One of the newest permanent deacons serving the Diocese of Burlington will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of Vermont Catholic Professionals, offering his thoughts on bringing Catholic values to the board room or the work place.

Deacon RJ Dourney, ordained last year, also will offer personal testimony to the power of Catholic networking.

“Over the past 30 years as an executive, I have encountered some of the most hostile, non-Christian environments and managed to remain true to my Catholic faith while succeeding in a business,” said the seasoned entrepreneur and executive who has successfully developed multiple companies throughout the United States, Europe, Central America and Asia including the development of more than 2,000 restaurants. “Though some doors have been closed to me through the years, many more have been opened by God as a result of following a few simple rules.”

He will share these rules while also sharing the impact Catholic networking has had on his career and life. “Still today I benefit from the groundwork I laid through Catholic networking over 25 years ago which has been a financial benefit and spiritual grace,” he said.

A veteran CEO, the deacon has served as a key executive of both public and privately held companies including Applebee’s, Cosi, Chili’s and The Upper Crust Pizzeria. He also is the founder of Hearthstone Associates, formerly one of the largest privately held restaurant companies in New England.

The founder of Fortis Advisors, Deacon Dourney and his team consult for real estate and senior living community developers, investment bankers, technology and restaurant companies helping move their businesses to the next level.

He serves on the board of directors of public and private companies and is currently chairman of Zullee Mediterranean Grill and TOMS King, one of Burger King’s largest franchisees.

“We must see the business world as the perfect platform to encourage others to walk towards our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

Deacon Dourney is a Distinguished Fellow at Catholic University where he serves on the board of advisors for the Ciocca Center School of Entrepreneurship.

He attended Villanova University where he studied business and economics. He regularly guest lectures at Harvard Business School, Boston College and Catholic University.

“Early in my career I realized I had a choice regarding living my faith. I could live our Catholic values at home, church and with friends and then be secular at work or I could be true to my faith at all times. I chose the latter,” he said. “This has at times both alienated me and drawn me closer to people at work. But regardless of how difficult it has been, I have never regretted being a follower of Christ at work and at home.”

At work he has never hidden his faith, and as a result there have been numerous times when people in his work life wanted to talk about faith. They had lost their way, and when they saw how comfortable he was being Catholic they asked to talk with him. “Very often it has been as if others simply wanted someone else to walk through the door of being openly Catholic first and they would follow,” he said.

Deacon Dourney is in full-time ministry as a deacon, serving at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, Our Lady of the Valley Church in Townshend and Chapel of the Snows at Stratton Mountain. He also is engaged in prison ministry and supporting Deacon Phil Lawson as he leads the Diocese’s evangelization and “Building Vibrant Parishes” work.

The next Vermont Catholic Professionals meeting will be April 19 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the speaker at 9.

To register for both the Zoom session and the in-person meeting at diocesan headquarters, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, go to vermontcatholic.org/about/vermont-catholic-professionals.

—Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.