 seconds, but also enabling advertisers to create ads not limited to 15 or 30 seconds. The “skip ad” invention paved the way for Harmon Brothers, an ad agency Jeffrey and his brothers co-founded, which used 2-5 minute viral ads to launch brands for Poopourri, Purple, Squatty Potty and Lume to hundreds of millions in sales. Harmon Brothers pioneered an entirely new category in advertising.
Jeffrey graduated from Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, and Fundação Getúlio Vargas in São Paulo Brazil (a top business school in Latin America) from 2006 to 2009 where he studied marketing and international business. Jeffrey is married to Brazilian fashion designer, Anniele Silva Harmon, and they are the co-founders of 6 children.
Co-Founder/Chief Content Officer at Angel Studios
Helped invent YouTube's skip-ad button
Co-founded multiple companies including 2010 Startup of Year
Former President & CEO of a publicly-traded real estate company
2+ decades & $10B+ of experience in capital markets, hedge funds, and corporate finance
Active Chairman & board member
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Rob Hays is the former President and Chief Executive Officer 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 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.
In 2008 he co-founded the Dallas Business Ethics Forum, which meets quarterly to provide business leaders regular formation in ethics, philosophy, natural law, and Catholic Social Doctrine. Every spring in Dallas he puts on the annual Successful Fathers Conference, now in 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.
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 over 20 years and are blessed with 7 children.
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Anna Bond is the co-founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Rifle Paper Co., a stationery, gift, and home brand based in Winter Park, Florida. Together with her husband Nathan, they bootstrapped Rifle Paper Co. from a two-person operation in 2009 into a multi-million dollar brand with products sold in thousands of retailers around the world. Born and raised in Summit, New Jersey, Anna received her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and worked as a graphic designer before starting their company at the age of 23. She has been honored as an ADC Young Gun, fulfilled her lifelong dream of designing a USPS postage stamp, and is currently working on her first book. Anna also serves on the board of directors for two non-profits: a local K–8 classical school and the SCALA foundation, an organization promoting beauty and education. Anna and Nathan reside in Florida with their five children ages 1 through 10.
Co-founder and CEO of Rifle Paper Co.
Bootstrapped company from two-person operation to multi-million dollar business
Graphic designer & mother of five
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Emily Wilson Hussem is a speaker, best-selling author, wife, and mother who shares her witness of faith at conferences and events across the globe. She is a co-creator of the Catholic children's show Marcam and co-founder of SacredSpark. Emily lives in Southern California with her husband, Daniël, and their three glorious children.
Faith-focused speaker, YouTuber, and author with 270K+ followers
Author of seven books on Christian femininity and relationships
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Edward Whalley is the CEO of Le Fonds du Bien Commun, one of the largest Catholic investment funds in Europe (~80M€ annual investments). The fund is dedicated to advancing the integral education of the human person, supporting natality, preserving culture and heritage, and fostering human and spiritual growth. Under Edward’s leadership, it supports ambitious initiatives that align with a Christian vision of the common good and long-term societal renewal.
Prior to this role, Edward spent nine years at Bain & Company in New York and across Europe, where he led numerous engagements in corporate strategy, commercial due diligence, and performance improvement. He was also an active member of Bain’s social impact team, contributing to pro bono initiatives for nonprofit and mission-driven organizations.
Edward holds a degree in finance from ESCP Business School. He began his career in mergers & acquisitions and restructuring, before joining Orange EMEA as Chief of Staff to the CFO, where he contributed to regional development and financial strategy.
He currently serves on the council of the New York City chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a leading global environmental NGO dedicated to conservation and sustainability.
CEO of one of the largest Catholic investments and philanthropic funds in Europe
Former Bain & Company associate partner
Former M&A banker
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After 15 years as a financial lawyer then turned restaurateur and craft brewer in Monterrey, Mexico, José finally accepted his call to help evangelize today's youth. His company Juan Diego & Company, helps Catholic organizations connect with U.S. Latinos through strategy, content creation, and marketing. Additionally, Juan Diego & Company is a 501c3 with four different initiatives. One is the Juan Diego Network, which has created and produced over 100 podcasts and in 2020 won in the 1st OSV Innovation Challenge. Another is The Evangelization Lab, which experiments with ways to attract people online to the Sacraments, Christian community life, and Acts of Charity. His online evangelization led to José's appointment as a voting delegate for the 2023-2024 Synod of Synodality, and he advises both the USCCB and Celam (Council of Bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean) on digital evangelization and AI. He, his wife Cecy, and their three kids are based in Dallas but often return to Monterrey. He continues to seek effective ways of bringing Christ's Truth and Love to the digital continent and the people there to the Church.
Synod delegate advising bishops on digital evangelization strategies
15 year financial lawyer turned entrepreneur
Leading U.S. Latino evangelization through multiple non-profits
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Brett Robinson serves as the Associate Director for Outreach and Associate Professor of the Practice at the McGrath Institute for Church Life. In this role, he oversees outreach efforts for the institute while doing research on media and Church history. Brett is the founder of the Church Communications Ecology Program at Notre Dame, a program for Church leaders to engage more deeply with the challenges and opportunities created by the rise of digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Brett teaches courses on the philosophy of technology, religion and media history. He is the author of two books and numerous essays on religion, media and culture. His essays have appeared in Wired, Church Life Journal and Catholic News Service. Brett has also served as a producer on three documentary films that have aired on EWTN and in theaters nationwide. Brett is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Georgia.
Founded Church Communications Ecology Program at Notre Dame
Author of two books on religion, media and culture
Associate Professor researching media and Church history
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Danielle Rose is a Catholic singer-songwriter whose life and music are deeply rooted in faith, family, and service. Raised in Duluth, Minnesota, she grew up surrounded by unconditional love and nurtured a passion for music from a young age, studying classical violin and writing folk songs. At 17, a transformative month volunteering with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in India inspired her to use her music to serve the poorest of the poor.
After studying music and theology at the University of Notre Dame, Danielle spent over a decade traveling as a full-time Christian musician, recording five albums and sharing her gift worldwide. Her journey led her through contemplative religious formation and ultimately to marriage and motherhood, where she now finds her full-time ministry.
Her latest album, Beauty Unnoticed, recorded in the quiet moments of motherhood, is a deeply personal gift born from grief and healing after the loss of two children. Through her nonprofit, Danielle Rose Ministries, she continues to offer the gift of music as a balm for spiritual poverty, reaching out one heart at a time with hope, healing, and the reminder that every life’s beauty is never unnoticed.
Catholic singer-songwriter bringing hope, healing, spiritual comfort through music.
Founder of nonprofit ministry alleviating spiritual poverty through music.
Inspired by global service, faith journey, marriage, and motherhood.
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Thomas D. Lehrman is Managing Partner of Teamworthy Ventures. Mr. Lehrman was formerly co-founder and former Co-Chief Executive Officer of Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) and has been involved as a founding or seed investor in numerous early stage ventures. Mr. Lehrman previously served as a Director of the Office of WMD Terrorism at the U.S. Department of State and as a member of the professional staff on the President’s WMD Commission. Earlier in his career, he worked as a financial analyst at Tiger Management. Mr. Lehrman has been a Board Member of several educational institutions including KIPP NYC Public Charter Schools, Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Mr. Lehrman graduated from Duke University and Yale Law School and his writings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
Founder & Investor of early stage ventures
Managing Partner of Teamworthy Ventures, active startup investor
Served at U.S. State Department on WMD terrorism
Pastor & Administrator managing multi-million-dollar budget
Advisor, entrepreneur, and advocate for business-driven human development
MBA/MGA Notre Dame; PhD student, University of Tübingen
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Fr. Arthur is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Kasese, Uganda, serving as Pastor & Administrator of St. Anthony de Padua Parish in South Bend, IN. He shepherds 579 families, oversees a 235-student school, leads 42 staff, and manages a $2.35 million annual budget. The parish is in the midst of a five-year, $2.5 million capital campaign, Building Beauty Together.
He holds an MBA and Master of Global Affairs (MBA/MGA) from the University of Notre Dame, concentrating in Strategy, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development. He is an external PhD student in Business Economics at the University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Research Visitor at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He also holds degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Religious & Theological Studies from institutions in Uganda and Rome.
Fr. Arthur is an advisor to the Bethany Land Institute, serves on the Finance Committee of Centenary Bank (Uganda), and is co-founder of ParJoa Investments Limited. He is passionate about pastoral work, human development, and using business and entrepreneurship to promote human dignity. He enjoys soccer, college football (Go Irish!), sacred music, building relationships, and international travel.
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Catholic first. Husband and father of 8. Founder and General Partner of a new Catholic VC fund. GP at Alter, a global tech VC. Former Republican Candidate for Governor of Illinois. Former DoD in Afghanistan. Oxford MA + Stanford MBA
Founder and General Partner of a new Catholic VC fund
General Partner at Alter, an emerging market VC fund
Oxford MA + Stanford MBA
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Peter Atkinson is a Canadian-American media executive and creative entrepreneur. Born in Canada and raised near Washington, D.C., he earned a Classics degree from Ave Maria University, studied Shakespeare in London and Massachusetts, went to Columbia University for his MFA in Acting, and starred Off-Broadway. While at Columbia, he founded The Merry Beggars, an audio entertainment company, which merged with Relevant Radio in 2021. Since merging, The Merry Beggars has produced over 5,000 pages of original scripts, won multiple national awards, and been the #1 Apple Fiction Podcast. Peter currently lives near Chicago with his wife Naomi and their two children. He currently serves at Relevant Radio as the VP of Marketing and Executive Producer of The Merry Beggars.
Media executive and creative entrepreneur with award-winning audio content
Founder of The Merry Beggars, a top Apple Fiction Podcast
VP of Marketing and Executive Producer at Relevant Radio
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Jonathan Reyes is the Senior Vice President for Communications for the Knights of Columbus. He has devoted his career to serving the Catholic Church in various ways working most recently as Assistant General Secretary for United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington D.C, and as President and CEO of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Denver. He founded Christ in the City, a national volunteer and formation program, and was one of the founders of the Augustine Institute of Denver. He has also worked as a Vice President for FOCUS. Before that, he was a Professor of history at Christendom College. He and his wife have seven children.
SVP of Communications for Knights of Columbus
Founded Christ in the City; one of the founders of the Augustine Institute of Denver
Former Christendom College professor, father of seven
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Karl Wirth is a business leader and entrepreneur. He co-founded Evergage in 2010 and, as CEO, led the company from startup to the leading personalization platform on the market to successful acquisition. He is now leading and scaling the business for the acquire. Prior to Evergage, Karl had a variety of leadership roles in general management, product management, and marketing for Red Hat (now IBM), RSA Security (now EMC), and Sentillion (now Microsoft).
Co-founded & sold Evergage, a leading personalization platform
Former executive at Red Hat, RSA Security, & Sentillion
Harvard Physics graduate
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Dr. Tim Reichert is the Founder and Co-CEO of STAPLE Investments. Prior to founding STAPLE, Tim was the Founder and CEO of the global economic consulting firm Economics Partners (EP), which he sold in 2018. EP specialized in shareholder value creation analytics and valuation work, and under Tim's leadership, advised on numerous multi-billion-dollar transactions across a range of industries. Before EP, Tim served as a Partner and Global Practice Leader at Duff & Phelps, and as a Partner and Practice Leader at Ernst & Young. He is also the founder of Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal, a Denver-based nonprofit. Tim holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University and is a well-known speaker and writer on economics topics. He and his wife, Martha, have four children and one grandchild.
Founder of STAPLE Investments
Founded & sold Economics Partners (EP); advised on multi-billion-dollar transactions
Former Partner at Duff & Phelps and Ernst & Young
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Deacon Charlie is the founder and CEO of Black//Brown, a strategic advisory & impact studio. Prior to launching his own firm, he held senior executive roles at media companies ranging from digital start-ups like mitú, to global blue-chip brands like The Walt Disney Company, Univision, and AOL.
He is Vice Chair Emeritus of Catholic Answers, and sits on the boards of the Catholic Association for Latino Leadership; Guadalupe Radio; SENT Ventures and is Chairman of SOFESA, a non-profit founded by his wife, that accompanies homeless children and their families.
Deacon Charlie has degrees in Communications and Film & Television production. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Jessica of 22 years and is the father of 5. He’s fond of motorcycles, British comedy, polymaths, functional fitness, 80s synth pop, and discovering cultures through travel.
Founder & CEO of Black//Brown
Former Walt Disney Company, Univision, and AOL executive
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Nick Madden is a purpose-driven entrepreneur passionate about building meaningful connections. Over the past decade, he has grown Red Door Escape Room from a single location to 20 nationwide, generating over $20MM in revenue and leading a team of 400+. Nick has coached and consulted with various businesses, developing a deep understanding and empathy for the entrepreneurial journey. His work with SENT has been a profound blessing, evolving from Fellow to Coach and now leading the organization as CEO as they pursue their mission of serving entrepreneurs who care about growing their ventures while becoming Saints.
Rooted in his Catholic faith, Nick integrates spirituality with business to help entrepreneurs thrive personally, professionally, and spiritually. A loving husband to Kaci and father of three, Nick resides in San Diego, CA, and is committed to fostering community and delivering transformative experiences.
Owner and CEO of Red Door Escape Room
CEO of SENT Ventures, supporting entrepreneurs’ spiritual and professional growth
Integrates Catholic faith with business to foster thriving communities
Partners
Interested in being a Partner?
Engage 400 Catholic founders, CEOs, investors, and leaders with your mission and services.
Promotion Partners
Last Year's Venture Partners
SENT Pitch Competition
Up to 5 teams. 1 high-stakes competition. We're excited to bring back our annual SENT Pitch Competition, where emerging Catholic innovators will present their ventures to a panel of seasoned VCs and angel investors... to win a $10,000 cash prize.
SENT Mission Showcase
Get ready for the 2nd annual SENT Mission Showcase. We will feature up to 5 Catholic ministries or organizations to an audience of potential partners, funders, and supporters, who can help them take their missions to the next level.
Want to be one of them?
Schedule
To maximize your experience, we suggest that you arrive by 4pm on Monday, September 8 and depart after 1pm on Thursday, September 11.
| 5:00 – 8:00 PM |
Welcome Reception
Join us for a special welcome gathering to get your registration badge, meet fellow attendees, and settle in for the days ahead.
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| 7:00 – 7:45 AM | Confession |
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Mass |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Adoration |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Continental Breakfast |
| 10:00 – 10:30 AM |
Welcome Address – Nick Madden
SENT CEO Nick Madden welcomes attendees and sets the tone for the days ahead.
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| 10:30 – 11:15 AM |
Faith in Hollywood – David Henrie, Fr. Ambrose Criste
Hollywood shapes culture—but what shapes Hollywood? Emmy-nominated producer, actor, director, and entrepreneur David Henrie invites you into an unfiltered conversation about working successfully as a man of faith in the entertainment industry. Discover how his faith informs his work, why the culture of Hollywood is at a turning point, and how Catholic values can inspire a renewal in storytelling and bring timeless truth back to the mainstream.
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| 11:15 – 11:30 AM | Break |
| 11:30 – 12:30 PM |
Breakout Sessions
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| 12:30 – 1:45 PM | Lunch |
| 1:45 – 2:45 PM |
5 Things All Great Leaders Do – Dave Durand
Leadership is often misunderstood—especially in today’s image-driven world. Dave Durand reveals the hidden patterns of human nature that make leadership complex, yet navigable, offering a clear path to positive outcomes.
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| 2:45 – 3:15 PM | Break |
| 3:15 – 5:00 PM |
Small Groups
One of the most valued parts of the Summit—peer groups! Gather with your assigned group for authentic conversation, prayer, and problem-solving.
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| 6:00 – 8:00 PM |
Dine Around Dinners
Eat local with your Small Group! Spend the evening with your peers to enjoy a meal and have some fun. Check in with your leader for details.
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| 8:00 – 9:30 PM | Evening Meetup |
| 7:00 – 7:45 AM | Confession |
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Mass |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Adoration |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Continental Breakfast |
| 10:00 – 11:00 AM |
A Conversation with Frank Hanna – Frank Hanna, John Cannon
Join renowned Catholic philanthropist and entrepreneur Frank Hanna for an on-stage conversation with the founder of SENT, John Cannon. Hanna will share insights from his decades of experience in mission-driven giving and how Catholic leaders can align their charitable efforts with both strategy and spiritual purpose.
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| 11:00 – 12:00 PM |
SENT Mission Showcase
Our 2nd annual Mission Showcase spotlights five rising Catholic ministries using entrepreneurial approaches to tackle urgent challenges. Don’t miss this inspiring lineup of mission-driven innovation.
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| 12:00 – 1:15 PM | Lunch |
| 1:15 – 2:15 PM |
Breakout Sessions
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| 2:15 – 2:30 PM | Break |
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM |
Pitch Competition
Five early-stage Catholic-led startups compete in our 3rd annual Pitch Competition for a $10,000 prize. Presented before a panel of seasoned investors—and you—the audience.
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| 3:30 – 4:00 PM | Break |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM |
Sacred Hour – Danielle Rose
The spiritual heart of the Summit: a communal hour of prayer, song, and reflection at the Grotto.
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| 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Cocktail Reception |
| 7:00 – 9:00 PM |
SENT Celebration Banquet
Celebrate the Summit’s close with dinner, fellowship, and recognition among peers—our final evening together.
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| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Mass |
| 9:00 – 11:00 AM | SENT Brunch |
Accommodations
SOLD OUT
The Morris Inn
SENT is excited to offer our attendees a room block at the Morris Inn, a boutique hotel located in the heart of Notre Dame’s legendary campus.
1399 N Notre Dame Avenue, Notre Dame, IN 46617
574-631-2000
Check-in is at 4pm. Check-out is at 11am.
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Join fellow attendees at the Embassy Suites, a ten-minute walk (0.4 miles) from campus and the Morris Inn.
1140 East Angela Blvd, South Bend, Indiana 46617
574-400-2600
Check-in is at 4pm. Check-out is at 12pm.
Airports
Campus is easily accessible from a few different airports:
South Bend International Airport (SBN): 15 minutes
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): 90 minutes
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): 2 hours
Commuter Rail Line
Convenient 1.5hr train from Chicago
South Shore Line is a commuter rail line operating between Millennium station in Chicago and the South Bend International Airport for as low as $14 each way.
Rides2U
Safe, reliable, reservation based rides
Keep me updated
Be the first to hear about Summit updates by sharing your email here!
Tickets
Due to high demand and limited venue capacity, tickets are expected to sell out.
We are prioritizing ticket access for SENT members. Interested in becoming a SENT member? Apply here.
SOLD OUT
Member Pricing
$1,700 $1,350
Non-Member Pricing
$1,700
If you are clergy or in religious life and would like to attend the Summit at a discounted rate, please Contact Us
FAQ
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Your registration covers 4 days of programming, including small group sessions and networking opportunities, with most meals provided. Please note that lodging is not included in the registration cost, as many attendees prefer to make their own arrangements.
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We’re excited to host this year’s Summit at one of the most renowned Catholic universities in the world, the University of Notre Dame. This iconic institution provides a rich spiritual and cultural backdrop, deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With its central location, top-notch facilities, and powerful symbols of Catholic faith and education, Notre Dame offers the perfect setting to inspire reflection, connection, and growth at this year’s event.
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The dress code for the event is business casual. Most activities will take place indoors. However, if desired, attendees may bring dressier attire for the evening social. Please note that indoor spaces will be air-conditioned, so it’s a good idea to bring a warmer layer for particularly cool areas.
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We offer a full refund if cancelled by July 15, 2025, a 50% partial refund if cancelled between July 16 and August 4, 2025, and no refund will be issued after August 4, 2025.
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Yes, if you are clergy or in religious life and would like to attend the SENT Summit at a discounted rate, please email Mary Lembke at mary@sentventures.com by July 15, 2025.
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Join SENT Ventures - We are actively taking new members and would be happy to share the details of our different program options.
Join Our Roster of SENT Mentors - Want to mentor emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders? Join our Mentor Roster
Join Our Talent Pool - Send us your resume if you’d like to work or intern
Email us at hello@sentventures.com