“our most important product is the taste and quality of our...

OjaiBUSINESS JOURNAL The Offi cial Newsletter of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce

Volume 13 | Issue 2 | October / November 2017

“Our Most Important Product is the Taste and Quality of Our Food”

An Interview with Chef Kate Lee Komaiko,Owner of White Sage Catering

by Reynold Akison

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Chef Kate Lee Komaiko, Owner of White Sage Catering

Chef Kate Lee Komaiko’s White Sage Ca-tering (805-794-5074 or [email protected]) is a full service catering com-pany located in Ojai, California that uses mostly local-grown, organic, sustainable ingredients to create elegant cuisine inspired by international fl avors. White Sage Catering offers catering for events like weddings, anniversaries, birth-days, graduation celebrations, fundraising events, company parties, yoga retreats, craft services, memorials, baby showers, and oth-er occasions. Chef Kate’s personal attention ensures a high level of taste and quality food. Vegan, gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian and custom menus are available. For small gatherings a personal chef is available. Events with guest counts above twelve are priced individually and range from prepared drop-offs to plated parties. White Sage Catering sources their pro-

duce, meats, seafood, and specialty products as close to the Ojai Valley as possible and maintains a relationship with local farmers and food suppliers to create and promote Ojai and the food available from the Ojai Valley community. Organic and non GMO items are used whenever possible. In addition to their homemade desserts, White Sage Catering uses dessert specialists like Artisan Gelato, Ex Voto Chocolates, and Cakes by Anna May for birthday and wed-ding cakes. They can also coordinate with reputable rental companies to provide client needs from glasses to heaters. The caterer’s wait staff can serve client-purchased beer and wine; mixed drinks are outsourced with an independent licensed provider for a full ser-vice bar. Raised and schooled in Ojai, Chef Kate Lee Komaiko has been a professional caterer for 14 years. She attended the School of Culi-

nary Arts at Santa Barbara City College, and gained experience at high-volume restaurants, health-oriented cafes and as a private chef. She also worked for fi ve years as Sous-Chef at the Golden Carrot Award winning lunch program at Oak Grove School in Ojai.

Bill Wagner was honored last month at the Ojai Education Foundation’s annual breakfast fundraiser as their Education Hero of the Year. Bill began teaching in Ojai in 1988, with only ten students in the band and eight in the choir. Today the music department is recognized as one of the most musical and well-rounded small high school programs across the nation, and continues to provide a nurturing environment for over one hundred students per year. Mr. Wagner’s

students, in addition to earning top honors at regional festivals, also garner accolades and top awards at national festivals during their yearly spring tours. Highlights of his travels with his students have been trips to Vancouver, Canada, New Orleans, Louisiana, four trips to New York City with three Carnegie Hall performances and the amazing 10-day tour of Austria and Germany – traveling with over 100 students.

Bill Wagner, Honored as the Ojai Education Foundation, Hero of the Year

Bill and wife Anna and daughter, Charlotte CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

The Offi cial Newsletter of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce


OJAI BUSINESS JOURNAL

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October / November 2017SCOTT EICHER, Chamber CEO

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Kate Komaiko Interview CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

October 31, 2017 will mark the closing of the Ojai Visitors Bureau and the end of the Ojai Tourism Improvement District (OTID). After eight years of working to market Ojai to the “outside world,” the Chamber’s outbound destination marketing will come to an end. Certainly, the efforts put forth over the last eight years will continue to reap exposure. There are articles in the pipeline from visits by travel journalists who came here this year with long lead assignments. Undoubtedly, there will be many small groups forming in town to do their own social media marketing to bring customers to Ojai, so it isn’t as though tourism will take a dramatic dive in the next 24 months. However, there will be only one offi ce that will promote its members to the public when asked for referrals: the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. We are a member based, pro-business organization that will continue to steer visitors to our members’ businesses. The key here is that only our members will receive our referrals. Even though A-list travel blogs, e-zines and print periodicals may bring some promotion through 2018, there is

Ojai Visitors Bureau Closing

Chef Kate started White Sage Catering in December 2015. Her catering company is fully licensed, permitted and insured. Certifi -cations and a list of previous clients are avail-able upon request. White Sage Catering was nominated for the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce’s “Taste of the Town” award at the Ojai Chamber’s annual 2017 Gala. You can reach Chef Kate Lee Komaiko’s White Sage Catering, located at 1151 Avila Drive, Ojai, CA 93023, by phone: 805-794-5074; email: [email protected]; or visit their website at: www.WhiteSageCa-tering.com

THE INTERVIEW:

Ojai Business Journal: What’s the most important thing you want readers to know about White Sage Catering?

Chef Kate Lee Komaiko: The quality and taste of our food are our most important products. We have a professional staff, and we customize the feel of our service to the needs of the event.

OBJ: Who are your target clients?

Chef Kate: People who appreciate quality food made from locally grown or produced ingredients.

OBJ: How does someone hire White Sage Catering?

Chef Kate: Clients contact us by email ([email protected]) or phone (805-794-5074). I like to meet the client and fi nd out what they envision for their event. Then I walk them through the steps we use to provide the food and other services. We discuss any dietary requirements and the budget for the event and arrive at the menus and pricing. If there is no budget, we can of-fer a range of prices and menus based on the client’s needs. We provide all food and food services

and clean-up all food service areas. We help outsource other services by recommending vendors we have successfully worked with in the past. We advise clients to give us at least a month’s notice before their event. I use that time to properly plan an event. Most initial planning takes about two weeks. We get very busy during the holidays and other annual celebratory times like graduations, so con-tacting us early is a must.

OBJ: What is the biggest challenge facing your business this year?

Chef Kate: We’re in a growth period right now, so I’ve partnered with Cadena Rags-dale, our Director of Client Relations, to help me with booking events. Of course we’re always looking for more business, as well as repeat clients and repeat events.

OBJ: How is operating a catering business in the Ojai Valley different from other places?

Chef Kate: Ojai is a niche market and there are lots of clients for the size of the popu-lation. Ojai hosts many festivals and events that need catering. We also work with other chefs in the area. I always try to offer what’s best for the client, while delivering something a little different and creative. Our goal is to become the go-to catering company in the Ojai Val-ley.

OBJ: What sets your catering business apart from others in the Ojai Valley?

Chef Kate: Our dedication to the local Ojai Valley community. We try to provide the best of what Ojai has to offer. We buy as much as we can at the Ojai Farmers’ Mar-ket, which is as good a source as any farmers’ market in the area.

OBJ: Is there anything else you’d like to add




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Staff: Leslie McCleary - Executive Assistant Graphic Design by Olga Singer • SimplyTwo / (858) 485-1747

Victoria Adam Ojai Valley DirectoryRyan Blatz Ryan Blatz LawScott Eicher Chief Executive Offi cerGloria Jones Plush SurroundingsDonna Lloyd Derby & Derby, Inc.Kristen Martinez RabobankGreg Webster Greg Rents

The Ojai Business Journal is a bi-monthly publication of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce which is solely responsible for its contents. Information for issues should be diected to:

The Ojai Valley Chamber of CommercePO Box 1134, Ojai, CA 93024

TEL 805.646.8126 or FAX [email protected]

Directors

President Erik Wilde, Broker Coldwell Banker Property ShoppePast President Olga Jones, Financial Planner Ameriprise Financial Services, IncTreasurer Kirsten Martinez Branch Manager, Rabobank

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Kate Komaiko Interview CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

about your business that we haven’t covered?

Chef Kate: I’m very happy to be living and working in Ojai. I have a strong loyalty to Ojai where I grew up and attended school. White Sage Catering is here for the long-haul. I enjoy working with local schools and their lunch programs. We can offer amazing food for kids. I graduated from Oak Grove School where I’m still a Referential Life Chef.

OBJ: What would you like readers of this interview to remember about White Sage Catering?

Chef Kate: Quality is worth it! We fi nd local sources for the ingredients we use, and the high quality of that food makes it worth the price.

Bill currently teaches Symphonic Band, String Orchestra, Gold ‘n Blue Choir, Chamber Choir, Marching Band and Jazz Band at Nordhoff High School and Advanced Band at Matilija Jr. High School. The Nordhoff Music Department is also well known for producing quality musical theater and with the help of MAESTRO and a core group of outstanding production staff, the department continues to produce yearly musical theater successes. Bill has now directed from the pit for 25 musicals. Mr. Wagner was founding director of the Ojai Summer Band, Director of Ojai Camerata, Principal Trumpet with the Ojai Brass Quintet and Conejo Valley Symphony, Music Director at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and has sung with the Ventura and Los Robles Master Chorales. He is an active trumpet player, clinician and adjudicator throughout Southern California.

Bill is married to Anna Cho Wagner and together they are proud parents of six-year old Charlotte.

OEF is a nonprofi t foundation, established in 1993 and dedicated to promoting excellence in public education. Their mission is “to support a vibrant, rich and inspiring public education experience for the children of the Ojai Valley.” OEF supplements or fully funds basic needs at public K - 12 schools that no longer receive federal, state or local dollars, and promotes community involvement that directly benefi ts the students, teachers and families of the Ojai Unifi ed School District (OUSD).

The Ojai Education Hero of the Year Award is a distinguished honor given each year to an outstanding educator in the OUSD family. For more information on the Ojai Education Foundation visit: ojaied.org.

OEF Hero of the YearBill WagnerCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

strong loyalty to Ojai where I grew up and attended school.

I enjoy working with local schools and their lunch programs. We can offer amazing food for kids. I graduated from Oak Grove School where I’m still

photo by Nina Menconi




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CALENDAR MARK YOUR

OCTOBER 2017

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 15Morning Business Referral Group Meeting @ Eggs N Potatoes 7:15 a.m.

Lunch Business Referral Group Meeting @ Ojai Community Bank noon to 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 9Chamber Board & OVB Meeting @ Ojai Music Festival Conference Room Noon; 646-8126

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 28City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ Council Chambers, City Hall 646-5581

Thursday, Nov. 16Chamber Mixer @ Pacifi c Western Bank110 S. Ventura St. • 5:30 – 7:00 pm.

Thursday, Nov. 25Thanksgiving DayGood Day to Cook & be with Family!

Tuesday, Oct. 10 & 24City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ Council Chambers, City Hall 646-5581

Thursday, Oct. 12Chamber Board & OVB Meeting @ Ojai Music Festival Conference Room Noon; 646-8126

Saturday - Monday, Oct. 14-1634th Annual Ojai Studio Artist Tour

Thursday, Oct. 26Chamber Mixer @ Ojai Music Festival 201 S. Signal St., • 5:30 – 7:00 pm.

Tuesday, Oct. 31 Halloween - BOO!

NOVEMBER 2017

only one phone that will be answered when new visitors call for information about Ojai and what’s happening and when: ours. If you want to promote an event, you need to include the Chamber in your media mix. Members can upload their events to our website from their own workstations. Your Chamber membership is more important now than ever. Whether your business is tourism based or if it is supported by employees or owners of a tourism-based business, with your support, the Chamber will continue to advocate for business at the local, county and state level. We will fi ght against restrictions that erode your profi t margin. We will continue to push the City of Ojai to improve the effi ciency of the Community Development Department (Planning), we will push the City to be active on a solution to our current water crisis that may well extend beyond this decade. When members in Oak View need support at the County Board of Supervisors meetings, we will be there. When a new business wants to meet other business owners, we can help with that at our mixers. When our members need help with digital marketing, we will hold free morning or lunch time one-hour learning sessions—as we will on October 18.Just because the Chamber’s tourism marketing has come to an end, don’t think we are going to fade away. The Chamber will continue to be what it has always been, the only pro-business organization in the Ojai Valley. Join or renew now.

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C I T Y O F O J A I s t a t i s t i c s

TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX FOR MAY 2017: $302,311 (14% Increase over May 2016)

TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX FOR JUNE 2017: $339,197 (7% Increase over June 2016)

TOTAL Transient Occupancy Tax

January - June 2017: $1,583,481

(1% Increase year over year 2016)

TOTS T A T S

Q3 FY • ‘16-’17July 1 - March 31, 2017:

$308,787 (1% Increase year over year FY 15-16)

Sales Tax Collection

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CHAMBER MEMBERS

NewCHAMBER M I X E R

JL & Sons Landscaping, Inc.Severo LaraP.O. Box 244 | Oak View, CA [email protected] Landscape Design

Julie Freeman Nutrition ServicesJulie Freeman204 N. Ventura Street | Ojai, CA [email protected] Health & Wellness

Ojai Valley Assisted LivingTherese Brown203 East El Roblar | Ojai, CA [email protected] Health Care

Churchill ResidenceAlan Barker4295 Thacher Road | Ojai, CA [email protected] Vacation Rental

Educate Girls NowMarilyn Mosley GordanierP.O. Box 1003Ojai, CA [email protected] Non-Profi t

ClintonHaugan RealtorColdwell Banker Property ShoppeClinton Haugan1954 Tiara DriveOjai, CA [email protected] Estate Agents

Food Harmonics, LLCGabriella Chesneau254 E. Ojai AvenueOjai, CA [email protected] Restaurants

Sierra Bancorp (NASDAQ:BSRR), the holding company of Bank of the Sierra, an-nounced the completion of its acquisition of OCB Bancorp (OTC:OJCB), the parent of Ojai Community Bank, headquartered in Ventura County, through the merger of OCB Bancorp with and into Sierra Ban-corp. This acquisition serves as an excel-lent opportunity for customers, employ-ees, and shareholders of OCB to take advantage of a wider variety of products and services as well as the convenience of

Bank of the Sierra’s growing network of branches and ATMs throughout Central and Southern California. Kevin McPhaill, President and CEO of Bank of the Sierra expressed his enthusiasm, “We are excited to welcome the employees and customers of Ojai Community Bank, and each of its divisions, to Bank of the Si-erra. Many thanks to the teams from both banks who have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition for our new customers in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.”

Sierra Bancorp Acquires Ojai Community Bank

The Chamber’s August Mixer was hosted by the Ojai Community Bank. It was bittersweet because this was the last event to be held at this location as Ojai Commu-nity Bank. Bank of the Sierra acquired OCB Bancorp in October. Bank of the Sierra will remain a Chamber member at this location for the foreseeable future, and we welcome them to our Ojai community.




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CHAMBER M I X E R

Thank you!to OJAI COMMUNITY BANKfor our August Mixerand toTHE EMERALD IGUANAfor our September Mixer

on Oct. 26 for our Mixer at THE OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL

on Nov. 16 for Mixer at PACIFIC WESTERN BANK

Join Us

A groundbreaking ceremo-ny for the Artesian of Ojai, took place in September. The 64-unit assisted living/memory support community will be located at 203 E. El Roblar Drive. Representatives from the Ventura County government, the city of Ojai and the Artesian’s parent company, Ojai Valley Assisted Living, all participated in the groundbreaking. The Artesian of Ojai’s primary vision is to deliver top quality, individualized assisted living/memory support services to residents in a home rather than in an institution. Construction of the new community should take 10 months.

The Artesian of Ojai

Breaks Ground

“our most important product is the taste and quality of our...

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