Emily Henry - Blogger, D.C. Pioneer Woman

1.  Tell us about yourself, connection to Ave and your blog.
 I was one of a small number of final freshmen admitted to Ave Maria College before the closure of the Michigan campus. Since we were the last freshmen class, we were endearingly referred to as freshmen even throughout our sophomore year. Upon its closure, I transferred to Hillsdale College where I finished my B.A. in Classical Studies. Since then, I moved to the Washington D.C. area, where I work as a nanny by day and an online Latin instructor by night. I have been blogging for over a year, writing short stories. My newest venture is D.C. Pioneer Woman, a blog in which I enjoy sharing innovative ways to do things with small town values in the big city.

2.  What spurred you to start your own blog and what keeps you going?

There isn't a time that I can recall in which I wasn't fascinated by books and words. Growing up, I was inspired by the stories written by Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), and Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie). I wanted to be like them (even if some of their characters were fictitious). I dreamed of emulating both the authors' and their characters' achievements, having high hopes of becoming a writer. I realized, what better way to start gaining experience writing than within the medium of blogging?

As to what keeps me going: wanting to bring both joy and creative ideas to my readers. I don't want this blog to be all about me or some façade of perfection. Instead, I want it to be a place of delight and inspiration for my readers. I want them to walk away feeling excited about life. It is my hope to provide a very honest, down to earth blog for people filled with all kinds of fun reading, including tips on food, fashion, travel, fitness, organization, and cleaning.

3.  What is your favorite part of your blog? 
Since my blog is very new, I think I would have to say my favorite part is the excitement and freshness of it all. I hope it will be a fun place to share ideas and to encourage one another in our ambitions to live life to the fullest and with purposefulness.

4.  What are you most proud of achieving in your blog 
I think the fact that I have actually started this blog is an achievement for me. I am most grateful to my friend Carol who listened attentively to my ideas and encouraged me to go for it. Honestly, I owe the start of this blog to her.

5.  What is your work process? 

 am not sure I have anything definitive set in place as of yet. I do know, however, that in order to think clearly and creatively, I need to be in a place where I feel at ease (coffee shop, couch, comfy chair, outdoors in a beautiful setting, etc.) and generally sipping something, like a latte, tea, or water. I need to be fully present and focused on the moment. I also have a favorite Pandora station that I have listened to since college that helps me get into my creative groove.

Fr. Joshua McCarty - Lolek Productions

I am a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Owensboro. I was ordained to the priesthood in 2009 and I am currently serving as the Associate Pastor at Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro, Kentucky. I am the oldest of five children. My parents live in Southern Indiana. 

While serving on a NET Ministries team (National Evangelization Team)  I traveled through several states with my team going into parishes to work with young people, challenging them to love their Catholic faith. We were witnesses to the faith by leading many retreats all across the country. I had plans and dreams for my life already. I always wanted to have a beautiful wife, a good job, a big house and a riding lawn mower. But along the way I heard people tell me that I had the qualities that would make a good priest. Though it wasn't something I'd thought of much, I eventually discerned that God might be calling me to the priesthood. After NET I studied philosophy at Vincennes University, for two years, and Ave Maria, for three years.  I spent two years at the Ave Maria campus in Ypsilanti, Michigan and then moved to Florida for the inaugural year of Ave Maria University at the temporary campus in Naples, Florida.  After affiliating with the Diocese of Owensboro, I went to study theology at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. Ultimately, I finished my studies and was ordained. 

Evangelization and sharing the love of the Gospel is the mission of a priest. I noticed that there was not a strong presence of good and beautiful Catholic media that could reach out to people.  In this digital and high tech media world there should certainly be a more creative, strong and dynamic communication of the Gospel. That is the reason for starting Lolek Productions. It is a vehicle for me and other creative individuals to produce beautiful and inspiring media works that touch people with the love of God within the human condition. As Saint John Paul II  reminded us, we are all called to evangelize wherever we find ourselves. "Lolek" is his boyhood nickname, so our company was named after him. He is definitely a hero of mine and he has inspired us to carry on the mission of living and sharing the Gospel. 

I love what I do. I love being a priest and ministering to the people. The favorite part of my work with Lolek Productions is hearing the real life stories of how God is truly working and present in people's lives and being able to share their stories with others by way of powerful and inspiring videos. When I hear the feedback from what people are saying about our work, I am amazed and humbled at how God is present in the midst of it all. That's what keeps me going and keeps me motivated to keep up the work we are doing and grow it in whatever ways we need to in order to reach more people. 

Because I am a priest first and foremost and the Associate Pastor at a thriving and busy parish, the time I spend working with Lolek Productions is limited. I try to devote one day a week to production work, but it really just depends on what time I can be available to do it. It is a passion for me in more ways than one. Evangelization is my vocation, but I also love all things digital. I even call myself a nerd. So the two go hand in hand. God has blessed me with being a priest, but by allowing the work with Lolek Productions, I am also able to keep my creative juices flowing and use the gifts and talents He has given me in other ways that I enjoy. I do not work alone. I have a lot of people who help me with Lolek, including a talented board of Directors, generous benefactors, and a small number of passionate volunteers who help make it all possible.  I am so thankful for all that they do. 

I am most proud of what I am working on currently, the icon Project. When it goes national, then it will have the potential to reach more people, to evangelize and share the love of God. The more people we reach, the more people can know, love and serve the Lord. 

Please check out our work at lolekproductions.com 

Lisa Martinez - Owner, illuvint llc

1.  Tell us about yourself, connection to Ave and your business.

I served Ave Maria College as both the Admissions Counselor and the Director of Residence Life from 2000-2004. In 2012, my husband, Mike, and I started illuvint llc - a small business that provides digital marketing, web, and creative services to other small businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, and non-profits. 

2.  What spurred you to start your own business and what keeps you going?

Mike and I love serving others, and share similar and complimentary gifts: He’s the technical and creative one, and I’m the marketing-minded and creative one. We wanted a way to utilize our gifts to serve others and provide a channel for giving back and sharing our blessings with others.

After years of taking on a variety of contract work, often on top of full-time jobs, in 2012 we felt it was time: Time to use our experience to really begin forging our own path, and take the plunge into the digital marketing arena. Through many years of working with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and ministries, this was the niche they felt could really benefit from these types of affordable yet professional services.

When everything aligned, we officially formed illuvint, our Dallas-based startup, in October 2012. In Spring 2013, we felt called to unify with other industry leaders—working in the field already—to build a digital agency through partnerships. Our collaborative efforts would serve more people better.

We have grown to a team of 12 now, and that -- along with the clients that we love helping -- is what keeps us going!

3.  What is your favorite part of your business? 

I love it when we successfully capture what someone was trying, but unable, to express – whether it’s a website, logo, press release, graphic, or whatever. It’s fulfilling work to help small businesses and organizations grow and thrive.

4.  What are you most proud of achieving in your business?

Towards the beginning of this year, I prayed that God would expand our territory and help us be a light to the nations (our logo features a lighthouse). A couple of weeks later, someone approach us concerning our first international project with a client based in the United Arab Emirates.

In April, we landed that project. Since then, we’ve been working with the Catholic Church in Southern Arabia to rebrand their Apostolic Vicariate (aka “Diocese”). What an amazing opportunity, and blessing to expand our company internationally going into only our second year.

5.  What is your work process?

When clients contact us, I schedule an initial (and free) consultation. At that time we discuss their needs and, depending on what those are, we may even complete a questionnaire then.

For multi-faceted projects or monthly service packages requiring the expertise of 1 or more teammates, we’ll schedule a conference call to introduce and discuss things with all the potential players.

Based on the results, we’ll put together and submit a proposal, which we’ll discuss during a follow-up call to make sure it’s the right fit.

How to connect with illuvint:

web: www.illuvint.com     

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Twitter: @illuvint

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