The Value of hard work

Nicole Reimer is the president and sole shareholder of Reimer Law, PC, which she opened in 2019. In 2022, her business partnered with the Law Offices of Patricia A. Savage and the Law Offices of E. Ryan Lamb to become Savage, Lamb, and Reimer, LLP. In just one year, the firm has grown to include paralegals and an associate attorney. “Our firm offers a wide variety of legal services to the public,” Nicole says. “Each of our practices complements the others nicely to seamlessly refer cases back and forth amongst ourselves.”

Nicole primarily represents business entities and clarifies that a lawyer can’t ethically say they specialize in an area of law as a lawyer unless they’ve been cleared by the California State Bar as a certified specialist. “My firm has a strong background, focus, and experience in working with business owners and the community in their trust, estate, and probate needs,” she says.

Nicole attended Chico State, majoring in journalism and minoring in criminal justice, but from the get-go, she knew which classes really lit a fire in her. “After taking several law classes for my minor, as well as media law for my major, I discovered that I actually enjoyed those classes more than I did the journalism classes,” she says. “I would get out of my constitutional law class and call my mom while walking back to my apartment and just ramble on and on to her about all of the things I learned in class that day.” After she graduated, a family friend suggested she study at Chico’s own Cal Northern School of Law. The school’s classes are held in the evening, allowing students to work while they attend. It takes four years to get through the program, but Nicole was a dedicated student and she worked in law offices throughout in order to get a feel for what it would be like once she graduated. She became a certified law student and was able to practice law with the direct supervision of a licensed attorney. That step enabled her to take and defend depositions, participate in mediations, and represent the firm in court hearings with her supervising attorney present. When the time came for her to graduate, Nicole was salutatorian of her class, having received the second-highest grade point average every year of her studies.

Nicole has a passion for her job and enjoys the mental exercise it provides. “I love researching to try and solve a puzzle and win the battle of minds against another attorney,” she says. “I also really enjoy helping my clients and feeling like I am able to take a stressful situation off their shoulders and make their lives a little easier. Understanding the legal process can be a challenge, and I like feeling like I can help my clients navigate through it.” However, as much as she loves her job, Nicole has other responsibilities in her life that take precedence. “I am a mother first,” she says. “I have two wonderful young children that are my top priority. My daughter Emmery is almost three years old, and my son Owen turns one this month. I am always thinking about them, and I have their pictures on my wall and as the background on my computer screen. It isn't uncommon for me to stop by the office with my children on one of the days I work from home, and they love the people I work with.”

Since her graduation from law school, Nicole has been primarily focused on assisting her clients with their estate planning and business law needs. She is knowledgeable in drafting wills, trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives. She also has experience in arbitration, mediation, and judicial litigation hearings. She can be reached at (530) 809-1851.

Elizabeth Vichi, Speech-Language Pathologist

Elizabeth Vichi is a speech-language pathologist and has been the owner and developer of Full Circle Speech Therapy Inc since 2016. While developing an amazing early intervention team of speech therapists, occupational therapists, and educated personnel, Elizabeth spent the last six years mastering her craft as a licensed infant feeding specialist, helping mothers and caregivers with feeding their babies for optimal gains, maturation, and development. Elizabeth has developed Full Circle as the leading pediatric clinic in the Northstate, serving Butte and Tehama Counties as well as surrounding communities.

FullCircleST

@FullCircleST

643 West East Avenue, Chico www.fullcirclespeechtherapy.com

(530) 892-9127

Jessica Rowe has owned and operated three retail stores in Northern California in the past 17 years. She discovered a need for one in Orland and decided to open Sparrow & Crow to cater to those seeking the popular bohemian cowgirl look. Jessica couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Downtown Orland business community, one that she states is truly woman-owned and totally supportive of one another’s businesses. Sparrow and Crow in a size-inclusive boutique carrying sizes from extra small to XXL because, as Jessica will be the first to tell you, “Women are beautiful in all sizes!”

SparrowAndCrowClothingCo

@SparrowAndCrowClothingCo

715 Fourth St, Orland (530) 965-2130

Iris opened her art gallery and store, Nothing But Love, on the Skyway in Paradise in May of 2022. Her store features local artists, antiques, and specialty foods, all of which she believes bring healing power to the Ridge, an area that could still certainly use it. Now celebrating its first year in business, Nothing But Love has made a name for itself as a staple of the Paradise art community. As someone who has been a longtime active partner of the Paradise Art Center, the success of her business is a dream come true. Visit this amazing gallery and congratulate Iris on her first anniversary!

NothingButLoveParadise

@NothingButLoveParadise

6393 Skyway, Paradise

(530) 353-8445

effie khaki & Sherry Calbert

It's all cyclical

“People might be wondering why we’ve used the same photo three years in a row to tell our story.” Effie Khaki laughed, “We’re REALTORs though; people should be used to seeing the same photo for at least another fifteen years!” She turns to look at her best friend and fellow REALTOR, Sherry Landis, and the two begin laughing uncontrollably. It is, for everyone who knows the two, completely on brand. For the rest of the cafe-goers at Bidwell Perk, it's clearly an inside joke they wish they were in on. Both Effie and Sherry live their lives in search of joy, and they continue to credit over 30 years of laughter and friendship to their ongoing success in real estate.

It’s true, Effie and Sherry have seen it all in their 30+ years of real estate together. Perhaps more importantly though, they’ve seen it all—over and over again. “The photo of the two of us laughing really could be taken in so many different ways.” Sherry said, “Like we said last year, real estate is no laughing matter. However, there is some humor in seeing the same things happen over and over again. At this point, we’ve seen interest rates rise and fall, prices rise and fall, and demand rise and fall; we’ve seen it all so many times, none of it is really surprising anymore. You just have to laugh and realize it’s all cyclical. In the end, it all balances out.”

Both Effie and Sherry agree that real estate is a long-term investment and should be approached that way. Unless you’re looking to flip a home, market conditions play less of a factor over the 30-year life of a mortgage. In fact, they both believe that one of the best times for a buyer to get into a home is when interest rates are a bit higher than normal.

“If interest rates ever shot up to double digits like they were in the late 70s through late 80s, I’d be wary of buying a home.” Effie started, “Interest rates right now are higher than they were a year ago, sure, but competition is inversely proportional. Buying a home a year ago meant competing with so many offers that were being piled one on top of the other with almost no end in sight. If you won the bidding war, whatever you paid for the property was what you paid for the property. There’s no way to change that valuation going forward—it’s just what you owe on your loan. A higher interest rate, on the other hand, is a different story. With less competition, you have a better chance of buying a home at a more attractive price than you did last year, and interest rates are always subject to change, meaning you have the ability to refinance when the next dip in rates arrives. Get the house you want now for a better price, and make a goal to get down to a lower monthly payment as soon as you’re able.”

Sherry sat across from Effie nodding in agreement before continuing, “It’s also important to know what the difference is in terms of long-term cost between buying and renting. We know of so many potential buyers who are sitting on the sidelines thinking now isn’t the right time to jump in, but with rental prices being incredibly high themselves, it’s really a question of whether you want to build equity in your own home or just put money in someone else’s pocket. We always recommend that our renters sit down with their financial advisor and lender to get an idea of what they can actually afford in a home based on what they’re currently comfortable paying in rent. The number is usually pretty surprising to most of our clients, and the break-even point is far sooner than they would think. More importantly, they’re building equity and actually own an asset which has proven to be one of the best investments historically.”

Just as Sherry had earlier, Effie too was nodding in agreement. She echoed Sherry’s sentiment, “It’s rarely a bad time to begin investing in real estate or adding to your real estate portfolio. There have been times over our careers when it has been, but I believe we can both confidently say this certainly isn’t one of them.”

Effie and Sherry have worked closely with one another for over 30 years. They’ve hosted their own radio show, sold haunted houses, brokered deals with international buyers, and each earned every award Century 21 has to offer nationally, including maintaining a position in the top 1% of Century 21 REALTORs in the nation.

Separately, they’ve each also sold hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate locally and made their names synonymous with the industry in our area. There’s a good chance you may be living in a home they originally listed, as together, they’ve sold thousands of them in Chico alone. Though both have been top producers for decades, they credit much of their success to believing clients should be treated as family rather than a number.

“We’ve received 42 Centurion Awards, done tons of transactions together, and we’ve always been each other’s confidant.” Effie said, “We’ve done whatever we could to help each other, rather than be actual competitors.”

Sherry continued, “I’ve always said Effie was the best REALTOR. She’s an incredible negotiator, and if I wasn’t in real estate myself, I would have had her do all my own transactions. Anytime we would go on vacation, Effie would negotiate our extras at the hotel—free champagne, desserts, etc. We’ve always had healthy competition and continue to be happy for each other’s success.”

Effie finished, “Throughout all these years, our friendship hasn’t been broken by working together. In fact, we’re even stronger. We’ve been there for each other’s happiness and sadness, and our friendship has weathered all the cycles of real estate.”

Effie and Sherry both wanted to note that neither feels their success is due solely to their own work, but also to the support of those around them. While there’s been a huge shakeup in local real estate, they’ve been loyal to the same company for over 30 years and have nothing but wonderful things to say about the time they’ve spent working there. Each has various people who have positively impacted their lives, but both mentioned their office manager, Doug Love, for the unending love and support he’s shown over the years. They both also mentioned branch leader, Shelinda Bryant, for her tireless efforts in making sure their needs were always taken care of.

“Our office has always been one big family.” Effie said, “If someone is down, the rest of the group lifts them up.” Sherry continued, “It’s been over three decades of watching lives evolve. It’s unusual to be in one office for so long, but this is far more than an office to either of us.”

Effie Khaki and Sherry Landis epitomize the strength, friendship, and success we’ve been so honored to discover throughout our women in business issues, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for both of them.

If there’s real estate you’re looking to buy or sell, give Effie or Sherry a call! Effie can be reached at (530) 514-3334, and Sherry can be reached at (530) 514-4855.

Carrie Tatreau, CCIM, Broker-Associate

Carrie Tatreau comes from a construction and commercial property management background. Having worked for builders before becoming an associate broker herself, she maintains a unique understanding of commercial real estate making her perfectly suited to assisting both building owners and tenants alike. She carries a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and is currently on the board of directors for the Sierra North Valley Association of Realtors. Perhaps most importantly, Carrie remains committed to her strong work ethic and maintaining the highest standards of integrity. Carrie says, “I love to answer my phone and exceed your expectations!”

ChicoCommercialRealEstate

DRE #01926238 carrietatreau@ccim.net www.ChicoCRE.com

(530) 570-5107

Kelsey is a 5th generation Chicoan, a self-proclaimed nerd and adrenaline junkie that loves spontaneous adventures and contract questions. Kelsey has an eclectic background that includes working alongside some of Northern California’s top agents. She is a proud CSUC alumni (go Wildcats!) and holds a Master’s Degree in Business. Kelsey’s diverse background across several functional areas, drive, and creativity make her the perfect professional blend to achieve the absolute best results for her clients. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and looks forward to exceeding your expectations.

ChicoCommercialRealEstate

DRE #02035244

Nikole Enns

ms.kelseywatt@gmail.com www.ChicoCRE.com

(530) 908-4905

Nikole Enns is a Chicoan through and through with an unmistakable eye for fashion and design. She turned that gift into a business when she started her own interior design studio, IKO Design Studio, in 2011. Now, as a well-known interior designer, she’s opening a brick-and-mortar store in Downtown Chico to make her style accessible to the masses. Ikoda Collective is a vendor collaborative which will be home to makers and artisans, carrying small batch, handmade items with a Palm Springs vibe. Her lifestyle collective will feature 40+ vendors in vintage furniture, jewelry, custom hats, and more. Stop by 232 Broadway Street for its grand opening on Mother’s Day weekend.

@ikodacollective

232 Broadway Street, Downtown Chico www.ikodacollective.com

Originally from Orland, Jenn Salisbury began working in the medical staffing industry for 13 years before making her way into insurance as the backend administrator. Wearing numerous hats in both businesses, she always felt like there was something more for her—something bigger on the horizon. Not feeling fulfilled, she told her ever-supportive husband, Wes, that she wanted something else. The couple bought a home in Vina and drove by Lassen Steakhouse each day. It had been on the market for two years, and one day she decided to convince Wes they should buy it. They figured out the logistics and worked with her mother to do just that. Jenn and Wes reopened Lassen Steakhouse in January of 2022 with a new take on an old classic. Together, they quickly grew the business, but decided early on to split the responsibilities to ensure they never ended up stepping on each other's toes. This year, Wes took over the restaurant—his passion—and Jenn set out to grow their wedding and event venue, Lassen Gardens, which she had her eye on from the beginning. With their first full year behind them, Jenn is looking to make Lassen Gardens their next big thing, and from the looks of their reservation books, she'll have no problem doing just that. A mother to their three kids—London, Ellihana, and Olivia—Jenn proves that it's more than possible to be a wonderful mother and successful business owner. Visit them for dinner at Lassen Steakhouse, Thursday-Sunday from 4pm-10pm, and call Jenn for all of your event venue needs at Lassen Gardens!

4945 CA-99E, Vina, CA

LassenSteak

@LassenSteakHouse

LassenGardens

@Lassen.Gardens www.LassenSteak.com

(530) 908-4905 www.LassenGardensEvents.com

(530) 839-2838

Sweet Chico is a downtown staple for candy, gelato, and good times down memory lane. Robin Klitzke, her family, and her team have been serving up smiles downtown since she took over the business in 2021. As a woman in business, Robin is proud to show her kids the value of hard work and how important it is to do a job that brings joy to yourself and others. Stop by for great products, excellent service, and friendly smiles Tuesday through Sunday!

SweetChicoCo

@SweetChicoCo 121 W 3rd St, Downtown Chico www.sweetchico.com

(530) 332-9866

Alyssa Palomino opened Unforgettable Bridal Boutique in Downtown Oroville at the end of 2020. In the past three years, her business has grown tremendously, and she believes its success is due to doing business “the right way,” a quality instilled in her by her grandparents who owned Marr Dodge in Oroville. Alyssa believes in providing a personal experience to every bride that walks into her shop. She provides champagne and charcuterie and doesn’t set time limits for picking out a gown, inviting brides to make it a true party. Perhaps most importantly, her business is also size-inclusive. It’s bridal gown shopping done “the right way.” Visit her and experience it for yourself.

UnforgettableBridesOroville

@UnforgettableBridesOroville

1435 Myers Street, Oroville www.unforgettablebb.com

(530) 764-1772

Tracy Riddle, BSN, MSN, CRNA is a certified registered nurse anesthetist who experienced crippling jet lag and dehydration after participating in marathons. She utilized IV hydration services in larger cities to recover and found the results were so profound that she decided to bring IV hydration to Chico, opening Chico’s very first IV hydration spa, Pure Hydration. Now open in their NEW Meriam Park location, Pure Hydration provides IV infusions that deliver essential vitamins and more right into the bloodstream, ensuring residents and visitors alike feel their best! Visit her website to book your treatment today!

PureHydrationChico

@PureHydrationChico

2275 Springfield Drive Ste 120, Chico www.purehydration-chico.com

(530) 636-4272

LeAnn purchased Signs & Graphic Design in 2018 and has since completely reorganized the business model and streamlined the business infrastructure from the bottom up to serve clients more efficiently. If there’s a sign in town that you’ve noticed recently, there’s a good chance LeAnn and the team had a hand in designing and building it! Now, in their brand new location, LeAnn and Jessica can scale to meet the demand of our ever-growing community, providing signage services to businesses in need while building even deeper relationships with their longtime customers.

WeLoveChico

2233 Nord Avenue, Suite 3, Chico www.signsofchico.com

(530) 343-2543