Slate of Candidates for the Board of Directors Election
The CMA Board of Directors is the governing body of the association. The Board represents the broad diversity of our membership in terms of job responsibilities, communications formats, geography and roles within their organizations. We encourage you to get involved and vote for those who you feel will contribute to the organization’s continued success.
Online voting closed March 2, 2023.
Learn more about the Board nomination process by visiting our frequently asked questions page.
Treasurer
JoAnn DiNapoli, The Tablet
JoAnn DiNapoli has been involved in the business side of the media for more than 30 years. She worked in advertising sales at the New York Post and then at the New York Daily News for 17 years, before leaving to accept a management role at DeSales Media Group in Brooklyn, NY.
At DeSales, she serves as Director of Sales as she oversees a staff that offers multi-media advertising options to both secular and non-secular organizations for The Tablet, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s award-winning weekly newspaper, and NET-TV, New York City’s only 24-hour Catholic cable television station.
She also coordinates sponsorships for special events for the diocese such as the annual Bishops’ Golf Outing, and the annual Catholic School Night and Collars vs. Scholars softball game hosted by the Brooklyn Cyclones, the local Upper-A division affiliate of the New York Mets, which highlights Catholic education in the diocese. JoAnn is a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Coney Island Alliance as well as a CCD volunteer at her parish.
“The decision to join the Catholic Media Association has brought me closer to the mission of the Church in our dynamic and diverse diocese,” says JoAnn.
JoAnn and her husband, Mike, another former NY Daily News employee, have one son and live on Staten Island.
Antonio Enrique, The Pilot
Antonio M. Enrique is the editor of The Pilot, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston since 2001. At the beginning of his tenure he oversaw the restructuring of the staff and developed a business model that would successfully allow the publication to be self-sufficient without any mandates or diocesan subsidies which is ongoing to this day.
Before that, he was the founding editor of “La Vida Católica,” a Spanish language Catholic newspaper in Boston. As editor of The Pilot he oversaw the launching of an award-winning website in 2006 and since then The Pilot has evolved to become a multi-platform publication, actively present in Facebook, Twitter and Kindle. TheBostonPilot.com is currently among the most visited archdiocesan newspaper websites in the U.S. The print version of The Pilot publishes 49 editions per year and has received CPA awards every year since at least 2007.
Antonio is 60 years old. He is married to his wife, Maria Reyes, for 40 years and they are the proud parents of 11 children.
Western Region Representative
Pablo Kay, Angelus
Pablo Kay is the Editor-in-Chief of Angelus, the multimedia news platform of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Born in Los Angeles, Pablo lived in seven different states growing up and studied journalism at Manhattan College in New York City.
Prior to joining Angelus in 2018, Pablo worked as a news editor for NBC-owned stations in Los Angeles and San Diego. He has reported from different parts of the U.S. and the world, including Panama, Israel, Rome, and the U.S.-Mexico border. His work has also appeared in Spanish Catholic publications including Alfa y Omega and Omnes.
During his time at Angelus, he has overseen redesigns both of the print magazine and of AngelusNews.com.
Cynthia Shaw, Diocese of San Jose
Cynthia Shaw has been the Director of Communications and the editor of The Valley Catholic for nearly three years. She was a consultant for the Diocese of San Jose on crisis communications needs for two years before coming on board full-time.
Cynthia has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit communications and marketing. Prior to the Diocese, she served as the Regional Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at the American Red Cross, a national non-profit organization. During her 16-year tenure at the American Red Cross, she developed and lead all communications and marketing strategies activities across multiple business units for the Red Cross offices in Northern California. She managed the crisis communications team and social media strategy for dozens of the national Red Cross’ largest disaster response operations over the past 12 years. She served as the designated spokesperson representing the Red Cross on local, national, and international media outlets. Cynthia has been an active member of CAPIO (California Association for Public Information Officers) and PRSA for a number of years.
Prior to the Red Cross, Cynthia held communications positions at other local non-profit organizations. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Commerce Science degree in Marketing and Communications and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Santa Clara University.
Across the country, there are so many good people – lay, clergy and religious – doing amazing things for the love of Jesus Christ. Cynthia considers it a privilege and blessing to be able to tell their stories using traditional, multi-cultural, and digital communications platforms and, in doing so, help draw people closer to Jesus Christ.
Southern Region Representative
Elizabeth Wong Barnstead, The Western Kentucky Catholic
Elizabeth Wong Barnstead serves as the editor of The Western Kentucky Catholic, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Owensboro in western Kentucky. In addition to writing, copyediting, photographing and managing publication of the WKC, she assists multiple diocesan offices through consultation and editing projects on a regular basis. She collaborates with her communications teammates in operating the social media platforms for the Diocese of Owensboro.
Elizabeth oversaw the 2015 print redesign of The Western Kentucky Catholic, and in spring 2021 she and her teammates launched the publication's first-ever website, westernkycatholic.com.
She studied communications with a journalism concentration and minored in philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. At the age of 19, Elizabeth was accepted into the semester-long Washington Journalism Center through The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, which included interning with The Washington Times.
Elizabeth appreciates the opportunity to share the stories of people all over western Kentucky, especially stories highlighting those who are marginalized by the larger culture.
Prior to her arrival in western Kentucky, Elizabeth was a reporter for The Michigan Catholic newspaper of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan.
James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald
James Ramos is a Houston-based journalist, photographer and design editor at the Texas Catholic Herald, sharing stories of the 2 million-plus Catholics from Texas Gulf Coast. A member of the Asian American Journalists Association, Catholic Creatives, and Young Catholic Professionals, he also previously led digital and social media engagement at Aleteia.
The son of Filipino immigrants, his photography and writing has been seen in Catholic News Service, Every Sacred Sunday, Aleteia and Columbia Magazine. Before joining the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2014, James was the lead graphics and design editor for several Houston community newspapers and led young adult ministries in Louisiana and Texas.
A winner of numerous Catholic Press Association awards, including third place in “Writer of the Year” and honorable mention in “Photographer of the Year,” James holds a BA in Communications and Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas - Houston. He has enjoyed connecting Catholic Media Association young professionals for the last eight years and looks forward to continued contributions to CMA in the future. Follow James on Instagram: @plusjames.
Business Staff Member, Magazine
Jennifer Ellis, Together Let Us Go Forth – Juntos Sigamos Adelante
Jennifer Ellis serves as the Content and Strategic Partnerships Manager for the Diocese of Phoenix Office of Communications. In her role, she leads the storytelling, editorial and business management for Together Let Us Go Forth – Juntos Sigamos Adelante magazine as well as The Catholic Sun digital news platform. She also develops sponsorships and advertising to support the Diocese of Phoenix media channels. Her work also involves co-hosting and producing The Bishop’s Hour radio show/podcast as well as producing The Catholic Conversation and Parenting Smarts podcasts.
Jennifer joined The Catholic Sun as an advertising sales representative in 2002 and has enjoyed serving the Church, getting closer to Jesus and growing professionally in her 20-year career with the Diocese of Phoenix. She has a B.A. in Broadcasting - Management and Sales from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.
Michael La Civita, ONE Magazine — Incumbent
Michael La Civita is the Director of Communications for Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA serves the Eastern churches in addressing conflict, injustice, poverty and leadership formation in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, India and Eastern Europe. For more than 30 years, he has directed CNEWA’s media program, including the creation of its web site, blog and media magazine, ONE. Other responsibilities include strategic planning, promotions, marketing and media relations.
La Civita travels frequently to the regions served by CNEWA, writing and speaking widely on their communities and needs. Under his baton, CNEWA’s multimedia initiatives consistently earn recognition from the Catholic Media Association, receiving press awards for reporting, writing, editing, graphic design and video production. He is particularly grateful for the many individual excellence awards conferred upon his talented (and patient) team members.
A member of the CMA since 1989, he served on the board of directors from 1998 to 2001 and was reelected in 2017. He is now vice president. His committee responsibilities have included Bylaws, CMA/CNS liaison, fair codes and practices, and strategic planning. Invested in 2009 in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, La Civita now serves as chancellor of the U.S. Eastern Lieutenancy. He is a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Publisher Member, Newspaper
Michael J. Walsh, Catholic Star Herald
As the associate publisher of the Catholic Star Herald, the official Catholic newspaper of the Diocese of Camden serving the people of Southern New Jersey, Mike Walsh is tasked with ensuring that the newspaper remains as relevant and solvent as the day it began in 1951, while continuing to grow its digital presence.
During his seven-year tenure in this role, Mike has overseen a renewed emphasis on local Catholic news, which is often overlooked in by secular news outlets, while ensuring the faithful receive national/world coverage from the Catholic perspective that incorporates truth, charity and morality.
Mike has been recognized for recruiting new talent and fostering veteran staffers to expand the Catholic Star Herald’s digital media platforms. Due to his innovation and guidance, the Catholic Star Herald has several award-winning podcasts – which feature local and nationally known names – high-traffic YouTube and livestream offerings, online photo galleries, and enhanced social media channels.
His dedication to quality editorial content has been accomplished while also keeping an eye on the bottom line, as he has helped build an efficient financial stewardship with increased advertising sales, thanks in no small part to great sales reps and offering cutting-edge advertising opportunities for both print and digital media.
Mike’s work as associate publisher is part of his larger role as Secretary for Communications for the Diocese of Camden, where he oversees marketing, communications and media relations for the Diocese and its 62 parishes, 31 schools, Catholic Charities, and several dozen diocesan ministries and departments. In addition to his communications work, Mike has a leadership role in major diocesan events and fundraising projects.
During his 25-year career as a journalist, conference manager and public relations professional, Mike has specialized in putting together high-quality teams and projects on tight budgets and ensuring content excellence. He enjoys combining new talent with seasoned veterans to keep projects fresh. While his main focus is always the task at hand, he never forgets that the goal of our work is bringing the Word of God to the people so that all can join Christ’s mission to help our neighbor.
Publisher Member, Magazine
Chris Pham, Faith Saginaw
Chris Pham serves the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw where he uses digital marketing to distribute stories, photos, videos, audio recordings and other content as widely as possible. This includes targeted, analytics-driven (paid) advertising on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms in addition to email marketing and more.
As a potential board member, Chris hopes to serve members of the Catholic Media Association by listening to their concerns and ideas and by sharing his strategies and best practices.
“We in Catholic media must become quicker to adapt,” says Pham. “For the average American, their phone is where they spend most of their time. We must be more effective at meeting them on their phones, and we must adapt to changes in content consumption more rapidly. If we know how to navigate the digital space, we can invite more people to encounter Christ and his Church.
Chris Pham is the founder of Grow Catholic, Inc., a marketing and advertising company that helps Catholic organizations increase their reach and impact. He has 10+ years of experience in digital marketing, advertising, sales and digital communications.
“My hope for Catholic media is that we be joyful and obedient to God," says Pham. “I don’t think being sophisticated and relevant are as critical as being faithful to God.”
Chris and his wife Katy are expecting a baby girl in February.
Emily Sanna, U.S. Catholic
Emily Sanna is the managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine, where she’s worked for eight years. She began her career as the digital editor at U.S. Catholic, where she led the magazine in revamping their social media strategy, redesigning their website, and introducing a new web content strategy that more than doubled online engagement in the first several months. As managing editor, her work has focused on helping the magazine rearticulate its mission and vision and apply this to both print and digital content strategies, developing and managing a remote workflow appropriate to the realities of 2023, and helping to implement an upcoming online membership program.
Emily also has experience working both as an editor and writer in educational and academic publishing. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oberlin College and a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School. She lives in Chicago with her husband and toddler.
Online voting closed March 2, 2023.