“Connect, develop and inspire Catholic professionals to live their faith at work, at home and in their community.”
That mission statement for the Catholic Business League was adopted shortly after its inception and it remains just as impactful today, as we heard from one of our founding members, Betty Lou Burnett, during this morning’s breakfast meeting!
When the Catholic Business League was just sprouting in the midst of the recession, Bishop Choby urged the founding members to focus the organization’s efforts on helping people get back to work – a foundation of networking that remains a focal point to this day.
Nearly 100 attendees eagerly arrived to hear Deacon John Krenson at the inaugural meeting, which was exactly 19 years ago today — October 9, 2008 — at the FiftyForward Martin Center in Brentwood. The membership total quickly grew, and more than 100 paying members had joined within two months. Through the efforts of Rev. Ed Steiner — one of the CBL’s early chaplains — the meetings were later moved to their current home at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
That growth is still at the heart of the Catholic Business League’s efforts in 2025: not only expanding the membership base throughout Nashville and into the surrounding neighborhoods, but going further to meet demand and establish chapters across the country.
After sharing that the Catholic Business League “brought her out of her shell,” Burnett asked members to share their own testimonials about the impact of the CBL on their lives. Board member Drew Rodgers was one of several who mentioned the value of the networking that is ever-present throughout CBL meetings and external gatherings, including the opportunities to connect oneself — and others — with like-minded Catholic professionals.
Former president and current board member Margaret Smith noted that she “felt instantly at home” upon joining as a member, seeing Catholic professionals speaking about their experiences and “galvanizing the world” with their skills and leadership. Current president Amy Sutton added that the leaders she sees as part of the CBL community inspire her to lead with faith in her own work life. “I don’t leave here any Thursday morning without leaving here incredibly inspired…[CBL] has filled a need in me.”
After Burnett concluded her presentation, we heard from Patricia M. Smith from HerVoiceWorks about the upcoming Advancement of Catholic Education (ACE) Dinner on November 6, which benefits the Diocese’s endowment fund in support of our Catholic schools. Each of the schools in the Diocese of Nashville has an individual ACE account that assists their unique school needs, and supporters can specify which school in the diocese they would like their donation to benefit. The 2025 event celebrates the 10th year of ACE, and both silent and live auctions — organized by the Nashville Catholic Business Women’s League — have been added this year. All CBL members are invited to attend and to provide gifts for the auction, be they products from your employer’s firm, or something wonderful with the firm name connected. You are invited to contact NCBWL president Patricia Smith to participate, and to visit the Diocese website for further attendance and sponsorship opportunities.
Finally, we’d like to remind you about our upcoming meetings for 2025, on November 13 and December 11. We’ll be announcing our Catholic Professional of the Year later this fall, so we encourage all of you to invite friends and come together for these final meetings of the year! We’re looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings!
