SCV Business Journal July 2021 by Signal

Contact: Perry Smith Business Editor Phone: 661-287-5599

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y

BUSINESS JOURNAL BJ INSIDE SPOTLIGHTS B3 A Message from the SCV

Chamber

Email: psmith@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place Suite 100 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · WWW.SIGNALSCV.COM · C1

BUSINESSES COMING BACK UNDER THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

B4 SCV Chamber Events/

Advocacy B8 The List: Top Employers B10 SCV Econowatch NEWS & FEATURES B1 Coming Back Under the

‘New Normal’ B2 Employment Numbers

Continue to Improve B8 Needham Ranch Hosts

Wall-Tilting Ceremony SCV BUSINESS VOICES B1 Henry Mayo Newhall

Hospital B3 SCV Economic

Development Corp. B4 M&M Fasteners B10 Audiology Associates

FROM THE EXPERTS B2 Keller: On the Path from

Good to Great B2 Jeff Prang: A Look at The

Roll B7 Ken Keller: Are You a

‘Builder’ or a ‘Protector’? B10 Paul Butler: The Value of

Straight Talk

Princess Cruises Program Manager Tameika Hall prepares the break room for returning employees at headquarters in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer

s the state fully reopens, shedding most of its COVID-19 regulations, businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley are left to navigate their own return to “normal.” “The unfortunate circumstance is we have different agencies giving different directions to different businesses and, right now, we lack consistency in the application of what should have been a

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

smooth transition,” said attorney Brian Koegle of Poole Shaffery & Koegle LLP. Of those agencies is Cal/OSHA, the state’s workplace-safety agency, who released reopening guidelines from a health and safety standpoint about a month ago, before withdrawing those guidelines due to push back from the state in regards to its masking guidelines. Cal/OSHA’s original guidelines would have continued to require masks for workers if any non-vaccinated people are present, but the agency has since aligned

with the state, allowing fully vaccinated workers to unmask. While these workers will be required to show proof of vaccination to not wear masks, per Cal/OSHA’s regulations, some businesses are choosing to go as far as to mandate workers to get vaccinated, as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and California Department of Fair Employment Housing have indicated that employers may mandate See NORMAL, page C5

ENJOYING NATURE? POISONOUS PLANTS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

re you looking to head to other parts of the country for some camping or hiking? First, it’s good to brush up on how to spot a few poisonous plants: namely, poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. These plants shouldn’t be burned either. The smoke could irritate your lungs. Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac thrive in many areas of the country, even in some backyards. LEAVES OF THREE You may have heard the saying, “Leaves of three, let it be!” It can help you remember what poison ivy and poison oak (though not poison sumac) look like. But keep in mind: Poison ivy and poison oak plants sometimes vary, so don’t rely on this rule alone. Poison ivy can be a ropy vine or a low-growing shrub, depending on the variety. The leaves grow in clusters of three. They may be shiny green, turning red in fall. The plants may have yellow or green flowers and greenishyellow, white or amber berries. Poison ivy grows across the United States, except here in California, in Alaska, and in Hawaii. Poison oak grows as a shrub with leaves that form groups of three. The Pacific variety may grow as a vine. HOW TO TREAT A RASH Avoidance is your best defense. But what if, despite your best efforts, you do come in contact with poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac? Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends: First, wash your skin with cool, soapy water as soon as possible to remove the oil. Do your best to scrub under the nails, too, where the noxious oil may be trapped. To ease the itch: ■■ Apply wet compresses. ■■ Use an over-the-counter calamine lotion or hydrocortisone skin cream. Be careful to avoid getting these products on areas with broken blisters. ■■ Take a soothing colloidal oatmeal bath. ■■ Ask your pharmacist about an over-the-counter antihistamine. If the rash covers a large area or spreads to the face or genitals, see your doctor. If there are signs of a severe allergic reaction — such as swelling of the face or difficulty breathing — call 911 or go to the emergency room. For more information, visit HenryMayo.com. Patrick Moody is the director of marketing and public relations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. For more information about local community health programs, visit HenryMayo.com. 

C2 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT MAY BE OVERDUE KEN KELLER

SCVBJ Contributing Writer

ongevity in a company is not loyalty. Employee loyalty often manifests by showing up for a paycheck, for as long as possible, doing as little as required to stay employed. This is about how loyalty can become a liability and what the CEO needs to do to implement change. Companies often have individuals in key roles not meeting expectations. The pandemic has put these people in the spotlight and maybe into the crosshairs. I ask about underperforming direct reports in my Strategic Advisory Board meetings, and each CEO instantly sees a face, or faces. When asked why “Mike” (my made-up name for this exercise) is on the payroll, the CEO always begins with “I really like Mike, but …” In my confidential one–on–one coaching sessions, I respond with, “Let’s remove the word ‘like’ and focus only on the business performance of the individual.” Freed of the anchor of affection, the CEO launches into a tirade, a verbal presentation of facts and opinions, of all the things Mike has failed at or is not doing for the job he is being paid to do. I always end by asking, “Why is Mike still on the payroll?”

Focusing on performance and creating clear expectations for your employees are critical steps in evaluating results and setting goals. Mike eats up both energy and head space, a drain on thinking time that could be used for more strategic issues. But the CEO isn’t the only one Mike impacts. Employees, vendors, suppliers, strategic partners, clients and prospects, all wonder when the CEO is going to deal with Mike. Mike’s under performance, his messes, his trail of woe, is the 100% on the CEO. No one can be a good employee without clear and measurable goals. Otherwise, the company becomes a place where people are paid regularly but spend the day doing what they believe is

This is the question the CEO fears. They already know the answer but don’t want to say it out loud — even to their business coach. The answer is the CEO is afraid of having difficult conversations. The CEO wants to be a nice person; to be liked and hates having to discipline people or terminate them. Why are conversations with Mike so critical? The longer the problem lingers, the more likely it is to impact the personal health of the CEO. In addition to physical and mental stress, dwelling on

important. Imagine having people on the payroll doing things all day long that are 180 degrees counter to what the CEO wants. It’s maddening! Good employees want to know what is expected; they want to be measured against results. Being challenged and rewarded is at the top of their list to stay engaged. They want their boss to inspect their work, give them feedback and give them an opportunity to improve. Underperforming employees expect to stay on the payroll because the CEO likes them. That’s wonderful except every underperforming employee is a direct hit to cash flow and profits. I estimate an average employee costs a business a minimum of $100,000 annually but Mike’s impact might well be 2 to 4 times that figure. Is it time to confront reality? It is probably overdue. If you don’t want to have those challenging conversations, contact me and I’ll either coach you to do it or I’ll do it with you. If nothing changes, you can only blame yourself. Ken Keller is an executive coach who works with small and midsize B2B company owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs. He facilitates formal top executive peer groups for business expansion, including revenue growth, improved internal efficiencies and greater profitability. Email:Ken. Keller@strategicadvisoryboards.com. Keller’s column reflects his own views and not necessarily those of the SCVBJ. 

MAKE DEI PART OF YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE BY PAUL RAGGIO Co-owner, One True North

EI … diversity, equity and inclusion, is the subject of many corporate discussions and professional journals, and well should be. I attended the College of the Canyons Business Alliance webinar this past week, and the topic was DEI. Two exceptional speakers from Princess Cruises gave an uplifting and evocative, hourlong presentation on the importance of pouring DEI into your organizational culture. When you do, a whole host of positive actions benefit multiple constituencies, the enterprise and, ultimately, the community. Princess Cruises defines diversity as all the ways people differ and are unique in the workplace. The workforce represents a range of backgrounds, traits and experiences. Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement for all people. Seeking equity means driving out barriers that have prevented the full participation of all groups. Inclusion means operating within an organizational culture where the members respect, value, encourage and protect the thoughts, words, behaviors and actions of others when the best interests of coworkers and the organization are at heart. Another term associated with DEIB is “Belonging.” The notion is that it’s not enough to be included. Vested members must feel a sense of belonging, their presence and contributions are valued, and they believe they equally benefit from all the organization offers its members. Imagine if organizations embrace this concept of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and make it part of their corporate DNA. No matter if the enterprise was three or tens of thousands of people. The board of directors, CEO and business owner preach the importance of DEIB to their constituencies and deliver meaningful and impactful practices that demonstrate the social and business benefit. Employee morale and productivity will skyrocket, job applicants will flock to fill open requisitions, customers will increase their loyalty, and the community will support and position the business as an example to follow. However, suppose the board of directors, CEO and business owner don’t embrace DEIB. In this case, it will never appear within the workforce ranks, and the enterprise will suffer employee turmoil, disloyalty and factionalism, eventually impacting sales. Princess Cruise presenters also introduced another DEI concept with an acronym, CARE: “Consider” the intended goal to achieve; “Ask” if there is any unintended culture or DEI impact; “Rethink” what actions to take to mitigate the DEI impact; then, “Evaluate” how to proceed, if mitigation does not fully address the gap in achieving the goal. They used this example: Shipboard firefighter applicant requirements include the aspirant must carry 50 pounds for 100 yards. However, the annual certification standard for employed shipboard firefighters is to carry 35 pounds for 50 yards. Using the CARE concept, first consider the intended goal: recruit and hire shipboard firefighters who can carry 35 pounds for 50 yards. Yet, our recruiters eliminate applicants who can carry 35 pounds for 50 yards, but

INCLUSION MEANS OPERATING WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE WHERE THE MEMBERS RESPECT, VALUE, ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT THE THOUGHTS, WORDS, BEHAVIORS AND ACTIONS OF OTHERS WHEN THE BEST INTERESTS OF COWORKERS AND THE ORGANIZATION ARE AT HEART.

Seeking equity means driving out barriers that have prevented the full participation of all groups, writes business expert Paul Raggio. (MC) not 50 pounds for 100 yards. Is there an unintended cultural or DEI impact? Of course. By setting the recruiting requirement for applicants to carry 50 pounds for 100 yards instead of 35 pounds for 50 yards, unintendedly, a group of people is eliminated from applying for the job. Rethinking what actions to take in mitigating this DEI impact, an apparent resolution is to drop the firefighter application requirement from carrying fifty pounds for one hundred yards to carrying 35 pounds for 50 yards, matching the annual certification standard. The final step is to evaluate how to proceed if the mitigation does not fully address the gap. In this case, matching the job applicant requirement to the firefighting annual certification standard eliminates the unintended exclusion of a qualified job aspirant from having to meet an artificial barrier. Barriers abound in the workplace. We impose educational degrees, physical characteristics, communication standards, employment history, to name just a few, that exclude a class of people from employment. Many barriers are justified because the job A1 MAIN

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Explosion sparks fire Blast at Valencia industrial park business sends three burn victims to hospital By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

An explosion at a Valencia industrial park sparked a brush fire and sent at least three people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon with critical burns and other injuries. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel first responded to initial reports of a possible explosion on the 25100 block of Rye Canyon Loop just before 4:45 p.m., according to Supervisor Leslie Lua. Meanwhile, SCV Sheriff’s Station officials advised residents to stay clear of the area as fire crews and Hazmat units worked to conduct their investigation. Units arriving on the scene reported a quarteracre brush fire running uphill just before 5 p.m., Lua said. “Three burn victims are all being transported to a local trauma center with additional injuries,” added Supervisor Ed Pickett. “We don’t know what caused it, and we are doing an investigation right now.” Forward progress on the blaze, dubbed the #RyeFire, was halted around 5:20 p.m. at 1 acre, according to Supervising Fire Dispatcher Martin Rangel, adding that “initial reports are that it was an explosion at

Judge hears case of DDA union vs. Gascón

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y

BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Official Publication of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

MARCH 2020 | VOL. 12 | NO. 3 | SCVBJ.COM

IT’S TAX TIME

Decision expected by end of the week

(Above) A firefighting helicopter drops water from above while personnel from multiple agencies battle the Rye Fire — which officials say was sparked by an explosion in a Valencia industrial park Tuesday. (Left) Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Officer Jonathan Matheny holds a news conference Tuesday evening about the investigation of the explosion. (Below left) The county Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad arrives on the scene to help with the investigation. (Below) First responders clear the roadway as three burn patients in critical condition are transported to a local trauma center Tuesday.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge said Tuesday a decision in the case of the union for county prosecutors against District Attorney George Gascón could come by the end of the week, after hearing both sides of the argument. Judge James C. Chalfant held a preliminary injunction hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in L.A., where attorneys for the union argued that such a hearing was appropriate to help prevent deputy district attorneys from “violating the law.” The lawsuit argues that it was illegal for Gascón to issue what they deemed as a blanket rule that prohibits prosecutors from seeking sentencing enhancements under the Three Strikes law. “I think preliminary injunction here is appropriate, your honor, in particular, because, as a result of the special directives, the deputy district attorneys in this county are put in the unfortunate position of having to violate the law in carrying out their duties in prosecuting these cases,” said David Carroll, attorney for the union. “By the special directives, telling the deputy district attorneys, ‘It doesn’t matter; you can’t plead See GASCÓN, A2

See EXPLOSION, A2

City: Business losses ‘significant’; help on the way Council begins discussion of pandemic’s economic turmoil, 2021-22 spending plan By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

Santa Clarita businesses suffered a total revenue loss of more than $300 million, while others permanently closed in 2020, painting a clear image of the economic turmoil brought

forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, but city officials announced Tuesday hope is on the horizon. At the start of the coronavirus crisis, sales tax revenue was projected to drop in the double digits, and it did at 13%, or $3.2 million last year.

“I want to emphasize the sales tax revenue collected by the city is only 1%,” City Manager Ken Striplin said in a budget meeting before the City Council and commission members. “As you look at what is the economic impact of that loss beyond our $3.2 million, you’re looking at a total loss of revenue to local businesses of $300 million. So, definitely a very significant number.”

Much of the loss in revenue comes after unwavering health orders that forced major industries, ranging from restaurants to retail, to shut down or implement a series of changes. Santa Clarita is also facing an unemployment rate of 9.3%, which falls just below L.A. County’s rate of 10.7%. At the peak of the pandemic over the summer, Santa Clarita had reached a rate of 20%,

according to the state’s Employment Development Department. There are now 109,400 jobs across the city, a number that dropped from 114,000 in 2019, according to Striplin. “The longer we remain in this crisis, the more prolonged the impacts will be felt and the longer the recovery will take,” said Striplin, adding that the See BUDGET, A2

Hart district to discuss return to school By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer

The William S. Hart Union High School District governing board is set to discuss school safety practices, a return to school campuses and the recognition of Black History Month. One of the first topics the board will cover is a school safety update from Collyn Nielsen, chief administrative officer for the district, according to the meeting agenda for tonight’s session. The presentation breaks down the 22 items involving safe school best practices in four different categories: mental health and wellness, site security, policy and training, and communication. Nielsen’s report will go through

the various items, and explain why each policy is a best practice before highlighting the district’s progress in that area, according to a publicly available PowerPoint presentation. The plan includes continuing the district’s partnership with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, including professional development opportunities for teachers, standardizing security cameras at each site and installing bulletproof glass. Kathy Hunter, assistant superintendent of educational services, will also provide the board with an update on the status of online learning in the district, and the continued planning for a return to campus when it is deemed safe to do so. The district has said it is targeting a Feb. 8 return date for small groups of cohort students to return to campus.

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The board also plans to join in with the rest of the nation during the month of February and recognize Black History Month. The resolution reads that the William S. Hart Union High School District “recognizes and celebrates the contributions of African American historical figures, leaders, teachers, parents, community activists and students” but also encourages each of the district’s school sites to “host discussions and presentations to enhance the education of each student.” The virtual Hart district governing board meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. The meeting can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ WQC9_nrWLm8. Public comments can be submitted by email to wshpubliccomments@hartdistrict. org no later than 4 p.m. today.

Paul A. Raggio is co-owner, with his sister Lisa, of One True North INC Leadership and Business Coaching Solutions. 

For more than100 years, The Signal has carried the banner of responsible community journalism in the Santa Clarita Valley. Proud to be this community’s only local newspaper.

By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer

Caleb Lunetta/The Signal (above) Dan Watson/The Signal (left, below left, below)

requirements directly correlate to job performance. Conversely, many obstacles that do not relate to job performance are likely unintended, or in fewer, yet specious cases, intended. Consequently, these obstacles eliminate a class of people who could compete and enter the organization’s ranks. DEIB is a worthy ideology that organizations must strive to achieve. Bravo to the College of the Canyons and Jeffrey Forrest for teeing up this subject in their monthly business alliance network. It’s time to increase our awareness and take action to correct the inequities present in our culture, and more narrowly, businesses. There is so much to gain and nothing to lose in making meaningful and impactful DEIB changes in our public and private sectors. Leaders of organizations must consider themselves the Chief DEIB Officer to successfully inculcate it into their corporate DNA. This is how you lead, think, plan and act. Now, let’s get after it!

From the Experts:

PLANNING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

A CHECK-UP ON BUSINESS GOALS

Winter Selling Sale

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to Signal subscribers C. Babcock Christina Beretta Frank Marion

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2021 DIRECTORS

THE SIGNAL· SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · C3

JOIN US ON THE ROLLERCOASTERS WITH SUPERVISOR BARGER Our 13th annual State of the County returns this month, in person, with L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as she provides an update and rides roller coasters with attendees. This years State of the County will be held in-person at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Join us as we celebrate the reopening of our economy and hear from Supervisor Barger, the enjoy full access to rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This year’s format is a first of its kind. The event will begin at 4pm with live entertainment, followed by a brief update by the Supervisor and will conclude with a dinner for sponsors and taking a ride on roller coasters with Supervisor Barger.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD JOHN VANCE

Vance Wealth

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HUNT BRALY

Poole, Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

MARISOL ESPINOZA

Southern California Gas Company

KEVIN HOLMES

Martini Akpovi Partners, LLP

TROY HOOPER

Kiwi Hospitality Partners

DR. CHRIS RAIGOSA

Kaiser Permanente

CHRIS SCHRAGE

LBW Insurance Financial Services

NANCY STARCZYK

Realty Executives

General admission will include parking at the park, popcorn and open seating for the entertainment and the Supervisor’s address, a food voucher with unlimited drinks and entry to the park with full access. This amazing deal is lower than you would spend just visiting the park! To purchase your tickets go to www.SCVChamber.com. Email us at hello@scvchamber.com if you are interested in sponsoring and attending the dinner.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS KAREN BRYDEN

SCV Locations

ANDREA CARPENTER

Logix

STEVE COLE

SCV Water Agency

JASON CRAWFORD

City of Santa Clarita

ANDREA DE LA CERDA

Scorpion

MATT DIERCKMAN

Colliers International

JEFFREY FORREST

College of the Canyons

ALEEN MANCHESTER

California Resources Corporation

MARAL MATOSSIAN

Westfield Valencia Town Center

PATRICK MOODY

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

DR. IZU OKPARA

Omni Wound Physicians

DAN REVETTO AT&T BECKI ROBB Princess Cruises HENRY RODRIGUEZ

State Farm Insurance

SANDY SANCHEZ FivePoint LINDSAY SCHLICK

SchlickArt Video & Photography

LIZ SEELMAN

Southern California Edison

G. JESSE SMITH

California Institute of the Arts

DR. DIANNE VAN HOOK

College of the Canyons

DENNIS VERNER Burrtec KARINA WINKLER

Holiday Inn Express

BUSINESS COUNCILS Government Affairs

The Government Affairs council meets to discuss policy decisions on a local, county, state and federal level. As a member, you are encouraged to attend a meeting and have your voice heard throughout the SCV and take a stance on pertinent issues relative to the business community or your industry in particular.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND WIN We are halfway through our Shop Local Santa Clarita. $1,600 has been won so far by residents simply by supporting our local businesses. A new month means you stand another chance to win up to $250! Thank you to our Annual Sponsor CGI+ | Real Estate Investment and this month’s sponsor Lyfe Networks. One point per dollar spent will be allocated and two points per dollar spent will be allocated if at a Chamber-member location. At the end of each month, the top three winners will be announced with their respective prize. To participate, shoppers can request an entry form by emailing hello@scvchamber.com to receive the form that needs to be turned in with a copy of your receipts each month. Forms and receipts must be scanned and emailed to the Chamber before the end of the month.

Industry & Technology

The Industry and Technology council works to improve and enhance a strong business climate for Santa Clarita Valley based industry, manufacturing, processing and technology companies through pro-business advocacy to develop balanced laws, effective regulations and sound public policies to stimulate economic growth and create new jobs while safeguarding environmental resources.

Small Business

Small Businesses are at the core of our Chamber’s membership and are the backbone of our economy. The Chamber offers a variety of educational and networking programming to help your small business thrive. The council focuses on three main objectives: Advises the SCV Chamber on small business related issues, programming and networking opportunities; Supports the Chambe’s “Retail Walks” with elected officials; and helps promote the nationwide “Small Business Saturday” program which highlights small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Non-Profit

The SCV has a strong philanthropic community with more than 100 locally-based non-profit organizations that help our community thrive. Our non-profits are a key reason why Santa Clarita is a great community and always looking towards a better future. The council provides business resources for our local non-profit leaders to help them connect, grow and learn about valuable information so they can successfully meet their organizations mission and goals.

Latino Business Alliance

Our LBA council works to promote Latino-owned business as well as relevant issues facing our Latino business community. In addition the LBA helps to educate businesses on how to enhance a company’s business efforts with Latino customers and other Latino-owned businesses.

To find out more about the Chamber, the benefits of membership, its business councils and all its resources please email hello@scvchamber.com or visit

NextSCV

SCVChamber.com

NextSCV is our next generation of leaders and the group aims to develop the next leaders of the Santa Clarita Valley through personal and professional development, civic engagement, and network building opportunities that ultimately stimulate local businesses and support the mission of the SCV Chamber.

C4 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

ADVOCACY NEWS As the largest business membership organization in the santa clarita valley, the scv chamber of commerce is the voice of business. the chamber actively advocates on behalf of our business community on important local, regional and statewide issues that have direct impacts on our local businesses.”

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COUNCIL HEARS FROM L.A. COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE ON REDISTRICTING Last month, our Government Affairs Council welcomed Anders Corey from LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office, who is overseeing the Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC), presented on the redistricting process, upcoming hearings and what the community can do to ensure their voice is heard during the redrawing. In the past, the Board of Supervisors appointed an advisory Boundary Redistricting Committee (BRC) to study proposed changes to the boundaries. The Board of Supervisors could make revisions before adopting the final redistricted boundaries. Now, the CRC is independent of the Board of Supervisors. In 2016, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 958 requiring Los Angeles County to assemble such an independent commission following the Federal Decennial Census.

KEEP NORTH LA COUNTY COMMUNITIES TOGETHER The Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) will be deciding the boundaries for each supervisorial district. It is imperative that our voices are heard and that Santa Clarita remains together with North County communities (cities of Lancaster and Palmdale) in the same supervisorial district. The North County is a “Community of Interest”, as defined by the state’s County Redistricting legislation SB-958; our communities share social and economic interests, as well as relying on the county for many overlapping services and contracts.

Overall, at least 7 public hearings will be held in Spring 2021 before the release of the U.S. Census Bureau data, followed by at least 2 public hearings in Fall 2021 to review proposed CRC Redistricting Plan options. The CRC has developed a public outreach plan to publicize the redistricting process. Also, the CRC will make a good faith effort to notify community groups of various kinds about the redistricting process. The public hearings will be provided in applicable languages if residents submit a request in advance. The CRC will notify the public about redistricting hearings, post maps online before adoption, and maintain this dedicated web page for all relevant information about the redistricting process. During Summer 2021, the Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) will conduct ten (10) public hearings, ensuring residents’ ability to participate from all five Supervisorial Districts. At these public hearings, the CRC will present an overview of the redistricting process, legal considerations, outreach efforts, public access plan, and a timeline.

For decades, North County cities and communities have partnered in advancing public transportation, various development issues, land use, public health initiatives and public safety concerns. The ability to communicate with a single County Supervisor is critical for our shared region. Click here to let the commissioners know you agree!

Your input is valuable. These public hearings are important for receiving public comments and input from communities of interest, including what the CRC should consider in the redistricting effort. Members of the public are welcome to make live comments at the public hearings or submit public comments ahead of time.

OUR ADVOCACY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.

For more information on upcoming meetings visit: https://redistricting. lacounty.gov/virtual-meetings/.

JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY TO STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

GIVING BACK

The City of Santa Clarita, which is a community of interest, is a contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Communities of interest shall not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates. We also hosted a webinar with the CA Redistricting Commission back in April, which covered the process on a state level and what you can do to have your voice heard regarding congressional, state senate and assembly redistricting. If you missed this webinar, please visit www. scvchamber.com and hover over the Events tab and click on Past Webinars to rewatch the presentation. For more information on the CA Redistricting Commission’s upcoming meetings visit: wedrawthelinesca.org/meetings.

‘THE 12 MONTHS OF QUARANTINE’ CHARITY PHOTO EXHIBITION “The 12 Months of Quarantine” charity photo exhibit ended its run at Westfield Valencia Town Center last month. SchlickArt Photography and Video, in partnership with the SCV Chamber, worked with the local community to document their first 12 weeks during the quarantine, starting over a year ago. The campaign raised over $6,000 for numerous local charities who received their checks at the exhibit.

Lindsay Schlick of SchlickArt Photography and Video presents Matt Nelson, CEO of the SCVC Boys & Girls Club, a check for proceeds from the “The 12 Months of Quarantine” exhibit alongside Jennifer Ketchepaw, who donated to support the Boys & Girls Club, and Ivan Volschenk, managing partner for Evolve Business Strategies, which run the SCV Chamber of Commerce.

SCV Chamber members Jeff and Melanie Myers of Thrivent Financial share their photo from the exhibit. Their donation went to Circle of Hope.

Ivan Volschenk and John Musella also took part in “The 12 Months of Quarantine” exhibit with the proceeds benefiting Bridge to Home.

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · C5

NORMAL

Continued from page C1 vaccinations if they view it as a public health benefit. “The obvious concern with this is privacy,” Koegle added. “Whether or not you’re vaccinated is a health condition. It is something that is protected under HIPAA and other privacy laws.” Which is why when it comes to customers, businesses can ask if patrons have been vaccinated, but cannot ask for verification, according to L.A. County Department of Public Health regulations. There are also exceptions to these masking rules when there are public health outbreaks, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “When there are three or more COVID cases amongst employees, employers will need to re-evaluate the need for physical distancing and/or partitions … to disrupt transmission at the worksite,” Ferrer said, adding that employers are still required to report any workplace cluster of three or more COVID-19 cases within a 14day period immediately to Public Health. NAVIGATING THE GRAY AREA Regardless of sector, businesses in every industry have been left in a sort of gray area, unsure of how to proceed as they work to protect both their employees and patrons with no clear answers on how to implement these changes. “Businesses are assuming a liability by even allowing people into their place of business,” Koegle said. “Unfortunately, without better guidance from the legislature, the governor’s office or Cal/OSHA, this is a burden that business owners are being forced to assume.” While some businesses have lifted all of their COVID-19 regulations, others are choosing to continue their mandates. “It is an employer’s right, that if they want to insist on masks, they can insist on that,” Koegle added. “The problem with that of course would be the power of the dollar. Are they willing to lose a customer or a client because they don’t want to patronize a business where they still have to wear masks?” What makes the decision for employers even harder is the workers compensation law revisions that Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented last June, which added a presumption that if an employee becomes ill with COVID 19 and they were required to work on premises, that the illness is “presumptively compensable under workers compensation,” per the law, which was codified in Senate Bill 1159 to remain in place until January 2023. Outside of masking, most of the regulations or staterequired obligations were lifted, including distancing, temperature checks and capacity limits. However, Koegle said that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s still not a best practice for employers to take steps to protect their clients, customers and employees. “Those best practices will vary by industry, and they absolutely may include temperature checks, negative test results, quarantine or isolation for those individuals who exhibit illness symptoms, and cleaning protocols,” Koegle added. See NORMAL, page C6

Sanitizing stations are part of the new normal in the workplace, part of a number of measures businesses are taking in order to make employees and customers feel safer. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

A DO’S AND DON’TS BOX FOR GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS DO

99 Wear a mask if you’re unvaccinated, especially in crowded, indoor spaces 99 Follow safety rules for mega-events 99 Get tested if you’re sick 99 Wear a mask while on public transit, even if you’re vaccinated 99 Honor mask and distancing rules in place at a private business 99 Get tested if required by your workplace 99 Wear a mask when you travel

DON’T

Expect others to be ready to shake hands or hug Lose your proof of vaccination Think you can’t get the virus or pass it on because you feel well Assume everyone is vaccinated Expect all COVID-19 rules everywhere to be lifted Travel into the U.S. without proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test Travel if you’re sick — Courtesy of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SUBURBS — FOR SURE! HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of SCVEDC When workers were asked to stay away from their offices in 2020, it set off a domino effect that will likely change the future of office space. Working from home allowed people to reexamine their priorities. Many decided that they wanted more space, including home offices, backyards, and extra bedrooms. So off they went to the suburbs… including the Santa Clarita Valley! Compared to greater L.A. County, our region is rapidly expanding its population. Recently, the growth of population in the SCV has been accelerating, pushing upwards the demand for more housing, business inmigration, and new business formation. New residents are finding homes in part thanks to two master-planned sustainable communities within the SCV: Vista Canyon and FivePoint Valencia. These communities appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers because they offer options ranging from apartments to town homes, small single-family homes to larger estate homes. They will also offer parks, trails, walking paths, and the good schools that the Santa Clarita Valley is known for. Vista Canyon is a new live, work and play community that reimagines the suburban experience, combining the openness and nature of the Southern California lifestyle with the added benefit of offering a mass transit embedded Metrolink commuter rail station and a pedestrian oriented Main Street filled with shops and restaurants. In short it will offer a car optional oasis for residents, a priceless amenity in greater Los Angeles. Office buildings built will all contain energy efficiency elements such as special window shading features and eco-friendly materials. They will also have operable windows to allow for natural ventilation, a plus in this post pandemic world that allows for fresh air circulation into the buildings. FivePoint Valencia is just starting to come online, and is expected to become the largest net zero greenhouse gas emission community of its kind in America. To help lower emissions, homes will have plug-in connections for electric vehicles, plus pathways and parking spots for golf cart travel within the community. All homes will be equipped with solar panels. The first homes are presently being built with a target move ins beginning later this summer. These projects represent the culmination of years of effort to address a critical need for housing in the region. For more information, contact the SCVEDC at SCVEDC. org or call (661) 288-4400. 

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C6 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

M & M FASTENERS SUPPLY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR RETURN OF FILMING, CONSTRUCTION GROWTH

or years, the Santa Clarita Valley has been a home to feature films, TV shows, commercials and now streaming productions, as the SCV sits in the northern half of the Thirty-Mile Zone, or TMZ, an area created to encourage filming through tax breaks. But what a lot of people might not realize is how many local companies, businesses like M & M Fasteners Supply Inc., play a vital role, so to speak, in making sure productions have the right parts. While M & M has been known as a reliable name in commercial, aerospace and construction for four decades, after relocating to the SCV in January 2019, M & M CEO Eunice Hajek quickly realized that while she might be moving away from Hollywood, she was moving her company to a place where its ability to provide quality, reliable tools and fasteners would be hugely important for the filming industry. Known as “Hollywood’s backlot” and “Hollywood North,” the SCV relies on countless local businesses like M & M to keep things running smoothly on the sound stages, on scene and anywhere else that complex, expensive film equipment or set building needs support tools and technology. Another growth area for M & M has been in the support of essential construction. This progression was also a natural growth area for a company that’s long prided itself on supplying parts to keep us safe in the sky for the aerospace industry. Moving to a hotbed of growth has allowed M & M to become an authorized distributor for other trusted names, such as DeWalt, Senco, Elco, and Grabber Construction Products for hardware, tools, adhesives and more . Whether the need is a concrete anchor, an eyebolt, tek screws or nails, M & M prides itself on the motto, “Where quality meets customer service.” “We have the tools and the hardware available not only to support the filming industry but also the construction industry,” Hajek said. “We’ve always provided quality customer care and the best parts available, but these recent economic conditions have really allowed us to demonstrate the ability and value of working with a local business as our economy begins to open up again.” M & M Fasteners Supply is a stocking supplier of quality fastener products and accessories specializing in OEM, MRO, electrical and aerospace markets. M & M can also supply parts from a blueprint or technical specification. For more information, visit mmfastsupply.com or call (818) 767-8833. 

NORMAL

Continued from page C5 Each industry not only has different risks of exposure and liability, but each of them is reading and understanding what the obligations in the law are, and they’re choosing to take different risks, according to Koegle. That’s why Koegle suggests that businesses speaking with competent attorneys, knowledgeable in the latest updates and changes to the law, has never been more important.

Work stations are prepared for returning employees at Princess Cruises headquarters in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

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RETURNING TO ‘NORMAL’ ECONOMY WISE Despite California having one of the lowest COVID-19 case rates in the nation, a Top Agency pandemic recovery index survey found that the state’s economy is lagging behind in COVID-19 recovery. While ranked first in COVID-19 safety, the state ranked No. 35 overall, No. 37 on consumer confidence and No. 47 on job market strength, per the survey. Data also showed that visits to restaurants are still 8.14% below pre-pandemic figures, the second worst in the nation , while foot traffic to California’s retail industry is 7% above its pre-pandemic figures. SCV BIG BUSINESSES’ RESPONSE Santa Clarita-based Princess Cruises announced plans in April to return to service in the U.S. later this year. With that announcement came one of an internal restructuring of the company and the hiring of more than 200 new positions. Since then, Princess employees have still remained at home, working remotely, according to Briana Latter, a public relations representative. “Our offices will begin to reopen starting Tuesday, July 6,” Latter said. “This is a limited-capacity phase of our return to our buildings, and the main objective is to allow team members an opportunity to hold team or project collaboration meetings in available conference rooms on designated floors.” The limited return to the office is due, in part, to allow Princess to ensure the policies and procedures it has instituted are working properly, according to Becki Robb, senior director of office strategy and administrative operations. “Given the focus on safety, during phase 1 we are prioritizing team members who are fully vaccinated and have a business critical need to be in the office,” Latter added. “Working in the office will remain voluntary at least through the summer.” Over at Six Flags, operating guidelines

“

The obvious

concern with this is privacy. Whether or not you’re vaccinated is a health condition. It is something that is protected under HIPAA and other privacy laws.” Brian Koegle, attorney Poole, Shaffery & Koegle

for both Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor were revised and took effect to coincide with the state’s full reopening on June 15. “Our No. 1 priority is always safety, so following the most recent guidelines from the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), state and county is our priority,” said Jerry Certonio, manager of marketing and public relations for Six Flags. The changes made at the parks include no longer requiring masks for fully vaccinated guests, though it is still “highly recommended that all unvaccinated guests continue to wear masks, especially while indoors,” as well as allowing out-of-state visitors, no longer requiring reservations, and lifting capacity restrictions for both the park and the rides, according to Certonio. Since then, fully vaccinated workers were also given the green light to remove their masks after Cal/OSHA’s ruling went into effect, with Six Flags requiring verification of that vaccination, per the guidance. “I think there’s a lot of confusion out there and people wondering, ‘Where do I wear my mask,’” Certonio added. “I think people who want to wear masks are wearing their masks and the people who don’t want to wear masks aren’t. We’re just happy that were heading to ‘normal,’ pre-pandemic days.”

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · C7

A LOOK AT THE RETURN OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN CALIFORNIA BY MIRANDA GREEN CalMatters.org

hen COVID-19 shut down businesses and travel across the U.S., communities such as Anaheim that rely heavily on entertainment and tourism were some of the hardest hit. Hotel occupancy taxes, which accounts for more than half the city’s budget, plummeted 90% between 2019 and 2020. “We depend on large groups at Disneyland, Angels games,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim, the city’s nonprofit tourism office. “It was devastating for our industry and our city.” With California reopening June 15 to mostly full capacity, its travel and tourism industry is aching for a significant bounce back. But experts are tempering expectations — domestic travel won’t fully recover until 2023 and the number of international tourists, especially from China and Mexico, remain less than half of pre-pandemic levels. And a full reopening won’t happen until large conventions return — not a certainty with the wholesale move to work shift. “Rebounding as quickly as possible is vitally important,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, a nonprofit organization promoting travel to the state. “California’s tourism industry provides more than 1 million jobs and supports thousands of businesses.” The state generated $144.9 billion in travel spending in 2019, according to a study by travel and tourism research group Dean Runyan Associates. But when the pandemic hit, travel and occupancy restrictions devastated gains that California had nurtured after the Great Recession. While tourism dropped 36% nationally in 2020, California’s tourism revenue dropped 55%, according to Dean Runyan. And more than half of California’s roughly 1.2 million-person tourism workforce lost their jobs in the first month of the lockdown, according to a report released in May 2020. The Legislature passed a law requiring businesses to prioritize rehiring those who lost jobs, and many workers are hoping to resume work. LOW CASES, HIGH VACCINATION AID CALIFORNIA REOPENING Before the pandemic, the city of Anaheim had so many visitors, Burress said he feared they might get citations for over-congestion. Instead, the tourism director said this past year felt more like a “zombie apocalypse.” “We had six years of record numbers coming into Anaheim and Orange County,” said Burress. “Normally hotels were running at 90% occupancy. And then it was in the single digits.” The industry is already beginning to see some bounce back. This April, California’s leisure and hospitality sector was up 400,000 jobs year over year. On the eve of reopening, Gov. Gavin Newsom made an appearance Monday in San Francisco at the historic Ferry Building, a draw for visitors with its artisanal food and

Locally, the reopening for Six Flags Magic Mountain, which spent months as a mass-vaccination site during the pandemic, is expected to provide a big boost in local revenues through a number of different means. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL restaurants. He noted California’s economy this year has outperformed other states, including Texas and Florida, because of its public health precautions and vaccination campaign. There’s hope that the upward trend will continue. “With one of the nation’s highest vaccination rates and lowest case rates, California is poised for a powerful comeback,” said Beteta. “Leisure travelers will lead the way. We expect outdoor activities and road trips will be extremely popular.” But experts acknowledge that returning to normal won’t happen instantaneously despite speculation of a second coming of the Roaring ‘20s. While many restrictions have been lifted in California, they aren’t the only inhibitors to people going on vacation. CALIFORNIA TRAVEL HASN’T RECOVERED “The drop in visitor spending isn’t due entirely to business closures and restrictions,” Beteta said.

“Consumers must be willing to travel, and for much of 2020, more than half were not willing to venture out at all.” Domestic travel to California is expected to rebound this year to 75% of its 2019 levels. But it’s not expected to recover entirely until 2023, according to the most recent Tourism Economics report prepared for Visit California released this April. International travel remains another question mark as other countries continue to grapple with the virus and travel restrictions remain in place. Inbound international travel to California fell 79% in 2020 and is expected to reach just 41% of 2019 levels this year, according to Tourism Economics. Travellers from Asia and Mexico make up two of the biggest spending groups in the state, according to Visit California. Tourists from China alone spent $4 billion in California in 2019. See TOURISM, page C11

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C8 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

The List: Top Employers in the SCV COMPANY NAME

# EMPLOYEES

CONTACT

TITLE

ADDRESS

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

1917

Roger Seaver

CEO

23845 McBean Pkwy., Valencia, 91355

Six Flags Magic Mountain

1900

Donald McCoy

President

26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia, 91355

William S. Hart School District

1641

Mike Kulman

Superintendent

21380 Centre Pointe Pkwy., Santa Clarita, 91355

College of the Canyons

1535

Dianne G. Van Hook

Chancellor

26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita, 91355

U.S. Postal Service

1414

Multiple Locations, Santa Clarita

Princess Cruises

1308

Jan Swartz

President

24305 Town Center Drive, Valencia, 91355

Saugus Union School District

1254

Colleen Hawkins

Superintendent

24930 Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita, 91355

Boston Scientific

875

Maulik Nanvaty

Senior Vice President

25155 Rye Canyon Loop, Valencia, 91355

City of Santa Clarita

811

Ken Striplin

City Manager

23920 Valencia Blvd., 91355

Master's University

755

Sam Horn

President

21726 Placerita Canyon, Santa Clarita, 91355

Woodward HRT, Inc

721

Thomas Gendron

CEO

25200 Rye Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, 91355

Newhall School District

715

Jeff Pelzel

Superintendent

25375 Orchard Village Road, Suite 200, Valencia, 91355

Quest Diagnostics

608

Cristen Farrell

Senior HR Business Partner

27027 Tourney Rd, Valencia, 91355

Scorpion Internet Marketing and Design

601

Rustin Kretz

CEO and Founder

27750 Entertainment Drive, Valencia, 91355

California Institute of the Arts

600

Ravi Rajan

President

24700 McBean Pkwy., Valencia, 91355

Amazon

580

Multiple Locations, Santa Clarita

Advanced Bionics

548

Victoria Carr-Brendel

Group Vice President

28515 Westinghouse Place, Valencia, 91355

Contractor's Wardrobe

473

Greg Mullen

Plant Maanger

26121 Avenue Hall, Valencia, 91355

Walmart

450

Multiple Locations, Santa Clarita

Stay Green Inc.

400

Chris Angelo

President & CEO

26415 Summit Circle, Santa Clarita, 91350

Auto Nation

400

Mark LeCompte

General Manager

23649 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, 91355

Q2 Solutions

393

Brian O'Dwyer

CEO and Founder

26829-27049 Tourney Rd, Valencia, 91355

Kaiser Permanente

384

Multiple Locations, Santa Clarita

Gothic Landscape

380

Jon & Rob Georgio

CEO

27413 Tourney Rd. Suite 200, Valencia, 91355

Wesco Airfract

375

Todd Renehan

CEO

24911 Avenue Standord, Valencia, 91355

AMS Fulfillment

367

Jay Catlin

CEO

29010 Commerce Center Dr, Valencia, 91355

Bocchi Laboratories

365

Joe Pender

President

26421 Ruether Ave., Valencia, 91355

ITT Aerospace Corporation

360

Luca Savi

CEO

28150 Industry Dr, Valencia, 91355

Pharmavite

345

Doug MacLean

CEO

28355 Witherspoon Pkwy., Valencia, 91355

Costco Wholesale

302

McDonald's

291

Jay Schutz

Owner/Operator

26370 Diamond Place, Suite 500, Santa Clarita, 91350

Landscape Development, Inc.

280

Gary Horton

President

28447 Witherspoon Parkway, Valencia,91355

TA Aerospace

270

Carol Marinello

President

28065 Franklin Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

Castaic Union School District

248

Steve Doyle

Superintendent

28131 Livingston Ave., Valencia, CA 91355

B & B Manufacturing

240

Fred Duncan

President

27940 Beale Ct, Valencia, 91355

Shield Healthcare

233

Jim Snell

President & CEO

27911 Franklin Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

Forrest Machining Inc

232

Joanne Cutler

CEO

27756 Avenue Mentry, Valencia, 91355

ASC Process Systems

226

Dave Mason

President & CEO

28402 Livingston Ave, Valencia, 91355

Aerospace Dynamics International

213

John Marshall

General Manager

25540 Rye Canyon Rd, Valencia, CA 91355

SCV Water

202

Gary R. Martin

President

27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, 91350

Comfort Keepers

202

Myles McNamara

President/Owner

23900 Lyons Ave, Santa Clarita, 91321

Fralock Corp

200

Scott Tucker

CEO

28525 Industry Dr, Valencia, 91355

Bioness

200

Todd Cushman

CEO

2510 Rye Canyon Loop, Valencia, 91355

Arvato Digital

200

Ian Watson

CFO

29011 Commerce Center Dr, Valencia, 91355

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing

198

Kent Firestone

CEO

28309 Avenue Crocker, Valencia, 91355

Hydro Systems

190

Scott Steinhardt

President

29132 Avenue Paine, Valencia, 91355

The Home Depot

190

Multiple Locations, Santa Clarita

RAH Industries Inc

185

Ronald Hansen

CEO

24800 Avenue Rockefeller, Valencia, 91355

Knowles/Novacap

182

Mark Skoog

President & CEO

25111 Anza Dr, Santa Clarita, 91355

Crissair, Inc

180

Mike Alfred

CEO

28909 Avenue Williams, Valencia, 91355

Star Nail International/Cuccio

179

Tony Cuccio

CEO and Founder

29120 Avenue Paine, Valencia, 91355

Cardinal Health

170

Marsha Aragon

Director of Operations

27680 Avenue Mentry, Valencia, 91355

Adept Fasteners

170

Gary Young

Owner

27949 Hancock Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

Honda Performance Development

170

David Salters

President & CEO

25145 Anza Drive, Valencia, 91355

PDC - A Brady Business

170

Robert Case

President

25124 Springfield Ct Suite 200, Valencia, 91355

Frontier Toyota

166

Joseph Caso

President & CEO

23621 Creekside Dr, Valencia, 91355

Del West Engineering Inc

165

Mark Sommer

President

29006 Hancock Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

HRD Aero Systems

158

Tom Salamone

President

25555 Avenue Stanford Valencia, 91355

Lief Labs

157

Adel Villalobos

CEO and Founder

28510 W Industry Dr, Valencia, 91355

Hyatt Regency Valencia

156

24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, 91355

Wayforward

152

Voldi Way

CEO

28738 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, 91355

Classic Wire Cut Company

150

Brett Bannerman

President

28210 Constellation Rd, Valencia, 91355

PPG Aerospace

150

Michael McGarry

Chairman & CEO

24811 Ave Rockefeller, Valencia, 91355

Triumph Actuation Systems

150

Daniel Crowley

CEO

28150 Harrison Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

Vision Media Management

143

Michael Alvarez

CEO

29125 Avenue Paine, Valencia, 91355

Regent Aerospace Corporation

140

Reza Soltanian

President

28110 Harrison Pkwy, Valencia, 91355

Lamsco West, Inc.

125

Steve Griffith

President

29101 The Old Road, Valencia, 91355

18649 Via Princesa, Santa Clarita, 91387

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · C9

THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVING PEOPLE PAUL BUTLER Signal Contributing Writer

“T

he secret to the many is the one” is a phrase I picked up at some point somewhere. I can’t recall why someone said that to me or in what context but it has resonated with me ever since. As service and product providers continue to blend into a homogenous mass of choices for the consumer, it’s a good reminder that people really are the differentiator. You and I can each think of an example where we made a favorable purchase decision due to a positive interaction with one representative from the organization, we were considering to do business with. These were the tipping points. Likewise, I am sure we can also recall a time we were so disappointed with our interactions with one employee we vowed we’d never deal with that organization again. Yes, it does indeed seem the secret to the many (customers) is the way an organization deals with each and every customer. Multiplication in business seems to be a sum of how we deal with each individual. For our very first wedding anniversary, we went on a Mediterranean cruise. Being newlyweds, we didn’t have much to splash out and so we selected a littleknown cruise line that was visiting the places we wanted to see such as France, Spain and Italy. The destinations were right for us and the price we paid sat well within our budget. We were so excited about our time together especially because we’d received the news, we were pregnant with our first child a few weeks earlier. We felt on top of the world as we sailed a small part of it. The ship was excellent and the food was spectacular. One morning towards the end of our cruise, my wife awoke not feeling great at all and was concerned about the pregnancy after she visited the cabin bathroom. We booked the only available appointment early that same morning with the ship’s doctor, whom we came to realize

Employees may know what to do and will likely do it if rewarded and trained accordingly, writes expert Paul Butler, but how it’s done is largely in the hands of the human. (MC)

“

Yes, it does indeed seem the secret to the many (customers) is the way an organization deals with each and every customer. Multiplication in business seems to be a sum of how we deal with each individual.”

was at the end of his night shift. The nurse was rather terse with us, which we put down to her tiredness. The doctor was cold, uncaring and quite matter of fact when he casually told us we’d lost the baby. His final words were to tell us the clinic was closing in a matter of

minutes. That was it. The cruise doctor ruined our on-board experience. Even though we’d enjoyed 12 days of beautiful sights, scrumptious cuisine and superb service it was his one interaction with us which ruined the many subsequent opportunities we may

have potentially used their cruise vacation services again. After many tears and much prayer, we were delighted to hear when we got back home and visited our family doctor in our English village that our daughter was fine and the pregnancy was progressing perfectly well. I wonder what it is so deep down within the human condition that causes us to make a choice to sometimes serve others so badly. An organization makes a succession of promises to its customer such as price, product and service. Two out of three are within the complete control of the organization — price and product. It’s the third promise, service, which contains this unknown variable component due to the unpredictability of people. The problem with people as service providers is, they’re not machines — they can’t be programmed to be constantly consistent. Employees may know what to do and will likely do it if rewarded and trained accordingly, but how it’s done is largely in the hands of the human. The cruise doctor knew medicine. He did what he needed to do procedurally, but how it was done was appalling. His bedside manner left a lot to be desired. As we hopefully return to some normality post COVID-19, may we all recommit to serving each other superbly well regardless of the work we do, the team we lead or the business we own — in each and every opportunity we have to serve another human being. Yes, it seems the secret to the many is the one. Paul Butler is a Santa Clarita resident and a client partner with Newleaf Training and Development of Valencia (newleaftd.com). The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Signal newspaper. For questions or comments, email Butler at paul. butler@newleaftd.com. 

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C10 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT INC. PROUD TO CALL SCV HOME

andscape Development, Inc has made its home in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1984. With a strong standing in the community and valued workplace environment we have thrived. We are committed to the SCV and to its success, from donating and beautifying our towns medians, to purchasing laptops so students in need can carry on with their studies at College of the Canyon, we also have been a strong supporter of Bridge to Home and many other charitable associations throughout California. Not only do we give our clients peace of mind and make their lives easier; we also like to provide peace of mind to those in our community as well. As you know landscaping brings value and enjoyment to owners, residents, friends, and the public. Landscape

Development, Inc ensures your landscape assets grow beautifully and strong — protecting your investment. You’ll have peace of mind knowing Santa Clarita’s most experienced landscape company is on the job, working hard for you. Our team of dedicated professionals are eager to support you through each phase of your landscape project. We are hyper-focused on doing what’s right by our clients and providing you with consistent value. Here are ways we seek to make your job easier and ensure your success: ■■ Employ a collective team of landscape architects and designers through Design Studios Landscape Development. ■■ We have a highly trained and specialized Construction

Division that completes projects on time, on budget, and with exceptional quality. ■■ Design Build professionals provide industry leading customer service. ■■ Turnkey operation with seamless, hassle-free, turnovers from design to installation. ■■ Award winning maintenance professionals to ensure your investment continues to grow and thrive. Landscape Development Inc. is growing with many locations throughout California and, also Southern Nevada, we have a strong vision of the future especially here in the Santa Clarita Valley. We look forward to many more years of continued growth alongside our community here together. For more information, visit landscapedevelopment.com. 

VANCE WEALTH WELCOMES BACK CHRIS PELCH AS COO

fter a year of record growth, Santa Claritabased financial planning firm Vance Wealth announced it’s welcoming back Chief Operating Officer Chris Pelch, who is returning to the team to help support a new phase of expansion. “Over the last three years, we’ve grown our team from six to 13 employees while also growing our Chris Pelch family of clients,” company President John Vance said in a prepared statement. “From an operational perspective, it’s really important to have

someone who can oversee your systems and processes and ensure our client experience is second to none. That’s why we brought Chris back to the team.” Pelch first joined the team in 2013 to streamline operations, implement a new trading platform, oversee the investment committee and help launch Advanced 401k Solutions, deciding in 2017 to deepen his knowledge by pursuing his master’s degree. “I realized I had a gap in my understanding of a business owner’s journey, specifically in terms of operations and how they affect a company’s financial success,” Pelch said in the statement. “To best serve my clients, I knew I needed to get a clearer understanding on what goes on internally. Only then could I be of true value

COUPLE OPENS CARING TRANSITIONS OFFICE

Victoria and I saw an opportunity to serve our community in a new way,” Jared said, adding that with the population of older Americans set to explode in the coming years, it was also the perfect time. “We really saw the need to help senior citizens firsthand.” Caring Transitions’ specially trained professionals handle every detail of their clients’ transition, from decluttering and packing to downsizing, moving and resettling. “It’s a challenging time and can be a difficult conversation for families to have,” Victoria Erfle said, adding that every family’s situation is different, and they work to cater to what is needed, regardless of the situation. “It’s really customizable, whatever their needs are, because what’s most important is for them to make the process the least stressful possible. That’s where we come in.” For more information, call 661-3362345 or visit CaringTransitionsSCV. com.” 

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer

usband-and-wife duo Jared and Victoria Erfle are teaming up and using past experience to help seniors with transitions and relocations. After seeing the need firsthand through a real estate client at their brokerage firm, the Erfles decided to bring Caring Transitions, a certified transition management service that helps seniors move, downsize and resettle, to the Santa Clarita Valley, with the goal of making the move easier for seniors and their loved ones. “I sold a home to a gentleman in 2007, and last year, he called me back to sell that same home again,” Jared Erfle said. While the home sold in one day, moving and selling furniture was a fourmonth process, until Caring Transitions came in and took over the process. “Having helped many families through challenges as a real estate broker,

when looking from the outside in.” Pelch adds expertise in teaching, operations management and financial planning to the firm, and as COO, is expected to help strengthen and support the team, while continuing to serve as advisor to a select group of clients, the statement said. “I’m extremely excited about this role because I get to work with a lot of different people. I get to focus on the overall offerings and growth of the firm, while also figuring out how I can break down barriers for a team that’s already doing great work,” Pelch added. “My goal is to allow our team members to focus on the areas where they excel and provide support in the areas where we can grow.” 

PRINTFUL EXPANDS OPERATIONS TO VALENCIA

rintful announced recently it is moving to a new, larger facility allowing the addition of approximately 100 jobs in the Santa Clarita Valley. Printful plans on moving its California operations from Chatsworth to Valencia during the third quarter of 2021, doubling the size of the California team by the end of the year. The 93,000-square-foot Valencia facility, set to become a fulfillment center, is nearly three times larger than the one in Chatsworth, according to Printful. “California is our busiest state in terms of deliveries,” Davis Siksnans, CEO and co-founder of Printful, said in a prepared statement. “It’s necessary to stay in this area and expand

our operations to fulfill the needs of our ever-growing customer base, and since L.A. is home to central shipping hubs, we’ll be able to maintain fast delivery times.” Due to the expansion, the company plans on investing $10 million to increase the amount of DTG printers almost three-fold and purchase additional equipment for embroidery and poster fulfillment. The Valencia facility is set to offer HQ pickup, an option to pick up orders directly from the fulfillment center, as well as warehousing services. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person pickups are currently closed for safety reasons. 

Economic Development Corporation 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road | UCEN 263 | Santa Clarita, CA 91355 | (661) 288-4400 | www.scvedc.org

Econo Watch Santa Clarita Valley

Q1 2021

Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Sq Ft

Commercial Vacancy Rates Office Space 14.46% 14.42%

2,798,593

Industrial Space

25,060,791

5.60%

Total Marked Sq. Ft. Vacancy Percentage: Office Space - as a % of Vacancy Industrial Space - as a % of Vacancy

Building Permits

Bank of Santa Clarita (BSCA) California Resources Corp (CRC) Carnival Corp. (CCL) FivePoint (FPH)

27,859,384

10.05% 89.95%

10.11% 89.89%

N/A N/A

May ’21

Apr ’21

May ’20

4 31

6 27

0 9

May ’21

Apr ’21

% Change

New Commercial/Industrial Building Permits Commercial Tenent Improvements/Alterations Local Company Stock Prices

6.10%

13.5 29.01 29.56 8.02

13.13 23.7 27.96 7.18

Mission Valley Bank (MVLY) Six Flags * (SIX) Woodward (WWD)

Unemployment Rates Santa Clarita Palmdale Lancaster Glendale Los Angeles County State

Housing Stats

2.82% 22.41% 5.72% 11.70%

14.2 45.43 127.18

Apr ’21

12.75 46.98 125.01

Mar ’21

11.37% -3.30% 1.74%

% Change

9.6% 9.6% 0.00% 15.0% 15.6% -3.85% 15.0% 15.6% -3.85% 10.7% 10.0% -6.68% 11% 10.9% 0.92% 8.1% 8.4% -3.57%

May ’21

Apr ’21 845,900

May ’20

SCV Average Home Price

837,100

SCV Average Condo Price SCV Home Sales SCV Condo Sales SCV Avg. # of Days on Market (SF) SCV Single Family Home Inventory

532,100 473,500 421,900 1,156,000 893 111 456 350 55 35 25 69 270 289 250

661,200

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · C11

TOURISM Continued from page C7 San Francisco is likely to feel the loss of international travellers the hardest. Foreign visitors account for 61% of total overnight spending city-wide, the largest share of any major U.S. city, according to data from the San Francisco Travel Association. San Francisco is also the biggest convention city in the state and typically generates $8.3 billion annually on overnight spending at hotels alone. But experts expect conventions to be one of the last tourism industries to rebound this year, largely due to the fact that California is keeping restrictions on indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people in place until Oct. 1. CONVENTION SPENDING HAS LARGER ECONOMIC IMPACT The money generated from conventions is considered integral to the city. “It’s vital to the city’s health. It’s vital to our hotel community, our restaurant community,” said Nicole Rogers, executive vice president and chief sales officer for the San Francisco Travel Association. “While tourism is important to us — and we absolutely can’t function without it, the convention is a higher spend on average because companies are paying, plus the attendees are paying.” Conferences held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center can hold upwards of 10,000 attendees at a time. But the economic impact has a ripple effect. For example, during the annual Dreamforce conference put on by San Francisco tech giant Salesforce, more than 30,000 hotel rooms a night are booked. The city typically holds 50 to 60 major conventions a year. So far, just two have been confirmed this fall. The future of convention spending in San Francisco relies on many things, such as retaining customers. Some opted this year to hold their conventions in less restricted states including Texas and Florida. Other factors relate to how businesses will opt to run going forward and if they’ll continue to hold in-person conferences at all, especially as employees become accustomed to remote work. For more information, visit calmatters.org.. 

“

Rebounding as quickly as possible is vitally important. California’s tourism industry provides more than 1 million jobs and supports thousands of businesses.” — Caroline Beteta, president and CEO Visit California

The Santa Clarita Trolley is one of the way’s the city supports the local tourism industry, supporting local hotels and attractions like Six Flags Magic Mountain. A rebound for hotels could provide a significant boost to the city, which is supported by a Transit Occupancy Tax on rented rooms. SIGNAL PHOTO

C12 · SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

ASSESSOR 101: A FEW THINGS PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD KNOW

exclusion claim with the Assessor’s Office. For more information go to assessor.lacounty.gov/real-estate-professionals-toolkit/07-wills-and-trust-savings/.

BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor

s you might imagine my office receives literally tens of thousands of questions annually, interestingly enough, mostly dealing with real estate. interestingly enough, mostly dealing with real estate. Questions about home values, reassessments, what happens when a homeowner dies and more. Nearly half of my approximately 1,200 employees are property appraisers. They appraise everything from homes to commercial buildings to airplanes. They are certified by the state and are the professionals. Their training has provided them with the answers to nearly every imaginable question when it comes to property tax issues but most others do not have the answers through no fault of their own. It can be a quagmire of confusion when it comes to these complicated issues. Along those lines, I have taken the most common questions we receive and have tried to provide easily understood answers. I hope you find them useful: 1. What is a supplemental tax? The Supplemental Tax is a bill that reconciles the difference between the taxes owed by the prior owner and those now owed by the new owner. This amount is prorated from the time of closing escrow until the time the Assessor learns that there is a new owner and the Treasurer-Tax Collector can send a new, up-to-date property tax bill. To estimate the amount of supplemental taxes for a given property, please visit https://assessor.lacounty.gov/ supplemental-tax-estimator. 2. What do you do when a property owner dies? The Los Angeles County Assessor must be notified within 150 days of the date of death by filing the Change in Ownership — Death of Real Property Owner form along with a copy of the death certificate. This must be filed in addition to any notification made to law enforcement, the Coroner, or even the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Failure

5. When the assessor’s building diagrams are in conflict with those at the city’s building department, which are correct? The cities have the official plans upon which you should rely. A discrepancy between the assessor’s records and the city’s may indicate that there has been unpermitted construction.

There are some programs and resources available through the county Assessor’s Office that can save you money each year on your tax bill, particularly if you’re involved in a real estate transaction. to notify the Assessor may result in penalties and complicate estate planning. For more information, go to assessor.lacounty.gov/death-of-real-property-owner. 3. What exactly is the Homeowners’ Exemption? This is a property tax savings program that reduces the assessed value of your home by $7,000, which translates to approximately $70 annually off your property tax bill. The home must be your primary residence. You need only file the form one-time and the annual savings remains until you sell our home or affirmatively cancel the exemption. Over 30% of homeowners in LA County who qualify have not applied, primarily because they are unaware of this easy to access program. For more information go to assessor.lacounty.gov/ homeowners-exemption.

4. Am I protected from reassessment if the property is in a trust? No. A trust is essentially a set of instructions on how property is to be disposed of upon the death of its owner. Generally, when the trustor of a revocable living trust passes away, their property transfers to the beneficiaries named in the trust. Although a trust may identify the recipient of the property — the beneficiary — that beneficiary is still obligated to report the transfer to the Assessor’s Office by filing a Change in Ownership – Death of Real Property Owner within 150 days of the death. Additionally, if a child or grandchild is inheriting the property, they may seek to have the date of death transfer excluded from change in ownership reassessment by filing a Prop. 19 parentchild or grandparent-grandchild transfer

6. When will my property be reassessed? Property is reassessed when it changes ownership or when new construction occurs. Examples of new construction include the addition of a pool or accessory dwelling unit (ADU). When new construction occurs, only that portion of the property that was newly constructed is reassessed; the rest of the property however retains its existing base year value. As a result, following the completion of new construction, the property will have what is called a “blended” base year value. These are just a sampling of the questions my office receives every day, but they’re some of the most common. For more information on Prop. 19 or other tax savings programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov or call 213-974-3211. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,400 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,200 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually. 

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

THE LATEST IN HEARING AIDS: WHY GO RECHARGEABLE? DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

ike any other technology, hearing aids are always evolving to bring you better performance, additional features, and more convenience. One of the latest revolutions in hearing technology is the introduction of rechargeable hearing aids. Hearing aid wearers may choose a rechargeable option for several reasons.

Rechargeable hearing aids do not rely on typical disposable batteries, and they can save you money in the long-term as batteries can cost up to $150 per year. They also have a less significant environmental impact. Disposable batteries typically last three to seven days, depending on the type and size of the hearing aid you have. For many people, it is preferable to put the hearing aids on a charger at night, rather than worry about changing batteries every few days. Because it’s as simple as charging your phone, rechargeable hearing aids can also be a great option for those with limited

dexterity and/or vision who have trouble inserting batteries themselves. Most chargers are small and portable, so they can fit easily into a bag for travel. Some chargers do not even need to be plugged into the wall at all times. Most of today’s rechargeable hearing aids will give you a charge that lasts at least a full 24 hours, and some will give you a partial charge depending on how long you leave them on the charger. The length of the charge can also be affected by your use. For example, if you are streaming media to your hearing aids all day it could cause the power to drain sooner than if you were to spend your

time in a quiet environment. To learn more about rechargeable hearing aids, make an appointment with Audiology Associates at 661-284-1900. Kevin Bolder, Au.D and John Davis, Au.D are two of the best in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. Visit our website at www. AudiologyAssociates.net or stop by our office located at 23838 Valencia Blvd, Suite 100, Valencia. We are proud to have won The Signal’s Best Audiologist for the 12th year in a row! We are hearing health care excellence. 