Meet the Compass Catholic Team
Meet Jon Bean Co-Founder
Jon has been married to Evelyn for over 50 years, and is member of St. Stephen Catholic Community in Winter Springs, FL. He worked 25 years with a Fortune 500 company and over 30 years in Non-profit business and ministry. Since 1986, when they moved to the Orlando area, Jon has been very involved in both parish and Diocesan activities. He is a Lay Ecclesial Minister of the Diocese of Orlando.
After teaching Biblical financial principles for a non-denominational ministry for 0ver 20 years, Jon and his wife founded Compass Catholic Ministries, a 501c3 organization in 2010. He served as President and cofounder of the ministry until 2021 and was then elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Meet Nathan Mihelich Exective Director
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With a strong background in nonprofit management and a passion for helping individuals achieve financial wellness, Mihelich brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. As Executive Director, he will lead the organization's strategic vision, foster partnerships, and drive growth initiatives to further the ministry's impact in the community.
Mihelich's extensive leadership experience includes successfully managing nonprofit organizations, developing innovative programs, and cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders. He has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals seeking financial stability and is dedicated to empowering them with the tools and resources needed for success. Mihelich is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
Favorite Verse
Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. It hopefully reminds us all that there is comfort when turning to Jesus. We don't carry our troubles alone.
What does financial discipleship mean to you? "For us Catholics, financial discipleship is a mindful stewardship of God's blessings, reflecting our faith in our fiscal decisions.
Meet ​Kim Bean Shipping Specialist
Kim is an Army veteran of the Vietnam era. She has a BS and an MS in IEd from Purdue University. Kim lived and worked in San Jose, CA until retirement. She then moved to Winter Springs, FL to be near her family. Favorite Bible Verse:
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.” Psalm 23:1
Why is this ministry important to you? This ministry is important to me because everyone should be able to know that they have enough money for now and the foreseeable future. This ministry will assist you in becoming debt free.
Meet Camila Gonzalez Operations Coordinator
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Camila's passion for bringing others to Christ led her to serve as a full-time missionary with NET (National Evangelization Team) immediately after graduating High School. This experience deepened her faith and exposed her to teamwork and evangelization. After her year of missionary work, she attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville, double majoring in Humanitarian Studies and Theology. Her passion has led to a professional career centered on helping others grow in their faith. Most recently, she was the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at a local parish in the Archdiocese of Miami. She is excited to continue serving the Church at Compass Catholic Ministry.
Favorite Verse
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. Take to heart these words which I command you today." -Deuteronomy 6:4-6
What does this ministry mean to you? "I have always seen the importance of sharing the message of the Gospel to others in all aspects. Focusing specifically on spiritual financial awareness is a topic that often gets overlooked. ​
Meet Jennifer Ibarra Business Manager
Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Accounting from UNLV in 2005 and a Masters of Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Angelo State University in 2009. Prior to working at Compass Catholic, Jenny worked in an accounting firm and at a pregnancy resource center. She is passionate about integrating her faith into all aspects of her life and is excited to be part of a team that is focused on sharing the message of financial discipleship.
Jenny and her husband have six children. As a family, they love playing board games, doing art projects, and going camping.
Favorite Bible Verse: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)
What does financial discipleship mean to you? To me, financial discipleship means following God’s wisdom and direction in how we handle our finances. It is surrendering the power and control of money into God’s hands and recognizing that we are stewards of the gifts that we have received. It helps us to grow in trusting the Lord and really allows us to experience the peace and freedom that comes from living within God’s will.
Meet ELIZABETH (LEE) MÉNENDEZ
Born in the US to Cuban parents, she lives in Pembroke Pines, Fl, with her husband, Jose. She is a certified public accountant.
She is part of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Pembroke Pines since 1996 and there she was the initiator of the Financial Bible Study in English, as her passion has been to teach people to learn to live according to their means.
Invited by Eva Córdova, one of her first students in that course, she joined the Board of Directors of Compass Católico as Treasurer in 2015 and served as a member of the Strategic Planning and Expansion Committee of that Ministry until 2021.
Meet MR. JOSÉ EDUARDO SIMÁN.
Born in San Salvador, El Salvador 9/21/1946, Mr. Simán received an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, New York, New York in 1969 and joined his family’s business in 1979 after a ten year career in US and Canadian multinationals. Mr. Simán is President of the Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation (SAHF), Miami, Florida.
Mr. Simán is married, with four adult children and four grandchildren and lives in Miami, Florida.
Meet KATIE SHEPPARD
Katie is originally from East Hartford, Connecticut. She graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing. Upon graduation she was commissioned in the Army's Medical Service Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant.
She attended Law School at George Mason under the Army's Fully Funded Legal Education Program. She continued to serve in the Army in the Judge Advocate General Corps at Fort Hood, TX, Fort Gordon, GA and the United States Military Academy. She left active duty after 12 years and continues to serve as the Command Judge Advocate of the 38th Regional Support Group in Charleston, WV.
She has served as the Director of Advancement for the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, KY since 2015 and has been a facilitator and promoter of Compass Catholic Bible studies in the Diocese of Lexington since 2017.
Meet Lilliana (Lilly) Ganuza
Lilly Ganuza was born in Costa Rica and came with her family as a child, to the USA. She has over 40 years of experience in accounting, managing finances in multiple industries and nonprofits. She holds a Master of Accounting from the University of Phoenix. She has four children and three grandchildren. She has been a Lector and Eucharistic Minister for over 20 years.
Lilly went through the Compass Bible Study in 2004 and since then has dedicated time to facilitating the Bible Study in both English and Spanish. In her retirement, she continues to serve in her parish and uses her accumulated experience to serve in the Board of Directors of Compass Católico for Latin America (2015-2021), and as of 2021 in the joint venture of Compass worldwide.
Meet Fr.Danny Taylor
My name is Fr. Danny Taylor, and I was born and raised in Lexington, KY. In 2013, I obtained a degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky. However, during my time at the university, I felt a calling to serve the Church, which led me on a different path. In 2014, I became a seminarian for the Diocese of Lexington. I pursued my theological studies and spiritual formation at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. On June 13th, 2020, I was ordained as a priest. Since my ordination, I have served as a parochial vicar at a variety of parishes and also as a youth minister. Now, I am excited to take on new responsibilities. Beginning in July 2023, I will be serving as a sacramental minister at Holy Spirit Parish-Newman Center in Lexington. In addition, I have been appointed Vocations Director for the Diocese of Lexington.
Meet Lazaro R. Garcia II, Esq.
Born and Raised in South Florida, Laz comes from a Cuban
and Puerto Rican background. He is fluent in both English and
Spanish and is currently an Insurance Defense Attorney at
Kelley Kronenberg. Laz has an Undergraduate Degree in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctorate from Saint Thomas University. Laz has long been active in serving his community and parishes through young adult formation and guidance.
Laz’s passion is to simply help people in whatever way he can. He has been a leader in multiple facets around the Archdiocese of Miami, from helping Facilitate and Coordinate the
Archdiocese’s Youth Worship nights at St. Thomas during his undergraduate years, to Volunteering in multiple young adult groups helping to facilitate the youth’s growth and spiritual development, to assisting Catholic Legal Services through an internship at their Immigration Help Desk in Downtown Miami.