TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Partnership shares
faith, business, goals
Best known as a country singer, it was a surprise to see Dita Holifield sitting cross-legged on the ground in the center of a huge wreath amid scads of Christmas ornaments and hot glue guns at Restaurant Row.As it happens the complex and Ruth's Chris Steak House are among the clients she decorates for Christmas. Her decorating business and client list may expand as a division of Jan Brenner Ozark's firm Star Theme Partys -- which she is joining as a partner.
"We do incentive travel, theme parties, team building, we have a community division that does the bed race and the American Diabetes Association Walk, and (Dita's) thinking about a seasonal decorating department," said Brenner, which is how Ozark is better known.
"God has blessed me personally so much," Holifield said, "What are the chances that I could come in and become managing partner of a company and pay my way through ownership?"
Even incentive travel has held up.
"Many of my clients are still coming to Hawaii," Brenner said. "They've seen the Gulf War and other economic ups and downs, but they persevere and believe in Hawaii." First quarter bookings are strong, she said.
Holifield and Brenner are both entertainers, able to use those talents for company functions.
Brenner credits Holifield with re-energizing her attitude toward the company, which had been for sale. "She is so enthusiastic she's kind of like where I was 11 years ago," she said. "I'm excited about the business again, and I can see that the business is going to end up funding my ministry." Brenner often donates performances to churches around the state; her CD "Trust Him" was released in October.
Holifield is also a local recording artist and, like Brenner, dreams of bigger things. She leaves Monday for Nashville to record a four-song demo for Sony after what she calls "a long three-year process," and "a magical year," in which she was hired to open for Lee Ann Rimes, The Judds and Trisha Yearwood.
Holifield also sees the company as a way to keep her dreams and opportunities to help others.
"We're Christian women trying to do business in town," which gives the partners the ability to keep musician friends working, and to hire fellow church members who've been laid off from hotel jobs.
"The best is yet to come for Star Theme Partys as long as God is at the helm," Brenner said.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com