Meet Our Board Members
Meet Our Board Members.
Kim Ciesynski
Kim Ciesynski is the owner and principal designer of Spaces Design & Planning. Her office is located in a 90 year old home in downtown Sparks that was converted to a commercial building. Her passion for design and community, lead her to help create a non-profit community organization called 39 North Downtown and is current President of the Board.
Angela Handler
Angela Handler is the proud owner of LoKa Tile Group, the largest locally owned tile and stone store in Northern Nevada. Deeply passionate about the art of construction and design thus making her career path the perfect fit. Born and raised here Angela is deeply committed to dedicating her time and resources to helping out the community in which she raises her two children and 3 fur babies.
Angela has been in the tile industry for 20 years in both the design and construction aspects. In that time she became a Certified Education Provider with IDCEC . She previously sat on the the board of directors of the American Society of Interior Designers, Nevada/California chapter. She continues to assist the organization with continuing education credit events.
Angela is one of the founders of 39 North Downtown. She also currently sits on the board of the Sparks Heritage Museum and Cultural Center as well as Care Chest. She and her son Zayne Swindells founded LoKa Cares, a group that has been feeding the houseless community every Friday for over 10 years. You can find her enthusiastically taking on any challenge or crazy idea that comes here way. Her passion for the community shows by way of action and her hands on approach.
Chris Payne
I moved here in 1974 with my parents, attended Smithridge Elementary, Little Flower Catholic School, Pine Middle School, and graduated from Hug High School in 1986. I pursued radio, one of my three dreams when I was a kid and landed my first job in 1989. My radio career kept me on the air in Reno, Sacramento from 1989 until August 2020. I was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2015.
Since 2016, I have been the emcee for the Reno Aces. I’m also the emcee/P.A. for the Reno Ice Raiders and was recently invited to join Nevada Athletics as the emcee for Nevada Basketball. I’ve emceed for Special Olympics of Nevada as well as Eldorado’s Great Italian Festival. Joining the team of 39 North would be fun as it will allow an even further reach into the community in Northern Nevada
Dennis Castillo
Dennis Castillo, a Nevada native, born & raised in Lovelock, moved to Sparks in 1983, stayed in a 1 bedroom apartment where Pinon stands now. Has bartended at the old Buffalo Bar, baked at the Silver Club, Nugget, and other Reno establishments. Spent 4 years as the Executive Pastry Chef at New York New York in Las Vegas.
He has a daughter, who paints the window decor at both Chuy’s, and a son who helps out at the Sparks location.
In his spare time, Dennis does his genealogy, on his native side, it goes back to 1799 to his great great grandfather, his great grandfather had found the richest gold specimen in Nevada in 1905. He has also had one side going back to 693 in England, which through that line he had President Nixon as a relative.
One of Dennis’s things he loves to do is to create things, from desserts to drinks.
Both Dennis and Chuy have a passion for the business and love what they do.
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