The Team

Meet Our Staff

Carina Linares | She, Her, Ella | Operations Coordinator

Carina Linares graduated from Utah State University as the CHaSS Valedictorian with degrees in Sociology, Intersectional Gender Studies, and Sexuality Studies. She has worked with Utah State to research the environmental impact of immigration in the United States, the interconnection of food insecurity and disability, and the construction of race, class, and gender within Mexican American, Chinese American, and Native American school desegregation cases. As a senior thesis, she conducted her own research exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ Students of Color within predominantly white institutions. 

Carina is passionate about LGBTQ+ advocacy work and has been working in social justice for over 6 years. She has worked with countless nonprofits and LGBTQ+ organizations building community bridges and creating sustainable partnerships. Carina strives to support organizations through an intersectional lens that fosters advocacy, diversity, and accessibility when addressing systemic inequalities. Rather than only focusing on inclusivity, Carina wants to empower the voices of historically underserved communities and works to amplify underfunded resources in Utah. She is now working with Project Rainbow as the Operations Coordinator. 

Mia Allen | She/They | Operations Project Manager

Mia has extensive experience in supporting nonprofit organizations, performing as a drag artist, and speaking out as an advocate. As a gender-fluid non-binary individual who is deeply involved in the community, Mia has contributed significantly to local and nationwide initiatives including gender-affirming photography, STEM programming with Craft Lake City, Utah Arts Alliance, and Illuminate Festival, numerous drag performances and fundraisers including New York City Pride parade, and more. Their professional demeanor and articulate communication make them a valuable advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and support, enhancing Project Rainbow’s mission.

Jacey Thornton | She, Her, They | Executive Director

Jacey Thornton is a passionate community builder and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, serving as the Executive Director of Project Rainbow Utah. With a deep commitment to fostering belonging and empowerment, Jacey has focused on creating inclusive spaces and amplifying marginalized voices across the state. Her advocacy work has guided Project Rainbow to new heights, driving initiatives that promote visibility and celebrate diversity within Utah’s LGBTQ+ community.

With nearly two decades of experience in the restaurant industry before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Jacey brings a unique blend of operational expertise and social justice passion to her leadership. She is dedicated to advocating for the transgender community and other marginalized groups. Beyond her role at Project Rainbow, Jacey co-founded Flourish Bakery, served on the board of Transgender Education Advocates of Utah, and has worked extensively in economic empowerment and trauma recovery for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Weber State University where , Jacey continues to deepen her commitment to the communities she serves. She currently provides clinical therapy at Flourish Therapy as an MSW Intern. Outside of her professional work, Jacey enjoys spending time with family and friends, embracing Utah’s vibrant outdoor life, and cultivating moments of connection and joy with her three children.

Meet Our Board

  • Matt Kastellec

    He/Him

    Matt is a transplant from New York City, bringing 10 years of non-profit experience, including a masters in Public and Non-Profit Management from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. In his two years of Utah living he has helped revive the Salt Lake Area Queer Climbers group, volunteered with local orgs like Genderbands, Craft Lake City, and the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance while working full time for the Achievement Network, a national education non-profit. When not doing all that, he tries to get outside as much as possible to enjoy the natural wonders of the beehive state.  Matt currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

  •  Tawna Campbell

    She/Her

    Tawna is a passionate ally and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Growing up in Utah, she understood the need for and has become a safe space for others to be themselves. Today, as an ally and a Realtor, she is committed to safe and welcoming neighborhoods and how visibility, inclusion, and equality promote thriving communities. Further, she is part of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance - advocating for fair housing for ALL in local and national legislation. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Oquirrh Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the spectacular Oquirrh Mountains. Tawna loves spending time with her family. She is a mother of four children, loves live music, and spends as much time in Utah’s beautiful outdoors as possible. Tawna is excited and honored to serve in this capacity and hopes to bring her skillset, resources, and personality to Project Rainbow.

  • Lisa Wucherpfennig

    She/Her

    Lisa identifies as a lesbian and after moving to St. George, UT from Portland, OR she noticed the lack of visibility and safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community and strived to help change that. Lisa served as Director of Operations and Communications for Pride of Southern Utah for 4 years. As a mass shooting survivor, she is also passionate about gun violence prevention and serves on the board of an organization focused on reducing gun violence in our communities through legislation. Lisa has also spent over 10 years in the aviation industry as a flight attendant and lives to travel and explore. She lives with her fiancé and Harry, their little black cat, in St. George, UT. Lisa currently serves over the Southern Utah region for Project Rainbow.

  • Rob Roake

    He/Him

    Rob studied political science and art at Weber State University but found his true professional calling in the non-profit sector. He advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion and is a proponent of social justice. As the Director of Operations and Programming at the Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging, he has been part of ground-level efforts to lift diverse and underrepresented voices, engage with historically underserved communities, and catalyze private, public, and philanthropic partnerships to remedy disparities in economic opportunity, education, health, and housing in Utah.

    In his spare time, Rob enjoys acting, all things artistic, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and a wily Jack Russell terrier named Maulie.

  • Francisco Meza

    They/Them

    Francisco holds an Honors B.A. in Political Science, a B.S. in Peace & Conflict Studies, and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Utah. With over six years of experience in strategic planning, project management, and policy analysis, Francisco has made an impact at organizations like Korn Ferry, the Goff Strategic Leadership Center, and the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office, where their strong analytical and leadership skills have helped drive positive change. Beyond their professional achievements, Francisco is deeply committed to advocacy work, having coordinated efforts for community organizations and worked toward judicial reform in the past. In their free time, they partake in a blend of interests, including 13 years of experience in violin and martial arts, holding a black belt in Kiai Kenpo. Francisco currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

  • Piers Mainwaring

    He/Him

    Piers was born in Canada and has lived in Salt Lake City for over 20 years. He's a writer, climber, cyclist, engineer, and amateur chef, and loves to adventure in the Wasatch mountains, Southern Utah, and internationally. Piers has spent his career designing and building software for healthcare, education, and finance, ran a small technology consulting firm, co-founded a payroll & HR software company in SLC in 2018, and serves on the board of the Jung Society of Utah, a nonprofit that creates immersive experiences on topics like Jungian analysis, embodiment, healing, imagination, and grief. Piers serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors.

  • Sally Goodger

    She/Her

    Sally is a graduate of the University of Utah, where she earned her Honors B.A. in English, writing her senior thesis on genocide literature. This experience left her with a lasting passion for human rights advocacy that led naturally to a non-profit career. She began fundraising and grant writing in New York City before returning home to Utah. Sally now works at Housing Connect, managing government-funded housing grants for those experiencing homelessness or housing instability in addition to other barriers such as refugee status, disability and/or mental illness, or a history of justice involvement. In her free time, Sally volunteers for a reproductive healthcare hotline, embroiders, and watches Survivor with her partner and their two cats. Sally currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors.

  • Lucas Horns

    -Emeritus Director-

    He/They

    Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Lucas has a deep love for Utah, but also a determination to make it a better, more-inclusive place for more people. He began queer advocacy work in 2013 and founded Project Rainbow with original board members Renee Zollinger, Dallas Rivas, Roberto Lopez, and Liz Pitts in 2018 to broaden LGBTQ+ visibility in the state. He worked for eight years as a professional ballet dancer with Ballet West and recently retired to pursue a degree in city planning from the University of Utah. He began working for the City of South Salt Lake in 2021, focussing on promoting digital inclusion in the city. When he’s not studying, working, or driving flags around in his Subaru, he is spending time with his partner and cute, crazy dog in the wilderness.