Todd Hughes is the owner and operator of Hughes Estate Sales. Todd grew up in the antiques business in Pasadena and spent his youth working with his dad, Larry, in his antique shops and flea markets. In addition to the extensive knowledge of fine art and antiques developed while working with his father, Todd has an expertise in unique ephemera, Mid-century Modern design, and contemporary art. From 1997 to 2000, he owned and operated a retail store specializing in these items on Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, and then in 2001 opened a fine art gallery in South Pasadena dealing in contemporary art. Todd was one of the first to sell antiques and collectibles on eBay and has built an avid following of Internet-based buyers. Having worked closely with his father for over twenty years, Todd's enthusiasm for the business has carried on the family tradition of Hughes Estate Sales.

As Head of Administration for Hughes Estate Sales, Marianne Meininger brings extensive experience in business management and building client relationships. As the first contact most clients have with Hughes Estate Sales, Marianne is excellent at assessing the unique needs of each client and explaining the ways in which Hughes Estate Sales can help. Beginning in 1968, Marianne worked for 15 years at Cal State Los Angeles, Department of Institutional Research, maintaining all university records and statistics and assisting in managing the Computer Center. In 1983, Marianne and her husband founded the motion picture special effects company, Brazil Fabrication and Design, where she managed client relations and administration for their work on Star Trek Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Titanic, among others. She met and became friends with Larry Hughes in the 1970's when he was running the first antique mall in Pasadena's Old Town.

Angela Pena earned her chops in the antiques and collectibles business working closely with her aunt, the former owner and operator of Treasures & Junk, a 17,000 sq. ft. antique mall in Ontario, California. At Treasures & Junk, she helped manage 65-70 dealers, bought and sold art, antiques, and collectibles, merchandised products and organized booths in the mall, and was one of the first to sell on eBay. Learning the business from her aunt for ten years, she moved on to become an independent dealer regularly selling at the Rose Bowl, Long Beach, and Santa Monica Airport flea markets. Angela is known for her eclectic mix of Americana and for her fun and unique seasonal and novelty items. She has been providing Cashier/Sales services for Hughes Estate Sales for three years and in October 2010 joined the staff as a part-time Administrative Assistant assisting with office support and client services.

Tony Rodriguez sold his first antique, South American indigenous art, 40 years ago in the flea market of Madrid. At the time, Tony says, it was a great way to make money for going out and having fun, and he continued to buy and sell at flea markets throughout Europe while working in the hotel industry. Tony moved to Key West, Florida in 1980, where he sold at regional antique shows and became known for Native American rugs, jewelry, and art, and Art Deco jewelry. In 1983, Tony came to Southern California and opened the antique shop Piccolo Mondo in Ventura and began selling at the burgeoning regional antique shows. He met Larry Hughes in 1991 when they had neighboring booths at an antique show in Pasadena. Becoming fast friends and partners, Tony and Larry regularly shared booths at antique shows, and worked together on estate sales and in Larry's retail shops. Tony has been working with Todd since he began running Hughes Estate Sales.

As the Director of Internet Sales, Kari Lung manages the research of antiques and collectibles and ensures that Hughes Estate Sales auction postings accurately and compellingly describe each item. Kari states her "love of research" as the key to guaranteeing that Hughes eBay auctions are the most profitable. She and her team scour past auction records, online databases, and references books for information on how to best market each item. Collectibles wax and wane in popularity and price, so Kari also stays up to date on current trends. Kari came to Hughes with extensive experience in office and data management, skills she uses to manage the large number of auctions posted at any given time. She has recently completed the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts at UC Irvine and expects to receive her ASA accreditation in 2012.

As an Internet Sales Tech, Ticia Hancock helps manage research, online posting, customer service, and shipping for our eBay auction sales. With more than nine years of experience providing customer support and office administration, Ticia helps ensure that our auction bidders have the information they need to be confident in their bidding. Ticia enjoys researching items, and loves that "aha!" moment when she zeros in on an item's origin, such as the company that made a collectible doll or the era of an antique military telescope, that help make our auctions stand out.

In addition to eight years of excellent customer service experience, Shelley Smatana brings her passion for design of the 1950s and early '60s to Hughes Estate Sales. Drawn to "atomic era" patterns, she began collecting Fire-King and Pyrex kitchen items 15 years ago, and in 2004 she launched her own Internet business selling pencil skirts embellished with embroidery inspired by atomic designs. Shelley attended Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA earning a BFA in Sculpture, and later went to Indiana University in Bloomington, IN for her MFA in Sculpture.

Erica has been an honorary member of the Hughes family for 20 years and has worked with Hughes Estate Sales since 2005. As Special Operations Manager, she manages supplies for the Administration, Internet Sales, and Operations departments, assists in inventory control and merchandising for both the Hughes Warehouse Sale and On-site Estate Sales, and is also a frequent lunch-getter and resident artist. Her dog Charlie often accompanies her to the warehouse and can usually be found sleeping on a moving blanket. It is Erica who barks at the mailman.

As in-house photographer, JP is responsible for providing a visual representation of all on-site and warehouse sales, as well as managing Hughes' photographic studio, which produces all images for auctions and online sales. His primary photographic training came as a child, growing up with a professional photographer father, and became more focused during extended travels around the globe and studying at the renowned photography department of Santa Monica College. He has a deep and dedicated passion for the study and collecting of objects relating to Polynesian Pop ("Tiki") culture, and his work can be seen in many notable publications on the subject including "Tiki Mugs: Cult Artifacts of Polynesian Pop," the revised edition of "Tiki Road Trip," "Jeff Beachbum Berry Remixed," "Sippin' Safari," and throughout the pages of "Tiki Magazine," with whom he has been a staff member since 2005. JP also holds a BA in Musicology from UCLA and can be found performing as a member of the modern Exotica septet The Tikiyaki Orchestra, "Planet Earth's longest running modern surf band," The Insect Surfers, and as an active member of the often-revolving Southern California Surf music scene.