This month Mary interviews Kathy Svoboda. Kathy is a graduate from U of D Mercy Law School. She has provided legal services in multiple roles as a prosecuting attorney, Circuit Court Referee, State Administrative Law Judge and Manager, and is most recently self-employed as an Attorney specializing in estate planning and probate/trust administration. Kathy has compassionately provided service to families and individuals in need through employment choices and volunteer work on not for profit boards. She is currently serving as a Consultant for development of organizational strategic plans, leadership team development and formation training, as well as directing faith-based initiatives and follow up training for teams. As an AOD regional coordinator, she accompanied four vicariates through the pioneering process of a complete restructuring to align available pastors with parishes and reorient the Faithful in SE Michigan to Unleash the Gospel during the transformation of the AOD to Families of Parishes.

This month Mary interviews John Sier. John has been involved with the AOD Mass for Commerce since 1999 when he was president of the Catholic Lawyers Society. He is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and Drake University Law School and Graduate School of Mass Communication and Journalism.

He is the head of the Kitch law firm's construction and commercial litigation group where he concentrates his practice in dispute avoidance and resolution of commercial, professional and construction issues as well as counseling clients on risk management topics.

In addition to his distinguished legal practice, Mr. Sier is active in a variety of professional organizations. He serves as Director of Christian Legal Aid of Southeastern Michigan, a former board member of St. Joseph’s Helpers, Emeritus Director of the Catholic Lawyers Society and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees for Detroit Cristo Rey High School (DCRHS) and chaired the DCRHS Corporate Work Study Council. In 2010, he received the Msgr. Malloy Award from the Catholic Lawyers Society of Metropolitan Detroit.

In 2023, Mr.Sier was awarded The Roberts P. Hudson Award which is the State Bar of Michigan’s highest honor. This award is periodically presented to honor an attorney for their outstanding service to and on behalf of the State Bar of Michigan, the legal profession, and the public.

The month Mary interviews Katie Montes, the Executive Director at Mary’s Mantle since since 2015. Katie is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Wayne State University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Prior to coming to Mary’s Mantle, Katie worked at a local non-profit where she had 10 years of experience working in programs designed to support children and families in need in the Metro-Detroit area.

Katie came to Mary’s Mantle with experience in program development, contract compliance and monitoring, staff development and training, and budget management. Katie has specialized training in the Strength Based Approach to working with families, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Child Welfare Staff Training and Retention.