My name is Rusty Rice, and I previously served as the marketing and booking representative for Heritage Portraits & Albums. I am writing this letter to provide clarity regarding my departure from the company and to address several false and misleading statements that have recently been circulated about me and my role with Heritage.

I resigned from Heritage in June 2025 after it became clear that the company was experiencing significant internal issues—specifically product delivery delays, declining customer service, high staff turnover, and ultimately, a bankruptcy filing. As these problems grew, I no longer felt I could, in good conscience, continue placing new clients into a system that I feared would not be able to fulfill its commitments. My priority has always been transparency and integrity, and resigning was the only ethical course of action.

Recently, the current owner, Cody Hensleigh, has suggested—both directly and indirectly—that he “purchased the company from me,” and that he is now attempting to repair the company following my supposed mismanagement. These claims are completely false.

To be clear:

• I have never owned Heritage Portraits & Albums.
   
• Mr. Hensleigh has been the majority owner and controlling decision-maker since the company’s inception.
   
• All major management decisions—including the financial structure, cash flow management, and fulfillment processes—were fully under his authority and control.
   
• Neither I nor any staff members had the ability to override those decisions, despite offering recommendations and expressing concern.
   

My wife did hold a minority share in the company; however, despite her legal rights as a shareholder, neither she nor I were ever granted access to any financial documents, accounts, or operational financial information. We had no involvement in the company’s financial decision-making and no authority over how funds were managed.

At the time of a forced buyout, Mr. Hensleigh signed the notarized affidavit shown below to protect my wife from potential liability resulting from financial decisions made solely under his management. This affidavit acknowledges that she was excluded from all financial information and decisions—a fact that directly contradicts the narrative now being promoted.

I am issuing this statement not out of malice, but out of necessity. It is important that customers and members of the community receive truthful information and are not misled regarding the causes of Heritage’s challenges or my personal involvement. Many of you trusted me over the years with your family, church, and organizational portrait needs, and you deserve honesty.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me professionally and personally. I remain committed to transparency and to serving clients with the professionalism they expect and deserve.