Arthur C. Brooks, PhD, is a social scientist and one of the world’s leading authorities on human happiness. He is a professor at Vanderbilt University, senior fellow at the Harvard Business School, columnist with The Free Press, host of the podcast “Office Hours with Arthur Brooks,” CBS News contributor and an internationally acclaimed public speaker. He is the author of 16 books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Meaning of Your Life, Build the Life You Want (co-authored with Oprah Winfrey) and From Strength to Strength.
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Ester Munt-Brooks grew up in Barcelona and became a touring musician as a teenager, leaving school at fifteen. After falling in love with an American in her mid-twenties (her husband, Arthur Brooks) with whom she didn’t share a language, she built a life across continents—raising three children and gradually moving from a secular background to becoming a Catholic educator and theology student.
After completing her master’s in theology at the Augustine Institute, Ester speaks in both English and Spanish across the U.S. about faith, love and lived experience. Ester and Arthur now teach together, his science of happiness and meaning meeting her understanding of faith, love and what it actually takes to build a life worth living alongside another person.
The Conference on Business & Ethics (CBE) is a much-anticipated event in Southern California that brings together faith-filled influential business, religious, academic and philanthropic leaders. In partnership with Farmers & Merchants Bank, The Orange Catholic Foundation has provided this forum for 24 years to inspire leaders to perform best ethical practices, both personally and professionally.
Repeatedly, CBE has been given the title of #1 Breakfast in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal, including in January 2026! Event proceeds support Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Orange, School Tuition Assistance Endowment and The Orange Catholic Foundation.
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From left to right with honoree year: Chris Furman, 2017; Jim Snyder, 2025; Dr. Elysabeth Nguyen, 2023; Laura Meier, 2026; Daniel Walker, 2026; Michael Schulman (on behalf of the Samuelis), 2026; Rand Sperry, 2016; Gabriel Ferrucci, 2005; Timothy Psomas, 2021.
The Bishop’s Award for Exemplary Business Integrity recognizes business leaders who demonstrate ethical practices, both personally and professionally. To qualify, one must: Be a successfully recognized businessperson in the community; Be a current or retired CEO, owner or high‐ranking executive for a company with many employees; Be dedicated to ethical business practices; Be a positive example of ethical practice in all aspects of his or her life; Have a well‐established record of ethical leadership qualities, including treating employees fairly; Be a practicing Catholic.
Farmers & Merchants Bank has graciously partnered with The Orange Catholic Foundation and supported the Conference on Business & Ethics and the Lifetime Achievement Award since 2012. The recipient of the award is an individual, couple, or organization who has made a significant contribution to the community within the Diocese of Orange.
