About CASTO

Crafting Tomorrow's Themed Experience—One Project at a Time

Starting with the launch of our contract 20 years ago, CASTO was born from a desire to build a legacy—one that would influence generations of themed entertainment experiences. Our name, CASTO, is synonymous with innovation, quality, and a commitment to excellence. We bridge the crucial gap between creative design, technical documentation, and flawless execution, offering a full suite of services under our three pillars: Design, Document, and Deliver.

Our Mission: Redefining Constructability

At the heart of CASTO lies our mission: constructability. We believe that true constructability transcends mere project completion; it embodies the seamless integration of aesthetic creativity, durability, and functionality. Our mission is to ensure that every creative vision not only takes shape but is executed with such precision that it becomes a living, breathing experience—timeless and unforgettable.

We approach every project with the belief that it can and should be done better. This mindset drives us to constantly refine our methods, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in themed entertainment.

Comprehensive Services That Make a Difference

Design: Turning Vision into Reality

Design is where imagination meets innovation at CASTO. We specialize in providing high-end, custom design solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of themed entertainment projects. Our design services are rooted in deep industry knowledge, ensuring that every aspect—from conceptualization to the finest detail—is perfectly aligned with your project goals.

Whether it’s creating a breathtaking themed environment or specifying intricate design elements like flooring, hardscapes, or vertical facades, our team excels in translating abstract ideas into tangible, awe-inspiring realities.

Document: Precision in Every Detail

In the world of themed entertainment, documentation is more than just a blueprint; it’s the roadmap to success. CASTO offers unparalleled technical and editorial support, ensuring that every detail is meticulously documented. Our documentation process covers every aspect of your project, providing a comprehensive guide that enables flawless execution.

Our expertise extends across various disciplines, including detailed specifications for flooring, hardscapes, rockwork, artificial foliage, and more. We ensure that every technical aspect is accounted for, reducing the risk of costly errors during production and installation.

Deliver: Bringing Your Vision to Life

The delivery phase is where the magic happens, and at CASTO, we make sure that every project is delivered to perfection. Our project management team is equipped with the knowledge and experience to oversee every stage of production, ensuring that your project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.

Through our partnerships with top-tier material suppliers and production art directors, we provide custom systems that are innovative, durable, and aesthetically superior. Our trained and licensed installers, under the expert supervision of our skilled production art directors, bring your vision to life with precision and care.

Why Choose CASTO?

Choosing CASTO means choosing a partner who understands the complexities and demands of the themed entertainment industry. Our services are designed to optimize resources, saving you time and money while ensuring that your project is executed with the utmost precision.

Our strategic partnerships give us direct access to high-end materials and innovative systems, allowing us to offer solutions that are not only unique but also tailored to the specific needs of each project. This, combined with our attention to technical detail, ensures that your project will proceed smoothly, without delays or budget overruns.

Our Legacy of Excellence

CASTO’s team brings a wealth of experience from some of the most iconic themed entertainment projects around the world. We have been instrumental in the design and construction of landmarks such as Disneyland Shanghai, Universal Studios Beijing, and Universal Studios Japan. Our expertise has also contributed to the success of innovative attractions like Meow Wolf, SeaWorld, and Madame Tussauds.

Our extensive background in disciplines such as interior flooring, exterior hardscapes, vertical facades, rockwork, and artificial foliage has established us as leaders in the field. We are proud to be recognized as a premier resource for designers and specifiers who demand the highest standards in themed finishes.

Our Vision for the Future

At CASTO, we don’t just build projects; we build legacies. Our long-term goal is to cultivate a culture of excellence within the themed entertainment industry, particularly in the realm of themed finishes. We are committed to mentoring and training the next generation of professionals, instilling in them the values and skills necessary to carry on our legacy.

We envision a future where CASTO continues to set the standard for quality and innovation in themed entertainment, creating experiences that captivate and inspire audiences for generations to come.

Meet the CASTO Team

Our dedicated team is truly the cornerstone of our overall success, as each member contributes a unique set of skills along with a shared, unwavering commitment to excellence in everything we do.

CASTO’S CENTRAL TEAM

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Matthew Casto

Principal Art Director

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Lorenzo Casto

Production Art Director & Lead Coordinator

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Isabella Casto

Principal Design Director

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Melissa Sanchez

Digital Media Specialist

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Alessandro Casto

Digital Marketing Specialist

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Sarah Adams

Strategic Development Specialist

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Massimo Casto

Production Art Director

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Dante Casto

Technical & Material Specialist

  • PRINCIPAL ART DIRECTOR

    Matthew Casto is a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the themed entertainment industry, serving as the Principal Art Director at CASTO. With a solid academic foundation in Civil Engineering and International Business from Brown University, Matthew began his career at Boral Industries, where he developed his expertise in construction materials.

    He later joined Bomanite Corporation as Director of Technical Services and eventually became the Managing Director of Bomanite Group International, where he led operations across Europe. In 2008, Matthew transitioned to consulting, bringing over 15 years of experience in hardscapes, flooring, coatings, sculpture, and mold making to the industry.

    His portfolio includes iconic projects such as Shanghai Disneyland, Universal Studios Beijing, and Universal's Epic Universe. Known for his ability to inspire and educate, Matthew is a respected public speaker, motivational educator, and industry trainer. He plays a crucial role in shaping CASTO’s creative and technical vision, ensuring that every project is executed to the highest standards.

    Matthew’s professional affiliations include serving as a board member of the Decorative Concrete Council and holding memberships in ASCC, AIA, and ALSA. He is also certified as an NRMCA Field Technician and an ACI Concrete Testing Technician, underscoring his commitment to excellence in the field.

  • PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR
    & LEAD COORDINATOR

    Lorenzo Casto is an accomplished Production Art Director with a comprehensive background in the themed experience industry. His expertise spans a range of skills including colorist and painter, coatings, specifications writing, graphic design, and project estimation.

    Lorenzo’s professional journey includes key roles such as Principal Art Director at Richco International and Universal Creative, where he played a pivotal role in shaping themed experiences. His experience extends to serving as Assistant Production Art Director and Project Coordinator for major projects at Disneyland California & Florida and Universal Studios Beijing.

    Lorenzo brings a high level of safety compliance and technical expertise to his work. His extensive knowledge in 3D animation and modeling enhance his capability in project management and visualization. Lorenzo is also well-versed in fieldwork with cementitious, resinous, and paint products, including hardscape painting, carving, staining, and other decorative finish techniques. His skills in blueprint reading, production quality control, and scenic construction contribute to the successful execution of high-quality themed projects.

    At CASTO, Lorenzo’s multifaceted expertise and commitment to excellence play a crucial role in delivering outstanding results across our projects. His background in both creative design and technical implementation ensures that every aspect of the production process is managed with precision and artistry.

  • PRINCIPAL DESIGN DIRECTOR

    As Principal Design Director of CASTO, Isabella Casto is the visionary force behind the company’s design, documentation, and marketing strategies. She oversees editorial direction, graphic identity, and themed consultation, ensuring that every project meets CASTO’s signature standard of precision, creativity, and thematic excellence.

    With extensive experience in the themed entertainment and architectural finishes industry, Isabella has grown into a specialist with a deep understanding of how this industry operates—its processes, materials, technical and aesthetic requirements, and the companies that drive it forward. Her ability to bridge the gap between design vision and real-world constructability makes her an essential collaborator for clients looking to bring immersive experiences to life.

    An accomplished Art Historian, Critic, and Conservator from the Universidad de Granada, Isabella specializes in historically and artistically accurate themed representation, blending storytelling with design to create authentic, immersive environments. As the Founder and CEO of Sienna Design Studios LLC, she has built a reputation for world-class branding, editorial design, and digital media, working alongside key players in the industry to modernize and refine their brands.

    Her work extends beyond traditional design—she has led rebranding efforts for major companies and products within the industry, helping them stand out in a new era of innovation. With the demand for modernized, future-forward branding, Isabella has become the go-to expert for companies looking to redefine their identity and positioning.

    Her impressive portfolio spans renowned cultural projects, high-profile marketing campaigns, and editorial work for prestigious international publications. Beyond aesthetics, Isabella’s expertise extends into strategic branding, shaping CASTO’s identity as a leader in themed design and immersive storytelling.

    Under her leadership, CASTO is not just a creative firm—it’s an industry influencer, redefining how design, documentation, and narrative come together to build environments that inspire and endure.

  • DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIST

    Alessandro Casto brings a multifaceted skill set to CASTO, combining his background in styling, design, and creative arts with strategic marketing expertise. A graduate of a specialized creative trade school, he is adept at video editing, motion graphics, presentation design, photography, and brand development. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Alessandro crafts visually compelling narratives that reinforce CASTO’s core values.

    As a marketing strategist, Alessandro approaches each project with a keen understanding of audience engagement, storytelling, and constructability. He leverages data-driven insights to inform content creation, ensuring that messaging and visuals are both meaningful and effective. His expertise in presentation design and content development for Continued Education Programs plays a key role in CASTO’s ability to educate and engage industry professionals, strengthening the company’s position as a thought leader.

    By managing social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Alessandro shapes CASTO’s online presence, enhancing audience interaction through relatable, educational, and story-rich content. His emphasis on brand alignment, innovation, and authenticity ensures that every digital touchpoint—from marketing campaigns to Continued Education presentations—reinforces CASTO’s reputation for quality, creativity, and credibility.

  • STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

    Sarah Adams serves as CASTO’s Strategic Development Specialist, bringing a rich background in project management and production art direction for themed environments. With extensive experience designing and delivering attractions for renowned companies such as Universal Destinations & Experiences and Walt Disney World Resort, Sarah plays a key role in identifying growth opportunities, fostering strategic partnerships, and driving initiatives that align with CASTO’s mission. Her expertise encompasses relationship management with ownership groups, material suppliers, and vendors, as well as overseeing community engagement and CAP X projects.

    Throughout her career, Sarah has led significant themed finishes efforts for high-profile projects, including Universal’s Epic Universe and DreamWorks Land. She has a proven track record of coordinating multidisciplinary teams, implementing innovative asset management systems, and optimizing workflows to ensure seamless project delivery. Her experience managing complex scopes of work, paired with her tenure in facility maintenance through Universal’s Tech Services, equips her with a unique ability to deliver projects that stand the test of time.

    Among her career highlights, Sarah contributed to developing Universal’s company-wide procedures for documenting themed finishes, ensuring long-term consistency and quality in maintenance efforts across parks. She also spearheaded training initiatives for in-house concrete repair technicians, enabling them to create and sustain decorative flooring elements. Additionally, Sarah refined paint and coating specifications for Universal’s international projects, ensuring materials met both creative and durability standards.

    Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Themed Environments Integration from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Production from the University of Michigan. Her passion for creating immersive experiences, combined with her commitment to practical, durable solutions, makes her an invaluable asset to CASTO. Through her leadership and innovative mindset, Sarah continues to expand the company’s reach while upholding its reputation for delivering exceptional results.

  • PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR

    Massimo serves as a Creative Production Art Director at CASTO, where he is responsible for overseeing entire production processes while safeguarding the creative vision of each project. With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Massimo ensures that projects are executed seamlessly from concept to completion. His role includes supervising, scheduling, and training project managers, while also managing logistics to ensure production efficiency. Safety is a critical component of his work, and he is dedicated to implementing strict safety measures throughout the production phases.

    Massimo has led and overseen high-profile projects such as Universal Studios' Toon Town, Island of Adventure's Marvel, and Universal Epic's Super Nintendo World. His ability to handle large-scale, creative undertakings while maintaining project integrity has made him an invaluable asset to the CASTO team. As a natural leader, Massimo is passionate about guiding and motivating his teams, helping them to achieve their goals while developing their individual strengths. He is results-driven and takes pride in fostering a productive and collaborative work environment.

    Massimo’s extensive expertise is supported by a variety of industry certifications. He is a licensed contractor, Bomanite Certified Master Craftsman, Mapei Licensed Installer, Duraflex Flooring Installer, and Porviva Installer. Additionally, his OSHA 30 certification underscores his commitment to safety standards, ensuring that each project adheres to the highest levels of compliance. With his diverse skill set and leadership acumen, Massimo continues to push the boundaries of creative production while upholding CASTO’s standards of excellence.

  • DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

    Melissa Sanchez is a Digital Media Specialist at CASTO Creative, specializing in motion graphics, video editing, branding, and content creation. With a background in digital media and marketing communications, she merges strategic storytelling with visually compelling design to enhance brand engagement and audience interaction.

    With over eight years of experience in Adobe After Effects, Melissa has developed expertise in motion graphics, video effects, and logo animation, crafting dynamic content that brings marketing campaigns to life. Her skill set extends across brochure and magazine formatting, photography and video production, website design, and advertising strategy development. She is proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop, ensuring high-quality execution across all digital platforms.

    At CASTO Creative, Melissa plays a key role in translating creative concepts into impactful digital strategies, supporting the team’s mission to deliver immersive and engaging brand experiences. Her attention to detail, adaptability, and passion for innovative design make her an integral part of the team, bringing fresh perspectives to every project.

  • TECHNICAL & MATERIAL SPECIALIST

    Dante Casto is a crucial member of CASTO, specializing in the technical and creative aspects of material selection and pre-construction. As a Material Specialist and Colorist, Dante brings expert skills in capturing creative documentation, selecting and matching colors, creating textures, and building models and molds. He leads the development of owner samples, project mockups, and submittal packages, ensuring that each element is tailored to meet the highest standards of quality.

    In addition to managing quality control (QA/QC) and performance testing, Dante advises on the transition from design to construction, ensuring that the material and system selection is both functional and aesthetically aligned with project goals. His responsibilities also extend to overseeing pre-construction testing and establishing the installation processes before the start of any project. Dante’s meticulous attention to detail safeguards the integrity of the designs and ensures they meet all performance criteria.

    Certified as a Duraflex Installer, PPG/Inus Flint Certified Specialist, and Bomanite Installer, Dante's technical knowledge and expertise are essential to CASTO's success in delivering high-quality, innovative solutions that stand the test of time.

CASTO’S STRATEGIC PARTNERS

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Kirsten Ruhs

Themed Finishes Specialist

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Ashley Steinmann

AEC-Specific Marketing & Business Development Specialist

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Jesse Hanson, PE

Engineer & Material Specialist

  • STRATEGIC PARTNER AND THEMED FINISHES SPECIALIST

    Kirsten Ruhs is the founder of KirPaint Inc., a leading company specializing in Art Direction and Scenic Paint for Themed Environments. With nearly three decades of in-house experience at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) and Universal Creative, Kirsten brings exceptional expertise and innovation to her role.

    At CASTO, Kirsten enhances our projects with her deep understanding of themed finishes and creative execution. Her distinguished career includes contributions to all six Disney Theme Parks and five Universal Theme Park locations worldwide. As Sr. Director – Production Art & Design at Universal Creative, she led the Themed Finishes Team for Universal Beijing Resort, integrating themed paint, color design, rockwork, facades, and hardscape with a strategic vision and hands-on approach.

    Kirsten is renowned for her ability to bridge the gap between concept and execution. Her expertise spans from the initial colorboard phase through installation, maintenance, and refurbishment. Her extensive network across the Theming Industry—including fabrication vendors, individual artists, and maintenance teams—provides access to the best resources and materials, further enhancing CASTO’s ability to deliver exceptional themed environments.

    Kirsten Ruhs continues to set the benchmark for excellence in themed environments through KirPaint Inc. Her partnership with CASTO significantly bolsters our collective efforts to deliver imaginative and high-quality solutions that bring creative visions to life.

  • STRATEGIC ENGINEERING PARTNER & MATERIAL SPECIALIST

    Jesse Hanson joins CASTO as a strategic partner with over 25 years of experience that bridges design, construction, forensics, and innovative technologies. His diverse background enables him to integrate design excellence, constructability, and sophisticated project management techniques with technical exploration. This unique skill set empowers him to develop new products, pioneering methodologies, and advanced delivery solutions for clients who demand inventive approaches.

    Throughout his career, Jesse has successfully overseen projects spanning from small-scale artistic installations to $250 million infrastructure endeavors. Serving as the engineer in responsible charge for more than $200 million in structural assets, he refined his ability to create tailored, forward-thinking engineering solutions. His efforts included drafting new standards and working extensively on state-of-good-repair initiatives, forensic analysis, and litigation support. These experiences have granted him a comprehensive perspective on the full lifecycle of materials and building systems, ensuring that he not only addresses current rehabilitation needs but also informs the development of superior future products, programs, and installations.

    Jesse’s expertise extends to the forefront of structural innovation. He has played a key role in testing and code development for new structural materials and systems, as well as serving as the Engineer of Record for groundbreaking projects that employ these emerging technologies. Notably, he has been a leading figure in the advancement of 3D-printed concrete design methods, contributing to product testing, documentation, and analysis.

    By blending detailed technical insight with a deep understanding of product development and complex code documentation, Jesse helps clients achieve their individual goals with precision and ingenuity. His partnership with CASTO significantly enhances our capacity to deliver cutting-edge solutions that elevate the industry standard and meet the evolving needs of our clients.

  • AEC-SPECIFIC MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

    Ashley Steinmann has dedicated the past decade to driving measurable success in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry through her expertise in strategic marketing and business development. By specializing in outbound business development, demand generation, and digital brand positioning, Ashley has helped her clients stand out as top-tier leaders in their fields and make connections with key clientele.

    Her strategic approach to AEC-specific business development has delivered high-value leads, generating over $50 million in additional revenue collectively for the firms she has partnered with.

    Passionate about empowering built-environment businesses, Ashley is the trusted marketing and business development partner AEC firms rely on to elevate their brand and achieve sustainable growth.

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