Regarded as pioneers of quality enrichment within the luxury cruise market, Compass serves the most affluent cruise lines in the world, including American Cruise Lines, Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
For a complete list of our clients, please see our client list.
EXECUTIVE TEAM Click on individuals name to email them
Niklas Sardana III
President & CEOBorn in Ottawa, Canada, Niklas Sardana III embarked on a life of extraordinary exploration from birth, having traveled the world with his family by the age of five. By 16, he began his career as a travel consultant, laying the foundation for his future endeavors. While pursuing his studies in hospitality and tourism management at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), he held the prestigious position of Coordinator for the British Airways Concorde at Blyth & Company. He also served as Tour Director for the eminent Young Presidents’ Organization, directing private academies that further ignited his passion for travel.
Niklas's journey into the cruise industry began in 1990 as Deputy Cruise Director with Celebrity Cruises, followed by a pivotal role as Entertainment Coordinator on Cunard Line's Royal Viking Sun during its 1996 World Cruise. The allure of the open sea and the rich cultures it unveiled inspired him to found Compass Speakers and Entertainment Inc. in 1997, recognizing the need for a speakers’ agency dedicated to the luxury cruise market.
Compass Speakers quickly became the preeminent agency in the industry, renowned for its roster of eminent speakers and enrichment programs that elevate the cultural experiences of distinguished guests aboard the world's most prestigious cruise lines. Under Niklas's visionary leadership, the company continues to expand, driven by a team that shares his love for travel, culture, and diversity.
“Let the ocean be your atlas, and Compass your guide,” reflects the spirit of Niklas Sardana III, a man whose life is defined by an unquenchable thirst for adventure and a commitment to enriching the journeys of others.
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Anthony Ciena
Executive Director, Onboard Programs
Art, Bridge, Clergy & Yoga DivisionAnthony, a native New Yorker, earned his business administration credentials at Queensborough and Queens College before his passion for cruise travel led him to South Florida. In 2002, he joined Compass as Director of Onboard Programs – Clergy Division, bringing with him over two decades of sales and marketing expertise from the optical industry. Before Compass, Anthony served as Director of Retail Operations for a leading national optical chain and later ran his own successful storefront in Boca Raton. At Compass, Anthony’s strategic insight and leadership have been pivotal in curating an illustrious roster of art, yoga & bridge instructors, and clergy (priest, rabbi and protestant ministers) across more than 65 luxury ships. His role extends to overseeing the entire Compass team, including Directors, Coordinators, and daily operations, making him an invaluable asset to the company's ongoing success.
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Jennifer Korn
Sr. Director, Onboard Programs
Enrichment DivisionJennifer celebrates 15 years with the Compass team in 2024 as the Senior Director of Onboard Programs – Enrichment Division. Born and raised in South Florida, she has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning nearly 20 years in the cruise industry, along with experience in both the private and public sectors. Before joining Compass, Jennifer worked for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., where she played a key role in the grand opening of one of their beachside convention properties under the Westin brand. She subsequently managed their recreation department, overseeing the fitness center, children’s program, upscale retail boutique, and special events. Seeking new challenges, Jennifer moved to the public sector with the City of Oakland Park, Florida, where she supported the recreation department in marketing and human resources. She then transitioned to the cruise industry, where she specialized in sourcing enrichment talent and coordinating travel logistics for various cruise lines. As a valuable member of the Compass team, Jennifer focuses on placing destination, world affairs, and special interest speakers for its clients. Jennifer believes that traveling is the best classroom and takes great joy in experiencing and exploring diverse cultures and places around the world.
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Dorine Nielsen
A San Francisco Bay Area native, Dorine embarked on a distinguished dance career at 17, touring Europe and the Middle East. Her talents led her to Princess Cruises as Dance Captain and Singer, after which she secured the coveted role of “Connie Wong” in A Chorus Line. Beyond performing, Dorine served as a social hostess for Princess Cruises and Royal Viking Line and later as HR Manager for KCET Public Broadcasting in Los Angeles. Upon relocating to South Florida in 1994, she founded an events company that placed prominent sports figures on cruise ships and taught dance to underprivileged students in Broward County. Joining Compass Speakers in 2019, she initially managed the Gentleman Host® Program and now directs Onboard Programs within the Enrichment Division, alongside recruiting for the Outreach department. Now based in California, Dorine relishes her remote role with Compass Speakers. Besides her love for travel, Dorine holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 1st degree Black Belt in Haedong Kumdo. She is currently mastering the art of Taiko, Japanese drumming.
Director, Onboard Programs
Enrichment Division
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Jaimi Sheldon
Jaimi, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has called Fort Lauderdale, Florida, home for the past 14 years. She joined Compass in 2023, first serving as Coordinator for Onboard Programs before advancing to her current role as Director of The Gentlemen Host® Program. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree, Jaimi brings a strong business acumen and problem-solving abilities to her role. Her extensive experience in retail management has honed her skills in customer service, negotiation, and relationship-building, which she now applies to elevate The Gentlemen Host® Program. Under her leadership, the program has expanded, attracting distinguished and sophisticated dance hosts from around the world, consistently surpassing client expectations. Compass currently provides dance hosts to Crystal Cruises, Cunard and Silversea.
Director, The Gentlemen Host® Program
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Andrew Poulton
Andrew’s journey began in rural Kenya, where his fascination with global travel and transportation was ignited. After college, he embarked on a career with Cunard Line’s marketing department in London, which marked the beginning of his distinguished tenure in the cruise industry. Over 16 years with Cunard, including 12 in Manhattan, Andrew honed his expertise before moving to Florida to join Regent Seven Seas Cruises. There, he played a pivotal role in transforming the line from a niche operator into a leading fleet of all-suite, all-balcony ships, contributing across marketing, advertising, and public relations.Andrew later joined Silversea Cruises in Fort Lauderdale, where he spent eight years managing the enrichment and entertainment department, introducing innovative production shows and curating a diverse roster of guest speakers. In 2018, he joined Compass, coinciding with the company’s 20th anniversary. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, Andrew returned to Compass Speakers, where he now serves as Director of the Outreach Division, working remotely from California.
Director, Outreach Division
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Sena Schmidt
A native of Los Angeles, California, Sena joined Compass in 2009 as Onboard Programs Coordinator while living in Fort Lauderdale during a brief period after college. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Northridge, her career background in the writing realm includes writing and copy editing for a variety of local and international fitness and lifestyle magazines, an Inc. 500 SEO company, and an online dating blog, to name a few. Now residing in the Omaha, Nebraska area, Sena continues to remain a valuable element to Compass while working remotely as their in-house staff writer and copy editor. She oversees the overall accuracy of the different divisions’ bios and has written cruise-related articles. With a knack for people and a passion for creativity and organization, Sena brings to Compass her intuitive nature in regards to the English language, and her devout appreciation towards the realm of travel and writing.
Executive Copy Editor
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