Business & Tech

Event Planner's Decision to Go Out on Her Own Serves as Blueprint for Life

I'na Saulsbery shares her story passion for making others happy and enjoy themselves, led to a successful business.

I'na Saulsbery likes to stand out.

It's a trait that serves the Columbus, Ohio native well in her line of business as an event planner.

Saulsbery is the owner of the Starfire Group, an event planning company based in the greater Cascade area.

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That follows her eight years as as managing and marketing events for Justin's, the now-closed restaurant owned by entertainment mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.

In launching her own firm, Saulsbery, who once sported a red Mohawk, took the next step toward leaving what was at the time, a secure job and position with benefits for the initial uncertainty of going it alone for herself.

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Now Saulsbery, who counts Jamie Foxx, Akon and Seagram's Gin among her client roster, looks at that decision as being a pivotal one that unlocked her true calling and creative energies.

She shared her insights recently with Cascade Patch:

Q. What led you to starting your own company?

A. I decided to start my own company after being employed at Justin’s Restaurant and Bar. It took me a long time to decide that that was something that I wanted to do. The comfort of getting paid every week, having health benefits, a lot of the perks that came with the job, not having to cook ever — but I think for me, it was something that I think that I always wanted to do.

Q. A lot of people say they’d like to start a business or venture out on their own. So how do you go from an idea to making it reality?

A. For me, I was already planning my exit strategy from my job and place of employment. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but it was just one of those things where I felt I was doing my job a disservice by being there. And anything that I do, I’m committed 100 percent and I felt like they would be better off if I was not there because I was not in it 100 percent anymore.  For me my wake up call, my eye-opening, it just happened. It was one of those days where I had always thought about having my own company, I did parties on the side but I never really established a company. I was like, ‘hey, look if you need me, let me know.’ One morning I called my graphic designer and said, look, today is the day. So for me, it wasn’t a big transition period. When you know, you know.

Q. So what did you do to plan your exit?

A. I did not just quit a job. I went to work, and gave my two weeks notice. And I realized it was god telling me I was going to be OK.

Q. Some of the other things you thought about going into career-wise — law, hairdressing or real estate — all involve a communicative or public engagement and outgoing personality. Did you always know that what you wanted to do would ultimately draw from that skill?

A. I can’t say that I always knew. But I enjoy working with people. I love talking to people, hosting — anything really interactive. I really genuinely enjoy seeing people happy.

Q. How do you match your clients expectations and bring their vision to life and at the same time do it in a way that people see it as an I’nah production without making it your vision?

A. For me, I sit down with the client, they give me their vision and from there I take their vision and make it come to life. It begins from the first phone call. It's not just the event itself; I think there are the steps of service and how we do not just before the event, but how we do during the event and post event.

Q. How do you give clients what they want but also manage expectations?

A. We’re very honest. We're very honest with clients about what we feel we’re capable of doing and what we feel is not reality. I manage everyone's expectations by telling them what can happen. I don’t over-promise and under-deliver. That does not work for me. All of our business is referral-based. So if I was to over-promise and under-deliver, my reputation would be ruined so easily.

Q. Is it OK to say no sometimes?

A. Absolutely, because sometimes you get into the situation to where somebody wants you to perform professionally to the best of your ability and the event is tomorrow, and what do you do? You can say 'I’ll sit down and take the meeting with you, but there’s nothing I can do. I can perhaps refer you to someone who who might be able to take on your project,' and that’s what we will do. I think that’s great showmanship because in this business, it’s very competitive.

Q. One would think that to give business to someone else wouldn’t be in your best interest.

A. You can’t do it all and anybody that tells you they can, I need to know how they’re doing it because you can't. And honestly, sometimes you don’t want to. You have to get to the point to where you're comfortable enough in what is that you do to be able to say no.


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