Meet Our Great Team
Richard Gilbert
Founder
Richard, known to most as Richie, founded Road Runners in 2000 after earning the nickname “The Sticker King of Long Island” as a top sales rep. He laid the foundation for Road Runners’ culture of service and heart. Richie’s vision still shapes the company today. Outside the gift world, he’s a grandpa, musician, and lifelong music lover. He also enjoys life with his two loyal dogs, Olive and Rudy.
Tosha Grebe Pearson
Principal
Tosha brings decades of experience and a deep love for the gift industry. She got her start in high school, buying for the children’s department of a local gift shop. That early exposure gave her insight into trends, customer behavior, and the heart of retail. Since joining Road Runners in 2012, Tosha has shaped the agency’s growth through her relationship-driven leadership and big-picture vision. She’s passionate about building opportunities—for the company, the Southwest and West sales teams, and the incredible brands they represent. Though based in Texas, Tosha finds her happy place in the mountains, hiking every chance she gets.
RaeLee Walton
Principal
RaeLee, one of the Principals of Road Runners, has been driving growth and innovation since joining the company in 2013. She leads the East Coast team and scouts standout new brands to bring fresh, exciting products to market. Her sharp eye and dedication help ensure Road Runners offers one of the strongest product assortments in the industry. RaeLee also gives back through her work with organizations like the Gift and Home Trade Association, of which she is currently president. Her passion for the business and commitment to the industry is shaping the future of Road Runners. When she’s not traveling the country for Road Runners, she travels the country with her husband and their 3 children, always on the lookout for the latest trends.
Angela Schmook
Principal
Angela is one of the Principals of Road Runners and primarily works behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. With 26 years in the gift and home industry and the last 15 at Road Runners, she brings deep experience and a passion for helping others succeed. Her work spans marketing, operations, and financials, all managed with her signature efficiency. Angela is a co-founder of the Reps Are Local Too movement, a former GHTA president, and serves on the Gift for Life executive board. When she’s not solving problems or steering the ship, she’s probably on one—cruising the world, one port at a time.
Tara Alley
Director of Visual Design
Tara Alley has been an award-winning Interior Designer for more than 30 years. Straight out of college, she felt most passionate about designing commercial spaces. She has developed numerous furniture showrooms in High Point, NC, and for the past 16 years, she has been the Director of Visual Design for Road Runners. When Tara isn’t traveling for work, she enjoys traveling with her family, cuddling with her doodles, and being the Number 1 Fan for her four children in Thomasville, NC.
Melanie Prchal
Brand Onboarding Specialist
Originally from sunny SoCal and now loving life in Idaho, Melanie brings West Coast warmth and mountain-town charm to the team. As Brand Onboarding Specialist, she connects the dots between retailers, brands, and reps, ensuring the company’s tools, communication, and technology stay one step ahead. She’s all about blending marketing with tech to make things smooth, smart, and effective. Married to her college sweetheart and mom to two kids, plus her furry sidekicks Bear and Jaeger, Melanie loves thrift store treasure hunts, home projects, and wine with friends. She has a knack for making things beautiful, functional, and fun.
Joanne Trupo
Data Entry
Joanne keeps the wheels turning behind the scenes—literally and figuratively. As the mastermind behind commission data entry, she ensures everyone gets paid accurately and on time (which makes her a team favorite). Known for her precision and positive energy, Joanne brings heart to everything she does. Outside of work, she’s all about family time—especially soaking up snuggles from her grandson—traveling, cooking, and staying active. A proud dog mom to two energetic Australian Shepherds, she’s just as at home on a bike ride as she is with a calculator.
Nicole Pearson
Data Analyst
Nicole brings a unique blend of analytical insight and a deep appreciation for human connection to her role at Road Runners. As the newest management team member, she specializes in data-driven strategies that help our reps, retailers, and brands thrive. With a degree in Literature and Classical Studies from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in counseling, she spent eight years in education before shifting to the gift and home industry. Nicole’s love of learning and people shines through in everything she does—whether she’s diving into reports or cheering on the success of a small business.
Helping You Build Success
We represent a vast array of leading industry brands including
giftware, apparel, stationery, books, toys, baby, fashion, fragrance and personal care products.
We have six divisions with over 50 sales reps servicing 31 states.
Our management team has over 75 years combined experience
in the industry with over 10,000 active specialty retail customers.
AmericasMart – Atlanta GA – Suite 1500 Building 2 – 9500 sq ft
Dallas Mart – Dallas TX – Suite TM 1743 & 1521 – 8,800 sq feet
Territories Covered by Road Runners
- Southeast – TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, FL, KY
- Mid-Atlantic – VA, WV, DE, MD, DC, PA
- Southwest – TX, OK, LA, AR, NM
- MINK – MO, IA, NE, KS
- West – CA, AZ, NV, NM, WA, OR, ID, UT, HI, Guam