A Family-Owned Business

James A. Rice is the founder and owner of Showcase Kitchens and Baths. He is a third generation builder and a native of Camarillo, California. He has often said, “I was born here and want to die here, but not soon. That’s why we do work differently than others.”

When Jim was senior class president at Camarillo High School, he took notice of the then sophomore princess, Daryl DeNeal, and they later married. After finishing his college years and graduate school in 1976, Jim and his wife Daryl moved back to Camarillo where Jim, after his father’s untimely death, became owner of Forest Construction Company, Inc., the construction company his father founded back in 1949. Under Jim’s leadership, Forest Construction went on to remodel over 7000 homes in Ventura and Los Angeles County and soon became one of the top 50 construction companies in the country as noted by Qualified Remodeler.

In 1987, Jim founded Showcase Kitchens & Baths and opened the first showroom in order to better serve their thousands of past clients and referrals. Although certified as a designer by the National Kitchen and Bath Association many years ago, Jim seldom does any designing since he now yields to his design staff and focuses on making sure that the construction staff has everything needed to ensure the best final outcome for every design created. Jim plans to pass on the business to his family one day but  never plans on retiring. Two of his quotes reveal why. One is, “I love people and I love building.” The other that he says with a big grin on his face is, “I can’t retire, ’cause my office is the only place I go where I’m still important.”
Showcase benefits from having a rich history, with a great reputation, and a promising future.