Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronda Whiteing.
Ronda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always had a love for entertaining people and hosting unique events. Being a foodie at heart, I enjoy exploring new venues and looking for opportunities to share with my close friends and family. Three years ago, I decided to invite my family members and a few close friends on a wine tour I curated. I am so passionate about wine and food, and I thought the wine tour would be an awesome way to celebrate my birthday. Needless to say, the tour was a phenomenal success and everyone raved about the experience. We created so many awesome memories that day. After numerous requests to plan another wine tour, my creative wheels began turning. Using my entrepreneurial skills, I refined the experience of the tour so I could invite every woman to experience it.
Girlfriends Who Dine has created a unique space for me to explore and discover new and interesting destinations to share each year. My goal was not only to create an amazing experience but to educate women on the intricate process of wine making. Our members have visited some of the best wine vineyards and distilleries that Texas has to offer! The rest, as they say, is history…
We’re now in our fourth year of wine, food, and adventures in sisterhood. The Girlfriends Who Dine is a sellout wine tour. This year our tickets sold out in 13 minutes! We are working hard to create more creative experiences to meet the demand of our “girlfriend” members.
Has it been a smooth road?
As my business grows, there have been different learning opportunities and problems that demanded different solutions. There was no blueprint for my business model, so a lot of what I have established, I have had to completely learn on my own. As a result, the learning curve was wider and involved a lot of risks as a self-funded business.
Tell us more about the business.
Girlfriends Who Dine are everyday women who are foodies at heart and share a common passion for experiencing travel, exciting social events, and extraordinary culinary experiences. The events were founded on the principles of sisterhood and women empowerment. We use our curated events to promote indulging in self care. Life is an experience and we remind people of that in a special way.
We firmly believe that every woman should take time out to treat themselves. Socially, being a woman can be a very stressful experience daily. Gathering together with other women can be not only encouraging but also therapeutic. Our wine tours enrich, brighten, and in some cases, change women’s lives. Girlfriends Who Dine was developed as a way to let your hair down and make new friendships over great wine and food.
What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.
I was born into a family of creatives and entrepreneurs. My parents introduced me to travel, music, fashion, and entrepreneurship at an early age. My father was a lead guitar player for Ike and Tina Turner. Over his career, he recorded with many major recording artists and musicians. Besides music, my parents were very successful in the retail industry and real estate. They accrued many real estate properties and also owned and operated several boutiques in the greater Houston area.
These experiences in my childhood had a great effect on me. I saw how my parents were not only entrepreneurs but were in the business of impacting lives. I was inspired to have that life as well, so I became an entrepreneur! I’ve followed in the footsteps of my parents with building my own real estate portfolio. A few years ago, I opened my own boutique in the Galleria area named Micci Marmalade. Micci Marmalade opened my eyes to the lifestyle industry with women. Little did I know, I would use this knowledge when developing Girlfriends Who Dine.
Contact Info:
- Address: 11152 Westheimer Rd #219
Houston, Texas 77042 - Website: www.girlfriendswhodine.com
- Email: info@girlfriendswhodine.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/girlfriendswhodine
- Facebook: facebook.com/girlfriendswhodine/
Image Credit:
CC Brooks Photography
Mya James
MsRyot Photography
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