Meet Keli Hernandez-Eustace | Business Owner/Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keli Hernandez-Eustace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keli, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I knew when I was a teenager that I wanted to own a business of my own. I did not know what type of business that would be, but I can remember feeling uneasy whenever I heard teachers tell me that I needed to go to college so I could get a good job.

I do not have anything against going to college or getting a job, but I felt in my heart that I did not want to go to college so that I could get a job and work for someone else for the rest of my life. I wanted to build something of my own. I did not fully understand what an entrepreneur was at that young age (now I do!), but I fully understood that I wanted to be a successful business owner.

As I got older, life circumstances took me in some different directions. I started college, I got married, I got divorced and I ended up in quite a challenging time of my life. After my divorce, I was renting a bedroom and I remember sitting on the bed one day thinking about how I would love to find a job working for a woman owned business. I thought about building a relationship with that woman and learning as much as I could from her because I still had the dream of being a business owning woman myself.

I applied to a job position and, lo and behold, I ended up working for an incredible woman who had built her business from the ground up out of the basement of her home. I worked for this woman (Cheryl) for 10 years and I learned so much from that opportunity. We also became great friends, so much so, that she was also my wedding ceremony officiant this past May (Yes! I am now remarried to a wonderful man)!

I left Cheryl’s company after 10 years to follow my own dream of entrepreneurship and she supported my decision 100%.

So, what was my thought process? I have always known in my heart that being an entrepreneur was the path and purpose for my life. I cannot explain how I knew, but it was an inner voice, a feeling, a deep knowing.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I had the broad stroke concept of WRECK’D Productions on my mind for several years. However, James (my now husband) and I also own another company called A Shore Thing Productions Dba This Is It Entertainment which caters to live events. We were focusing on This Is It Entertainment and my plans for WRECK’D took a backseat. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and the live events industry was completely shut down. It was by far one of the worst moments of our lives. We completely lost our livelihood with no real end in sight. We had to deal with upset clients that had booked our services for their events, we had to deal with creditors and vendors… it was a total nightmare.

We had to make a choice… either to call it quits OR to give it our all and keep going even with all the odds stacked against us. After some serious discussion, James and I decided to pivot and focused on WRECK’D Productions. We took a huge risk, additional expense, and pushed forward with WRECK’D vs shutting down. Our team has many years of combined experience, and we took that knowledge to create what WRECK’D Productions is now.

Also, navigating the waters as a Minority and Woman-Owned business has challenges of its own as this business is in an industry that is dominated by men. It has been quite the undertaking!

We have a great business concept, and our team truly cares about our clients and their success. WRECK’D offers a complete turnkey solution with the ability to produce and/or co-produce, we provide artistic input and guidance combined with unique wisdom and awesomeness! We believe that every creative and small business deserves the opportunity to be heard and seen. Especially now more than ever! Our goal is to deliver high-end digital content and marketing solutions to support our clients in turning their passions into profitable opportunities whilst living out their dreams. Everyone gets treated like a rockstar no matter who they are! We want to see our clients grow and helping them to succeed motivates and excites us! It keeps us going.

Getting to where we are now has not been an easy feat. We have had to overcome many obstacles and we still are. The COVID-19 pandemic affected us greatly, as it did to millions of others.
It is fair to say that small businesses will be recovering for a long time, especially with the current state of our economy. Feelings of discouragement, stress and helplessness have become all too familiar for many of us. But when you believe in something so much and you know that it can positively change the lives of others… giving up does not become an option. And so, we have pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps, pivoted, took risks, and kept following our goals and dreams… and we still are!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We live in Central Jersey Shore which is a great area to visit any time of year. If my friend were visiting for a week, we would definitely go to the Asbury Park Beach and boardwalk. Afterwards, we would walk over to The Asbury Biergarten for some food and drinks. Later that evening, we would go to Asbury Lanes for some bowling (not a typical bowling place!) or catch a concert at the legendary Stone Pony (Bruce Springsteen also performs here)! We would hop over to Club Paradise for some dancing!

We really love Asbury Park. It has come such a long way from what it used to be just a decade ago. The city is filled with so much diversity, it has a great music and artistic scene, and some awesome spots to dine in and just hang-out.

I would also take them to Red Bank to check out a show at the Count Basie Theater. We would eat dinner at the award-winning restaurant, Roost and Barrel owned by Chef Nicholas Harary. The food there is mouth-watering delicious, and the customer service is superb!

If they are an adrenaline junkie, I would also take them to Six Flags Great Adventure for some rides and fun.

Overall, I would ensure that we spent time supporting small local businesses as THEY/WE are the true backbone of this country.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today in my life without the love, help, support, and guidance from some very important beings. The first being is GOD. I know that there are many different faiths, religions, and beliefs around the world, and I respect them all. I do not associate myself with a particular religion or group, but I do believe in a loving GOD, and I know that everything I have been able to accomplish in my life has been because GOD has guided me.

My loving Mother is the second. Not only has my Mother been a supporter of my goals and dreams, but she has also been a source of inspiration as she has accomplished so much, even through adversity. My Mother has also taught me about having unwavering faith in GOD. I have seen wonders work in her life.
My wonderful husband is the third. I have been blessed with a man who not only loves and respects me, but also truly accepts me as I am. He loves me on my great days, and he loves me on my not-so-great days as well. Doing life with him and being able to share goals and dreams with him is an amazing and wonderful gift.

Lastly, I am also very grateful to my friends Cheryl and Billy. I am grateful to Cheryl for hiring me. She took me in at a time when I was broken and gave me the opportunity to gain experience, grow and learn. I am grateful to Billy for pushing me and believing in my capabilities.

GOD has truly blessed me with wonderful people and opportunities.

Website: https://wreckdproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wreckdpro/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wreckdpro

Image Credits
All images belong to WRECK’D Productions.