Arland Nichols is president and founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation. For nearly a decade Arland taught at a Catholic high school and worked at an international nonprofit. During those years he became a popular speaker, successful writer, and he established the groundwork for launching the St. John Paul II Foundation. Arland earned a B.A. in philosophy from Texas A&M, an M.DIV. in Theology from University of St. Thomas, and is completing a Ph.D. in bioethics from Regina Apostolorum in Rome. With the generous support of his wife, Cindy, and six children, Arland is blessed to lead the St. John Paul II Foundation as it becomes the foremost Catholic non-profit proclaiming the Good News of life and family.

Chris Stravitsch is Director of the Legacy Circle and co-founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation. He earned an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from St. Mary’s University, and a Doctor of Ministry from The Catholic University of America. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Chris previously served as Director of College Formation at Assumption Seminary. He brings to the Foundation a wealth of experience in Church ministry and the unique ability to identify the most effective ways to evangelize spouses and families.

Preston H. Young is Regional Managing Partner at Stream Realty Partners, a full-service commercial real estate firm also focused in principal activities. Mr. Young also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Free Enterprise Institute and is on the Board of Directors for the Business Ethics Forum. He is involved in a number of other civic and charitable organizations including the 12th Man Foundation’s Champions Council, Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture, and The Center for Cultural Renewal. He and his wife, Amber, have three children and are parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish in Houston.

Ray Frierson is managing partner of Frierson, Sola, Simonton, Kutac, PLLC, a full service CPA firm in Houston and is president of Greenbriar Financial, a branch office of LPL Financial. He is a graduate of the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business. Ray is married to Theresa and they have three grown children. They are parishioners of St. Anne's Parish in Houston, Texas.

Will Cravens is President of Jerdon Enterprise, LP a civil engineering general contractor and privately held company in Houston. He is active in the Serra Club of Houston where he is immediate past president and he is a trustee of the Scanlan Foundation. Will is married to Janet, and they have three children, James, Mary and Stephen. They are members of St. Michael’s Parish in Houston, Texas.

Patrick J. McCarthy is President of Magna Operating, an independent oil and gas exploration company in Houston. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the Houston Chapter of Legatus and is a Trustee of Western Academy, an independent liberal arts grade school for boys on the west side of Houston. He and his wife, Vickie, have five children.

Nancy Gold is a Reserves Coordinator at EP Energy, an independent oil and natural gas producer. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, both from Texas A&M University. She coordinates the Women's Programs at Holy Cross Chapel, serves on the Board for Murray Hill Institute-Texas, facilitates ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) Catholic Women Studies, and works as a Commissioner for the Houston Women's Soccer Association. Nancy is a parishioner of All Saints Catholic Community in Houston, Texas.

Patrick Draughon is an Associate Professor of Practice at Texas A&M University, where he teaches undergraduate engineering. Previously, Patrick had a long and distinguished career in the oil and gas industry and worked at many locations both globally and domestically. Patrick has been an active Catholic layperson as Pastoral Council Chair in two foreign parishes and with his wife, Valerie, was a founding family of St. John XXIII Catholic High School in Katy, Texas. Patrick and Valerie have four children and live in College Station, Texas.