"Spirit of Small Business" Award
The Pacific Coast Business Times recognized Flying Goat Cellars with a Spirit of Small Business award at their annual luncheon held at the Santa Barbara Hilton on August 21, 2025. "What an honor to come home with our third award in a month," remarked Flying Goat's Founder/Co-Owner Norm Yost. Yost recently bagged a Golden Bear at the California State Fair for sparkling wine and was named Vintner of the Year by Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance.
The third in a trifecta of awards, the Spirit of Small Business is especially meaningful to Co-Owner Kate Griffith. She commented, "Maintaining a sustainable business for 25 years is remarkable by any standard and now recognition of our entrepreneurship grown from community connection is personally very fulfilling." Yost and Griffith shared the event with family and friends at their table, including Yost’s 90 year old mother Rita.
Like Flying Goat Cellars, the Pacific Coast Business Times is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, which is especially notable for a weekly print journal in the age of digitalization. “[Pacific Coast Business Times has] published the business Bible for the last 25 years,” noted Tracy Lavery Beard, CEO of Solvang Chamber of Commerce. “[It’s] the Wall Street Journal of the Central Coast," also noted Kim Hunter, CEO of La Grant Communications. Indeed, it is the source for all that is newsworthy in the business world in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The Spirit of Small Business special report began in 2003 to showcase business leaders in the region. The report can be read at pacbiztimes.com. These awards are part of a long-standing partnership between the Pacific Coast Business Times and the Los Angeles District Offices of the Small Business Administration. Sponsors include Cal Private, Assured Partners, EDC/SBDC, Hilton Santa Barbara, Citizens Business Bank, Hanmi Bank, Insperity, Montecito Bank & Trust, VCCCD and CDC Small Business Finance.
Yost and Griffith shared the event with family and friends at their table (l-r): Norm and his mom Rita Yost, Gabe Saglie, Jasmine and David Samaniego, Rick & Lisa Sierchio, Joe White and Steve Pepe. The main photo features Norm and Kate with Henry Dubroff, founder, editor and chairman of Pacific Coast Business Times.
