Our Story

We met at a dot-com in southern California in August of 2000. In November of 2001 the company imploded. Rob was offered a vastly different (and terribly unappealing) position in the company or a really nice severance package. Naturally he took the package. But, the technology market, Rob's area of expertise, had dried up in the area and he remained unemployed for seven months. He finally landed another job at an Internet service provider (ISP) making more money and cutting his killer commute in half, to about seven minutes. After three months he was let go, for the ISP did not do programming in the last quarter of the year and they'd neglected to tell Rob that when he'd accepted the job. Rob decided he was done with technology and the corporate world. Kim, still at the dot-com and still only the girlfriend, very calmly replied, “What would you like to do if you could do anything?” (Had she been the wife, she might have panicked and asked, “How are we going to pay the mortgage?!?”) Rob said he always dreamed of retiring to Cambria and opening a custom picture framing studio. Kim asked him, “Well, why don't you?” They checked the demographics, felt the town could use their service and decided to make the move. Rob said that if she was willing to walk away from her family, friends and career and take a chance on him, they needed to get married. So, they were married in April 2003, moved to Cambria in May 2003, and opened the same month. In January 2004 they moved to their current location. They are happy working and living in Cambria. One of the fun new experiences they enjoy is acting at The Pewter Plough Playhouse, Cambria's performing arts center.

Rob Maston

Rob was born in Detroit, Michigan and decided he wanted eventually to live in California. So he joined the Navy and, after a few other stops along the way, he ended up in San Diego. After receiving his Honorable Discharge, he began a twenty-plus year career in technology. Rob received his Bachelor of Science in Business degree from the University of Phoenix and had a long and successful career with Amgen ® , the world's largest biotechnology company, then decided to change his direction completely and opened Expressions Custom Picture Framing.

He received formal training, earned his Certified Picture Framer ® title, and operated out of his home in Newbury Park. After three and a half years, he was forced to return to the corporate world, due to a partnership dissolution, and reinvent himself. Rob took a job at the Los Angeles Times and later was offered a job at Homestore.com ® . He struggled with the decision and, as he was riding the train into downtown Los Angeles, he prayed for some guidance. At that moment, the train hit a semi-truck. He felt he'd received his answer, so he submitted his resignation and joined the dot-com world. The rest of Rob's story became Our Story.

Rob truly enjoys working with his hands, which is exemplified in everything he does including the design and building of a 4500 square foot home in Newbury Park, playing the piano, throwing a football or softball, and – of course – picture framing. He is living his dream and loves Cambria. His goal is to provide frames that are “as perfect as humanly possible” and give back to the community that has given him so much.

Kim Maston

Born Kim Faulkner on Long Island, New York, Kim was also destined to move to California. Her family moved to Camarillo when she was nearly six years old. She majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). During her career in Human Resources, she twice had senior managers draw her away from that discipline, saying they thought she'd excel in Marketing. She finally took the hint and returned to CSUN for her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Shortly after receiving that, she too was offered a job at Homestore.com® . Once again, the rest of Kim's story became Our Story.

Kim is extremely organized and thoroughly enjoys handling the business end of Expressions. She always says, “Rob does all the framing and I do everything else.” At first, with the mindset of climbing the corporate ladder with the help of her MBA, she felt she was wasting her education. It occurred to her that she was running a business, which is exactly the training she'd received with her education. She has always enjoyed small town life and is very happy and at home in Cambria. She works very hard to keep Expressions moving in the right direction while helping out in the community by being a member of the Cambria Rotary Club, a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Center of Cambria, and being a Coast Union High School Booster Sponsor.