Team Bios:

Richard Walters

After 17 years in the nightclub business, several years in operations management of a major corporation, and several more years as an owner of a small business, no one could be more qualified to bring Shows USA to life than Richard Walters!

He co-owned several nightclubs with his father in Vancouver, including the famed "Cave" and "Isy's Supper Club", as well as several others, and even managed several singing groups that toured Canada and the United States in the 1950's and '60's. Moving to beautiful La Jolla in 1967 to be the Executive Vice President of Educational Marketing Research, Richard honed his management skills and experience.

Following that Richard was the CEO of Slender Life Foods and learned the ins and outs of owning his own business, and developed expertise in advertising.

In 1974, Richard began "The Great American Free Market" which was the first new product swap meet in the United States, and the beginning of The Del Mar Home Shows. In 1976 the Free Market morphed into the first Del Mar Home Decorating and Remodeling Show, and has been followed by hundreds more.

Today, Richard is the Chief Executive Officer of Shows USA and oversees all aspects of all shows. His creativity, hard work ethic and belief that the Exhibitors are the most important part of Shows USA is the cornerstone of our success, and the prospectus of all future endeavors of the company.

In his free time, Richard enjoys listening to and cataloging his huge jazz music collection, as he became a jazz lover in his nightclub days when he met the greats of the business, including Sarah Vaughn, Buddy Rich, Count Basie and countless more. He also enjoys spending time with his family, and planning the future of Shows USA. Come by and meet him at the shows, as he still attends each and every one of them, and loves every minute as he is a born "ShowMan"

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Tamara Walters

Tamara is the President of Shows USA and she came into shows the hard way - she was born into it! Working with her father, Richard, at the shows since she was 14 years old, she has done it all from ticket sales to booth sales, and has even been the Easter Bunny at a show to entertain the kids.

For a few years Tamara only worked part-time with Shows USA, and honed her business talents in other businesses, including being the General Manager for a chain of 9 clothing stores, Operations Manager for a large chain of Video Stores, and owning her own sign manufacturing business, but she has always been on the side, helping her Dad with the shows. Today, again committed full-time to Shows USA, most her duties involve managing the shows, working with the sales staff, planning the advertising campaigns, and her favorite part is the graphic arts - designing the brochures, cards, advertising, and everything else. In fact, she has recently gone back to college to get a degree in Computer Graphic Design.

In her free time, Tamara loves to walk her 3 Old English Sheepdogs: Shamus O'Sheepdog, Georgie Girl and Chessley Fipps She also enjoys spending time with her daughter Cassidy, reading, travel, taking photographs and playing with Photoshop on the computer, and remodeling and decorating her home - constantly, because of all the wonderful things she sees at the shows! Please call her if you have any questions about the shows, about designing your exhibit, or about Old English Sheepdogs - she'll be happy to assist you!

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Cassidy Arend

 

You can meet Cassidy at the Info Desk at most of our shows, where she assists attendees in finding the exhibits they are looking for, or assists Exhibitors finding the booths they are working at. Cassidy is a full-time college student, majoring in Geo Physics with an emphasis on Earthquake Science and Volcanology, with a Minor in Astronomy. But since her Grandfather is the CEO, and her Mom is the President of Shows USA, she gets corralled into helping at the events, and answering the phones sometimes.

Cassidy couldn't wait to get to her first show, and was actually born during a show (but luckily not at the show!). Since then she has been at hundreds of events and can answer just about any question you throw at her about Shows, what is on exhibit, or try throwing one in on the earth's crust or distant galaxies.

When she is not at college, studying or working, Cassidy takes care of her zoo - 2 birds - Hoops & Yoyo, 5 aquariums full of fish and the 3 Old English Sheepdogs she shares with her Mom, Tamara. She also loves to read, travel, make jewelry, and listen to music, and once in a while you can catch her performing around town, singing jazz and big band music.

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Leesa Lattimore

Leesa is an account sales representative for Shows USA ~ and she has come full circle! She began working with Richard and his daughter, Tamara, twenty-five years ago and remembers building the January Del Mar Home Show at its inception. She worked for Shows USA for seven years and then moved on to the counseling field. She returned to school and obtained a counseling certificate and later a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services. She has worked as a counselor for at risk children, adolescents, and their families in several facilities in San Diego. She has helped to bridge the myriad of difficulties in family systems and has taught hundreds of classes in didactic family groups in conflict-resolution communication skills.

Leesa is passionate about helping others and is a huge fan of Shows USA! She has remained close friends with Richard and Tamara, always attending the shows and watching them grow! After many years of providing counseling, she is excited to be back working at the Home Shows! She is passionate about helping customers in obtaining their booth at the shows, and in helping to ensure the smooth running of the shows!

Leesa is an avid hiker, enjoying the numerous hiking trails throughout San Diego County, and participates in regular yoga classes. She has traveled extensively, loves animals, and has several "fur-children!" She loves to utilize the Home Shows for her other passion ~ improving and decorating her home and beautifully landscaped gardens!

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Darlene Petretta Spratt

 

Darlene is a recent addition to Shows USA team. She comes with over 24 years of experience helping businesses grow. Fourteen years in the consumer Home and Garden industry and 10 years of print advertising as an Advertising Sales Manager at the Orange County Register, Orange County, California, and directory sales for Southwestern Bell in Southern California.

“Working in the consumer show business gives me great satisfaction. It allows me to combine my advertising background and help businesses reach their goals while building long term relationships through great customer service and careful attention to detail. Many of the exhibitors I have worked with have built their businesses by doing consumer shows. They capitalize on the show advertising to reach their targeted audience for the cost of a booth space. A GREAT bang for their buck!”

Darlene came to Southern California as a Navy brat when her father was transferred to San Diego and attended school in San Diego from the third grade. She is married to husband Ken, and has one married daughter who is attending nursing school. When not working, her “faves” are working in the garden, and anything Italian, since that is her heritage. “I love traveling to Italy, the food, the language, the history and art, and the amazingly friendly people.”

If there are any questions about exhibiting with Shows USA, please feel free to call Darlene, otherwise we’ll s-e-e-e you at the show!

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Gay Triano

Gay has been a dedicated, loyal, full time sales associate with Show USA for 9 years. She started in the corporate office in Palm Desert, working with the founder, Richard Walters, in 2001 and listening to jazz and enjoying Richard’s jokes was a bonus.“ I learned from the best! Richard is a great teacher, friend and boss! It is my privilege to be a part of Shows USA‘s family and I look forward to many years to come.” In mid 2003 she moved to Del Mar, Ca. This move allowed her to better serve the many exhibitors in Southern California.

Gay has a positive/upbeat personality and really enjoys working with people. Growing up in Manhattan, New York City with an Italian Mama and a Southern Dad adds a lot of flavor to Gay’s character. Her enthusiasm and commitment to her profession is contagious.

Gay developed her sales skills by selling real estate in Northern California for thirteen (13) years. She sold residential homes, townhouses and condos in the San Francisco Bay area and modular homes and land in the Lake Tahoe Resort area. During her time as a sales agent, she also worked as an international flight attendant. After leaving San Francisco, she moved to Palm Springs, Ca and worked as sales manager in the meat and fish department of a major food chain located in Palm Desert.

Gay sincerely enjoys working with and assisting in creating a wonderful and festive venue for Shows USA’s exhibitors. As a fringe benefit she shops and attains new ideas for her passion for remodeling and decorating her home with all the wonderful things she sees at the shows.

For relaxation, Gay enjoys walking on the beach, pilates/yoga, reading, traveling, opera, music/jazz, and a good swing on the dance floor. Gay also has two lovely daughters Chelsea and Lindsay whom she has raised on her own for sixteen (16) years since being widowed.

 

We are all in the “Show Business”. Please feel free to call Gay. She is always willing, ready and able to help you with any questions you may have about exhibiting with Shows USA. It’s Showtime! We’ll see you at the show!

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Sandy

 

Home Shows USA produces the largest Home Shows in California.  Our California Home Shows are always free to the public!  Our 34th annual San Diego Home Show has the highest attendance of any Home Show in the state.  Please click HERE to request information about becoming an exhibitor at one of our popular and profitable California Home Shows!