Michael Watkins
President
Michael grew up in Washington, Missouri. He graduated from Ave Maria University in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts in Theology. Upon graduating, Michael was commissioned as a Marine Corps Officer, and served a tour of duty as a Finance Officer. After concluding his Active Service, Michael obtained his Juris Doctorate at Georgetown University Law Center. Michael currently practices corporate law in Detroit, Michigan, where he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museum's Michigan Chapter. Michael and his family are parishioners at the Detroit apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, St. Joseph's Shrine.
Dr. Michelle M. López
Secretary
A native Texan, Michelle resides in Central Texas with her husband and son. After nearly 20 years as a student affairs administrator in higher education, she chose to spend several years focusing on raising her young son who is a current student at Regina Caeli Academy. A few years ago, her entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Next Gen Latinos, LLC, a company to champion emerging and experienced leaders toward authentic action to live a great story! She provides Executive and Team Coaching, Consulting and is on Faculty for an accredited coach training program, MentorCoach® LLC. Michelle holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Texas Woman’s University, a Master’s Degree from Texas State University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Texas A&M University. She has served on numerous boards in roles from President to Director. Michelle is also a former elected official having served both on city council and school board.
Brian McPheeters
Treasurer
Originally from Rhode Island, Brian attended the United States Naval Academy, and served six years in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer in various assignments. Upon leaving the Navy, Brian earned an MBA from the University of Texas before joining Texas Instruments, where he had several roles in their finance and operations group. He had the unique opportunity to join the staff of a young Catholic high school, serving as CFO of John Paul II High School for 11 years, during which time he led all aspects of financing, accounting, and budgeting as the school grew and developed. He is currently the Controller for Campos Engineering, a privately held engineering firm in Dallas. Brian and his wife Shelley are blessed with five wonderful children, and have been privileged to be a part of RCA in Dallas since the center’s opening in 2013. The family resides in Plano, Texas, and are parishioners at Our Lady of Angels.
Mr. James Brandon Clifford
Director
Brandon Clifford grew up in Northern Massachusetts and has resided in New England most of his life. He graduated from Saint Michael's College in Winooski, VT in 2002 with degrees in History and in English. A true "entrepreneur", Brandon has an extensive background in business ownership having owned multiple businesses and seeing them through every phase including, the initial concept, the opening phase, and building them up for eventual sale. He also has a passion for inspiring others to make the leap into business ownership and to take control of their future through franchising. In the past, Brandon has owned and operated a franchise consulting firm where he helped clients understand all the ins and outs of franchising and gather the information they need to make a smart franchise investment decision. Brandon is currently the COO of Business Alliance Inc., a franchise consulting network that consists of over 175 affiliate brokers representing more than 370 franchise brands domestically and internationally. Brandon is a nature enthusiast, and enjoys being in the outdoors, especially in the White Mountains, all four seasons of the year. His favorite moments are spent relaxing with his four children and his wife Christina at their home in New Hampshire.
Austin Wright
Director
Austin Wright is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, bringing years of experience from the military, politics, business, and seminary formation to aid in the variety of organizations and businesses that he is engaged in to date. He is the Co-founder and CEO of MDKeller, an American holding company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri. The company's holdings include Shepherd’s,
Clear Cut Brands, MDK|MGMT, Madison Manufacturing, and Regius. Each company operates independently, but shares in the core mission of "shared values, shared success.”
Mr. Wright holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from University of Saint Mary of the Lake as well as other graduate and undergraduate level studies in theology and political science.
Harrison Butker
Director
Harrison Butker is the Co-founder, President and COO of MDKeller, an American holding company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri. The company's holdings include Shepherd’s, Clear Cut Brands, MDK|MGMT, Madison Manufacturing, and Regius. Each company operates independently, but shares in the core mission of "shared values, shared success.”
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Aside from his entrepreneurial work, Mr. Butker is also the three-time Super Bowl Champion placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs and is one of the top kickers in the National Football League. A devout Catholic, he is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have three children. He and his family founded the Butker Family Foundation to support causes important to them.
Having just finished his sixth season with the Chiefs, Butker was blessed to kick the game-winning field goal in the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Butker is known for his God-given skills on the football field, but it is his Catholic Faith that brings him the most joy. He is an outspoken advocate for the Traditional Latin Mass, Pro-life causes, and being a man of virtue, to name a few. He has appeared on countless shows, podcasts, and articles speaking to being a man in a world that is becoming increasingly secular and absent of God. By grounding himself in his vocation as a husband and father, Mr. Butker has been able to use his platform to push others To The Heights.
Reverend Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins
Honorary Board Director
Canon Commins was born in Cayenne, France, and was educated at one of the Institute’s primary schools near Paris before joining the seminary in Florence.
Canon Commins was ordained in 2015, and currently serves as the Pastor at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan.
What is the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors (BOD) is ultimately responsible for Regina Caeli Inc. ("RCA'") as an organization. As with all nonprofit Board of Directors, the Board has three fiduciary duties:
i) duty of care: good faith effort to ensure the proper and prudent use of all RCA resources and assets (including: property, people, donations, and public goodwill)
ii) duty of loyalty: good faith effort to ensure that all decisions are in the best interests of RCA as a whole to further its mission (including: avoid conflicts of interest, disclose potential conflicts, not use board service for personal or commercial gain)
iii) duty of obedience: good faith effort to ensure proper and prudent adherence to RCA’s mission, governing documents, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Each of these duties must be executed in good faith, with ordinary care, and in the best interests of the organization.
The essential functions of the BOD include:
i) developing and promoting mission, vision, and value
ii) fundraising and stewarding resources with integrity and for financial stability
iii) ensuring alignment of the Executive Director with organization’s mission, vision, and value
iv) maintaining records and complying with relevant federal, state, and local laws for proper corporate governance
All Board members can be reached via email: bod@rcahybrid.org.
