Our Speakers

Catholic Speaker & Founder of WINE

Kelly Wahlquist is the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization, Director for the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute, and contributing writer for Catholicmom.com. Her book Created to Relate: God’s Design for Peace & Joy encourages and inspires women to live fully their beautiful God-given gifts for building relationships. She is the creator and editor of Walk in Her Sandals: Experiencing Christ’s Passion through the Eyes of Women; Gaze Upon Jesus: Experiencing Christ’s Childhood through the Eyes of Women; and Called by Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women.

Nurse, Author & Speaker Hall of Fame

LeAnn Thieman is a nationally acclaimed professional speaker, author, and nurse who was “accidentally” caught up in the Vietnam Orphan Airlift in 1975 when she helped rescue 300 babies as Saigon was falling to the Communists. Through God’s grace, she endured and is living proof that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. She has authored 13 other Chicken Soup for the Soul books, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, A Book of Miracles, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, Answered Prayers. 

Alyssa Bormes (Emcee)

Alyssa Bormes is an educator, author, speaker, and retreat leader. She currently teaches at the Chesterton Academy, writes for The Catholic Spirit and the WINE blog, is the host of a weekly show Christian Witnesses in the Church on Radio Maria US, and is the author of The Catechism of Hockey. Alyssa is a frequent speaker at WINE events and always an entertaining emcee! (AlyssaBormes.com)

Joelle Maryn

Joelle Maryn is an award-winning Actress, Speaker, and TV Host who has been featured on various Christian TV shows including "Life On The Rock" on EWTN. She has modeled for well-known brands such as Jergens, was on a billboard in Times Square, appeared on book covers, independent films, and news interviews, and is the former Host of Trend TV. Joelle was also the founder/CEO of a luxury line of anti-aging makeup, which was featured on NBC and in Vanity Fair.

In 2012, she had a major reversion back to the faith and now spreads a message of God’s healing love that has radiated hope and purpose in life to many around the world.