We’ll Walk This Road Together
We’re a team that combines innovation and experience to help mission-driven organizations navigate change and amplify their impact.
Christopher Kennedy
Community-Focused Innovator
Christopher is a community-focused innovator who leads strategic visioning and project structuring at Emmaus Projects. He specializes in client readiness, early-stage planning, and aligning projects with organization’s values, legacy, and long-term impact.
Christopher spearheaded the conceptual design of the $45M redevelopment of St. Austin Catholic Church and School in Austin, TX, and leads most of the initial community engagement and project scoping. A trusted facilitator and relationship builder, he brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, civic engagement, and infrastructure.
His previous roles include seven years as CEO of Leadership Austin and more than two decades with the Lower Colorado River Authority, where he oversaw critical administrative functions for regional public utilities.
A proud University of Texas graduate, Christopher has called Austin home ever since—and is an avid (some say rabid) Longhorn fan.
Patricia Dolese
Project Execution and Operations Expert
Trish brings clarity, structure, and a steady hand to project execution at Emmaus Projects. She specializes in operations, construction, and change management—guiding mission-driven clients through design and development with confidence and care.
Trish served as the primary project manager for the redevelopment of St. Austin Catholic Church and School in Austin, TX, overseeing day-to-day implementation, including building design, financial modeling, and legal coordination. Her leadership helped transform underutilized space into a new 125,000 sq. ft. ministry and school center.
With over 20 years of consulting experience in Texas’s deregulated electric industry, Trish is known for cutting through complexity and making critical information actionable and accessible.
She holds a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and also resides in Austin, Texas.
“Emmaus Projects is a beacon of hope in the midst of the alarming decline of traditional faith-based institutions across America.
As congregations struggle to survive, the expertise, experience and enthusiasm Emmaus Projects brings to the table is an absolute inspiration in time when we need it the most.”
Andy Sansom
Central Presbyterian Church