At Kaman’s Art Shoppes, our leadership team is made up of artists, creators, and experienced professionals who believe in the power of people. From our founders to our regional managers, every leader plays an active role in shaping our culture, supporting our teams, and delivering unforgettable guest experiences across the country.
Tricia has been in the portrait sketching business for thirty-eight years. She studied at the Cooper School of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Art Students League of New York.
In 1965, Tricia worked as a portrait artist during the summer at Cedar Point in Ohio. In 1971 she started her own portrait stand at Geauga Lake Park. Today we are located in over thirty major theme and amusement parks throughout America and Canada. Tricia still trains our artists in the fine art of pastel portraits and silhouette cutting. It’s estimated that she has trained over a thousand portrait artists, who have sold a combined total of over five hundred thousand sketches!
Outside of the family business, Tricia has had several successful one-woman shows and has won numerous awards for her artwork. The quality and success of Kaman’s Art Shoppes is based on her broad experience in the art field.
Rich prides himself in being a hands-on owner. Kaman’s is a strong revenue generating company due to Rich’s solid background in setting up new operations. Communication between Rich, his managers and the parks is exceptional.
Under his leadership and management, Rich has made it possible for Kaman’s Art Shoppes to be competitive and diversified in the services they offer.
Ben Kaman, CEO, began working for Kaman’s Art Shoppes in 1994 as a seasonal portrait artist at a local amusement park. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2000 with a BFA Ben joined the management team full-time. In 2010 he earned his MBA from Kent State University which allowed him to meld his art and business knowledge with his experience. Ben has in-depth experience working with many of the products and services that Kaman’s Art Shoppes offers which allows him to continue training team-members as well as management in these skills. As CEO, Ben travels extensively visiting parks and zoos to cultivate relationships with clients and to provide encouragement and direction to our on-site management teams. Ben focuses on maintaining high standards in Service, Craft and Sales for which Kaman’s Art Shoppes has come to be known and respected for throughout the amusement industry. In 2015 after a 5-year succession plan Ben took over the running of the day-to-day operations from the company’s founders, Rich and Tricia Kaman.
Kathy Hogan is the Vice President of Operations and Planning. Kathy combines oversight of field operations with project management and program development. She developed programs for KAS ranging from team member orientation, emphasizing excellence in guest service and product quality, to leadership development. She travels extensively to visit on-site teams and works closely with the Regional Managers. Kathy continues to coordinate training initiatives for leadership development and artistic standards.
Kathy graduated from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame IN in 1988 and earned a MFA in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute, NY in 1992. She has applied this background to the design of various fabrication projects created by the very talented KAS Fabrication team, from easels and carts to themed booths and stores used in parks and zoos by KAS team members.
Eric Lewis, CFO, began working for Kaman’s Art Shoppes in 2017. Eric is a graduate of Rocky River High School and then went on to graduate from the University of Toledo in 1996 with a Bachelors in Business Administration majoring in accounting. Eric has spent all 20+ years of his professional career in various accounting roles and businesses spanning public accounting, Industry, internal audit, consulting and roles in management. As CFO, Eric maintains control of all of the accounting and finance functions for Kaman’s as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations at our Corporate Office in Chagrin Falls. The Corporate Office Team at Kaman’s focuses on a high standard of ethics, compliance, fiscal responsibility, and employee and customer service relations.
After 5 years as an airbrush artist at Cedar Point, Barb joined Kaman’s Art Shoppes in 1992 as an Assistant Manager at Geauga Lake. In 1996, she launched the KAS operations at Worlds of Fun and spent multiple years in Kansas City as a District Manager overseeing various contracts from South Carolina to Texas. Promoted to Regional Manager in 2003, Barb has had the pleasure of working with many of the Kaman’s Art Shoppes’ clients across the country. She especially enjoys working with the managers and getting to know the employees in the parks as she works alongside them to help them improve their craft. Barb has a Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University and currently resides in San Antonio, TX.
Kimberly Hooper began her career with Kaman’s Art Shoppes when she was a teenager as a portrait artist at SeaWorld, San Diego. After spending several years as a property casualty insurance agent, she decided to return to her artistic roots and began working at SeaWorld part-time as a letter brush artist, eventually making the move to the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim as a full time Supervisor. She eventually moved into the role of Manager there and helped the account grow into what it is today. Driven by curiosity, Kimberly loves brainstorming new concepts with others and working hands-on with those ideas to see them develop to fruition. Aside from her interests in art, she enjoys travel, live music, and a variety of other interests in her thirst to always learn and experience more. She earned her BA in Communications, Entertainment and Tourism, from California State University, Fullerton.
Lisa Rockwell began her career with Kaman’s as a portrait artist at Cedar Point in 1998. After graduating from Kent State University in 2004 with a BFA in Fine Arts, she moved to Cincinnati where she managed Kaman’s operations at both Kings Island and the Cincinnati Zoo for several years. In 2013 she was promoted and relocated to Chagrin Falls, OH to work out of the Kaman’s Home Office as a Regional Manager. Lisa enjoys traveling to different locations to work and train side by side with our artists and managers on their craft and leadership.
Eric Vincent, Regional Manager, started working for Kaman’s Art Shoppes in 1996 as a seasonal portrait artist who later transitioned into a seasonal assistant manager at a local amusement park in New York. Eric is a graduate of The State University of New York College at Brockport with a bachelors of science in fine art. After graduating from SUNY Brockport, Eric continued his education at Daeman University and obtained his teaching credentials in 2000. In 2001, Eric moved to Charlotte, NC to begin his full-time career with Kaman’s as an assistant contract manager, later becoming the contract manager. Eric continued his journey onto Ohio in 2005 to run the day to day operations as contract manager for Geauga Lake, and then soon after becoming the contract manager for Kaman’s at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH in 2006. After the conclusion of the season in 2010 at Cedar Point, Eric was promoted to Regional Manager where he continues to be hands-on as an artist, cultivating employees and embracing the core values of Kaman’s Art Shoppes.
Dave has been in the theme park industry for over 45 years. He began his career as a caricature and portrait artist at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1979. After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh he pursued his passion for the theme park industry by relocating to Florida where he could work year-round at his craft at Busch Gardens in Tampa and Walt Disney World in Orlando. Dave began his career with Kaman’s Art Shoppes in 1988, returning to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. He became the contract manager for Kaman’s at Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida in 1989. During this time, Dave traveled extensively teaching and training the art and business of retail caricatures.
After a break from Kaman’s to pursue his entrepreneurial spirit, Dave returned to management with Kaman’s in 2011. In 2019, Dave was promoted to a Regional Guru, expanding his involvement in many special projects including developing training materials and business strategies. In 2023, Dave was promoted to a Regional Manager position where he continues to inspire, influence and have impact companywide.
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