Meet The Team

As Branches Worldwide's Executive Director, Dan has extensive experience helping faith driven leaders develop influence with customers, colleagues, and their community. He served as a pastor at a megachurch in Ohio before accepting the invitation to become our founding director. In addition to serving as the Executive Director, Dan is also the author of “Authentic Leadership” and a co-founder of Owolabi Leadership. Dan holds a BA from Malone University, and a MA from Ashland University. He lives in Ohio with his wife Erica and two daughters.

Dan has always believed that Authentic Leaders are servants first. That's why he has made it his mission to help others achieve exceptional results by leading from a mindset of serving.

"Imagine a world where you wake up, ready to lead with genuine confidence. You rarely feel insecure. You never pretend, perform or act like you have it all together. You are simply secure in who you are, and strong enough to influence others." - Dan Owolabi

Chris serves as the president of Branches Worldwide and Branches Consulting, Co. following a 20+ year career as a healthcare executive. He is passionate about what can happen when God is at the center of how we lead our families, conduct business, and serve in our communities.

Over his 20+ career in healthcare, he held roles in clinical leadership, business development, government relations, strategic planning, physician recruiting, acquisitions, served as the president of a large multi-specialty physician group, and as COO of the health system. During this time, Chris also created a state-of-the-art benefit design plan that helped employers better control their healthcare costs by focusing on advanced primary care solutions.

Chris has served as an adjunct professor and curriculum developer of healthcare law and finance at Malone University. During his career, he also served as a business development consultant for a medical software company which grew from a two-person start-up to a company with 80+ employees in three major U.S. cities, India, and Egypt during his engagement.

He is also passionate about his local community and has served as chairman of his local chamber of commerce, vice president of an elected school board, managing partner and fiduciary agent of My Town Strasburg (a non-profit ministry serving the needs of locals), and as a board member for the Tuscarawas County YMCA.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration, a bachelor’s degree in sports science, is a registered vascular technician and a certified black belt in lean & six sigma. Chris is married to his college sweetheart, Heather, and they have three amazing children together and live in Ohio.

Cody Carpenter is a results-driven leader dedicated to operational excellence, strategic growth, and faith-driven leadership. At Branches Worldwide, he plays a key role in ensuring initiatives are executed with precision, purpose, and long-term impact.

With over a decade of experience managing complex systems and leading high-performing teams, Cody brings a rare blend of strategic insight and hands-on execution. His leadership is grounded in humility, service, and a deep belief in empowering people to thrive.

Known for his calm presence and unwavering focus, Cody leads by example—building strong systems, mentoring others, and helping the organization grow with clarity and conviction.

Margie Cobb serves as the Director of Branches Worldwide, where she equips global entrepreneurs to grow in faith, leadership, and community impact. With over 30 years of experience in leadership development, Margie is deeply passionate about servant leadership and the power of strong, Christ-centered communities.

Originally from Texas, Margie now lives in Wooster, Ohio with her husband Bruce. Together, they have three adult children and two wonderful grandchildren,

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Mariam Olugbemiro began her entrepreneurial journey assisting her mother in managing a thriving retail operation. Over the years, she built a multifaceted career across various sectors—including the building materials industry, gas distribution, commercial catering, and hospitality management. Before relocating to the U.S., Mariam successfully operated her own hospitality business, serving clients across Lagos with excellence and care.

Since immigrating to the U.S. in 2017, Mariam has continued to grow in leadership and influence. She now resides in Orrville, Ohio, with her husband, son, and daughter. In her current role as Chief of Staff at Branches Worldwide, Mariam oversees strategic operations, drives administrative efficiency, supports organizational growth, and works closely with Executive Director Dan Owolabi to advance the mission globally.

Known for her warmth, precision, and passion for people, Mariam enjoys cooking, dancing, traveling, and listening to music—pursuits that reflect her vibrant approach to life and leadership.

Deanna Nichols-Stika brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the social service sector, spanning both nonprofit and government organizations. Deeply rooted in her passions for faith, family, and community development, Deanna is committed to creating environments where people and purpose thrive.

Known for her servant-hearted leadership, Deanna is appreciated for her interpersonal insight, coaching strengths, strategic thinking, and data-informed decision-making. Her expertise includes relational listening, organizational leadership, and guiding teams through vision-driven planning. She believes that self-reflection and lifelong learning are essential practices for discerning God’s direction in both personal and community life.

Deanna and her husband John live just outside Creston, Ohio, though both proudly hail from Kansas and remain loyal Kansas State fans. They are the parents of three adult sons, each building families of their own. While she may not claim coordination as a strength, Deanna’s knack for finding dark chocolate is unmatched.

Rodd, a human relations expert, has vast experience in leading and empowering others, maximizing their potential and performance. Traveling across the country, he facilitates leadership development for companies and organizations, provides executive coaching for top execs as well as emerging leaders, and conducts adventure-based team building. Rodd and his wife live in Wooster, OH, and have three sons and five grandchildren. He joins Branches as our Mentorship Development Director. Assisting the Executive Director in vetting potential Mentor candidates, increasing collaboration between Mentors, ensuring Mentors are well-trained and equipped, and supporting Mentors as needed.

Kevin Milligan is a seasoned professional with an entrepreneurial career spanning over three decades. He has spent 18 years as a healthcare executive, leveraging his leadership skills to drive operational excellence in the industry.

Prior to this, he dedicated 13 years to public service in law enforcement and Fire/EMS. Kevin is particularly passionate about leadership development, and he takes great pleasure in nurturing leaders to reach their full potential. His expertise lies in equipping these leaders with the necessary tools to develop their teams and achieve operational excellence.

Kevin and wife Melissa live in New Philadelphia, Ohio. They have two children, Olivia and Aliya. A fun fact about Kevin, he has officiated high school and college basketball for over 20 years. He has received multiple tournament assignments including two Ohio High School- State tournament assignments.

Narlly Mendez started her career as an elementary school teacher in Washington State and moved on to dedicate 19 years as a missionary in Nicaragua, directing Dario Christian Academy.  She is currently the Development Director at Branches Worldwide.

Narlly holds a degree in Education from Washington State University and certification in Educational Leadership from the Association of Christian Schools International.  She is also a graduate of Brancher's Redemptive Leadership program as she was the first international leader to join Branches Worldwide.

As a wife of 19 years to Julio and mother of three teenagers, Narlly's favorite thing is to spend quality time with her family.