Katrena Holmes is the Chief Executive Steward, CES of Strategic Product Development International. Chief Executive Steward is a title that Ms. Holmes developed to describe her status within Strategic Product Development International. She believes that we own NOTHING but that God owns EVERYTHING and that we have only been called to steward His resources for the time that we are here on earth.
Ms. Holmes’ appetite for entrepreneurship and product development started when she was 5 years old. Her dad would wake her, her siblings, and cousins up around 5:00am on Saturday morning’s to sell products at local flea markets in South Carolina. This continued until she was 10 years old.
This insatiable appetite for business was solidified at the age of 14 in the 9th grade at D.M. Therrell High School (Atlanta, Georgia). As a 9th grader she would rush home and make Nestle Toll House cookies from scratch and sell them at school to all of her classmates…until, her enterprise was shut-down by school administration. As one might say, ‘she got shut-down by the man!’ It was at the age of 14 that she realized she really enjoyed earning her own money and meeting the needs of people. She was even voted as Student Government Business Manager by her peers.
While in high-school she was introduced to the world of psychology which she quickly fell in love with, so naturally of course, after graduating from high-school, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Albany State College (Albany, Georgia). She later received her Master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven (UNH) (West Haven, Connecticut). It was at UNH she studied the psychology of business and fell in love with consulting and solving problems for businesses.
In 2015 her dad had a massive stroke which caused her along with members of her family to become instant caregivers – a responsibility that she shares happily with her mom and brothers. This experience caused her to reevaluate her life as well as co-found an initiative called The Holmes Family Project under the SPDI Outreach division where she and her family members empower and educate other family care givers on how to care for their loved ones.
In 2018 after serving in ministry for 17 years as an executive administrative assistant, pediatric nursing assistant, program assistant, and trainer (which fueled her passion for outreach), she decided to take an “early retirement” which is a term that is loosely being used and focus on her family and her legacy. It was during this time of deep introspection that she began to write and publish content related to her legacy. Her book entitled Live. Living in the LegacyZone – Your Personal Race Against Time – a book that inspires the reader to live on purpose and leave a lasting legacy – is coming soon.
On April 26, 2019 she established Love International, LLC the holding company for Strategic Product Development International where she helps others to create products as well as shares hers. She chose the name Love International, LLC because she desires to leave a legacy of love.
Ms. Holmes states, “Honoring God and legacy are at the heart of what I do. I want to create things that make me feel ALIVE and create things for and with my client’s that make an impact that lives beyond us. It is truly important for me to share my gifts and talents with the world but it is more important for me to do it on my own terms. I made a promise to God long time ago. And that promise was to serve Him, die empty, leave the earth full and leave a legacy of LOVE.
Strategic Product Development International (SPDI) is simply my way to use all of my God-given gifts, share all of my ideas, generate revenue, help others and leave a lasting legacy of LOVE that honors God. I want to be an example of authenticity, boldness, and spirit-led leadership and with God’s help, HE will give me the wisdom and strength to do just that.”