Juan Cisneros has got an important job to do, and the 30-year-old Florida native is up to the task.

From Child Start offices on Devlin Road, Cisneros works diligently on behalf of children all over Napa and Solano counties. His work through Child Start, an arm of Head Start, a national organization that serves low-income families, helps thousands of children start off on the right foot.

Cisneros' multiple job duties keep him on his toes. In Child Start's Fatherhood Project, Cisneros works with young men and helps them become better fathers.

"We want to show them the importance of being involved," Cisneros said.

Teaching young dads to spend time with their children has a profound, positive effect on the father-child relationship, he said.

According to Cisneros, doing little things such as putting up banners throughout the house filled with encouraging messages and mailing letters to children can boost a child's self-esteem and make them a better person.

Another of Cisneros' important roles is training family advocates to go out in the field and serve Napa and Solano county families. Through his training, advocates visit homes and counsel low-income families. Cisneros also helps make things happen within Child Start by serving as a liaison between Child Start and Head Start's governing council, comprised of parents.

Working on behalf of children wasn't always on Cisneros' mind, he said. After graduating from high school in Florida, Cisneros moved to Michigan and began studying toward an engineering degree at University of Detroit, Mercy. But as he got more involved in his studies, through internships, he realized that working as an engineer wasn't something he wanted to do, he said.

"The internship really helped me see that I'm not a designer," he said. "I'm a people person."

Cisneros moved back to Florida and began working as a volunteer for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Through his work in TANF, Cisneros learned of a job opportunity at Head Start and decided to take it. The career move changed his life and eventually paved the way for Cisneros to move to Vallejo, and later to Napa to work with families.

For his work through Child Start, Cisneros was recognized by Napa Valley Life magazine as one of the top 25 most intriguing people in the Valley. Michelle Williams, executive director of Arts Council of Napa Valley, nominated Cisneros for the honor.

"There's something about Juan," Williams said. "He's just one of the most committed people that I know. He's one of those people that you can rely on professionally and personally. He's not what you would expect. He looks kind of imposing. He's tall and he's broad but the minute he smiles he's got the most amazing grin. He's just one of those guys that really makes you think."

Williams and Cisneros met through On the Verge, a program that's designed to teach leadership skills, and quickly became friends.

When Cisneros isn't attending On the Verge meetings or working at Child Start he looks after the residents of Villa Del Ray, an assisted living care facility in Napa.

But Cisneros isn't just about business. He often spends time in San Francisco, riding in a Muni bus and soaking up the sites, and is an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sacramento Kings. Cisneros is also a member of the North Bay Unity League, a service organization that aims to create a sense of community among gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual residents.