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OUR MENU
Explore our menu of offerings! Each program captures the heart, culture, and spirit of Project Phoenix in its unique flavor - designed to meet people where they are, in meaningful and accessible ways.
Online Courses
A Virtual Experience
In Person Events
Bring our team to your location!
Weekend Retreats
Immersive weekend Experience
Facilitator Training
Tools and tips for facilitating deeper connections
Vision
Personal Growth
Deeper Connections
Authentic Community
Mission
Project Phoenix provides experiences and tools to help individuals:
Appreciate Yesterday
Connect Today
Rise Tomorrow
... from generation to generation.
Our Team
Meet the incredible team behind Project Phoenix—each bringing their own story, passion, and perspective to this work. Explore to learn more about the people who make it all possible.
Leena Vincenz-Gavin is the Executive Director of Project Phoenix, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and community building. With a background in teaching, pastoring, and organizational development, she has a gift for turning vision into meaningful, lived experiences. Leena is passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, safe, and inspired to connect more deeply. As a curriculum writer, content creator, and designer, she helps shape the heart and direction of Project Phoenix. She lives in Mobile, Alabama with her husband and three children, and believes deeply in the power of authentic connection to transform lives.
Leena Vincenz-Gavin
Executive Director
David Burgess holds a Ph.D. in Critical Theory and has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and program development. He has managed large-scale grant initiatives, including multiple MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day projects, and is a founding board member of the Origins Partnership. At Project Phoenix, he focuses on financial sustainability and long-term growth. Dr. B is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen community and create lasting impact. He and his wife have two children and three grandchildren.
Dr. David Burgess
Finance Director
Catherine Ono brings over 30 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and communities through counseling and pastoral care. She has a special heart for walking with people through significant life moments, including end-of-life care. At Project Phoenix, Catherine focuses on outreach and nurturing connection within the community. She also enjoys creative expression through crafting and making meaningful, beautiful items for others.
Catherine Ono
Outreach & Care
Heather Thalheimer is a leadership coach, content creator, and author focused on trauma-informed care and wholehearted living. She brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience and has worked internationally to support teams and organizations in strategic planning and growth. At Project Phoenix, Heather coaches staff and contributes to programs like Bridging Differences and Rewire. She is passionate about helping individuals and communities build deeper connection, resilience, and meaningful relationships.
Heather Thalheimer
Bridging Differences
Inhaa supports Project Phoenix as a Family Group Facilitator Trainer, equipping leaders to create meaningful, connected group experiences. She is passionate about helping others guide conversations that foster trust, authenticity, and deeper relationships within families and communities.
InHaa Namvula
Family Group Facilitator Training
David Young is a leader in group facilitation and organizational development, with over a decade of experience helping teams navigate complexity and create meaningful, lasting change. He is the founder of the Art of Collective Integration (ACI), Co-Executive Director of Somatic Experiencing International (SEI), and a Senior Advisor to the Global Restoration Institute (GRI).
At Project Phoenix, David supports staff development and organizational growth, bringing a deep belief in the power of community-led transformation and the importance of honoring each person’s unique gifts.
David Young
Staff Coach
Mark Anderson is a founder of Project Phoenix and a lifelong public servant, having served as an Arizona State legislator and Justice of the Peace. Throughout his career, he has championed initiatives that strengthen families, support communities, and create opportunities for personal growth. Mark is also the author of Love People, a reflection of his guiding philosophy. He is passionate about creating spaces where people can experience genuine connection across generations and backgrounds. As he shares, “Project Phoenix gives me a vehicle to practice loving people.” Mark and his wife Lucia have three children and eight grandchildren.
Mark Anderson
Project Phoenix 1.0
Romina Toska brings over eight years of experience in digital marketing, storytelling, and analytics. She is passionate about helping meaningful work reach people in authentic and engaging ways. At Project Phoenix, Romina shares the heart behind the organization through stories of transformation and connection. As a wife and mother, her personal journey deeply informs her work and fuels her commitment to strengthening relationships and community.
Romina Toska
Social Media & Marketing
Jon Golden is a software engineer with a diverse background that includes teaching, culinary arts, and service roles. He brings curiosity and depth to his work as the Project Phoenix podcast host. Jon is driven by big questions about meaning, connection, and how we relate to one another. He believes Project Phoenix has the potential to model healthier communication and bridge divides, helping people reflect on how to live in balance with themselves and others.
Jon Golden
Podcast Host & Producer
Sunder has been involved with Project Phoenix since 2018 and brings a heart for connection and growth to his role as a speaker and teacher. Professionally, he works as a vehicle quality associate at Honda and has experience coaching youth. He is passionate about helping people see what’s possible in their relationships and deepen their connections. As a father, he is especially inspired by guiding the next generation to find their place in the world.
Sunder Willett
Speaker & Teacher
Benito Nishizawa is a family group facilitator, known for his calm presence and thoughtful, reflective nature. Often considered a “resident philosopher” within the community, Benito brings depth and curiosity to every conversation he’s part of. His work and travels around the world—supporting parents and their adult children as a college advisor for an international program—have given him a unique cross-cultural perspective on relationships and personal growth. At Project Phoenix, Benito helps create spaces where people can slow down, think deeply, and connect in meaningful ways.
Benito Nishikawa- Rodriguez
Family Group Facilitator
Dasha Gaian is an executive coach dedicated to helping individuals and teams cultivate resilience, clarity, and meaningful connection. She serves as Chief of Staff at the Global Restoration Institute and is a founding member of the Art of Collective Integration, a trauma-informed framework for building coherence and wholeness in human systems.
Drawing from somatic and mindfulness-based practices, Dasha brings a grounded, holistic approach to her work. At Project Phoenix, she supports the development of emotionally attuned leadership and helps create spaces where individuals and communities can grow with authenticity and depth.
Dasha
Somatic Leadership Coach
John Redmond brings over a decade of experience as a CFO for small and mid-sized organizations. At Project Phoenix, he provides financial oversight and strategic guidance, helping steward resources with care and integrity. John is passionate about building sustainable systems that allow meaningful work to grow and thrive. He believes in the long-term vision of Project Phoenix and is excited to help expand its reach and impact. He and his wife have four children, growing families, and a few beloved grandchildren.
John Redmond
Chief Financial Officer
Jon Gerena provides professional bookkeeping services that support the financial health and clarity of Project Phoenix. With a focus on accuracy and efficiency, he helps ensure that financial systems are reliable and well-managed. His work allows the team to focus on growth and impact with confidence and stability.
Jon Gerena
Bookkeeper
Mark Boitano is a former New Mexico State Senator and experienced real estate professional. With a background in leadership and public service, he brings strategic insight and practical experience to Project Phoenix. He leads Rewire initiatives for professional organizations, helping bring relational intelligence and stronger communication into workplace environments.
Mark Boitano
Rewire: Professional Programs
Mariana Boitano is a nurse educator with a creative and curious spirit. She has led Project Phoenix’s Family Room and is developing the Journaling program, helping people connect more deeply with themselves and others. Known for her warmth and humor, Mariana brings a welcoming presence to every space she’s part of. She enjoys a wide range of creative hobbies and has a gift for making people feel at home.
Mariana Boitano
Journaling
Dr. Denneze Nelson brings a wealth of leadership experience from the nonprofit and social work sectors. She currently serves as Assistant Chief of Social Work Services at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System and has founded and led multiple organizations. Denneze is passionate about fostering healthy, harmonious relationships and sees Project Phoenix as a model for what’s possible in human connection. She and her husband are also building a school in Liberia, where they hope to one day incorporate Project Phoenix principles.
Denneze Nelson
Pulse Team
Jario Vincenz-Gavin is a speaker, content creator, and coach with a passion for helping people live with purpose and build meaningful relationships. After 15 years in ministry as a pastor, Jario now focuses on creating experiences and content that inspire personal growth and authentic connection. At Project Phoenix, he has helped develop key programs and experiences, including the “Friending” activity and contributions to Mancave, and has led sessions at weekend retreats. Known for his engaging and relatable style, Jario brings both depth and energy to every space he’s part of. He lives in Mobile, Alabama with his wife, Leena, and their three children.
Jario Vincenz-Gavin
Speaker & Content Creator
OUR STORY
Project Phoenix is a grassroots, volunteer-driven nonprofit creating spaces for real connection and personal growth.
Founded in 2016, Project Phoenix was born out of a simple but powerful experience: people from different generations chose to listen to one another with open hearts. That moment of honest connection revealed how transformative empathy and presence can be—and inspired us to create experiences where others could find the same.
Over the years, Project Phoenix has served communities across the United States, Canada, and Europe through in-person gatherings, retreats, and online programs. While our roots are in intergenerational dialogue, our work has continued to evolve to meet people in different life stages and communities.
As we approach our 10-year anniversary in Spring 2026, Project Phoenix is entering a new chapter—rolling out refreshed programs, courses, and community-based experiences designed to help people deepen relationships, heal divides, and rise into more authentic connection.
