Men’s Executive Speaker Series - Winter 2025
Faith, Leadership, and Community: Recap of Men’s Executive Speaker Series
Thank you to the men in our community who joined us for our Men’s Executive Speaker Series to pray about, reflect upon, and discuss how an encounter with Christ can guide and strengthen us in both our personal and professional endeavors. We deeply appreciate your willingness to come together with open minds and hearts to grow in faith through meaningful conversations. A special word of gratitude goes out to our inspiring speakers— Stephen Griesemer, Tom Shanley, Todd Ohlms, and Tom Wilson—for your witness to a selfless model of leadership exemplified by the humility of Jesus Christ, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who ensured that each session went off without a hitch.
Wherever on life’s journey we find ourselves—from the recent college graduate to the seasoned executive—in our moments of need and when we feel overwhelmed or even alone, where else can we go except the God whose self-emptying love for us is revealed most fully in Jesus Christ? Our God makes himself approachable and lovable. He came for us. He is one of us. Over the course of these four weeks, the series’ speakers and participants gathered with openness and vulnerability, creating a space that became the ground for transformation, a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22).
We look forward to continuing to walk together, building on the foundation of faith established through this series. If you attended any one of the sessions, we would love to have your feedback to help us plan for a future series.
Men of Impact: Leadership with Purpose and Faith
Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26 | 7:00-8:30 p.m. | Fireside Hall
Men of our parish community are invited to join us this February for our 4-week Men's Executive Speaker Series. This unique series provides an opportunity to explore the powerful integration of faith and leadership, guided by the wisdom and experiences of distinguished professionals. Each week, we’ll hear from top executives who have navigated their careers with purpose, faith, and a commitment to making a lasting impact. Don’t miss this chance to connect with faith-filled leaders and gain valuable insights for both your personal and professional growth!
FEBRUARY 5: "Playing the Long Game: Balancing Faith, Family, Health, and Work for Lasting Success"
SPEAKER: Stephen Griesemer, Partner at May River Capital
FEBRUARY 12 - CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER, will be rescheduled for some point in the future: "Mission-based Leadership in Challenging Times: The Value of Faith in Practice"
SPEAKER: Tom Shanley, President and CEO of Lurie Children’s Hospital
FEBRUARY 19: "Godposts For Leaders as They Navigate Their Journey of Life"
SPEAKER: Todd Ohlms, Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP
FEBRUARY 26: "Overcoming Division, Building Community"
SPEAKER: Tom Wilson, Chairman and CEO of Allstate
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Stephen Griesemer, Partner at May River Capital
Steve is a founding partner of May River Capital. Steve co-leads portfolio management at May River and assists in the overall management of the firm, including the development of investment theses, origination of new investment opportunities, deal structuring, negotiations, transaction execution, and internal operations.
Prior to co-founding May River, Steve was a Partner at Baker McKenzie focused on mergers and acquisitions ranging from middle market U.S. transactions to multi-billion dollar, international transactions. Prior to his time at Baker McKenzie, Steve was an Associate with the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman and a Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel for the Erlen Group, a holding company including limestone mining, industrial real estate, warehousing and other industrial businesses. At the Erlen Group, Steve handled new business development and operational matters, including union negotiations, refinancings, litigation management, and commercial negotiations.
Steve serves as a member of the board of directors of Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago’s legacy human services agency which reaches tens of thousands of families and individuals annually. He was previously a mentor with Link Unlimited, which provides educational college preparatory opportunities for economically disadvantaged high school students.
Steve earned a B.A. from Yale University with distinction and a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School where he was a White Scholar.
Tom Shanley, President and CEO of Lurie Children’s Hospital
Tom Shanley, MD, became President & Chief Executive Officer of Lurie Children’s on December 6, 2019. He is a pediatric intensive care physician and researcher who joined the organization in 2015 as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and President & Chief Research Officer of the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Lurie Children’s.
Dr. Shanley champions the provision of and accessibility to the highest quality and most advanced pediatric healthcare delivered with respect and compassion. He is dedicated to achieving optimal health outcomes for children by focusing on evidence-based excellent care and further advancing care through discovery, innovation, and community collaboration.
After receiving his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Shanley served as the pediatric chief resident at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He completed his clinical and research fellowship in pediatric critical care under the auspices of the Pediatric Scientist Development Program at the University of Michigan sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation.
As a clinician, Dr. Shanley specializes in the treatment of children with hypoxemic respiratory failure from acute lung injury and severe sepsis triggered by infection. The broad goal of his research, spanning from basic science to translational and clinical work, was to improve understanding of the molecular basis of inflammatory diseases that afflict critically ill young patients.
Dr. Shanley is committed to leading Lurie Children’s toward further growth in scale, scope and scientific discovery in order to transform child health and create a healthier future for every child.
A father of four grown children and husband to Maureen, a pediatric nephrology nurse, Dr. Shanley prioritizes spending time with his family and staying fit running and biking along the Chicago lake shore. He is an avid reader, often enjoying a glass of northern California wine with his book.
Todd Ohlms, Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP
Todd J. Ohlms is as a partner in the Litigation department and a member of the Asset Management Litigation Group. Todd has represented clients in business-critical litigation matters for over 25 years, and has tried several cases to verdict before juries and the bench. He has also participated in numerous arbitration proceedings, including counseling clients regarding disputes subject to international arbitration agreements.
Todd is often retained by private equity firms to counsel them and their portfolio companies on a wide range of matters and is frequently chosen to serve as outside general counsel to their portfolio companies. He also represents family offices in disputes related to their operating companies where sensitive and complex relationships often play as large a role in determining the result as the actual legal theories at issue.
Todd has substantial experience in actions involving temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and in the critical areas of securities and shareholder litigation, corporate governance, intellectual property, fiduciary litigation, antitrust and trade regulation and complex/multi-jurisdictional disputes. He also has extensive experience in creating and implementing electronic discovery strategies and protocol for clients.
Tom Wilson, Chairman and CEO of Allstate
Tom Wilson has been CEO of Allstate since 2007 and Chair of the Board of Directors since 2008. He is a public advocate for business playing a broad role in society through initiatives such as providing living wages and improving diversity and equity.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce enhanced sustainability under Wilson's leadership by clarifying its purpose and embracing bipartisanship. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and holds leadership positions in the financial services industry and the community.
Wilson has led Allstate through the global financial crisis and through increased severe weather due to climate change. He is now leading an innovative multi-year Transformative Growth strategy at the company.