“Making a Difference” with William Drakus from Sushiwill Sauces INC

William Drakus
Owner/CEO at Sushiwill Sauces INC
Website Address: https://www.sushiwillsauces.com

Each week on “Making a Difference,” our host, Steve Strum, interviews people making a difference in their community. Today, Steve had the pleasure of talking with William Drakus from Sushiwill Sauces INC.

To learn more, check out https://www.sushiwillsauces.com.

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Short company description:

SushiWill Sauces has been one of many ambitions of Will Drakus (AKA SushiWill) for over a decade. The dream began around 2012: to make truly worthy Japanese sauces that would be readily available to the public.

Our first choice of sauce is shrimp sauce, a classic staple for sushi and hibachi alike, previously a challenge to purchase outside of a hibachi restaurant. After many years of dedication and hard work, we have a readily available sauce.
O.G. Shrimp Sauce can literally go on anything!William Drakus – Owner/Chef/Founder of Hon Sushi Catering LLC

Will began training as a Sushi Chef at Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse in Fernandina Beach, Florida in 2002, enabling him to become a partner with Amelia City Sushi restaurant in 2014. From there, he traveled to North Carolina to join Baku, the five star fine dining restaurant, as a Sushi Chef from 2014-2015.
In 2016, he came home to Florida to work with Delaware North, providing sushi for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Braves. He worked private events for the team owners, players, game day events, and concerts; including the Rolling Stones and Kid Rock. He personally prepared sushi in the owner’s suite for Shad Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars for 5 years.
Throughout this time, he was working traveling sushi catering events all over the country. Included in these was the Jacobs home (owners of Delaware North) and The Palm Beach Masters Equestrian Event.
He has done events for Tampa Bay Lightnings All Star games, The Buffalo Bills Stadium, The Scooter Braun Agency, Ameris Bank, and on Shad Khan’s Yacht: the Kismet.
Most notably, Will has provided sushi for the PGA Golf Tour at Sawgrass and The PGA Tour at East Lake Golf Club. In addition to the ongoing contract with Dream Finders Home Builders to deliver fresh sushi platters to their office on a weekly basis.
In 2021, Will received and accepted a contract for the Tokyo Olympics, working side by side with Behind The Scenes Catering. He was flown to Japan, where he prepared sushi for 28 days straight at Tokyo’s big sites: Ariake Bay and Kyoto. He worked to roll sushi for the Olympic athletes, the news crew, workers and all venue participants.
Following this event, Will secured Hon Sushi Catering its largest ongoing contract yet: The Jacksonville Jaguars. Hon Sushi Catering, LLC now holds the sole contract for the entirety of the team and all events provided in Jacksonville through Delaware North for sushi events.
In addition to this success, Will has released O.G. Shrimp Sauce (by Sushi Will Sauces); a long time dream finally came to fruition. Now available for purchase in our online store.
Now in 2022, Will has found himself in high demand. For booking large events, we recommend reserving 2 months in advance so we can ensure your event receives the best service available. We are working with River City Railway for booking on site sushi catering with reservation, in addition to private at home catering availability and To Go Platter delivery.

How do you define success?

Freedom to do what I need and want each day on my own accord. To give my self, my children and family, the stability and support to reach for the stars and chase their dreams! Not be forced to work out of necessity but because it’s truely what they love doing! So waking up to do that never feels like a job but a path to find their own definition of success. I want to have the time and ability to chase dreams and goals that I haven’t been able to foster due to the necessity of working to pay bills and put food on the table for my family. I have a few passions in my life that I would like to be able to take from Hobbies to future careers, so success defined for me, is when I have the time and resources to do that everyday

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How did you get started in your field or work?

Will began training as a Sushi Chef at Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse in Fernandina Beach, Florida in 2002, enabling him to become a partner with Amelia City Sushi restaurant in 2014. From there, he traveled to North Carolina to join Baku, the five star fine dining restaurant, as a Sushi Chef from 2014-2015.

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What’s one thing we should know that makes your company unique?

Being a world renowned Caucasian Sushi Chef, with the knowledge, skills and network to bring true Japanese Sushi to the clients I serve through my catering company

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What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome in your business?

Creating my catering business by myself and finding a niche that wasn’t being utilized in our country. Then building it by myself and the struggle to find help with the ability to match my effort and pace that I had to work at to reach this level of success.