Staff

Jim Amaral Executive Director:

Jim Amaral is a seasoned public safety and nonprofit executive with more than 24 years of experience in law enforcement and additional leadership experience in nonprofit administration, and program development and implementation. His career reflects a strong commitment to public health and wellness, use of evidence based practices for better outcomes, and community centered solutions.

Jim began his public service career with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department as a Correctional Officer before serving nearly a decade with the Grass Valley Police Department, where he worked as a Police Officer and School Resource Officer. During this time, he was recognized as Officer of the Year, founded the Nevada County Gang Task Force, and was honored by the Grass Valley School District for his work with youth.

In 2013, Jim transitioned to the Nevada County Probation Department, where he advanced through the ranks to Supervising Deputy Probation Officer. In this leadership role, he supervised juvenile and pretrial units, designed and implemented multiple countywide programs, and led initiatives focused on staff development, data driven outcomes, and fidelity to evidence based practices. His contributions earned him Probation Officer of the Year and statewide recognition as Trainer of the Year from the Chief Probation Officers of California.

In recent years, Jim has expanded his leadership into the nonprofit sector, serving as Program Director for multi-state treatment programs and currently as Executive Director of Project H.E.A.R.T., Inc. In this role, he provides organizational leadership, oversees operations and finances, builds community partnerships, and leads grant development to support mission driven services.

Jim holds a Criminal Justice Management degree with a 4.0 GPA and is widely respected for his collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and lifelong commitment to strengthening communities through service.

Jim is a dedicated husband, father and coach. For 25 years, he has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Nikki, with two children, Kolby (Physical Therapist Technician and Baseball coach) and Kalli (High School athlete and leadership). They love spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and glamping. Jim also volunteers in his community coaching youth sports and stays active training his dog Kacee to be a hunting partner and service dog.

Jim is honored to be a member of the Project Heart team and eagerly anticipates expanding the service delivery to serve as many individuals as possible and assist them in overcoming any life destabilizing challenges they may be encountering.

Fred Viola, Co-Founder, Director of Community Partnership and Outreach:

Fred Viola is one of two Co-Founders of Project HEART, he served as the Outreach Director for Christian Challenge Ministries and World Impact focusing on some of the most crime plagued neighborhoods in East San Jose. Fred worked on multi agency teams made up of supportive and caring volunteers to provide the low-income neighborhoods with drop-in centers, sports programs, ESL support, tutoring, and food distributions to those in need.

After relocating to Grass Valley, Fred worked at the Carl F. Bryant Juvenile Hall as a Group Supervisor and built a mentorship program for incarcerated youth. After completing his Criminal Justice Degree, Fred was hired as a Probation Officer with Nevada County Probation. Fred worked as a school resource officer and facilitated cognitive behavioral therapy classes at local high schools. Fred also worked as a field officer with high-risk adults, serving in specialty Courts while facilitating Moral Reconation Therapy for those being released from State Prison and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the those in and out of custody.

In 2011, Fred and another man coming out of the criminal justice system, named David Mullan, started Project H.E.A.R.T. We began to provide men and woman support groups with the focus on building trusting lifelong relationships through adult peer mentorship. Walking with each other to resolve conflict the right way created an amazing comradery as we consistently served one another during difficult times. This peer mentoring model is founded upon consistency, honesty and vulnerability which proves that relationships can be real, trusting and healing. Currently, Fred serves Project HEART as the Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships to build awareness and community Support towards this most important work that now serves both Nevada and Placer Counties.

Dave Mullan, Co-Founder, Men’s Team Coordinator and New Start Case Manager:

Dave Mullan, one of our original founding members, is Nevada County’s men’s team coordinator, and one of our PROJECT New Start case managers for men re-entering into the community transitioning from state prison. Dave volunteered with Project H.E.A.R.T. for almost 10 years, mentoring many justice involved individuals, primarily focusing on the Nevada County Adult Drug Court clients prior to being employed with Project H.E.A.R.T. Dave has come from a hard road of drug and alcohol abuse himself and found the path of freedom from those addictions that he survived for many decades, by learning how to live a life of integrity, and being actively involved in his personal growth. He is still committed to his recovery and serves in many capacities in the recovery community and has the ability to reach and comfort the hopeless.

What he loves so much about Project H.E.A.R.T is that it creates a safe place for people to come together, to get vulnerable and discuss our weaknesses which helps build real lifelong relationships with people who understand what it was like not having the support needed to navigate through life’s most difficult challenges.  He enjoys helping arrange community service projects and get to see how people build relationships, helping them to overcome their biggest fears and barriers in their lives. Backpacking, fishing, nature, car shows are just a few of his hobbies. He is truly grateful to work with such talented, dedicated and amazing people who are so passionate about serving the population we get to serve together.

Christy Thompson, Women’s Team Coordinator, CALAIM Case Manager, New Start Case Manager:

Christy Thompson is the Women’s Coordinator at Project Heart and a woman in recovery. She was first supported by Project Heart during her early recovery, where the community helped lay the foundation for her new life before she ever stepped into leadership. Today, Christy spends most of her time supporting women as they navigate recovery and life’s most difficult seasons. Guided by her faith, she wants every woman she serves to know they are not alone, that they have a community, and that there is always hope. Christy believes connection is the key to healing and lasting change.

Olivia Donley: CALAIM Case Manager:

Olivia Donley is our CalAIM Case Manager who oversees our Enhanced Care Management & Community Supports services. Olivia graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science from Northeastern University in 2020 and has worked in both clinical and non-clinical settings for various populations of focus. Outside of work, Olivia and her husband love to spend time together in nature, especially exploring national parks. When they’re not outside, they’re spoiling their three cats.

“Project Heart is the kind of work environment I have been hoping for since graduating college. It’s an honor to work alongside a team that not only supports our clients immensely, but that we support each other as well. Working here is being a part of a family, and I feel lucky to be apart of this family.”

Steve Smithson, New Start Case Manager:

Steve is a Men’s Team Case Manager for Project Heart. Steve has been an active contributor for Project Heart since 2016. Steve has been a member of the Recovery Community both voluntarily and professionally for almost 20 years.

I am motivated by meaningful work and a strong commitment to service. I approach challenges directly, guided by faith, discipline, and personal responsibility. As a father of three sons, I value consistency, integrity, and leading by example. I believe in working hard, maintaining balance, and pursuing goals with intention, including a long-term plan to continue riding my motorcycle well into my 80’s.

Ryan Nestell, Peer Mentor Director, New Start Case Manager, and Jail In-reach coordinator:

Ryan Nestell is the Peer Mentor Director and CBT Facilitator at Project HEART, where he has served since May 2025. In this role, he recruits, trains, and supervises peer mentors and facilitates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programming within the jail as part of the organization’s in-reach services.

Born and raised in the community he now serves, Ryan brings both personal connection and professional commitment to his work. His experience in the military and his background as a teacher and coach have reinforced his belief in the importance of strong community support and positive relationships in promoting meaningful personal growth and development.

Ryan’s work is guided by the values of responsibility, integrity, respect, kindness, and honesty, along with a core commitment to “leave no one behind,” ensuring individuals receive meaningful support as they pursue lasting positive change.

When he is not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Ryan enjoys being outdoors, especially in the mountains.

Carol Viola, New Start Program Finance Officer:

While attending San Jose State University, she began working with children and their families on the East Side of San Jose. Working in a store-front center and with the help of a dedicated like-minded group, she organized the Saturday Kids Club for Christian Challenge, a non-profit agency. As she continued, a volunteer tutoring program and a Teenage Girls Club was started. In addition, she worked in the agency’s bookkeeping department. Upon graduation with a Business Degree in hand, she started work full-time with the agency, met and married her husband, Fred and became the proud mother of Joshua, Jonathon and Maria.  

After moving to Nevada County in 1996, she became a substitute teacher, database administrator, and an employment-training specialist. She worked for the Grass Valley School District for 21 years as the Preschool and Afterschool Director. 

She began volunteering for Project Heart and completed the paperwork for non-profit status in 2014. In 2018, She earned her MBA at William Jessup University. She has served in the Women’s Group and cared for the children of the women who attended. She is now working as administrative support to the grants awarded by the State of California.