From Warriors to Elders: John J. Fontana

John Fontana has a vision to transform today's retiring executives into tomorrow's nonprofit leaders. He's using Ignatius Loyola's spiritual exercises to do it.

Fontana has had two tracks in his career - one in business, and one in ministry. These days, he is bringing these two tracks together, finding ways to help executives transition from high-powered, cut-throat profit seeking to wise elders who can use their business acumen to aid charities and nonprofits.

The key to this transformation comes in the form of an ancient set of spiritual exercises developed by Saint Ignatius Loyola, and practiced for four centuries by the Jesuits.

Fontana is now the co-director of the recently formed Ignatian Legacy Leaders Fellowship program, housed at the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago.