2010 Oklahoma Catholic Women's Conference Speakers
Teresa Tomeo
is a veteran broadcast-journalist with more than 20 years of experience as a radio and TV news reporter and anchor woman mainly in the Detroit area.
Teresa first served as an award winning radio reporter and radio news anchor receiving recognition for her work from the Associated Press, The Detroit Press Club, and the American Women in Radio and TV.
After making the move to TV news in 1988, Teresa worked as a reporter/anchor for WKBD-TV 50, covering the streets of Detroit live five nights a week.
She then reported for the ABC affiliate, WXYZTV Channel 7. Her assignments at Channel 7 took her across the country covering some of the most significant stories of the '90s,
including the Oklahoma City Bombing and the 1995 visit to the United States by Pope John Paul II.
Despite her success and recognition, Teresa began to become disillusioned and disappointed by the trends in the media toward sensationalism, violence, and liberal bias. In 2000 Teresa decided to leave the secular media to help families and other concerned citizens engage the culture.
Teresa Tomeo is now an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, professional speaker, and media consultant. Most recently, she was invited to Rome to be one of only 260 international delegates to participate in the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatum, a "Congress on Women".
Despite her success and recognition, Teresa began to become disillusioned and disappointed by the trends in the media toward sensationalism, violence, and liberal bias. In 2000 Teresa decided to leave the secular media to help families and other concerned citizens engage the culture.
Teresa Tomeo is now an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, professional speaker, and media consultant. Most recently, she was invited to Rome to be one of only 260 international delegates to participate in the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatum, a "Congress on Women".
Elizabeth Ficocelli
was born in New York where she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. By adolescence, she grew dissatisfied with the lack of answers to her questions about certain beliefs. When her future husband, Mark, invited her to Mass on their college campus, she experienced for the first time a spiritual connection with her fellow worshippers and a deepening love for God.
Once Elizabeth entered the Catholic Church in 1983, she immersed herself in reading everything she could about her new faith. She began with supernatural phenomena such as Eucharistic Miracles, stigmata and apparitions, then progressed to Church history, the saints, and apologetics (the defense of the faith.) The more she read, the more reasons Elizabeth found to love the Catholic faith. She asked God how she could share her love of his Church with others, and he showed her the answer: through her writing.
In the year 2000, after a 20-year career in advertising, Elizabeth launched a new ministry in spiritual writing. Since then, she has published a series of children's sacramental books and a chapter book on how to follow Jesus with Paulist Press. For adults, she has written books on Lourdes, Medjugorje, and Saint Therese of Lisieux. Elizabeth has also published eleven articles in national Catholic magazines including St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian, America, Columbia, Catholic Parent, Take Out (Our Sunday Visitor), and Lay Witness Online. 2007 saw the introduction of her first secular children's book, Kid Tea.
Elizabeth resides with her husband and four boys in Ohio, where their Catholic faith remains the center of their family life.
Once Elizabeth entered the Catholic Church in 1983, she immersed herself in reading everything she could about her new faith. She began with supernatural phenomena such as Eucharistic Miracles, stigmata and apparitions, then progressed to Church history, the saints, and apologetics (the defense of the faith.) The more she read, the more reasons Elizabeth found to love the Catholic faith. She asked God how she could share her love of his Church with others, and he showed her the answer: through her writing.
In the year 2000, after a 20-year career in advertising, Elizabeth launched a new ministry in spiritual writing. Since then, she has published a series of children's sacramental books and a chapter book on how to follow Jesus with Paulist Press. For adults, she has written books on Lourdes, Medjugorje, and Saint Therese of Lisieux. Elizabeth has also published eleven articles in national Catholic magazines including St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian, America, Columbia, Catholic Parent, Take Out (Our Sunday Visitor), and Lay Witness Online. 2007 saw the introduction of her first secular children's book, Kid Tea.
Elizabeth resides with her husband and four boys in Ohio, where their Catholic faith remains the center of their family life.
Julie and Kurt Carrick
Julie Carrick was born and raised in Northern Michigan, the fourth of seven children. Her desire to serve Christ began at an early age and stems back to her involvement in Liturgical Music, following in the footsteps of three generations of Catholic musicians. She worked within the Diocese of Phoenix for 10 years as Director of Music prior to accepting the call to a national and international concert and speaking ministry.
Kurt served in the U.S. Army for 4 years during which time they lived in Germany and began their family. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1988, they made their home in Flagstaff Arizona until 1998.
Kurt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with emphasis on Business Information Systems from DeVry University in 2006. Kurt worked in the private business sector for 10 years and the Department of Public Safety for the State of Arizona for 10 years. He then brought his business skills to Carrick Ministries Foundation.
They have been active in the Catholic Church, from music ministry to Engaged Encounter workshops for 10 years (from presenting weekends all the way to being part of the National Executive Team). They are also Benedictine Oblates and helped to establish a beautiful retreat center in the Flagstaff Catholic community.
They have 3 children, 2 sons-in-law and 2 grandsons. Julie has written and recorded seven music CDs and a Rosary CD, in which she and Kurt pray together.
Kurt was nominated for UCMVA 2004 "Songwriter of the Year", and received the 2006 Unity Award for "Spoken Word Album of the Year" for "A Couples Rosary". He is a Third Degree Knight with the Blessed Sacrament Knights of Columbus Chapter in Scottsdale, AZ.
Kurt served in the U.S. Army for 4 years during which time they lived in Germany and began their family. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1988, they made their home in Flagstaff Arizona until 1998.
Kurt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with emphasis on Business Information Systems from DeVry University in 2006. Kurt worked in the private business sector for 10 years and the Department of Public Safety for the State of Arizona for 10 years. He then brought his business skills to Carrick Ministries Foundation.
They have been active in the Catholic Church, from music ministry to Engaged Encounter workshops for 10 years (from presenting weekends all the way to being part of the National Executive Team). They are also Benedictine Oblates and helped to establish a beautiful retreat center in the Flagstaff Catholic community.
They have 3 children, 2 sons-in-law and 2 grandsons. Julie has written and recorded seven music CDs and a Rosary CD, in which she and Kurt pray together.
Kurt was nominated for UCMVA 2004 "Songwriter of the Year", and received the 2006 Unity Award for "Spoken Word Album of the Year" for "A Couples Rosary". He is a Third Degree Knight with the Blessed Sacrament Knights of Columbus Chapter in Scottsdale, AZ.