Meet the Board

Gianna Koenig

Founder & President

Gianna is a counselor and dance/movement therapist-in-training, and nonprofit founder dedicated to creating spaces where individuals and communities can thrive. She is currently completing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with plans to pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT). Her work with Gather & Grow blends her clinical expertise with her passion for holistic wellness, community resilience, and creative expression.

In addition to nonprofit leadership, Gianna has extensive experience as a performing artist and educator, working with children and adolescents in theatre and movement-based programs. Her approach weaves together mental health, embodied practice, and the arts as pathways toward healing and belonging.

Jose Marquina

Treasurer

Jose serves as Treasurer of Gather & Grow, where he helps guide the collective’s resources with care and accountability. He holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and has built his career in roles that emphasize adaptability, communication, and client care. 

From delivering environmental education to inner-city schools to coordinating community green space projects, Jose has consistently combined problem-solving with a commitment to people and place. At Gather & Grow, he brings that same blend of steadiness and community-minded vision to financial stewardship, helping ensure the organization has a strong foundation to cultivate wellness, creativity, and belonging.

Maria Mirkazemi

Secretary

Maria brings a background in nonprofit arts administration and social entrepreneurship, with experience supporting mission-driven organizations through program coordination and organizational operations. She holds a BA in Social Entrepreneurship from Belmont University, where she developed a strong foundation in organizational leadership, strategy, and values-based problem solving.

Her professional experience includes work in arts organizations and community-focused programs, where she supported administrative processes, program logistics, and executive operations. Maria offers Gather & Grow an informed advisory perspective grounded in nonprofit systems, creative programming, and sustainable organizational practices.

Katie Jones

Board Member

Katie is a software engineer and integration lead at Sierra Space, where she specializes in building efficient, reliable, and automated systems for complex technical environments. Her work focuses on process design, release management, documentation integrity, and improving operational workflows through automation and systems thinking.

She brings a strong background in problem-solving, organizational structure, and continuous improvement, along with a deep appreciation for accuracy, accountability, and sustainable processes. Katie is passionate about using her technical skills to support mission-driven organizations and strengthen the operational foundations that allow meaningful community work to thrive. At Gather & Grow, she offers a systems-level perspective that supports long-term sustainability, responsible growth, and organizational clarity.