Dr. Russ Elmayan is a double Duke graduate, with a Master of Business Administration degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree. He also has a Master of Pastoral Studies degree and an undergraduate business degree from other universities. He worked for ten years at large corporations before being called to serve the church at the Catholic Diocese for Eastern North Carolina. He has served three denominational bishops, almost 100 parish churches and almost 30 parochial schools, hundreds of members of the clergy, and hundreds of thousands of parishioners for more than 30 years. His roles in the church have included Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chancellor. His responsibilities have included oversight over finance, property and construction, stewardship and development, legal services, insurance, communications, human resources, and charitable outreach. His current duties also include serving as president of the Catholic Community Deposit and Loan Fund and as treasurer of the board of Catholic Charities.