March 14, 2017

Meet Hanna Benrosh of Bentop Events in Studio City

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Benrosh.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Hanna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was younger, I once sat down to brainstorm what career I wanted to pursue. I came up with three different interests: social worker, interior designer and event production. Time went by, I met my husband and we moved out of Israel, to the United States. I was working as a waitress, I barely spoke English, and my husband asked me “If you could do anything in the world, what would you be doing right now?” Without hesitation I said “event Producer.” That’s when I knew what my career would be.

A family friend had an event planning business, so I started working with him. Very quickly it became a full time job. Later I started working with a larger company that had more clients and a faster pace. When I got pregnant with my first child I thought I would take some time off. But people started calling me to plan events for them and I decided there’s no time to wait and launched my own business.

I took my experience into my new business: In the first company I had learned how to make something from nothing. We worked with very small budgets. We had to be creative and resourceful in order to produce beautiful and meaningful events, regardless of our limitations. In the other company I had learned to be meticulously organized and very detail oriented.

Time passed by. I had two more children, and my business had evolved, in many ways. It’s interesting to look back on the career choices I was considering when I was younger – in my business today there are elements of all three:

I frequently work with nonprofit organizations and underprivileged populations – there is a sense of social work involved.

So much of what we do in event production is about designing a space – I often find myself engaged in the realm of interior design. And of course, event producer – it’s the core of what I do and I couldn’t be more fulfilled, or challenged, by the path I’ve chosen.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think anyone in this business could claim to have had a completely smooth ride. Event planning is the fifth most stressful job you can have, so you can just imagine. I started my business when I was a relatively new immigrant here. This posed many challenges – a language barrier, cultural differences, lack of connections, a steep learning curve. I also happened to start a family at the same time. That was definitely difficult to manage. As a young couple of immigrants, with small kids, we were very limited financially. We didn’t have any family here to rely on so we were pretty much on our own. My husband was building his own business at the same time. We had to work hard and figure out a balance between our career goals – and our family’s needs.

Having kids and a family can be a challenge, but it’s also an important advantage. I found that it forces you to be more focused. To use your time wisely, delegate to others, and to be more organized with your time. Very quickly we realized that we can’t do everything by ourselves. You can’t accomplish everything in one day. It’s like the saying – “if you want something to get done, give it to someone busy.”

It was Overwhelming sometimes, but we managed somehow. Mainly because we had each other’s support. My husband, Omer, believed in me all along and encouraged me to keep going. Even when I had doubts. He gives me confidence and makes me stronger, and I love him for that.

Please tell us about Bentop Events.
Bentop is a visionary, innovative, passionate events company. We design and produce high profile events such as corporate, non-profit, gala and live shows. We also handle high profile private social parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and top weddings.

We’ve built a reputation as a very honest company, I’m most proud of that. It may be a quality that most companies strive for, but I think for us it’s at the very foundation of what we do. Communication between us and our clients is always clear and direct. We don’t promise them the world in an attempt to win their business, or impress them. We first let ourselves DREAM BIG together, enjoying all creative possibilities. Then, we bring our experience to the table about what can be done and what’s right for them. We consider all aspects but never at the expense of our PASSION and primary goal – creating an unforgettable event.

We are also known for our relationships. We place a high value on the connection and chemistry we have with our clients. We take the time to get to know them, before the event, during the event and after the event. Many of our clients are long term clients, and we guide them through many milestones in their lives. My clients often call to consult with me on things long after their event is over, and I’m always there for them. It sometimes means we pick and choose our clients. But that’s a strategy that speaks to my values and makes the work endlessly more meaningful, and fulfilling. The same goes for our vendors and our providers. From small vendors to very high end vendors we keep strong and loyal relationships built on trust and respect. This allows us to bring our clients the best products and best services.

Bentop is also very community oriented. We work with a lot of nonprofit organizations, helping them grow and raise awareness to their cause. I personally serve on the board of several of these nonprofits, as my passion extends beyond the one-time events. I’m involved in community building, supporting at-risk and homeless youth, improving the lives of children with cancer, and inspiring young leaders to become actively involved in their communities. This inside understanding allows us to produce much more impactful and meaningful events that convey our clients’ passion to the guests. It’s more than just conveying a message at an event, it’s about being a part of that message.

Our specialty is elaborate, creative designs and concept development. With every event we add to our design expertise. We’re not afraid to go big and to experiment. Not afraid to explore different elements or try new things. But always strive for a complete vision. Always reach for the next level of what you can imagine.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
As a small business owner you start with running your company as a “one man show”. As you grow you understand that above the importunes of you being very good in what you do, you must know how to run a profitable business (office, employees, contacts and so..). It is especially harder for creative people. We will gives up money & time to work on a project we are passionate about. We just can’t help it LOL.

If I had to start over, I would surround myself with the right people from the start. I would work smarter rather than harder. At the beginning my strong work ethic pushed me to work like crazy. I would go to the max for my clients, working myself beyond exhaustion. Then I realize that trying doing it all by myself is holding me back from reaching the next level.

I learned to surround yourself with people who complete you. People that have knowledge, skills or talents that you lack. That’s when the company really grows. When you are able to learn from one another, and push each other’s abilities further. Then you can accomplish so much more than working 18 hour days by yourself, confined to your own experience.

This is why our slogan is #DreamTeam (It’s on the back of our company shirts). Every one of my team members brings something unique to the company. The chemistry between all of us really comes through in our work. We push for collaboration and teamwork, communication and support. We also recognize that delegating is important, and delineating what everyone is responsible for makes for a smoother production. We invest in our team, believe in “leading by example” and truly LOVE WHAT WE DO! That for us, is the meaning of success.

Contact Info: