cannot deploy and run on SSIS

The project compiles fine.
In VS it runs fine.... but I notice when I open the connection manager(s) the SERVER name is not populated.
When I deploy to SSIS and try to run from SQL Agent the job errors out on first step and says essentially what I have stated above, connection failed because the server name is missing.

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The project is in project deployment mode (wonder if this is the problem and needs to be in package deployment mode?)
But then I tried Catherine Wilhelmsen's hack create project parameters from biml.
Code compiles, Project.params have the connections - but this didn't work either as the connection managers are not parameterized.  I went ahead and manually parameterized them, but of course when I re-compile the connection managers are reset.

Bottom Line - no matter what I try I cannot get a server to populate into the connection manager.  Without that, we cannot deploy.

Anyone have this problem?
Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.