Mike Patin will be this year's speaker.  Mike has had the privilege of speaking in over 95 dioceses, to groups ranging from 10 to 10,000.   He has addressed youth, adult and intergenerational (family) audiences in diocesan, regional, national and international settings. He has led youth and adult retreats, parish missions, leadership institutes, and in-services.   Audiences have been as diverse as clergy, school faculties, businesses, athletic teams and hospital staffs.
 
Mike has worked with teenagers and adults in a variety of settings since 1984. He has experience in the high school setting (six years), and thirteen years in diocesan youth ministry (CYO/Youth Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1990-2003). Since 2003, he has worked full time as a speaker and “faith horticulturist.”
 
Mike holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans. He also has received a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Pastoral Life and Administration from Loyola University.
 
Mike is a trained facilitator for Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Notre Dame Graduate School of Theology in New Orleans, as well as the National Center for Catholic Youth Sports. He has been a trainer for the Center for Ministry Development’s Youth Leader program. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He served as a consultant/assistant coach to Loyola University (New Orleans) women’s basketball team (2003-2005) and served as editor for the Our Life section of DisciplesNow, a website for Catholic teens (2003-2006). In 2006, he received the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award.