Leadership & Team

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Fr. Stephen Jones is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City (MO). Raised in the Anglican tradition, he served in the ministry of the Episcopal Church for 10 years. In July of 2010 he and his family entered the Catholic Church, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 2012. His priestly ministry has included assignments as a high school administrator, the director of stewardship for his diocese, and in parish ministry. An enthusiastic student of the Shroud of Turin for over 40 years, Fr. Jones is currently the rector and pastor of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Fr. Thomas Montanaro, LC, is a Roman Catholic American priest. His international ministry experience has included formation and leadership roles in the United States, Mexico, and Italy, with missions spanning Switzerland, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He currently serves at the General Directorate of the Legion of Christ in Rome, where he oversees the mission of Global Leadership Development. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Regina Apostolorum Foundation and also serves as International Liaison for Lumen Institute, as a strategic consultant and board member of apostolates and foundations, and as spiritual director and pilgrimage guide.

Jimmy grew up in the Northeast, where the witness of faithful priests led him to discern a vocation and serve in seminary. He spent eight years with St. Paul’s Outreach, leading college evangelization, directing missionary teams, and training fundraisers nationwide. With over 15 years in mission-driven development, including work with the Augustine Institute and now Communio, he helps churches strengthen marriage and family as a path to renewed faith. Jimmy is happily married and the proud father of eight.

Tracy, a native Arizonan and liberal arts educator, holds a postgraduate certificate in Shroud Studies. Passionate about the Shroud since childhood, she combines enthusiasm with expertise to make its study, through science, archaeology, and history, accessible to all. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling with her family.

Julie completed the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum Shroud Studies course in 2024. She is delighted to be an Othonia board member as well as being a member of SAGE. Julie holds an MA in Applied Catholic Theology and is a practicing Catholic and mother of four. Julie and her late husband, Francois, visited Spain to see the Sudarium of Oviedo and the hyper-realistic Mystery Man exhibition on the Shroud. Before becoming a mother, Julie had a career in finance working for HSBC in New York, London, and Moscow.

Dr. Brian Donley Worrell, a Maryland native and former Fortune 500 VP, is a seasoned executive known for bridging technology and marketing to spark innovation. Fluent in multiple languages with a global outlook, he has led international business development and high-impact programs. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies, with postgraduate work in computing, blockchain, and theology. His recent book The Shroud of Turin: The Perfect Summary is available at TheShroudOfTurin.org.

Dr. Scott French, a former full-time teaching faculty member at Stanford Medical School and other academic institutions, recognized that there was a cultural battle over truth, and in fact there was no scientific evidence supporting the modern cultural assertion. A pilgrimage to the Shroud of Turin in 2015 and viewing the 750 AD Lanciano Eucharistic miracle propelled Dr. French on a quest to seek the truth about faith and science. This then led Dr. French to Father Robert Spitzer and the Magis Center in 2015.

Bobby Hanks is CEO of Supreme Rice, LLC, a rice milling operation in Louisiana and Arkansas. A finance graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he is a member of the board of the USA Rice Federation, where he serves on many committees and is a past Chairman. He also chairs the Louisiana Agriculture Commodities Commission. Bobby is a member of St. Michael the Archangel in Crowley, LA, in the Diocese of Lafayette and serves on the board of the Catholic Legacy Foundation of Acadiana.

Cody James Jess is a shareholder at Moyes, Sellers & Hendricks Ltd., where he focuses on complex commercial litigation, business law, and creditors’ rights. He represents clients in high-stakes disputes involving contracts, fraud, business torts, and intellectual property in state, federal, bankruptcy, and appellate courts. Recognized by Super Lawyers® since 2012 and Best Lawyers in America® in 2021 and 2022, he was also named one of Paradise Valley’s Top Attorneys in 2024. Mr. Jess earned his J.D. as a Willard H. Pedrick Scholar from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2006.

Eric Little is SVP of Origination at CommLoan, a leading commercial real estate lending platform. With over 30 years in sales and marketing, he’s helped shape one of the industry’s most borrower-focused platforms. Eric studied business and finance at Arizona State University, and he is deeply committed to faith and service. He joined the Catholic Church in 2000 and currently serves as Financial Secretary for the Knights of Columbus at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Eric is passionate about Othonia’s mission of helping young people connect faith and science.

Andrea Madrid Villarreal is an entrepreneur, corporate attorney, and philanthropist from Northern Mexico. As Owner and CEO, she leads her family’s Motorsports and Marine company, while developing new ventures in Real Estate and Hospitality. She also advises family businesses on succession and estate planning. Deeply committed to philanthropy, Andrea founded and leads Corazón Contecho, a nonprofit that builds homes for families in need. She holds a law degree from Universidad Panamericana and received her Catholic formation from the Legionaries of Christ. Guided daily by her faith, she enjoys art, photography, AI, wellness, travel, and great food.

Tracey is a Certified Holistic Transformational life coach, author, and speaker with over 30 years of experience helping families create strong, healthy foundations. A licensed brain health trainer, she recognizes that broken generational cycles can only be healed when the entire family, particularly mothers, commit to honest reflection and real change. Tracey empowers parents to move past surface-level issues and address the root causes of family imbalance, with the goal of fostering resilient children and healthy, thriving households.

Mark is a dynamic executive and entrepreneur with over 30 years of expertise in operations, business development, and organizational leadership. His span of work includes operating businesses across the USA, Panama, and Italy.

Patti Naughton is the President and CEO of Identity Interior Design, with over 35 years of experience in both contract and residential design. Her diverse portfolio includes international clientele and has established her as a leader in the industry. Patti is active in several charitable foundations, where she has been recognized multiple times for her contributions to fundraising and community development. She thrives on collaboration and draws inspiration from innovative, forward-thinking people.

Jim Neesen is Managing Partner and a Founding Executive of Connor Group, the nation’s premier IPO advisory firm, having guided 275 IPOs representing $4 trillion in valuation across 2,000+ clients. Jim holds an MBA from Stanford and a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley. He is active at Stanford mentoring Latino entrepreneurs and business leaders, in addition to mentoring NFL players. A dedicated board leader, Jim brings deep capital markets expertise and executive experience with a commitment to leadership development, economic opportunity, and positive community impact.

Guy Powell is a marketer, part-time historian, Christian, and author of the new historical Christian fiction The Only Witness: An History on the Shroud of Turin. He is President and Founder of ProRelevant, a company specializing in delivering critical advanced analytics software and consulting for major, global brands to help them improve their revenues, profits, brand, and share. Guy spent much of his career helping marketers drive strategic advantage through a clear focus on the customer supported by best-in-class analytics.

After many years of supporting philanthropic endeavors, Lori created a family foundation to encourage the next generation to continue to support the issues they are passionate about. Its primary focuses are Catholic education and formation. They are also very passionate about family and support efforts to sustain marriages and strengthen families.

John Scola, Sr. Vice-President of Advancement for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in Phoenix, has earned designation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) as well as Master Teacher through the Faculty Training Academy of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He was also the recipient of the AFP’s Greater Arizona Chapter Outstanding Executive Award in 2002, and serves as Chair of the AFP Global Ethics Committee. John is certified as a BoardSource Trainer, is a certified Consultant in Nonprofit Lifecycles, and is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP).

Connor Vicary is a passionate entrepreneur dedicated to faith-driven business. With a marketing background, he’s managed personal and corporate brands on social media and built a service-based company across multiple states. At Grand Canyon University, he mentored over 500 student-led startups, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth. A 2024 GCU valedictorian and MBA graduate, Connor blends academic excellence with strategic leadership to advance the Kingdom through purposeful work.

Alysoun Wolfe is a veteran event producer and former film executive with 25+ years of Christ-centered leadership and excellence in delivering high-profile events and inspirational media. She is a founding force behind Premier, shaping it into a top boutique events firm, where she’s known for her creativity and precision in producing high-profile events and inspiring media, including co-producing God’s Not Dead. As founder of the ALS nonprofit Rally Our World, Alysoun channels her personal journey and faith into creating a lasting impact across entertainment, events, and nonprofit sectors.