People

Mario Denton has served as the Compass Director for Africa since 2010. He has earned an MBA, Masters of Economics, and a PhD.

He is experienced in bringing strategic relationships together to build significant growth through collaboration and building trust. Mario is a passionate advocate of Lifelong Learning, Personal Growth and leadership Development with the Haggai Institute.

In 1979, Mario married Mariene and they have three sons, four grandchildren and live in Cape Town South Africa.

James Sims is the Compass Director for the twelve countries in Asia Pacific including China. His passion is to teach people to handle money based on the principles of the Bible. James earned an MBA from Brunel University and a Bachelor of Theology from Christian Life School of Theology USA.

For 30 years James was a business professional specializing in strategic alliances, partnership management and solutions architect. He focused on the industry segments of consumer electronics, communication, medical devices, safety, security and surveillance devices, for both private and public sectors.

James and his wife of 33 years, Jessie Leong, live in Singapore and have two sons and one grandson.

Brandon Sieben retired as President of Allsteel, the largest division of one of the world’s leading office furniture manufacturers, HNI Corporation. For 25 years Brandon Sieben served with HNI, holding multiple executive level positions across both its global and domestic businesses. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Finance from the University of Illinois, and MBA from the University of Iowa. He is married to Deb and they have three daughters.

Richard was raised in a vibrant Christian family who still serves orphans, the destitute, and missions. He completed a BA in Indian Philosophy at Madras Christian College, and a Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky, USA.

Richard enjoys studying and teaching God’s Word, and counsels many. He leads the Compass team that teaches how to handle money God way to individuals, families and churches across India. Richard is convinced that the question of serving God or Mammon (Mathew 6:24) is a constant, critical choice before every follower of Christ.

Richard lives in Madurai, India with wife Annie, a son and four daughters.

Dan was raised on a family farm in Ohio. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University. While a student, Dan served four years as a student manager for the Ohio State men’s basketball program. After graduation, He invested four years at an Appalachian Christian school as the administrator and basketball coach.

In 2004, Dan became involved in the Financial Discipleship movement. He is a gifted and inspiring communicator who is passionate about engaging the younger generation in learning God’s way of handling money and possessions.

Dan and his wife Cheri have seven terrific sons (Caleb, Joshua, David, Isaac, Jeremiah, Jesse and Noah) and split their time between living in Ohio and Florida.

Dr. Andrés Panasiuk is the son of a Ukrainian family, grew-up in a Russian-speaking church, in an Italian neighborhood, in a Latin American country and is married to an American missionary who grew-up in Zimbabwe! His wife, Rochelle, represents the fourth generation of missionaries and church-planters in her family. Andrés is the third generation of ministers.

Andrés and Rochelle ministered for 10 years in one of the most violent Chicago neighborhoods in the inner-city. He also served as the Administrator at the only Spanish-language Christian radio station in the city.

It was out of his experience as a church planter, a Senior Pastor, and a broadcaster that Compass Latino was born. It has become the most influential Stewardship Ministry in Latin America.

Andrés is a writer, teacher and conference speaker. He reaches millions of people through his books, radio programs and conferences.

Dr. Panasiuk has a degree in Communications. He has received two Doctorate degrees honoris causa. He, his wife Rochelle live in Gainesville, Georgia, and they have three children.

Ken Battles graduated from Alabama A&M University with a B.S. in Computer Sciences. He has a 40+ year diverse career in Information Technology and is currently a Global IT Security Service Manager, representing the Nokia account for Atos, a leader in digital transformation.

Shortly after joining Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Oviedo in 2007, Ken completed what is now the Compass Navigating Your Finances God’s Way small group study. This led to his full acceptance of Christ as his savior and a calling to draw the urban community closer to Christ and improve their finances. After a one-year mentoring journey with Howard Dayton, Ken launched Compass Urban Stewardship Ministries as an affiliate of Compass.

Ken and his wife Sharon reside in Central Florida where they are involved in raising three god-children.

Jon and Evelyn Bean are the founders of Compass Catholic Ministries, a Compass affiliate. In the late 1980s, a business failure and financial struggles produced enormous tension and threatened their marriage.

Fortunately, they participated in the first – what is now the Navigating Your Finances God’s Way – small group study offered in a Catholic church in 1987.

What they learned radically improved their marriage and finances. Within twenty years they were able to retire and become full-time volunteers serving the Catholic community through Compass.

They created an excellent Catholic version of the Navigating study and other Compass materials. Compass Catholic currently serves in more than 30 dioceses and 80 parishes in the United States and in eight countries.