Employee Spotlight: Shannon Howerton, Paint Sales Associate | Staunton

This month, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Shannon Howerton, Paint Sales Associate at our Staunton store! A lifelong Staunton resident and a proud mom to her 15-year-old daughter, Shannon has been a vital part of the Cardinal Home Center family for the past year and a half. In fact, something that might surprise you is that she spent a full decade helping her husband with his professional painting business. As a result, that gave her 10 years of invaluable, hands-on trade experience before she ever stepped behind our paint counter. When she isn’t busy mixing up the perfect shades for our neighbors, Shannon is happiest simply being with her family. You’ll often find them spending their free time outside enjoying the beautiful Virginia scenery, going on local hikes, and taking their dog out for long walks.

Helping Customers Find the Perfect Color

No two days are ever the same for Shannon in the paint department, especially during the bustling summer months when the counter stays busy with DIYers and contractors. Despite the fast pace, Shannon’s favorite part of the job is seeing customers find the right color. She loves watching their excitement when everything comes together. Lately, she has noticed people are breaking away from standard grays and leaning toward more vibrant, bold colors. However, her personal favorite color family at the moment is a timeless, calming sage green.

Shannon’s Best Paint Tips

Because this month’s theme is all about lighting, Shannon has some great advice to share. She notes that whether a room relies on natural sunshine or artificial fixtures, the light will dramatically change how a paint color looks on your walls from morning to afternoon. To avoid common pitfalls, Shannon always recommends testing color samples first. This helps prevent choosing a color that’s too dark or assuming semi-gloss is the only durable option. Her favorite insider tip? Paint your sample in a corner rather than the middle of a flat wall so you can see how the shadows and light interact across the whole room. And if you find yourself standing in front of the paint chips feeling overwhelmed, Shannon says to breathe and just try a few colors at a time.

Visit Shannon at Our Staunton Store

You don’t have to figure your next project out on your own! As Shannon points out, Cardinal has some of the most knowledgeable paint experts around who genuinely care about your success. We are grateful for Shannon’s dedication, local expertise, and friendly, neighborly energy. She brings those qualities to work every day. The next time you are gearing up for a room makeover, stop by our Staunton location, say hello to Shannon, and let her help you pick the perfect palette for your home!