Our team is a testament to food bringing people from all walks of life together. We each have our own experiences and personalities that add to the group but are tied by the common thread of hospitality. Get to know us, there’s always room at our table.
Lisa Richards - CEO & Cowgirl Queen
What is your cowhand name?
The BBQ Queen
What is your cowboy quote? “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Except for a cowgirl, cowgirls will kill you.”
What is your favorite Western movie or TV show? The Big Valley - I always wanted to be Barbara Stanwyck
What is your favorite BBQ related memory? My dad taught me how to grill when I was 9 years old - this was the time where he would teach me and we would have our most heartfelt talks growing up. This was always a safe, comforting place for me to catch up with my dad and share some wonderful memories throughout the years.
Kristen Villasenor - Senior Event Coordinator & Rodeo Princess
What is your Cowhand name? Cowtippin’ Kris
What is your cowboy quote? “If you’re not makin’ dust, you’re eatin’ it”
What is your favorite Western movie or TV show? Tombstone
What is your favorite BBQ related memory? Neighborhood block party cookouts and kid bike races growing up in Indiana.
Taylor Richards - Director of Operations & Warehouse Wrangler
What is your Cowhand name? Smoke Stack Richards
What is your cowboy quote? “Where the leather is scarred, there is a great story to tell.” -Jimmy Tart
What is your favorite Western movie or TV show? 3:10 to Yuma (movie), Deadwood (TV)
What is your favorite BBQ related memory? When I was a youngen’ me, my pops, & his pals saddled up and headed out into the Sierra Nevadas with a huge train in tow. We worked our way through the wilderness to a small lake up in them mountains. We posted up our camp, sent our rides out to graze the land, then fished and explored to our hearts' content. Best part was one night one of my pops pals disappeared for some time only to come back charging the camp in a black bear hide. I haven’t seen so many grown cow poke scramble so fast. It truly was an experience of a lifetime.
Maria Elena Smith – Catering Sales Manager
What is your Cowhand name?
Smoke Show Smitty
What do you like about barbecue specifically? I just love anything with a good char on it and really appreciate a well-prepared piece of meat!
What drew you to CowgirlQ? A woman-owned BBQ company. In my house growing up, my mom did all the grilling (and most of the cooking too). I don’t know when grills became the “man’s domain” but I’ve never accepted that and am glad to be part of a place where bad-ass women lead the way on the grill and in the business.
David – Lead Smoker
What is your Cowhand name?
El Vaquero
What is your cowboy quote?
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
What is your favorite Western movie or TV show?
I really never grew up watching any western movies or tv shows but I do listen to country music. I enjoy listening to Luke Combs, Kane Brown and Brett Young just to name a few.
What is your favorite BBQ related memory?
When I was younger my family and I would gather around every easter at Otay Lake, come to think about it and it has to be one of the best memories I have. Being able to be around the family, socializing, playing games, barbequing and just letting the day pass by without any concerns.
