They are all businesses run by local owners who last month won the Young Californian Award. Ovington Michael Owston, Repertory East Playhouse; Jill Jackson, Dessert Alert and Cella Gallardo, Gold Feather Realty were honored at the Hilton in Woodland Hills for their community involvement and entrepreneurial leadership.
Honorees from prior years have included Kelly Perdue winner of The Apprentice and Aaron Piersol, US Gold Medalist.
Ovington Michael Owston or “O” took over the Repertory East Playhouse only two years ago. During the last two years he has continually raised the theatrical bar in Santa Clarita by bringing productions like I love you, your perfect, now change and A Few Good Men to the small stage.
Jill Jackson started Dessert Alert in 2003. She started out with just her and her small home kitchen. Now only a few years later and you can see her ads in local magazines, taste her treats at numerous local charity and business events and hear her speak on her regular KHTS radio show The Better Half.
Celia Gallardo opened Gold Feather Realty in 2004 and opened a second location in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2006. She has made Santa Clarita her home and dedicates most of her free time to the local community.