BISHOP KEVIN VANN recently welcomed nearly 1,000 business, religious, academic and philanthropic leaders to the 23rd annual Conference on Business & Ethics.
Hosted by The Orange Catholic Foundation, in partnership with Farmers & Merchants Bank, the March 20 event, held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, honored exemplary Orange County business leaders whose lives and business practices reflect their faith in action.
“You are the light of the world,” said Bishop Vann. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. That’s what so many of you do for us.”
The honorees, representing law, banking and technology, reflected the breadth of the Orange County business community. Laura Meier, founder of Meier Law Firm, received the Bishop’s Award for Exemplary Business Integrity for her contributions to faith and community, highlighting her selflessness and impact through her book “Guided by Grace.”
KATHLEEN HURTT, INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORANGE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION, ADDRESSES ATTENDEES OF THE MARCH 20 CONFERENCE. PHOTOS BY LISA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY
The book, which deepened her own faith, weaves spiritual principles into estate planning. Through Laura’s initiatives, millions of dollars have been raised for the Church, directly supporting its mission.
The Bishop’s Award also went to Dan Walker, executive chairman of the board of Farmers & Merchants Bank, in recognition of his long-standing commitment to integrity and service in business, as well as his significant contributions to major community projects, including Christ Cathedral and the Conference on Business and Ethics, which he helped establish.
The Farmers & Merchants Bank Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Susan and Henry Samueli for their transformative philanthropic work in Orange County. The Samuelis are owners of the Anaheim Ducks, H&S Ventures, the Samueli Foundation and OCVibe Development. Following Broadcom’s public offering, the Samueli Foundation was established and has since made landmark gifts in areas such as homelessness, housing, and STEM education. Katie Rodin, president of H&S Ventures, accepted the award on behalf of the Samuelis.
Rand Sperry, chair of the conference and CEO of Sperry Equities and Sperry Commercial, moderated a lively discussion that examined the ethical nexus between sports and business.
Panelists included Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, Santa Margarita High School’s star quarterback and current coach, and former USC Trojan and #1 draft pick, who enjoyed a 15-year NFL career.
Lawyer, business executive, Chapman University undergraduate and law school alumnus, Katie Rodin, President of H&S Ventures, for the past 16 years has been legal counsel for the Anaheim Ducks and the Honda Center, and is executive vice president and chief legal officer at OCVibe, a sports, entertainment and cultural center in Anaheim.
Ryan Tollner, co-head of Excel Football at Excel Sports Management, one of the top five sports management companies in the United States, was named to the Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list in 2016.
The panel explored how business and ethics intersect in sports, leadership and community life.
LAURA MEIER, FOUNDER OF MEIER LAW FIRM, RECEIVED THE BISHOP’S AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY BUSINESS INTEGRITY FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH AND COMMUNITY.
Tollner described leaving investment banking to build a sports agency grounded in Catholic values and integrity. In a recruiting culture prone to cutting corners, he commits to total honesty and equal service to every client, even when it costs him lucrative contracts. He defines “winning” not as profit, but as players later saying he genuinely improved their lives. He stressed that character attracts character, and that agents shape both athletes’ careers and their impact on communities.
Palmer linked character to sustained success: short-term winning can come from cutting corners, but lasting winning requires integrity in daily habits— finishing every rep in the weight room, behaving well on campus and honoring the “name on the front and back of the jersey.” He noted that ethical choices arise daily, and he leans on prayer and conscience when the right path is costly. As a coach, he watches for performance drops as red flags for deeper issues and intervenes pastorally.
DAN WALKER RECEIVED THE BISHOP’S AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY AND SERVICE IN BUSINESS.
Rodin focused on ethical culture inside organizations. Leaders must “walk the walk,” create psychological safety so people feel comfortable admitting mistakes, and treat errors as learning opportunities, provided they are not repeated. She emphasized alignment with the mission over short-term financial gains and the need for transparency to prevent hidden problems from compounding. As a female executive and mother, she openly discussed work and family tension, the importance of supportive partnerships at home and modeling a realistic, ethical path for women entering the sports industry.
All three cautioned that social media amplifies both virtue and failure, making character, consistency and clear boundaries more critical than ever for ethical leadership in highvisibility roles.
On July 1, Kathleen Hurtt (current executive vice president) will assume the role of OCF’s executive director, as Steve Cameron transitions from executive director into becoming a member of the Foundation’s board of directors. Both spoke of the lasting legacy of the Foundation and of a fruitful future of giving and change making.
RAND SPERRY MODERATES A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH CARSON PALMER, RYAN TOLLNER AND KATIE RODIN.
“Success is what we build for ourselves,” said Hurtt. “Impact is what we build for others.”
The emcee for the morning was Lucy Dunn, CEO emeritus of the Orange County Business Council. She announced that early tallies indicated the event raised $1.2 million for Catholic Schools student scholarships.
OCCF’s primary mission is to support Catholic education in Orange County. Fittingly, students from local Catholic high schools served as ushers for the event, and the bright young voices of St. Cecilia’s children’s choir provided musical entertainment, underscoring the conference’s focus on faith, formation and the future of Catholic education.
To learn more, visit orangecatholicfoundation.org