Our Team

At Stretch Shapes, we’re passionate about creating beautiful experiences. This passion articulates itself in many ways. Many of our team members were producing events before they came here. From local fashion shows, to corporate conferences, to international music festivals, most of us have been behind the scenes in one respect or another for quite some time. Because of this passion, we all found our way to the Stretch Shapes team – where we’re known for passionately producing outstanding event décor. We got our start in stretch fabric when our founder, Niko, started using it in his events. He had an event production company before Stretch Shapes, and was drawn to stretch fabric because of its versatility. As he used it more and more, he felt there was an opportunity to create a higher quality product. That passion for quality is what led to the birth of our company, and what has guided us ever since.

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As our company has grown, our capabilities have grown with it. We have a highly skilled creative design team that works in the latest graphic and structural design platforms. We have a team of highly skilled seamstresses with decades of combined experience. When it comes to precision, our patterning department brings it to the table. Our aluminum fabrication department is made up of innovators and masters of their craft. We utilize the best tools available for producing our product, like dye sublimation printing, the best Juki sewing machines in the industry, and our Autometrix Radian CNC fabric cutter. We have a highly trained sales and service department that strives every day to ensure we provide the best advice and service to our valued clients.

It’s our passion that drives us- our passion for beauty, our passion for service, and our passion for people. We can’t wait to put that passion to work for you.

At Stretch Shapes, we’re passionate about creating beautiful experiences. This passion articulates itself in many ways. Many of our team members were producing events before they came here. From local fashion shows, to corporate conferences, to international music festivals, most of us have been behind the scenes in one respect or another for quite some time.

Read more

Because of this passion, we all found our way to the Stretch Shapes team – where we’re known for passionately producing outstanding event décor. We got our start in stretch fabric when our founder, Niko, started using it in his events. He had an event production company before Stretch Shapes, and was drawn to stretch fabric because of its versatility. As he used it more and more, he felt there was an opportunity to create a higher quality product. That passion for quality is what led to the birth of our company, and what has guided us ever since.

As our company has grown, our capabilities have grown with it. We have a highly skilled creative design team that works in the latest graphic and structural design platforms. We have a team of highly skilled seamstresses with decades of combined experience. When it comes to precision, our patterning department brings it to the table. Our aluminum fabrication department is made up of innovators and masters of their craft. We utilize the best tools available for producing our product, like dye sublimation printing, the best Juki sewing machines in the industry, and our Autometrix Radian CNC fabric cutter. We have a highly trained sales and service department that strives every day to ensure we provide the best advice and service to our valued clients.

It’s our passion that drives us- our passion for beauty, our passion for service, and our passion for people. We can’t wait to put that passion to work for you.

Niko Mantele
CEO
What’s the funniest thing you believed as a kid?
It was Christmas Eve. My cousins went on the roof and stomped while ringing jingle bells. I was initially terrified that I was missing Santa and ran to my bed to fake sleep.
What’s your most used emoji?
The rainbow flag, so I can celebrate my LGBTQ spirit with everyone!🏳️‍🌈
Nancy Willcox-Trent
Human Resources Generalist
What was the worst haircut you ever had?
I had painstakingly grown out my thick 80’s bangs for many years in the hopes to have the 90210 Jennie Garth haircut. When I went to get my light wispy bangs cut, they stood straight up! Little did I know that I had a colic on my forehead. I cried for hours and embraced the hair gel.
What would you name your boat if you had one?
‘Reckless Abandon’ because if I had a boat, I’d probably lost my mind.
You won the lottery! What are you doing with the money?
Buying a villa in Italy and taking lessons to learn Italian.
Mike Yakel
Relationship Manager
Favorite winter activity in Oregon?
Leaving Oregon and going to California or Florida.
Standard or electric toothbrush?
SoniCare all the way with a WaterPik for support.
Favorite food?
Pizza. Hot. Cold. Veggie. Meat. All Pizza. All the time.
Dave Youngman
Relationship Manager
Favorite show growing up?
TMNT.
Favorite summer activity in Oregon?
Camping with my dogs!
Best vacation you ever had?
3-month trip traveling through Europe.
Mark Harlow
Relationship Manager
Zombies are coming! Which three people do you want on your team?
Woody Harrelson, Rick Grimes, and Batman.
You won the lottery! What are you doing with the money?
Rent an island for a month with my favorite people.
Would you go to space if you had the opportunity?
Absolutely! As long as I knew I would come home on schedule…
Shel Friesen
Sales Manager
Which decade do you feel you belong in?
I love trends from many eras past, but I am living for the now, baby!
What’s the closest thing to real magic?
Our amazing espresso machine!
You can have an unlimited supply of one thing. What is it?
Time 😎
Paul Driskill
Director of Manufacturing Operations
What is your favorite season?
Oh, I love the fall, with the soft light, long shadows, and the crisp mornings.
Are you an over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?
Over, just like the patent drawing for toilet paper illustrates.
How would you handle your workspace if we hired a giant elephant to just hang out in the office?
I would stockpile peanuts, so I could have all of the elephant’s attention.
Kai Evoniuk
Product Design & Engineering Department Manager
Best vacation you ever had?
Backpacking through Europe: Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Greece.
In your professional opinion, what was the best thing before sliced bread?
Unsliced bread.
Do you own a pet? Tell me more!
Stella is an 11-week-old (as of now) Border Collie/Pointer mix. She’s an awesome little troublemaker.
Christopher Lennard
3D Modeler
What’s the most episodes of a show you’ve binged watched in a row on Netflix?
I once watched 4 seasons of Frasier (86 episodes) during finals week.
What is the most interesting thing about you that can’t be found on social media?
I am part of a Guinness World Record for most people Etch-a-Sketching at one time.
In your professional opinion, what was the best thing before sliced bread?
Probably just eating the whole loaf, to be honest.
Rachel Saxton
Graphic Design Department Manager
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Beyoncé. I’ll settle for Kelly or Michelle though.
What’s your favorite conspiracy theory?
That Rebecca Black’s hit single “Friday” is about the JFK assassination. Seriously. Google it.
Do you own pets? Tell me more!
My perfect sassy one-fanged black cat pretty much runs my house.
Aaron Proteau
Graphic Designer
What’s the most useless talent you have?
I pretty much have Napoleon Dynamite’s entire screenplay memorized.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Sandstorm by Darude
Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? If so, who?
I’m gonna go ahead and lie and say that a lot of people tell me I look like Chris Hemsworth.
Kathy Mazzocco
Accountant
What is your spirit animal?
Dragon
In your professional opinion, what was the best thing, before sliced bread?
Love
Any strange and unusual hobbies?
I feed / photograph squirrels
Rebecca Welton
Manufacturing Planning and Control Manager
What is the wallpaper on your phone right now?
Spider Jerusalem from Transmetropolitan.
What’s your sign?
Stop.
What’s your favorite show or movie?
Preacher on AMC
Sage Winfree
Quality Assurance Manager & Pattern Maker
What’s the closest thing to real magic?
Love, in its many forms.
Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party, living or dead?
Cleopatra (past), Frida Kahlo (present), Captain Janeway (future).
What’s your favorite sandwich and why?
Grilled cheese with mushrooms and lots of butter.
Karla Ramos
Floor Manager
Are you properly prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse?
Yes, I am! I’ve played the game Resident Evil many times and I’ve watched Zombie World War Z, I’m ready!
Do you own pets?
Yes, I do. I have a fluffy, big, handsome black cat. His name is Nino.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Amsterdam or Ireland.
Tiffany VanKlausmeier
Assistant Floor Manager
Favorite summer activity in Oregon?
I really enjoy sailing. It’s so exciting and it makes me feel like a pirate!
What is your spirit animal?
I always feel like my spirit animal is a wolf or a unicorn.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a costume creator!
Elpidia Alvarado Cordero
Sewer
Which decade do you feel you belong in?
The 80s
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Coming home from work and finding dirty dishes.
What song from your high school years do you still rock out to?
Anything by Los Yonic’s.
Joyce Amankwatia
Sewer
What’s the funniest thing you believed as a kid?
If you accidentally swallowed the seeds when eating an orange, an orange tree would grow inside you.
What would you name your boat if you had one?
Liberty
What did you name your first car?
My first car was named by my mother (Mowa).
Manuel Balam
Production
What was the worst purchase you’ve ever made?
My worst purchase was my first car.
What’s your most used emoji?
Little faces.
What decade do you feel you belong in?
The 80s.’
Dora Bustillo
Sewer
What’s your favorite sandwich and why?
A turkey sandwich, because it is healthy!
Zombies are coming! Which three people do you want on your team?
I would bring my children and my husband.
Which decade do you feel like you belong in?
In the 80s.
Gladys Reyes Castellanos
Production
What would you name your boat?
Survivor
You won the lottery! What are you doing with the money?
Buying a house, buying apartments, and supporting Saint Jude’s.
What’s your favorite smell?
Suavitel (Fabric softener)
Araceli Cobian
Production
What is your favorite show or movie?
The 100.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Paris.
Favorite Food?
Sushi.
Makaya Fine
Production Support Specialist
What’s the most useless talent you have?
Yoyo tricks
What’s your most used emoji?
👍
What’s your favorite smell?
Teriyaki Sauce
Tyler Giard
Shipping and Receiving Agent
What’s the worst purchase you’ve ever made?
A $60 frozen daiquiri in Las Vegas.
Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? If so, who?
Adult Haley Joel Osment and Edward Norton one time.
Who do you think deserves a statue and why?
Damian Lillard, as he is the greatest Blazer of all time!
Julee Hidalgo
Manufacturing Support Coordinator
Any strange or unusual hobbies?
I make quirky stuffed animals, bags, keychains, and suncatchers. I used opossum bones for one suncatcher. Unusual? Yes. Definitely not creepy. 🙂
How would you handle your workspace if we hired a giant elephant to just hang out in the office?
It better be one of those elephants that can paint! We’ll have ourselves a grand ol’ time.
Are you properly prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse?
I’ve been prepared for this my whole life.
Eric Jeffcoat
Production Support Specialist
What fictional character would you most like to meet?
Jake from Adventure Time!
You won the lottery! What is the first thing you’re doing with the money?
Finishing construction on my evil lair >:)
What’s your favorite useless fact?
A group of ferrets is called a business.
Anabel Marroquin-Climaco
Production
Any strange and unusual hobbies?
I like to walk.
Do you volunteer outside of work?
I volunteer in my church and I cook for people who need it.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
My hometown, El Salvador.
Nayeli Navarrete Bravo
Sewer
What would you name your boat if you had one?
I would name it Luna.
What is the worst purchase you’ve ever made?
A dress that I never wore!
What’s your most used emoji?
The smile emoji.
Fabiola Paredes Guzman
Production
What would you name your boat if you had one?
Lunita
Would you go to space if you had the opportunity?
Yes
What’s your favorite smell?
I like the smell of flowers.
Zora Parker
Production
What’s the closest thing to real magic?
Live Theater
Who are the three people you’d invite to a dinner party, living or dead.
Coco Chanel, Marsha P. Johnson, Billy Porter
You can have an unlimited supply of one thing. What is it?
Perfectly made lattes.
Yensy Portillo Melendez
Sewer
What’s your best scar story?
I have a scar on my knee from falling off my skateboard.
Imagine you can teleport anywhere. Where are you going first?
El Salvador or Hawaii
What’s your favorite smell?
The smell of a clean room.
Roberto Ramos
Production
What is your favorite social media platform?
Discord.
Morning or night person?
Night person.
What is your favorite season?
Winter.
Rosalba Rodriguez-Meneces
Sewer
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m already a grown up but I still dream of owning my own restaurant one day.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I could travel I would like to travel to Europe because I would like to know other cultures.
What is your favorite food?
Mexican food is my favorite, specifically Chicken Mole.
Christina Skaggs
Facilities Maintenance Technician
What did you name your first car?
Blueberry. 1990 Golf convertible.
What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you used to rock?
Bell bottom velvet yoga pants and platform shoes.
What’s the closest thing to real magic?
Paying all your bills before the due date.🙂