Our strengths are gifts from God
FAITH Catholic is committed to a positive and rewarding work environment in which all team members are fully engaged, and where our team members’ strengths are recognized as God-given abilities that enhance their performance and happiness. Every member of the FAITH team takes the Clifton Strengths Assessment. See our top five strengths following our names and titles.
Leadership
Patrick M. O'Brien, President and CEO
Achiever • Context • Strategic • Discipline • Activator
Achiever • Context • Strategic • Discipline • Activator
Patrick O'Brien was part of the team in 2000 that created FAITH magazine for the Diocese of Lansing. He developed the original concept for a new kind of diocesan publication, as well as the business plan that grew FAITH into what is now America’s largest publisher of Catholic magazines. FAITH grew by being focused on evangelization and by customizing magazines for Catholic dioceses and Catholic organizations. As demand grew for FAITH’s new magazine model, a publishing company was formed to serve the Catholic Church. In 2005, Patrick was named FAITH Publishing Service’s first president and CEO. In 2007, he was also named president and CEO of Liturgical Commission Publishings (LCP). In 2009, he led the merger of FAITH Publishing and LCP to form FAITH Catholic. In 2012, MassTimes.org became part became part of FAITH Catholic and is the flagship of FAITH Catholic’s array of online solutions. Prior to forming FAITH Magazine, Patrick worked in advertising serving clients such as Case, Caterpillar, Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc and Lincoln Mercury. He graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a BFA in 1993, and completed two years of graduate work at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary.
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg
Vice President and Editorial Director Input • Learner • Intellection • Empathy • Positivity Prior to joining FAITH magazine in the Diocese of Lansing as assistant editor, Elizabeth worked in a parish as its director of religious education. As FAITH grew from publishing one magazine to more than 50, Elizabeth became the editorial director and, in 2014 she was named FAITH Catholic’s first corporate vice president. Elizabeth attended St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan and is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Roosevelt University in Chicago and Loyola University in New Orleans. 
Cynthia Vandecar
Director of Production and Customer Service Empathy • Developer • Achiever • Arranger • Relator Cynthia joined FAITH Catholic in 2010 after 20 years as a communications and production coordinator at publishing and advertising firms in Grand Rapids and Okemos, Mich. In 2014, she was named Director of Production and Customer Service, with responsibility for client creative service projects, as well as customer service and sales for FAITH’s parish products online store. Cynthia holds a BA in Communications from the University of Michigan. |
Marybeth Hicks
Director of Marketing Strategic • Relator • Ideation • Belief • Activator Marybeth joined FAITH Catholic in 2015 to lead the marketing department after a dozen years as a columnist, author, speaker and freelance marketing consultant. Marybeth was a frequent contributor to FAITH magazine and also led the company’s strategic planning process in 2013. Previously, she was a marketing communications specialist in the educational, healthcare and corporate sectors. Marybeth holds a BA in English from Michigan State University. 
Kris Conley
Controller Learner • Achiever • Relator Intellection • Futuristic Kris came to FAITH with more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting and over 10 years of experience in a leadership role. Her career spans companies and business units at varying stages of growth, from small family-owned businesses to multinational organizations. Kris holds a BA in accounting from Central Michigan University.
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Kayla Simon
Creative Director Achiever • Includer • Responsibility • Adaptability • Developer Kayla is an award-winning art director and graphic designer who is known as a creative problem solver. She joined FAITH Catholic in 2012, was named art director in 2015, and became the company’s Creative Director in 2017. A graduate of Grand Valley State University with a BFA in Graphic Design, she has a fierce ambition to make the world better through graphic design. 
Ann Jacob
Managing Editor, Parish Products Lead Responsibility • Context • Developer • Empathy • Consistency Ann joined FAITH Catholic in 2013 to manage the publication of FAITH Catholic’s flagship publication, the Diocese of Lansing’s FAITH magazine. She also is responsible for editing the company’s two longtime products for parishes and priests, Daily Homilies and Daily Universal Prayer and Commentary. Formerly a senior editor at Public Sector Consultants, Ann maintained a longtime freelance editing practice and was a contributor to FAITH magazine since 2005. Ann holds a BA in History from the University of Notre Dame. |
Michael Jones
Director of Technology and Digital Media Input • Futuristic • Strategic • Relator • Learner Mike has spent 12 years helping to grow FAITH Catholic’s technology and digital services departments, beginning in 2006 as an information technology specialist and culminating in his 2017 appointment as Director of Technology and Digital Media. Mike serves FAITH clients with custom websites and structured data applications, digital publishing and client-facing content management solutions. A graduate of Michigan State University, Mike studied Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, and Technology Management. Board of Directors
Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Jr., Bishop of Lansing, Member Rev. Dwight Ezop, Chair Rev. Msgr. George Michalek, Vice Chair Rev. Timothy MacDonald Anne-Marie Welsh Deborah Amato, Ex Oficio George Landolt, Ex Officio |
