Two incredible speakers will be featured at the 2023 YAL (Young Adult League) Conference over Labor Day weekend in Orange County, California. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco YAL is pleased to welcome Matina Kolokotronis, COO of the Sacramento Kings; and Michelle Moujaes, Founder and Executive Director of Faithtree Resources.
“These speakers bring an excellent dimension to the YAL Conference, with their diverse professional backgrounds, while leading a fulfilling life in Christ,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco. “I am grateful for their generosity of time to be with us for the YAL Conference and sharing their inspirational messages with this vibrant group.”
Michelle Moujaes will be featured at the YAL Conference on Friday, and her vibrant personality and engaging presentation will launch us into a fulfilling conference weekend. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to participate in the YAL Conference this year,” shared Michelle. “We’re going to have a ton of fun together as we explore how we best FULFILL God’s purposes for our lives – on purpose.”
Matina Kolokotronis is a powerhouse when it comes to career success. But she has not let that get in the way of her faith, family and culture. On Saturday, you will be inspired by Matina’s message and how she has found fulfillment personally and professionally. “My Greek Orthodox faith and the Greek community provided me with a spiritual foundation as I pursued my educational and professional goals,” remarked Matina Kolokotronis. “I am honored to have been chosen as a keynote speaker, and I look forward to sharing my experience with conference attendees as they embark on their own journey and fulfill their own purpose.”
The Conference is filling up fast! Don’t get left behind. FULFILL your purpose and join us for the YAL Conference. Book your hotel and register today! Deadline: August 12, 2023. Don’t miss out on the only all-inclusive weekend of its kind with faith, fellowship, worship and service.
Guest Speakers
Matina Kolokotronis
Entering her 27th season with the NBA, Matina Kolokotronis serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Sacramento Kings. Bringing decades of experience in sports and government law, community affairs and contract negotiations, Kolokotronis’ leadership has been integral to the development of the award-winning Golden 1 Center as well as its adjacent, $500 million mixed-use development project, Downtown Commons. Golden 1 Center is recognized as the greenest and most technologically-advanced arena in the world and is the first professional sports venue in the world to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Together, Golden 1 Center and Downtown Commons represent a $1 billion investment in downtown Sacramento – a great source of pride for the community and driver of significant economic growth in the region.
Prior to her appointment as COO, Kolokotronis was the President of Business Operations. Kolokotronis is the only female in the NBA to hold both COO and President of Business Operations titles.
Before being named President of Business Operations, Kolokotronis served as legal consultant for the Kings business and basketball operations teams, negotiating player and staff contracts. During that time, Kolokotronis was an Adjunct Professor of Law at McGeorge Law School, University of the Pacific, where she taught Sports Law. Prior to that, she served for six years as director of the Sacramento Kings Foundation, overseeing strategic development and fundraising activities. Before joining the Kings, Kolokotronis was an associate with Miller, Owen and Trost and practiced contract and sports law where her clients included the Kings and various NBA players.
Kolokotronis’ leadership extends beyond the Kings organization and into the community, where she is an advocate for numerous women’s advancement groups and non-profits. She is a mentor at SheShares, a Sacramento-based organization dedicated to supporting young female professionals working and creating careers in California. She also serves on the California State Protocol Foundation board, as appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom, and is the board chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
Kolokotronis is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and received her law degree from McGeorge Law School, University of the Pacific. A Chicago native, she was raised in the Greek Orthodox faith and is an active member of the Greek Orthodox community. She and her husband, Sotiris, are long-time Sacramento residents, and their three children – Constantine, Marisa and Nicholas – proudly wear purple.
Michelle Moujaes
Michelle is the founder and Executive Director of Faithtree Resources, a pan-Orthodox 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California. Faithtree creates resources to equip churches, church leaders and the people they serve. Faithtree's passion is helping people to know and live the Christian faith, for the common good and the glory of God.
After graduating from Boston University with a degree in Social Work and Community Organizing, including coursework emphasis on theology and organizing communities of faith, she began working for a variety of agencies including: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Monster.com’s Making it Count Program, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and the Easter Seals School for Children with Autism.
She has led in a variety of roles within the Orthodox Christian Church including as the New England Regional Youth Director for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Metropolitan Committee Chair in Los Angeles for International Orthodox Christian Charities, a member of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s National Board of Directors, Founding Chair of St. Elijah Orthodox Church elementary school programming in Oklahoma City, among others.
Michelle is happily married to her husband Waleed, and together they have four children, Dimitri, Alexander, Jonah and Sabine. When she’s not speaking or creating content for Faithtree Resources, you might find her speaking internationally on the topic of autism and interventions for adults and children with Extraordinary Needs, or volunteering at St. Michael Church, the home parish she and her family attend.