Leadership - Project Hope Recovery Center

Don Nordin

Chief Executive Officer
Michael Vecchio

Chief Operations Officer
Blake Paul

Chief Financial Officer
Dave Bengyak

Director of Operations
Taylor DeAngelis

Corporate Director of Development
Billy Jasen

Executive Director, Project Hope Arkansas
Rex Fitzgerald

Executive Director, Project Hope Florida
Johnnie Cooper

Executive Director, Project Hope Texas

Blog & News

March 31, 2025

Project Hope Pickleball Tournament 2025

Our recent Pickleball Tournament was a day to remember—filled with energy, community, and a healthy dose of friendly competition. From early morning warm-ups to the final match point, every moment reflected...
Read More
August 8, 2024

Spiritual Emphasis 2024

It’s time for Spiritual Emphasis 2024, well, at least it’s time to get the funds raised for it! Every year we have our staff, interns and students from 8...
Read More
April 25, 2024

We’re Now Partners with Day Forty One!

We would like to take a minute to thank one of our newest ministry partners, Day 41 Apparel. The owner/founder, Justin, has a heart for people seeking freedom from addiction...
Read More

Don Nordin

Chief Executive Officer

Don Nordin has more than 38 years of experience as a lead pastor. He is married to Susan Ashcraft Nordin and together they have two grown children and five grandchildren. Don and Susan oversee CT Church in Houston, a multi-cultural and multi-generational congregation, which has grown to encompass six campuses under their leadership. Pastor Nordin also holds a bachelor of ministry degree. His apostolic anointing and pastor’s heart motivate his visionary leadership.

Pastor Nordin’s denominational peers have elected him to a host of leadership roles during the course of his pastoral ministry. These include various executive level positions and committee chairmanships, including the position of CEO for Project Hope and Saving Grace in 2014. Pastor Nordin is an entrepreneurial leader. Donors have committed tens of millions of dollars to kingdom projects under his care.

Pastor Nordin’s two books, “Working at God’s Altar” and “The Audacity of Prayer,” have inspired thousands. He is the founder and president of Global Ministries Network (gmnonline.org) which credentials ministers and oversees the work of member churches.

Pastor Nordin travels extensively conducting revivals, altar worker training seminars, board and staff training, teaches on effective church structures and much more!

Each year Don and Susan host Empowerment Conference at CT Church. Empowerment Conference is a top-tier preaching and resourcing event. It draws hundreds of ministers from all over the world. Empowerment Conference features some of the premier speakers in today’s Pentecostal circles.

Michael Vecchio

Chief Operations Officer

Michael Vecchio has served as the COO for Project Hope and Saving Grace since 2017, and has been in full-time ministry since 2013. Michael previously served as the Executive Director for Project Hope, as well as the Marketing Director for Project Hope and Saving Grace. He graduated from the program of Long Island Adult & Teen Challenge, New York, in January 2013 and endeavors to see men and women experience the same freedom from addiction that he has. Michael currently resides in Houston, TX.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Blake Paul

Chief Financial Officer

Blake has been in ministry for over 30 years and is a teacher of the Word and a gifted administrator. He has served on staff at churches in Arkansas and Texas in almost every role except Lead Pastor.

Blake currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for CT Nation in Houston Texas. Blake is a graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia Arkansas and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in management and a minor in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in secondary business education.

In June 2003, Blake and his wife, Susan, started LBP Management LLC. A consulting firm that specializes in nonprofits. As it expanded in 2019 the name was changed to Paul Consulting Solutions, LLC. Blake and Susan’s bonus daughter joined the business in 2019 also and now works full time helping our clients. The emphasis of the business is to come along side Pastors and ministries in the areas of finance, bookkeeping, management, administration, ministry development, event planning, and volunteer assimilation. We currently serve many clients in roles from Outsourced CFO to recruiting and placing volunteers. Blake and Susan love the opportunity to partner with ministries and help lead them to become excellent.

They have had a friendship with Jay McSwain, the founder and author of PLACE Ministries, for over 15 years and the opportunity to teach the PLACE curriculum in churches, district offices, events, and most recently in prison. In the first year of teaching PLACE at Christian Temple, Susan and her team placed 164 new volunteers in ministry. PLACE is a game changer if you need more volunteers involved in ministry. Blake and Susan are also certified facilitators with Marriage on The Rock by Jimmy Evans and XO Ministries.

Blake and Susan live in Pearland Texas. They have two sons, Caleb and Joshua. Caleb is married to Randi Lynn and they have 3 sons and live in Pearland Texas. Joshua is married to Hunter Raine and they have one son and one daughter and live in Plano Texas.

Dave Bengyak

Director of Operations

Dave Bengyak has been the Director of Operations for Project Hope and Saving Grace since 2023 and has been in full-time ministry since 2009. Dave previously served as the Program Director of New York Adult & Teen Challenge’s Buffalo Campus from March 2017 – December 2023, as well as the Program Supervisor for Albany’s Campus from February 2013 – March 2017. He graduated from the Long Island Adult & Teen Challenge program in New York in 2009 and has committed to serving in ministries that afford individuals the same opportunity he was afforded in 2009: to experience freedom from drug addiction and/or other life-controlling issues. Dave resides with his wife, Kittie, and four daughters, Sadie, Raini, Lauren Blake, and Layla, in Crestview, FL.

Taylor DeAngelis

Corporate Director of Development

Taylor DeAngelis currently serves as the Corporate Director of Development, bringing both passion and personal experience to her role. A 2015 participant and January 2016 graduate of Saving Grace, Taylor’s life was transformed through the program’s Christ-centered approach to recovery. With ten years of sobriety from heroin and pain pills, she is deeply committed to helping others find the same freedom she discovered. After graduating, Taylor earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, further equipping her to lead the organization’s development efforts. She uses her journey and professional skills to cultivate donor relationships, lead fundraising efforts, and secure essential support for Project Hope and Saving Grace. Her story is a testament to the impact of these programs, and her dedication drives her mission to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Outside of her work, Taylor enjoys spending time with her beloved pitbull and is proud to call Houston her home.

Billy Jasen

Executive Director, Project Hope Arkansas

Billy accepted the position to serve as the Executive Director in Arkansas in December, 2022. Previously he had served as the Corporate Marketing Director for all Project Hope and Saving Grace locations. Billy came up through the Project Hope program in Texas, where he graduated from in August 2019 before heading to Arkansas to serve as one of the staff members at that location. He enjoys teaching fitness classes with the students 3 days a week, as he has a heart to see men improve physically, mentally and spiritually during their time at the program. Billy serves alongside his wife, Tiffany, who is a senior staff member at the Saving Grace Arkansas location. They currently reside in Russellville, AR with their two cats.

“Be still and know I am God.”

Rex Fitzgerald

Executive Director, Project Hope Florida

Rex Fitzgerald serves as the Executive Director for Project Hope Recovery Center Florida. He has been with the ministry since August of 2017. Rex is currently in his third year of ministry training with the West Florida Ministry Network School of Ministry. Rex resides in Crestview with his wife Brooke and son Adam. Rex is an active member of Broken Chains JC which is a group of motorcycle enthusiasts that have found freedom in Jesus Christ. He enjoys spending his spare time riding his motorcycle and spending time with his family. His life verse is Psalms 23 1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Johnnie Cooper

Executive Director, Project Hope Texas

Johnnie stepped into the role of Executive Director in September 2024, following his previous position as Corporate Shop Director for Project Hope and Saving Grace. A 2019 graduate, Johnnie serves alongside his wife, Mariah Cooper, also a 2019 graduate of Saving Grace. Together, they are blessed with two children, Aria (3) and Luke (1). In just a few short years, the Lord has not only restored their lives but also blessed them with a beautiful family. When he’s not working, Johnnie enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in fellowship.

Blog & News

Rescuing Lives From Addiction Giving Hope To Those In Crisis