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
Sales Manager
Favorite summer activity in Oregon?
WITH SPENDING SO MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN I HAVE TO BALANCE IT AS BEST I CAN OUTSIDE OF WORK. THE GARDEN IS MY SACRED SPACE FOR THIS. FROM FLOWERS TO VEGGIES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, LET ME GET MY HANDS IN THE EARTH, AND I’M A HAPPY GUY.
What inspires you?
I SEE CREATING A BUSINESS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE AND DO RIGHT BY ALL THE PEOPLE I INTERACT WITH. FROM CLIENTS TO TEAM MEMBERS AND VENDORS TOO, THE PEOPLE ARE WHO MAKE US WHO WE ARE AT STRETCH SHAPES. IF WE CAN MANAGE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WHILE CREATING AN EXCEPTIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE & COMPENSATION STRUCTURE FOR OUR TEAM, THEN WE WIN. THIS IS WHAT DEFINES SUCCESS FOR STRETCH SHAPES AND THE DAILY OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THIS IS WHAT INSPIRES ME TO FORGE AHEAD.
Where have you traveled to?
IN MY LATE 20’S AND EARLY 30’S TRAVELING WAS MY TOP PRIORITY, RACKING UP 50+ COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE. I’M GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE MEANS AND PRIVILEGE TO TRAVEL. IT HAS TO GIVEN ME A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR ALL WE HAVE.
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.
Michael Nielson
Sales Assistant
Morning or night person?
I was a raccoon in a former life.
If you could add one word to the dictionary, what would it be and what does it mean?
Onety-One, because eleven doesn’t make any sense.
Are you over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?
#TeamOverRoll
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
Production
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Honduras.
Favorite summer activity in Oregon?
Getting exercise.
Do you prefer takeout or homemade food?
I do prefer my own homemade food.
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.
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.
Kris Galago
Human Resources Generalist
What’s your favorite smell?
Jasmine Flower (Called ‘pikake’ in Hawaiian)
Imagine you can teleport anywhere. Where are you going first?
New Zealand
What’s the most embarrassing trend you used to rock?
Poleyster Pants
Tyler Giard
Shipping and Receiving Agent
Any strange or unusual hobbies?
Searching for the best store bought pickles
Are you an over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?
Over, always. There’s no other option.
In your professional opinion, what was the best thing before sliced bread?
Probably bread, just not sliced!
Michael Green
Production
Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? If so, who?
I was told Johnny Depp crossed with Antonio Banderas
If you could rename yourself, what would your new name be?
Maximus Cool
What’s the worst haircut or hairstyle you’ve ever had?
My sister dyed my hair baby chick pink at nine years old.
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.
Julian Leiberan-Titus
Graphic Designer
What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you used to rock?
Parachute pants. I mean, I’m not embarrassed by it, but others have expressed embarrassment on my behalf.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Something Just Like This by Coldplay and the Chain Smokers
What’s your favorite useless fact?
Cute little duck-billed platypuses have paralytic poison in their feet. Well, spurs in their feet.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Roberto Ramos
Production
What is your favorite social media platform?
Discord.
Morning or night person?
Night person.
What is your favorite season?
Winter.
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)
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.
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!
Victor Velazquez
Production
What fictional character would you most like to meet?
A Transformer
Which decade do you feel you belong in?
The 80s and 90s
Zombies are coming! Who do you want on your team?
My sons, my wife, and my mother-in-law
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
Assistant Pattern Maker and QC Lead
What is the wallpaper on your phone right now?
A dahlia from my garden with a honey bee, legs round with pollen.
Do you have any nicknames?
Ug, short for ugly duckling. My father had an interesting sense of humor.
Favorite show growing up?
RENT.