CHARLOTTE — To celebrate the launch of its Charlotte chapter, Catholic networking group SENT Ventures invited entrepreneurs to St. Matthew Church Tuesday for a morning Mass followed by a panel discussion.
SENT Ventures is a non-profit social group that fuels Catholic entrepreneurs spiritually and professionally.
“If you are wanting to build a business while becoming a saint, this is where you come to do that,” said Jimmy Coleman, new Charlotte chapter president.
During the July 29 Mass for the feast day of saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Bishop Michael Martin reminded the faithful to blend their entrepreneurial spirit with the examples of the siblings.
“Let us today find some way, find some way to not be timid. To take the joy of the Gospel that we celebrate here today, to take the grace oft he Word of God the grace of the Eucharist, rhe grace of being the body of Christ and let’s get out there, and get busy, get busy about building the kingdom every single place we go,” Bishop Martin encouraged the group of about 150 entrepreneurs.
“Think about Martha, Mary and Lazarus.They didn’t do it alone, they did it together ,” he said, “What a great image for us. Don’t try and go it alone. Find other people in your life. Find people that share your faith. How do you do that? By sharing your faith.”
After Mass, the panel shared their thoughts on the theme, “Putting Christ at the Center of Your Work.” Dr. Stephen Blaha, a pro-life OBGYN, Zuhair Madanat, owner of Auto Glass Experts; and Bishop Martin responded to questions like, “How do you keep Catholicism at the center of your business model?” and “What are the first steps of showing your faith at work?”
Coleman, founder and CEO of marketing firm LeadBaller and investment firm Arimathea, emceed the event.
Coleman credits SENT Ventures with his spiritual growth. Over the past four years, Coleman found his way back to the Catholic faith and was able to incorporate Catholic ideals into his business thanks to guidance from SENT’s network of supportive Catholic business owners, just like him.
SENT Ventures Charlotte is starting with a handful of members including James Hetzel, CEO of the Catholic Company, and Timothy Flanagan Jr. president of The Pelora Group, but Coleman hopes it will grow to at least 30.
“You have people on all the spectrums, like the start-ups and then the accomplished CEOs, and we are bringing all that together,” said Coleman.
He envisions this chapter will build relationships among entrepreneurs, fostering spiritual community for leaders who can sometimes feel isolated.
“Incorporating my Catholic faith into my day-to-day life workspace, I didn’t really know what that looked like,” said Coleman. “SENT Ventures was extremely helpful by having people around me that could give me examples and talk through things. It made me more sure-footed in my daily work, sharing my faith with clients, with employees, and truly making it a Catholic-owned business.”
As Madanat, who went to seminary before becoming an entrepreneur, explained, “We want to live out our faith.”
Dr. Blaha is able to take his beliefs with him to the office each day, and not just through the Epiphany chalk marking the top of the doors and the crucifix on the wall.
“There is a way to practice and to take care of patients that is fully in alignment with what the Catholic Church teaches,” he said. “There is an incredible opportunity to evangelize and emphasize your Catholic faith. A big part of it is the way you treat the people you work with, and hopefully the way we are behaving reflects our love and joy for Christ.”
— Lisa Geraci, photos by Troy C. Hull
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At www.sentventures.com find resources and local connections.
