The Business Summit

Gellert Dornay began his family and vocational journey at a young age; getting married, having a child and launching his first of many businesses by the time he hit legal drinking age. As interest in specialty coffees grew in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Gellert led his company, Java Trading Co., to bring coffee to the masses on three continents, ultimately selling the company to private equity in 2006, leaving the company shortly thereafter.

As a practicing Catholic business leader and entrepreneur, Gellert continued his strong desire to promote human flourishing in business, founding Axia Home Loans in 2007. Knowing that home ownership contributes greatly to family and economic stability, Axia grew to fund over $1 billion in home mortgages annually, helping thousands of families become homeowners. In 2026, Axia became the first 100% employee-owned mortgage bank.

Gellert co-founded a Catholic Parallel Economy Fund, 1571, through which investments are made in companies aligned with Catholic Social Teaching becoming a stronger force for good in the world. Now residing in Spokane, Washington, Gellert stays active on multiple boards and not-for-profits, and as a husband to Elizabeth, a father to their 11 children, and as grandfather to a growing number of grandchildren.

Larry Ryan is the Founder/CEO of Ryan Lawn and Tree, a landscaping and value-add provider and servicer of beautiful spaces in the Midwest. After learning and practicing forestry, working in a tree business in Wichita, Kansas, and learning more about business in the franchise restaurant business, Larry launched Ryan in 1987 with his wife, Kathy. Ryan Lawn and Tree now employs 500 mostly-full-time, full-benefit employees, with the employees owning 100% of the company. In an industry where part-time, non-benefit employees is the norm, Ryan Lawn and Tree is a heroic outlier.

For over 38 years, Mr. Trysla has been advising private and public clients in merger & acquisition and corporate finance transactions. Prior to forming Frontier Investment Banking, Mr. Trysla served as a Principal of a regional investment banking firm, where he led the manufacturing, distribution and business services practice group, providing mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and financial advisory services. He has initiated and consummated mergers, acquisitions, sales, divestitures, recapitalizations and financings across a broad range of industries.

Prior to becoming an investment banker, Mr. Trysla practiced corporate law, specializing in mergers, acquisitions and sale/divestitures of businesses and in corporate finance with the law firms of a longtime established regional firm, an international law firm and one of the 25 largest firms in the world, and a national law firm and one of the 100 largest where he chaired the Corporate Practice group of the Kansas City office and served on that firm鈥檚 Management Committee.

Mr. Trysla holds a Juris Doctorate Degree and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, both with highest distinction, from the University of Nebraska. He has three children and lives in the Kansas City area.

Gerard (Gerry) Jacob is Founder CEO of Caritas Group, a multi-disciplinary organization with practices, operations, and investments in medical and diagnostic services, brain health and performance, innovation and design, wellness products and growth advisory services in North America and Asia. Caritas Group functions as an active, purpose-driven investor, incubator, and advisor for faith-based startups. Prior to founding Caritas Group, Gerry had a two-decade-long career in investment banking and investment management at several companies including Fidelity Investments, KeyCorp, and Wells Capital Management.

Gerry’s leadership and activity in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex is substantial and meaningful and includes, but is not limited to past President of Legatus, past Chairman of the Board for Catholic Charities of Dallas, former board member of the University of Dallas Alumni Board and for Heroic Media. His support in founding or supporting Catholic apostolates are numerous. He was instrumental in helping 小草影院 develop its mission to Transform the Culture of America mission. He and his wife, Judith, are active supporters and members of a number of local apostolates.

Book author and podcaster round out just some of Gerry’s accomplishments. He hosts the radio talk show, “Faith and Leadership” and has written two books: Peak Brain Power and his latest, Old Live Matter, will be published in 2026. Gerry is a graduate of the University of Dallas and studied at Le Moyne College. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Ann’s Parish in Coppell, Texas, and have raised three children and enjoy three grandchildren.