Katy Rogers and Tamara Bingham, co-founders of Likely Story Strategies, are redefining how boutique wine, food and hospitality brands tell their stories. Their results have earned them Woman Business Owners of the Year honors from the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Katy Rogers and Tamara Bingham, co-founders of Likely Story Strategies, are redefining how boutique wine, food and hospitality brands tell their stories. Their results have earned them Woman Business Owners of the Year honors from the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Credit: Likely Story Strategies photo

In a place where creativity and entrepreneurship tend to intertwine as naturally as coastal vineyards, two women are quietly reshaping how boutique brands tell their stories.

Katy Rogers and Tamara Bingham, co founders of Likely Story Strategies, have been named Woman Business Owners of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners-Santa Barbara Chapter at its 12th Annual BRAVO Awards Luncheon on April 30.

The recognition is not simply a milestone moment. It reflects a broader shift happening within the wine, food and hospitality industries, in which smaller, highly curated brands are demanding more thoughtful, strategic representation.

Rogers and Bingham saw that shift early. Rather than trying to compete with large-scale agencies, they chose to build something more intentional, something that mirrored the very businesses they serve.

Likely Story Strategies was born out of a clear gap. Many boutique wineries, independent hotels and emerging lifestyle brands often found themselves overlooked by traditional marketing firms that favored scale over nuance.

Rogers and Bingham approached the problem differently.

They believed that storytelling in these industries should feel as personal as a conversation across a tasting room bar or a long dinner with friends.

Their work reflects that philosophy, blending high-level strategy with a distinctly human touch.

That approach has proven to be more than just a point of differentiation. It has become the foundation of their success.

In a relatively short period of time, the agency has built a reputation for elevating brands without stripping away their individuality.

Their client roster speaks to that balance, including names like William Hines Wines, Alterra Solutions, The Set Wines and XOBC from Brandi Carlile.

Each partnership reflects a shared emphasis on authenticity, craftsmanship and narrative depth.

Likely Story Strategies’ ability to scale without losing that intimacy is what sets it apart. Even as the agency continues to grow, Rogers and Bingham have remained committed to a relationship-driven model.

Clients are not treated as accounts but as collaborators. Campaigns are not built from templates but from a deep understanding of each brand’s voice, audience and long-term vision.

Industry recognition has followed naturally. Being named to the 2025 Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemakers list placed them among a new generation of leaders shaping the future of wine and hospitality.

Still, the BRAVO Award carries a different kind of meaning. It is rooted in Rogers and Bingham’s own community, a reflection of the impact they have made not just within their industries but within Santa Barbara’s broader entrepreneurial landscape.

They have shown that there is real power in slowing down, in listening closely, and in crafting narratives that resonate beyond a single campaign.

As the region continues to evolve as a hub for wine, food and hospitality, leaders like Rogers and Bingham are helping define what comes next.

Their work suggests that the future belongs not to the loudest voices, but to the most authentic ones, the brands willing to tell stories that feel lived in rather than manufactured.

In that sense, their recognition as Woman Business Owners of the Year feels less like a culmination and more like a beginning.

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The BRAVO Awards Luncheon, with a “Business in Bloom” theme, is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 30 at The Leta Hotel, 5650 Calle Real in Goleta. Click here to purchase tickets online.

The event will celebrate nine local women leaders whose work represents growth, resilience and forward momentum:

Collin Harmon is a passionate home cook who loves creating recipes for her family and friends, drawing inspiration from her beautiful hometown of Santa Barbara. With a deep appreciation for local ingredients, she enjoys incorporating the best of Santa Barbara’s farmers markets and artisanal products into her dishes. She has a genuine love for meeting new people and learning about their small businesses in the food and beverage industry, believing that knowing where your food comes from makes every meal more special. Collin lives in Santa Barbara with her husband, John, and their dog, Beau. The opinions expressed are her own.