From bank teller to United Way CEO to buying a business — Christine Simmons on the leap into Party Plus Lancaster

Some people talk about community. Christine Simmons builds it. After 26 years at Fairfield Federal, a stint as CEO of United Way of Fairfield County, and one very fateful Facebook ad, Christine took the leap into business ownership on January 1, 2025 — buying Party Plus in Lancaster, Ohio with her friend and business partner Deb Connell.

In this episode, Christine sits down with Janis and Michele to talk about the mimosas-adjacent decision that started it all, what nobody tells you about the event rental business, how she and Deb are figuring out partnership (spoiler: it's a marriage), the operational headaches of seasonal staffing, and why the micro-wedding trend is quietly reshaping how families celebrat ...