INTERESTING INTERVIEW
Step Up Front Keri Little steps into a leadership role at the newly formed HD5 Entertainment, LLC
By George McAuliffe Keri Little is one of four managing partners of HD5 Entertainment, LLC, a recently formed BEC collaboration with two highly respected FECs in Oklahoma and a recent addition in Denison, TX. She and her husband, Brad, recently sold his interest in that partnership to form HD5 Entertainment, LLC, with Scott and Jenny Emley of Austin’s High 5 and High 5 Anderson Lanes. The partnership is in the process of developing their first joint venture in North Texas.
1. Tell us about your company, its origins, and history. HD5 was formed by four people that share a passion for creating memories for families and developing the people that choose to be a part of our team. We all strongly believe that joining our vision, systems, cultures, and ideas will make for a great BEC brand. We’ll soon have a public announcement about our first joint venture facility. We each started in the industry in our own venture - the Littles about twelve years ago and the Emleys about five. Jenny and Scott Emley started with High 5, a full BEC in Austin, TX. The four of us met a few years back at a Three Amigo’s F2FEC conference in Atlanta. We formed an instant friendship and decided we each shared a common vision of changing lives and growing a legacy within the industry. Several months ago, we sold our interest in our original concept and formed an alliance with the Emleys, to form HD5 Entertainment, LLC, utilizing the High 5 brand that Scott and Jenny had developed. Keri Little 44
IBI
February 2020
2. How did you get into the business? Brad and I met about two and a half years after he started the business. When we met, Brad was a widower and I had been a widow for over eight years. Brad and I married, and I have been diving into various parts of the business ever since. 3. Obviously, you must have liked something about the business or industry. What made you to want to get involved? Something about the BEC business just gets in your blood. I had been an entrepreneur, owning a popcorn distribution business. My claim to fame was my product being carried in the Nieman Marcus Christmas catalogue. I had also been a floor supervisor in a large casino, and later [I was] in restaurant management. So, I had the entertainment management experience and the passion for the service industry. I’ve always been excited about leading and creating a positive culture that delivers a great guest experience, so it was kind of a natural fit. I was also a Mary Kay director for seven years, which gave me plenty of experience with moms! 4. You’ve been a BEC operator for five years now. Can you boil it down to the top three factors for your company’s success? First, develop a strong leadership team and culture. Second, management has to continually educate themselves on new ideas, trends, and what other leaders in the industry are doing. Third, have systems and procedures that deliver the best possible guest experience. It’s hard to narrow it down to just three! One of the many things the Emleys have also managed to do is perfect the league bowling at High5, integrating competitive bowling with casual bowling entertainment.
