redding

Voices of NorCal- Celebrating Visionaries Shaping Redding and Beyond- Katie Luther

There aren’t many people in the Northern California region that can make you laugh as loud or feel as welcome as Katie Luther. Whether you are meeting her for the first time at a rodeo event, getting better acquainted at one of her open houses, or showing up for dinner at her actual house, you won’t leave a Katie Luther encounter without a good laugh and likely a good homemade cookie! (She makes the BEST cookies!)



Redding wouldn’t be the same without this phenomenal woman. Her love for people, hosting, and community have made Katie a staple in the Norcal Hall of Fame, and I would give her the trophy for “Most Influential Hostess with the Mostess” if that were an option!

Born Katherine Hope Luther, Ms. Katie was raised right here in the North State, more specifically Redding. Her passion for the city she grew up in is what has inspired her to continue sowing seeds here, and cultivating deeper roots every year. When asked about her fondest memories growing up here, she cites people, instead of places. “My fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Stevenson was so kind and full of life, …Jim Schwartz, my student government teacher, and his wife Nancy just encouraged me and made me think I was so awesome.”

To know Katie is to know that people always come first. ALWAYS.

There were no tales of frolicking in fields, or camping under the stars (though I’m sure she did), instead she hit home on the root causes of who helped her become the woman she is today. She credits her creativity, competence, and confidence to her Mom, Claudia, who always encouraged her to “figure things out” and try new things, instilling in her that ‘ can’t never did.’ From her Mother, she inherited a versatile, can-do spirit- confident in her ability to problem solve, create, and pursue growth. These traits have made Katie adventurous, resourceful, and always ready to take on whatever comes next in any area of life, including her relationships, hospitality, and real estate. There is one person who has had the most impact of all, her late Father Jim Luther; the man who inspired her interest in Real Estate. She proudly credits him for her love for people, her spirited personality, her passion for hospitality, and her vision for real estate. Katie recalls growing up hanging out and spending summers in her Fathers Real Estate office. When she graduated high school she spent time mimicking the Dr. Suess book, “Are you my Mother?” except her question was “Are you my Career?” Juggling options that ranged from Veterinarian, to Teacher, to Real Estate Agent, Katie shuffled through her options and landed on Real Estate after an impactful conversation with her Father. Suited and booted, and ready for service, Katie could have never imagined that the year after she decided to go into the Real Estate industry, the entire market would crash. Not only did the market crash in 2008, but Katie also found out that her Father was diagnosed with cancer.

Katie and her late Father Jim Luther





Carrying the weight of the crushing, but choosing to make it out of the cave, Katie steadily moved in a different direction, one that would help her hone her communication and business skills. She worked her way through college as a banker learning the ins and outs of business banking. What Katie didn’t know is that her next endeavor would be the complete opposite, and yet would allow her to learn, teach, sow, and reap. After being offered a job for the second time, Katie accepted an offer as a Youth Coordinator at Little Country Church where she would coordinate the junior high and high school camps, the retreats and virtually all the youth events. The amount of people I have met that have shared a testimony of how Katie shaped and transformed their lives during her time as their youth leader is unbelievable. She sowed seeds to the next generation that will impact them forever. After leading in that ministry role for ten years, she left her position and helped to plant another church, and then moved on to work for Seven Hills Land and Cattle as the Events and Marketing Coordinator.. After that she did a stint at Sierra Pacific Industries in workforce development, so you could say that Katie has been through the “Best of Nor Cal” job circuit! After a long day in office, with no human interaction, she realized that people were her purpose and she could no longer work in any job environment that didn’t allow her to be out with the people of the city she loves so much. So… she quit. Flash forward to current and she has been a successful Realtor in the North State area ever since!

Katie credits most of her success to the foundational principles she learned in vocational ministry; simply put, loving people well. Instead of paying for fancy billboards and running loads of internet ads, Kate spends her days saturated in community outreach, planning and hosting parties for friends, clients, and organizations. You can find Katie standing at the Rodeo Church event handing out signs and cookies, or at the Redding Rodeo, inviting you up to her luxury box for a plate of ribs and a great view of the performance. She is more than a Realtor, she is a well of overflowing generosity and joy. She is raw, authentic, loyal, and has impeccable comedic timing! (Seriously, the wit is unparalleled!)

Honoring her Fathers legacy, Katie more recently made the decision to shift the name of her company to Good Earth Realty, the same name her Dad used for over 30 years right here in our community. The name pays homage to the good soil, or source that she and her Father both have used to see an abundant harvest in their works.

With the firm belief that “a rising tide raises all ships,” Katie has devoted her life to building and creating opportunities for other locals in any way she can. Sometimes it looks like supporting her favorite local restaurant, and other times it looks like hosting fabulous book launch parties for the newest local author! Katie is renowned in the city for being a straight shootin’, line dancin’, horse ridin’, party hosting queen, and is known above all else for being a community ambassador.

Katies future plans are community-minded as well. She dreams of one day being on Redding City Council, and also to create a retreat center for hospitality and respite where people can come rest, work with animals, and cultivate life in the garden. An avid lover of simplicity, Katie continuously keeps her eye on the little things and strives to be successful in those day in and day out in order to see her ultimate community-driven goals come to pass.

Learn more about Katie and her Real Estate services here



Experience the Best Deep Tissue Massage in Redding, Northern California | Gild Massage Therapy

Years ago I had the most incredible massage experience of my life, and today I am here to tell you about it!

Hi! I’m Brittany, owner of Gild, and I want to personally invite you to discover our deep tissue massage services here in Redding, Northern California.

If you’ve ever dealt with stubborn muscle pain, tightness, or just felt overwhelmed by daily stress and tension, you’re not alone — and after reading this post you will find that our team at Gild Beauty Bar is here to help! We have practitioners that are here to help you find relief. Our deep tissue massage is a game-changer for those who work long hours, spend hours bent over or sitting at a desk, or are active athletes dealing with soreness.

What makes our deep tissue massage so special?

Okay this is the part of the story I couldn’t wait to get to!!

So, I first met on of our talented massage specialist during a production event backstage. She was working on recording artists, offering her expert hands and a calming touch. When she offered me a massage in that busy environment, after I did several artists makeup back to back, I said yes! My neck was as locked up as a jail cell and I had limited mobility. After a few moments of her laying hands on my neck, I realized something truly remarkable — her ability to target and release deep knots and tight muscles with just her thumbs that had pressure like that of a semi truck! Seriously, she’s so gifted that her colleagues jokingly call her “Thumbs like Thanos,” because of her incredible talent to relieve immense pressure with her thumbs alone! Within minutes my knots were loosened, my mobility was back, and I was ready to keep rocking out makeup artistry backstage feeling feather light.

The amazing thing about Rachel is that her signature approach, (which includes myofascial release techniques), allows her to address even the most intense tension and pain. She’s passionate about helping her clients relax, recover, and feel better—whether you’re coming to us because you’re in perpetual pain, an athlete needing recovery, or someone whose job causes recurring muscle stress.

Who benefits from a deep tissue massage?

- Service industry workers dealing with repetitive movements and physical stress  

- Office workers or anyone who sits for long periods and feels stiff or sore  

- Athletes or active individuals needing recovery  

- Anyone experiencing persistent muscle tension or chronic pain

We also offer a variety of other massage options!

If you prefer something lighter and more soothing, we have relaxation massages, prenatal massages, and hot stone therapies that will help melt your stress away. Every session is personalized to your needs, so you’ll leave feeling renewed and balanced.

Why choose Gild in Redding and Northern California?

Our team here at Gild has been serving the North State for years, blending experience with genuine care. We use the best, most effective techniques and products to help you feel your best — because your well-being is our top priority.

Ready to experience true relief?

I invite you to schedule your deep tissue massage today and see why so many in Redding, Cedro, Mount Shasta, and across Northern California trust Gild for their massage therapy needs. Whether you’re looking for intense muscle relief or just a moment of peace and relaxation, we’re here for you.

Call us or visit our website now — your body will thank you! Book your Massage at GILD today!

Voices of NorCal- Celebrating Visionaries Shaping Redding and Beyond - Courtney McElvain

There isn’t a word better than “giddy” to describe the way that I felt when thinking of the idea to highlight local visionaries on our Gild Blog. There are so many UNBELIEVABLY wonderful people in the Redding, and North State community who have worked hard to build things that have never been, and likely would have never been without them being here!

So many names flooded through my mind when gearing up to make our first Voices of Norcal post, but the one that came to my mind most prominently was Courtney McElvain. This woman is a force to be reckoned with, and has a history that reads like an adventure novel you just can’t put down! Every encounter with Courtney is an amalgam of joyful laughter and wise insight, fused together to create the perfect memories.

If you haven’t yet met Courtney, keep reading… you’ll want to!

Courtney is a local Northern California native who grew up in Redding proper. She is currently a second generation wealth manager here and is CEO of Wealth-wise Financial. The coolest part of her story though isn’t just that she is a successful wealth manager, but it’s her history! Similar to cats, Courtney has had about nine lives. Ha! She journeyed from being an English major teaching English overseas, to being a military serviceman, to constructing a bountiful wellness business as a fitness guru (the seriously incredible kind that gets to host retreats on islands), to coming to a resting place as a wealth manager! An incredible wealth manager might we add! The way Courtney came into the business is even more interesting, because it is so reflective of her straightforward, and practical personality! In 2009 Courtney joined alongside her Father and was mentored extensively on the ins and outs of the finance business, then in 2013 Courtney bought her Fathers financial advisory business. Why you ask? Well, because he simply invited her into it. Courtney recalled recounting her entire childhood where she was always creating products or selling services to help those around her. With the realization that she has been an entrepreneur and wealth builder her entire life, she decided to go for it and it has been a beautiful journey ever since.

While it would seem easy to place Courtney in a finance manager box and keep her there, it is actually only one of the MANY talents that she possesses. Courtney is a health nut, unofficial stand up comedian at every group gathering, a WONDERFUL Mother to two kiddos, and now officially an AUTHOR!

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to learn about her newest book Move into Meaning, we are happy to introduce you to it here!

Courtney has compiled all the wisdom, spiritual teachings, and body mobility techniques that she has learned throughout the years and has created a wonderful body of work worthy of celebrating!

Speaking of celebrating…You can actually do that if you are local, on Friday the 18th of July from 5:30-7:30 at 1401 Market Street in Redding California! Come get encouraged, mingle, meet the Author, and grab a copy of this life altering book!

Learn more about Courtney here:

Financial Services: Wealthwise Partners

Grab a copy of Move into Meaning