OUR STORY

DeShawn L. Robinson

Co-Founder & Executive Vice President/COO

Born and raised in Northwest Washington, D.C., DeShawn L. Robinson is the Co-Founder and Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of The Robinson Hearth Group, LLC. A federal public servant, wife, mother, entrepreneur, and the Mrs. Claus of Robinson Hearth Group, DeShawn brings organization, attention to detail, creativity, and a deep commitment to customer service to the company she is building alongside her husband, Gaines.

For DeShawn, Robinson Hearth Group is about much more than building a successful business. It is about building something their children can one day continue. From the beginning, she and Gaines wanted to create a company their family could be passionate about together and ultimately pass from one generation to the next. Christmas, family, celebration, and creating memorable experiences provided a natural place to begin.

As Executive Vice President and COO, DeShawn plays a hands on role in bringing RHG experiences to life. She helps lead the production of the company's apparel and assists with the setup and preparation of Santa experiences, photo booths, DJ services, and other event offerings. She also steps into one of RHG's most recognizable roles as Mrs. Claus, helping create the warmth, authenticity, and sense of wonder that define the company's Christmas experiences.

Organization and attention to detail are central to DeShawn's approach to operations. She believes the details behind an experience are often what allow everything customers see to feel effortless. From ensuring that equipment and sets are where they need to be to helping create an organized and welcoming environment, she works to make sure RHG experiences are delivered with care and professionalism.

Above all, DeShawn believes exceptional customer service must remain at the center of the company. For her, customers are not simply transactions. They are the reason RHG exists. Their trust allows the company to grow, and seeing families and organizations satisfied with an experience is one of the most rewarding parts of building the business.

That philosophy is especially personal when it comes to children. As a mother of four, DeShawn believes every child matters and deserves to feel heard, welcomed, and included. She brings that same sense of care into RHG, paying attention to what children enjoy, what makes them comfortable, and what can make an experience feel magical to them. As Mrs. Claus, she wants children to leave believing a little more deeply in the wonder of Christmas and remembering how they felt long after the experience ends.

For DeShawn, inclusion means creating a place where people are welcomed regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or background. She believes everyone should have an opportunity to see some form of representation within Robinson Hearth Group and that no one should feel left out of the experiences the company creates.

DeShawn attended Howard Community College before continuing her education at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a concentration in Graphic Design and Art History. Her academic background complements the creative side of her work at Robinson Hearth Group, where visual presentation, design, apparel, and the details that transform a service into a complete experience are important parts of bringing the company's ideas to life.

DeShawn has also built a career in federal public service. The professionalism, organization, and attention to detail developed throughout her career are qualities she brings into her leadership and day to day work at Robinson Hearth Group.

One of her favorite parts of RHG is simply getting to build it with her family. Working alongside her husband has allowed DeShawn to see his vision for the company develop from an idea into something families and communities can experience for themselves. She describes his love for the holiday season as almost childlike and sees RHG as an opportunity to share some of the same joy he has long created for their own family with others.

Her own vision for the future is equally ambitious. DeShawn sees Robinson Hearth Group growing into a major name in Christmas and holiday experiences, producing prominent events, serving nationally recognized organizations and venues, employing hundreds of people, providing quality jobs and benefits, and becoming the kind of company whose experiences are booked well in advance. At the same time, she wants the heart of the company to remain unchanged as it grows.

When families experience Christmas with Robinson Hearth Group, DeShawn wants them to feel as though the spirit of the season has wrapped them in a warm blanket. She wants children and adults to feel as though they have stepped into the North Pole and experienced the love, warmth, togetherness, representation, and joy that the holidays can bring.

Outside of RHG and her federal career, DeShawn enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, going to the movies, reading, and drawing. The Robinson household also includes three dogs and a cat, adding even more personality to an already busy family home.

Ultimately, the legacy DeShawn hopes to build with Gaines is one rooted in love. Love for Christmas, love for family, love for community, and a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience joy and belonging. She hopes RHG will not only create those experiences, but also create opportunities for others who share that passion to build meaningful careers helping bring them to life.

If there is one thing DeShawn wants people to understand about her, it is simple: she cares about people, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

That belief sits at the heart of the company she and Gaines are building together: 

Building places where people belong.