Meet Kanetia Durden

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kanetia Durden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kanetia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to start something that would generate wealth and be a foundation for my children.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was a single mom with three children, active duty in the US Army for 13 years. I had deployed four times and then I medically retired in 2016. I had my fourth child in 2018. While pregnant with her, I fell in love with being in the kitchen cooking. I would put pandora music on and start cooking lol. I started my catering business in 2020, right around when COVID started. At first I was making smoothies and they became very popular in my area. I never thought my business would become what it has. The food truck I was making my smoothies from moved to another city. Shortly after, I started making plates from home. I knew that I wanted to stand out with my business, so I really worked on my presentation to look appealing to the eye because people really do “eat with their eyes.” Since COVID had majority of the restaurants in my area closed, I felt like this was my opportunity to advertise my business. It was not easy at first but I kept at it. I would try to have free events where I just wanted people to come and try my food. People didn’t know who I was. They would say they’ll come but not show up. That was very humbling for me. It was then that I realized, despite my circumstances, I still had to believe in my brand and show up for myself. I would go to events and be a vendor to showcase my food. Shortly after that, I started doing private dinners. That is when things made a major turn. Things really took off for me. I went from making plates to private dinners to catering birthday parties, military balls, CTX conferences, Quinceineiras, weddings, promotions, galas, breaking ground ceremonies for a rehabilitation center and NAACP events. I went from trying to have free taste testings to having clients fly in from out of state and drive hours to taste test my food. I couldn’t believe it! All of this happened very quickly! So, fast forward to a year later, I’m getting booked for events a year out. I go to stores and when people would recognize me, they would be so happy to see me and ask for pictures. It was a surreal feeling if I’m being completely honest. I’ve learned throughout my journey to stay the course. I realized that people like to see you do good but not better than them. I have met the most amazing people that I’m so thankful for. I needed all of this throughout this course of my life. I want the world to know to always believe in YOUR brand. Show up for yourself on slow days the same way you would on fast days. I am continuously growing and perfecting my craft. I never stop learning. I am a humbled force to be reckoned with. I am That Girl Netia.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friends know I love food lol. But it has to be pretty food and drinks that tastes good also. Within the immediate area, I would take them to Pluckers, Backporch, grab some amazing desserts from Mr. Sweets (located in Killeen on Florence Road) and also patronize with small businesses in the Killeen/Harker Heights area. If I would travel to Austin, I’d go a nice restaurant like J Prime or Brazilian steakhouse, go to a comedy show or go to hip hop bingo night that is hosted monthly by Ms. Carolyn Brown.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout/dedicate this to my mom and my children. Because of them, I go so hard. I was the oldest of three girls. I watched my mom, as a young teenage mom, raise my sisters and I. I know it wasn’t always easy. I saw the sacrifices she made for us. My entire inspiration and motivation behind my grind and hustle are for the ones that call me mom.

All the long nights and persevering through deployments to running a business is because of my babies. I can’t let them down. I refuse to. I didn’t really have mentorship from anyone. I just watched how people would move and decided if that was something I aspired to be like one day. I’m where I am in life because I saw the environment around me growing up and was determined to see something different. At 18, I just had my oldest son. I got married and enlisted in the Army to provide a better life for him. I was determined to prove people wrong of thinking I would be another statistic because I became a teenage mother. Years later, I had two more kids but divorced shortly afterwards. There were some obstacles I had to face through my journey but it made me who I am today. I appreciate the good because I’ve been through the bad. My family is constantly encouraging, supporting and acknowledging how proud they are of me. I laugh sometimes and tell them “I’m still Netia y’all.”

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