The Team

Cio, (short for Mauricio), stands as the driving force and visionary behind Cio’s Playhouse. Mauricio Laínez has made Baltimore City his home since 2023, following two decades of residing in Washington, DC. Driven by a spirit of adventure, he sought new horizons. Deeply rooted in his heritage and upbringing, Mauricio has always sought to share his cultural richness and his passion for music and dance.

Since his arrival in Baltimore City, Mauricio has actively engaged in volunteer work and community initiatives, collaborating with others to enhance the vibrancy of his neighborhood and create a better environment for all.

Immersing himself in the city's gay venues and diverse events, Mauricio swiftly recognized a significant gap—the absence of a dedicated space for the Queer Latinx community to revel in Latin music within a safe, inclusive setting. Motivated by this realization, he conceived Cio's Playhouse, envisioning it as a haven where individuals could embrace their Latinx identity and revel in the captivating rhythms of their culture. With Cio's Playhouse, Mauricio aims to enrich Baltimore City by showcasing the multifaceted essence of the Latinx community and introducing others to its extraordinary diversity and allure.

Austin Geter is a highly skilled creative director and producer with 8 years of experience, dedicated to driving brand growth through innovative strategies and connecting with target audiences. She has demonstrated immense success in providing communications leadership for 10+ brands, entrepreneurship starting and leading 4 businesses, and designing for 85+ companies and start-ups worldwide, including UPS, WordPress, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Captain Planet Foundation, Pexip, Cohley, Ecamm, Studio Grow, and Stonewall Sports Baltimore.

Kristen Bowes has been a web designer/developer with a focus on accessibility for about 5+ years. She graduated with a degree from the Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2017. She currently works for Fearless, Inc., located in Baltimore, MD, as well as a Video Game Content Creator for YouTube and Twitch. Some fun little things about her is she is a cat mom of two black cats, and currently lives with her boyfriend. She loves going out, hanging with friends, trying new things and foods, and traveling. However, nothing will ever beat a rainy day playing video games.