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hona Silver is an amazing woman. As the owner of
Rhona Silver's Huntington Town House in Huntington
Station, NY, she presides over a 148,000-square-foot
catering hall that is double the size of most coliseums
in this country.
She
feeds anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 people a week,
depending upon the season, and employees up to 1,000
people - certified master chefs, wait staff,
captains, and a host of other seasoned professionals.
Her
clients have included everyone from Hillary Rodham
Clinton, Laura Bush, Dr. Ruth, and Billy Joel, to
New York governors and mayors (past and present).
On an average weekend in May, her clientele also
include as many as 1,400 kids (per school) who gather
at her catering hall to experience an unforgettable
prom night.
She
serves brides and grooms of all kinds -
from the son of billionaire Ron Perelman (the flower
budget alone was $1 million) to the young woman
next door. Every customer (famous or not) is treated
with respect and given the legendary customer service
that is Rhona's trademark.
Her
willingness to go the extra mile for her customers
is the key to her success, Rhona says. She will
stop at nothing to make every event perfect. For
example, if a bride doesn't have a mother, it's
not unusual, for Rhona to accompany her to select
her wedding gown. When a client's husband died just
prior to a big family event and the widow couldn't
face the task of addressing the invitations alone,
Rhona opened her home and the invitations were addressed
on her dining room table.
Her
friendship with Hillary Rodham Clinton grew out
of a kindness Rhona extended when Bill Clinton was
in the White House.
The
First Lady was scheduled to appear at a Democratic
Party event at Rhona's facility later in the day,
but an earlier event fell through. The First Lady
and her entourage of Secret Service agents and assistants
needed someplace safe and secure to work and spend
the afternoon on last-minute notice.
Unruffled,
Rhona cleared out her personal office and moved
her accounting department to another floor to make
room. She had her chef prepare a special meal for
Mrs. Clinton and saw to it that every need was handled.
A
few days later, the White House social secretary
called to invite Rhona to Mrs. Clinton's birthday
party. She attended and was treated like royalty,
including a private introduction to the President.
They have been friends ever since.
Rhona
recently had the opportunity to spend time with
President Bush, Colin Powell, and other high-ranking
members of the Bush Administration after she participated
in a mentoring program with 49 other successful
women entrepreneurs.
The
program was designed to match U.S. women with women
entrepreneurs in the Baltic States, and Rhona traveled
to Helsinki to spend time with a caterer who has
her own television show. Rhona was able to share
her own experience, having appeared on national
television many times preparing culinary delights.
The Helsinki trip was the experience of a lifetime.
The
daughter of two hard-working parents who ran a catering
business in the Bronx, Rhona began working in the
family business at age 10. Even though her father
had no intention of sending a girl to college, Rhona
earned a degree from Lehman College and planned
to become a teacher. Later, she went on to earn
a law degree from Hofstra University. (Her daughter
Rebecca is now pursuing a law degree from Hofstra,
as well.)
As
an adult, Rhona faced the hurdle of living in an
emotionally abusive marriage. It was a mixed blessing
when her husband finally walked out the door one
day, leaving her with two children to support.
She
spent the early years of her business as the only
female Glatt Kosher caterer in the nation, making
her mark by producing parties using pretty painted
china and incorporating European cooking techniques.
"The
men who competed for Glatt Kosher business were
still throwing the chicken on the plate," she says.
"So, I quickly built a strong following," including
catering a dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon.
When
the Huntington Town House went on the market, Rhona
set her sights on purchasing the building and wouldn't
give up.
The
previous owner had died and the attorney for the
estate didn't consider Rhona a "player," throwing
every imaginable obstacle in her way. Rhona knew
that the previous owner was a devout Catholic, so
she enlisted the help of Father Tom Hartman, who
made a phone call that opened the door for Rhona
to negotiate a contract to purchase the property.
She had already lined up the financing and was ready
to sign the contract.
The
20-acre site of the catering hall was adjacent to
a burned out shopping mall, and most of Rhona's
friends and advisors thought she was crazy to buy
the property.
But,
a few months later, to Rhona's surprise, a major
developer announced plans to build a high-end mall
next door that would include Bloomingdale's, Lord
& Taylor, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Almost overnight,
the value of Rhona's property skyrocketed. She estimates
that today the property alone (apart from the business)
is worth in excess of $35 million and continues
to grow in value, making it one of the most valuable
pieces of real estate on Long Island.
Now
Rhona and her staff operate out of nine kitchens,
including one that is Glatt Kosher.
"I
still handle Glatt Kosher parties for my really
good clients, but now I am catering to every single
part of the population," she said. "I told my banker,
if I can cater to just one segment of the population
and achieve this much success, imagine what I can
do if I have the facility to cater to everyone."
"God,"
Rhona says, "has been very good to me. Lots of people
work hard, but I've had more than my share of good
luck. And that's why I spend every day trying to
put little miracles into the lives of other people."
The
little miracles she performs include catering events
gratis for foster children who have never had birthday
parties and fundraisers for international causes
like the earthquake victims in Turkey, or domestic
violence and AIDS victims.
For
New Year's Eve 2001, Rhona extended an invitation
to rescue workers and the families of victims who
perished in the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.
"Welcoming
the New Year is a difficult holiday to be alone,"
Rhona explains. "It was my hope to bring out many
of these families and rescue workers on what could
have been a difficult night for them. Hundreds of
them attended, including firefighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, even someone from the
City morgue. Many of them said afterwards that it
was the first time they had been out without their
spouses since the Sep. 11th attack.
When
asked if she has an "exit plan" for her business,
Rhona says she can't imagine doing anything else
and intends to work in her business until she is
no longer physically able to do so.
Her
two children, Matthew and Rebecca, will help her
carry on. Matthew, 27, now works in the "back of
the house" (his wife also works in the business),
and Rebecca has inherited her mother's creative
flair. (Rebecca, 21, will join the family business
after she graduates from law school.) An unofficially
adopted son, Steven, is also an important part of
the business, and Rhona's partner in life, Elliot
Hurdy, handles sales. Rhona credits Elliot's work
and support of all her endeavors as critical to
her success.
Rhona
is currently in negotiations with major hotel chains
and intends to break ground soon on a hotel and
first-class spa on the property. There is a shortage
of sleeping rooms nearby, so she believes this move
will help position her business to handle even more
trade show and convention business.
Whatever
else comes next for Rhona Silver, she doesn't intend
to forget the friends who have helped her along
the way.
"Some
of my clients have become my best friends, and I've
had many friends that have been there when I needed
them," she says. "I am very fortunate that I love
what I do. I make dreams come true, and I get paid
for it. Along the way, I've met some phenomenal
people."
(This
article is reprinted from the Winter 2003 edition
of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright 2002 Enterprising
Women Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited,
except by permission of the publisher.)
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