Business Journal 060923

What Innovations are coming your way?

VALLEY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Why VIA?

VIA knows working professionals have many choices when selecting between the various business organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley. Each serves a distinct purpose and vital role in the overall health and vitality of the community. But when some asks, “Why VIA?” the simple answer is “Why NOT VIA?”

2023 VIA BASH: THE FIRE & ICE BALL!

RESERVE YOUR SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS NOW!

STATE of the STATE

David Cantrell Solarverse CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

With membership at the heart of the organization, creating value is an ongoing focus. Members receive special member rates for programs, training and events, and discounts on sponsorships at VIA-branded signature events. Perhaps more importantly, members can realize a competitive advantage in developing business within the area’s industrial centers.

Since 1981, VIA has collaborated with regional organizations to form strategic partnerships that expand its focus and networking capabilities. By strengthening areas of influence, VIA, at times, has reached beyond the valley’s borders to create great value for members.

And it just makes good business sense to allocate your marketing dollars where you get more “bang” for your buck!

VIA provides its membership visibility, access to community leaders and elected officials, ongoing training, education and professional development, networking, low-cost advertising opportunities, advocacy and strong credibility. All that, plus VIA’s dedicated focus on the emerging workforce through our acclaimed Connecting to Success Program. Advocate, Educate, Innovate. There’s never been a better time to become a member!

For more information, contact the VIA Office, (661) 294-8088 or kathy@via.org

Hillary Broadwater QM Design Group IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Ed Masterson Michael Elliott & Associates VICE CHAIR WORKFORCE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Kim Thomson eXp Realty TREASURER

Tim Burkhart Consultant CORPORATE SECRETARY

Sue Tweddell Primerica VICE CHAIR EDUCATION

Kim Kurowski A-1 Party VICE CHAIR EVENTS

J.C. Burnett Courier-Messenger VICE CHAIR ADVOCACY

State Senator Scott Wilk, 21st District and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, 40th District

Friday, June 30, 2023 | 11:30 a.m.

Dianne G. Van Hook University Center

Members: $50.00

Non-Members: $65.00

OF DIRECTORS 2023

Justin Veyna Barkley Risk Management & Insurance VICE CHAIR MEMBERSHIP

Steve Nunez Mission Valley Bank

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE

Nola Aronson Advanced Audiology

Claudia Dunn-Martinez UCLA Health

Monica Fawcett City of Santa Clarita

Mike Garrison KKAJ, LLP

Beau Goodrick Owen, Patterson & Owen

Carolyn Hoffman

William S. Hart Union High School District

Laura Kirchhoff Circle of Hope

Kathie Martin Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

Jill Mellady Mellady Direct Marketing

Randy Moberg LBW Insurance & Financial Services

Selina Thomas 6 Degrees HR Consulting

Teresa Todd Point of View Communications

Omar Torres College of the Canyons

Maria Vartanian Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

Steve Youlios Jersey Mike’s Subs

Mark Young Donahoe, Young & Williams, LLP

VIA BOARD

Strategy Six: Fully Align to Revenue Growth

KEN KELLER SCVBJ Contributing Writer

Many companies are simply not lined up internally or externally to achieve consistent growth.

The most common strategies to raise top line numbers are increasing prices, adding new clients, selling more volume, having current clients buy more frequently and selling new products into the client base. But there is a lot more to growth than those five paths.

Why isn’t revenue growing at your company? Use my list to gain alignment and focus as part of the solution.

Failure of the CEO to share companywide revenue goals and strategies with all employees. Managers must translate to employees their role and responsibility in achieving goals plus hold employees responsible for their portion of making the goal.

Lack of clear sales goals. Do results stand as hard goals with deadlines or are soft (marshmallow) goals the norm? Who actually owns these numbers? Are the right people being held accountable for the results?

Support staff distanced from client interaction and client need. The impact of inaction or delay in taking care of clients is scary; I’ve seen that some in support roles simply do not care what happens. Failure to follow through endangers revenue and relationships with clients. Lack of accountability, discipline and sharing in the financial rewards encourages these damaging behaviors to remain unchanged.

The niche of the business and the competitive advantages of the company cannot be articulated, even internally. No one can explain why the company is a better choice than the competition. Lack of prospects. A sales person can’t be successful without a full pipeline of possible clients. This manifests itself when there is a lack of a company-wide prospecting plan, and system, including on-going follow-up and follow through. Too many internal meetings with sales

Why isn’t revenue growing at your company?

people during prime selling time. Prime time is when prospects and clients are available. Every internal meeting held is yet another excuse that can be used by sales for not achieving revenue goals. Outdated, poorly designed or no marketing materials. This includes print, website and social media. When you have no “leave behind” you are soon forgotten. Unprofessional sales behavior. Being late, missing appointments, lack of follow through lead the list. This is also manifested in how someone dresses, acts, and talks when representing the company; other elements include lack of personal and professional development plans; lack of account prioritization; confusing action with results; being afraid to prospect, present, ask for the order, and dealing with objections to buying.

Failure by sales management to make data-based decisions about under-performing sales people. Instead of being results-focused in meetings to improve the numbers, managers coddle, make excuses and fail to pull the trigger because

they have not documented what is not happening and/or have fallen into the “friend trap” or believe that a turnaround is just around the corner. It rarely is.

Failure of management, including the CEO, to listen to the valid concerns from sales. In my experience, management is sometimes so biased against sales they cannot discern between what a valid concern is or isn’t.

Revenue growth does not happen in a vacuum, and hope is a flailing strategy. Sharing plans and strategies, getting alignment throughout the company and holding people accountable may be basic, but in successful companies, it works.

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. 

Eight Ways to Strengthen Social Ties

PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

We’re social beings — we need others in our lives to thrive physically and emotionally. Discover ideas for widening your social circle.

At times, we all prefer to be alone—to take a long, contemplative walk or to sit quietly and enjoy the pleasures of a good book. But there’s also something to be said — a lot, actually — for spending time with other people.

Having good friends and meaningful connections within our communities doesn’t just make us happy. It offers surprising wellness benefits. For starters, our social ties may help us feel less stressed, lonely and depressed. And they may even help us lead happier, healthier and longer lives.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR SOCIAL TIES

Would you like to make new friends? Or do you want to build better bonds with your current network?

1. Be a joiner. Getting involved in your community can be rewarding in its own right. And you might meet people with similar interests.

„ Attending events like book readings, lectures or concerts. Check the calendars in online community bulletins or your newspaper’s entertainment section.

„ Participating in hobby groups, civic clubs or service groups.

„ Joining a sports league—like bowling or softball.

„ Taking classes to discover (or rediscover) a new skill, language or art form.

„ Volunteering at a place of worship or an organization, program or cause you’re passionate about.

2. Extend an invitation. Is there someone you want to get to know better or spend more time with? Be the one to propose a social activity.

3. Book it. Life gets busy, and before you know it, weeks or months can go by without talking to family or friends. A solution? Schedule weekly reminders—just as you would for other important to-dos—to check in with the people who mean the most to you.

4. Unplug. Put away your smartphone or headphones when you’re out and about. It’s a lot easier to make connections when you focus on the faces in front of you and

the conversations around you.

5. Meet and greet your neighbors. You’ve waved and smiled as you’ve walked or driven by. Next step: Stop and say hello. You might have a lot in common.

6. Open up to a new friend. Sharing something personal about yourself (and vice versa) can help new friendships blossom.

7. Be an interviewer. One of the best ways to make or strengthen friendships? Show

interest in the other person’s thoughts and experiences.

8. Ask someone for help. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes—whether that’s a ride to pick up a car from the mechanic or help moving a couch. Acts of kindness and assistance can be expressions of friendship. Your helper might be turn out to be a great pal. And you can return the favor someday. „

Santa Clarita April Home, Condo Sales Fall 42%

FOR THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Southland Regional Association of Realtors, or SRAR, reported that in April, 217 homes and condominiums were sold in Santa Clarita, a 42% decrease from the previous year.

However, the persistently low inventory of properties listed for sale helped to stabilize prices.

Anthony Bedgood, chairman of the Santa Clarita division of the SRAR, said.

“Sales prices have steadied in Santa Clarita. Despite the low sales number, housing prices have stabilized and increased in the last few months. However, the real estate market is grappling with

affordability and the lack of inventory, with a historically low 1.3 months of housing supply in Santa Clarita.”

The inventory appears to have impacted a few different areas in the most recent figures from the association.

Year over year, the number of new listings and the number of active listings are both down significantly, 45% and 35%, respectively, according to the latest figures from the SRAR.

The median sales price for a home dipped about 8% in the year-over-year data for April to $825,000 for a singlefamily home and $500,000 for a condominium.

The volume of sales is down about 44% to $460 million as of April in the year-over-year

data.

Local Realtors assisted the close of escrow on 144 singlefamily homes during January of this year, down 46% from a year ago. Similarly, condominium ownership changes totaled 73 closed escrows, which fell 31% from April 2022.

“Even with the challenges, the real estate market is incredibly resilient in Santa Clarita. As they head into the traditionally strong summer months, they will likely see more activity,” said Paul Cauchi, CEO of the SRAR.

The rising interest rate also has continued to stoke fears about a slowing market in the future.

Finally, while sales have slowed, single-family homes

in Santa Clarita still averaged only 36 days to see a sale, up 24 days from April 2022 and condominiums averaged 25 days on the market.

The SRAR is the leading advocate for home ownership, property rights, land use, water rights, parcel taxes and commercial real estate interests in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

The SRAR is a professional trade association with 11,000 members and is one of the largest local associations in the nation. SRAR local market statistics are compiled from all available data share partner information accessible through CRMLS and may not represent complete activity for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valley areas. 

COC Provides Workplace Training in the SCV

BY DIANNE VAN HOOK Chancellor, Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons

The College of the Canyons class of 2023 boasts more than 2,200 graduates who together earned a total of 3,408 degrees. Many of them will transfer to top-tier four-year universities to earn bachelor’s degrees. Others, however, will launch new careers thanks to the real-world, hands-on training they received at COC. Recognized as one of the leading educational institutions in California, COC features a wide range of in-demand academic and workforce training programs. In recent years, we have been at the forefront of enhancing workplace skills and training students in today’s fast-growing fields, as well as those that are on the horizon. New programs in development include a Fire Academy, physical therapy assistant, and occupational therapy assistant, plus an Advanced Technology Center

that will train students in computer numerically controlled (CNC) precision machining, industrial maintenance, robotics, mechatronics, and more.

Businesses are facing an unprecedented need to hire qualified employees with new skills to support their priorities as technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the way we work for the foreseeable future. The accelerated adoption of technology and practices that were once deemed impossible or impractical, suddenly have become the key to thriving as an organization. How do we train and educate students for the future and ensure they are equipped to succeed?

One of the key ways COC enhances workforce development is by offering a range of certificate and degree programs that focus on the acquisition of skills sought by employers. Programs like automotive technology, computer networking, medical lab technician, land surveying, construction technology, graphic design, and our other career education programs, are hands-on, with students getting real-world experience

that prepares them to step into jobs after completing their studies.

Designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to work in a wide variety of industries, the college awarded nearly 3,000 certificates last year! The value of earning a certificate often translates to higher earning power. In fact, students who completed career education courses in 2022 saw a 23 percent increase in median wages.

We recognize that in addition to technical skills, employers also value employees who have strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Within our programs, the college has embedded the training for students to acquire professional skills like resiliency, organizational leadership, critical thinking and much more so that these graduates are more likely to be hired upon completion. COC has also invested in state-of-the-art facilities to support our career education programs that lead to employment in high-demand, high-skills, high-wage jobs.

See VAN HOOK, page 19

AT 2 Aerospace Has Big Plans for SCV

BY PERRY SMITH SCV Business Journal Editor

The future of air travel may soon be spreading its wings, or rather preparing for takeoff, in the Santa Clarita Valley, with an exciting announcement from Lockheed Martin.

The aerospace giant announced its newest intellectual property, AT2 Aerospace, is going to be designed and developed in the Santa Clarita Valley, just outside city limits.

The design facility is slated for above the “bustling Bridgeport Marketplace,” according to a release from the SCV Economic Development Corp., which also talks about the organization’s effort to draw quality investment from companies like AT2 for its targeted sectors that include aerospace in this month’s issue.

AT2 Aerospace is essentially looking to develop cutting edge airship technology for its new aircraft, the Z1, with a motto of “No roads, no problem.”

A few of the advantages touted by the developers of the technology include a larger cargo bay and payload possible than traditional sea and land cargo, as well as a faster speed than sea and land transportation.

The AT2 Aerospace team is expected to be led locally by Bob Boyd, whose previous professional experience includes more than 20 years as a program manager for Lockheed Martin, before being named president and COO at AT2. The team is supposed to number about 50 in size by fall of this year, according to an announcement by the SCVEDC.

VAN HOOK

Continued from page 6

COC prides itself on partnering with local businesses and organizations to offer incumbent workers or job seekers opportunities to gain practical experience in their chosen field. Through our School of Personal and Professional Learning, which offers low- and no-cost classes, we help students develop these professional skills in areas such as team building, critical thinking, digital fluency and more.

At the same time, the college also offers

“For some time, we have been in search of a transition partner to continue development of this important commercial work,” according to Lockheed’s website. “We are pleased to share that the hybrid airship IP and related assets have been transitioned to a newly formed, commercial company called AT2 Aerospace.”

The designers are looking at commercial and humanitarian applications for the technology, as the company “believes in the potential for hybrid airships to transform global transport.”

The tech offers a number of advantages, according to promotional material provided by Lockheed, which includes the ability of the Z1, the airship’s name, to land and takeoff from almost any location on the planet.

The ship’s design also is intended to maximize efficiency while minimizing

emissions at a fraction of the cost of traditional cargo aircraft.

Jason Crawford, director of community development for Santa Clarita, noted while the project might be outside its borders, it was great news for the business community.

“We’re just happy to have them here in the Santa Clarita Valley,” Crawford said, “High-quality jobs anywhere in the SCV is great because it’s another chance for our residents to work locally.”

The airships themselves are expected to be manufactured in North Carolina, according to the SCVEDC, which also noted the aircraft “should be flying by mid-2025.”

For more information about the project, visit AT2 Aerospace’s website at at2aero. space. 

customized training options that address the specific needs of individual businesses. Our Workforce and Economic Advancement Division, which is home to the Employee Training Institute, Small Business Development Center and Fast Track training programs, develops and delivers training on virtually any topic — from advanced technology to supply chain management, leadership development and manufacturing skills.

As we look to the future of work and the demands from employers, we are committing ourselves to enhancing

workplace skills in a number of ways. From our vocational programs and partnerships with local businesses, to our professional development programs and investment in modern facilities, COC is preparing students for the workforce of the future. By focusing on both technical and professional skills, we are helping to ensure that our students are wellrounded and prepared for success in the modern workplace.

Dr. Van Hook serves as chancellor of College of the Canyons. 

The AT2 Aerospace team is developing the Z1, which it hopes will support commercial and humanitarian applications around the world. PHOTO COURTESY AT2 AEROSPACE

More Grocers, Retail And Restaurants In Store

DEVELOPING STORIES

BY PERRY SMITH Senior Staff Writer

One thing about being the thirdlargest city in Los Angeles County, there’s always something going on in Santa Clarita.

Every month, the city welcomes new businesses that are highlighted here in Developing Stories, and May was no different.

After the anchor grocery store left the shopping center where the Red Robin used to be an Elephant Bar, I lamented the need for more grocery stores on the west side.

It seems like I’m not the only one who missed it, based on the city’s most recent approvals.

In the months since, Vallarta has moved its headquarters here, and the city has permitted a Grocery Outlet at Bouquet and Seco, an Aldi’s in Canyon Country and now a new “boutique” grocer that’s going in across the street from the Chick Fil-A in Valencia — one of two new additions to the plaza at Magic Mountain Parkway.

Wild Fork is the new grocer, which is going in at 24175 Magic Mountain Parkway, which was previously an Active Ride, a board and bike shop. Its current neighbors are a Men’s Wearhouse and a Fedex Office.

Wild Fork promises “the widest selection of high-quality meat and seafood at the lowest everyday prices,” according to its website.

The store’s “secret sauce”? The grocer “blast-freezes” at the peak of freshness— which is supposed to reduce crystallization and maintain juiciness — and promises same-day delivery.

There’s more information available at wildforkfoods.com.

The Wild Fork’s new neighbor is Wescom Credit Union, a 91-year-old Pasadena-based financial institution with 24 branches from Laguna Niguel to Palmdale.

Newhall Ranch Road also is expecting a couple of new businesses.

Makenna Koffee Company is another

offering for the breakfast table from Bridgeport Marketplace, joining The Flying Yolk, Marsten’s and the Honu pop-up in the lower level of the amphitheater at Real Life Church.

Makenna promises “good vibes and delicious coffee” — I’m sure I’ll be able to put that to the test soon next time I’m waiting for a table at one of the great brunch spots there.

In another interesting turn of retail, Dollar Tree, which has 15,115 stores in the 48 contiguous states, according to its website, is opening location No. 15,116 on Newhall Ranch Road in Gateway Village, in the same center as the Smart & Final location.

In case you haven’t seen one of its other 15,000 locations, Dollar Tree is a “multi-price-point chain of discount variety stores.”

A lot of folks have been wondering what’s going to go into the location that was Maria’s Italian Kitchen on Lyons Avenue, which was a beloved restaurant for generations.

While the name wasn’t immediately available, city officials are aware of the new occupants of the space: a restaurant with billiards.

Also in the restaurant space, Madre’s has yet to list the address on its website, but a Santa Clarita location on McBean Parkway has been in the works for years.

Castle Dermatology is the latest addition to the city’s medical office space, adding to a space at 25425 Orchard Vil-

lage, in Suite 170.

“And that’s something we’re just seeing as a broader trend is medical office space doing really well,” said Jason Crawford, director of community development for the city of Santa Clarita.

Crawford also hinted at an industrial project expected to be before the Planning Commission in June that’s yet to be announced. The development would be an industrial project slated for next to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on Golden Valley Parkway.

The applicant for the project is called Pacific Industrial, which considers itself “an industrial real estate development and acquisition platform,” according to its website.

“The applicant, PI Development LLC, is proposing a 174,000 square foot industrial/warehouse building at the subject property at 26313 Golden Valley Road,” according to Patrick Leclair, senior planner with the city of Santa Clarita. “The subject property is vacant and approximately 13 acres in size. The building would include 165,000 square feet of warehouse space and 9,000 square feet of office square footage. The overall building height is 52 feet. The project also includes various on-site improvements including landscaping, paving, parking and lighting of the proposed parking lot and docking stations for trucks.”

Bridgeport Marketplace in Valencia seems to be busy in the past few months, with the latest edition being Makenna Coffee Co. PHOTO BY PERRY SMITH / THE SIGNAL

How to Protect Your Ears from Loud Noise

DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

Exposure to loud noise is a common reason why people develop hearing loss. At least 10 million adults in the U.S. have noise-induced hearing loss. While you can still enjoy loud music or fireworks, repeated exposure for long periods of time can potentially cause serious damage. Learn more on how to protect your hearing.

WHAT IS TOO LOUD?

Sounds are typically measured in decibels (dB). Exposure to sounds over 85 dB can cause noise-induced hearing loss. As the volume increases, your chances of developing hearing loss increases as well. Rock concerts and power tools are 110-120 dB while fireworks are 140-160dB. Prolonged exposure to these noises can cause serious damage to your hearing.

REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE

The best way to protect your ears from loud noises is to avoid them. Some exposure is fine, but when you’re around loud noise frequently or for a long time, then your hearing can be affected. Be mindful of the volume around you. If you find yourself in a situation with unexpectedly loud noise, try to give yourself some distance from the source.

WEAR HEARING PROTECTION

Some exposure to loud noise is inevitable. When you’re around loud noise, it’s recommended to wear hearing protection, such as earplugs. There are different styles of earplugs available, making it easy to find an option that matches your needs.

HAVE YOUR HEARING EVALUATED

If you’re concerned about hearing loss, schedule an appointment. People who work in loud environments or who participate in loud recreational activities are at an increased risk. Watch out for warning signs, such as if you experience a ringing in your ears or frequently ask people to repeat themselves.

To schedule a hearing evaluation today, please call Audiology Associates at 661-2841900. Owner 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 25425 Orchard Village Road, Ste 220, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.

We are hearing healthcare excellence!

The Five Largest Innovations to Expect in 2023

By Richard Remmington/Inverse Special to The Signal

We may be a mere 23 years into the century but already it has been a doozy. In 2022, we saw impressive technological feats, including a fusion energy breakthrough, the first successful all-electric passenger plane test and the release of bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccines.

As we enter into 2023, what can we expect? At Inverse, we aren’t in the business of fortune-telling, but the innovations we saw in the last 12 months can help us predict what might be in store for the next — from driver-free transportation to commercial space exploration to (finally) clean energy for all

Cheaper EVS and Drive-Free Shipping

This year will usher in more affordable EVs, allowing a bigger chunk of the population to drive sustainably. For example, GM is rolling out cheaper models that run for around $30,000, expanding the choices for drivers on a budget.

Tesla’s least expensive offering, the Model 3, starts at around $46,990 — while it’s currently the best-selling electric car in the United States, some of these new models could knock the Model 3 off its throne.

If you don’t feel like driving, it may soon get easier to hail an autonomous car. In 2023, Uber plans to launch a fully driverless service, and GM’s robo taxi division (which now operates in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin) aims to enter a “large number of markets.”

Cars aren’t the only mode of transportation to ditch drivers. Autonomous semi-trucks could surge ahead in 2023 and, soon enough, forever change the way we get our goods.

In the coming months, self-driving trucks are planned to hit Texas highways. Companies like Aurora Innovation and TuSimple will start to test their wheels without any human backup drivers — which has concerned some safety advocates, Reuters reported Driverless semis have already been tested out in Arizona and Arkansas, but Texas is particularly attractive for autonomous truck companies to set up hubs because it sits in the middle of one of the country’s busiest freight routes.

Commercial Space Firsts

Just as in 2022, space magnates are still shooting for the Moon. But before SpaceX can take on lunar landings, it needs to send Starship on its first orbital test flight. Chris Impey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, thinks that this is the year.

SpaceX “will have its first successful orbital flight of the Starship, a game-changing rocket in the effort to get astronauts to the Moon and Mars within a decade,” he reports

While it may be a few years before people step foot on the Moon again, uncrewed commercial landers could touch down within a few months.

In December, the Japanese firm ispace launched a lunar lander that’s scheduled to touch down in March. If things work out, ispace will become the first private company to land on the Moon — that

is, if it isn’t beaten by landers from the U.S.-based companies Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, which are slated to arrive around the same time.

In another victory for private space, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission could accomplish the first-ever commercial spacewalk. It’s scheduled to take off no earlier than March 2023 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Four passengers, including billionaire mission funder Jared Isaacman, will travel to a maximum orbit of around 745 miles above Earth — the highest of any crewed vehicle since the Apollo missions.

Polaris Dawn will also offer crucial data to scientists on the ground: For example, the astronauts will wear smart contact lenses with tiny sensors that measure eye pressure while in microgravity (past NASA missions have revealed that space travel affects people’s vision). They’ll also receive a brain scan just hours after splashing down to Earth to examine how microgravity impacts the brain.

Another potential breakthrough: The first methane-powered rocket could reach space this year if United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket aces its first orbital test (which was originally planned for 2020). Methane is more stable than the liquid hydrogen powering most rockets today. It can also be stored at more moderate temperatures than the super-cold ones required for liquid hydrogen. In fact, astronauts could even make methane fuel while on Mars for the journey back home.

Virtual reality companies may focus less on gaming and ramp up promotion of other uses to consumers, such as working from home, exercising and socializing.

PHOTO CREDIT RIKI32 FROM PIXABAY

The Benefits of a MidYear Financial Review for Individuals In or Nearing Retirement

Conducting a mid-year financial review provides an opportunity to assess your financial standing, evaluate your progress towards your retirement goals, and make necessary adjustments to your financial plan.

For those in or nearing retirement, it is important to ensure that your savings are sufficient to last your throughout retirement. A mid-year review can help you identify any gaps in your plan and make necessary adjustments. It allows you to evaluate your current assets and liabilities, review your investment portfolio, and reassess your retirement goals and timeline.

Additionally, a mid-year review can help you take advantage of tax planning strategies. For example, you may be able to contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans or IRAs, or make charitable donations that can reduce your taxable income. A mid-year review can help you identify these opportunities with time to take action before the end of the year.

Mid-year financial reviews are an opportunity to progress towards retirement goals, identify any gaps in your financial plan, and make necessary adjustments to ensure that you are on track to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Working with an experienced

financial professional can help you create an effective strategy to ensure your retirement plan aligns with your goals. For more information or assistance with a mid-year financial review, contact us at (661) 297-7566 or visit www.PiersonWealthManagement.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGA Insurance Agency LLC CA Insurance Lic#0132305), member FINRA/SIPC, a broker/ dealer and a Registered Investment Adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Ivy Pierson CA Insurance Lic#0C92500. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, consult with a tax or legal advisor. Neither Cetera Advisors LLC nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice.

IVY PIERSON Founder and Investment Advisor Representative Pierson Wealth Management

Celebrating SCV Businesses

From celebrating new businesses opening or marking special occasions and achievements, we continue to be honored being part of your celebrations.

We encourage everyone to come and support our new businesses. All our grand opening/ribbon cuttings are free and open to everyone to attend.

Congratulations to 360 Executive Suites on your grand opening and celebration in May! Find out more at www.360suitesscv. com. Thank you to all that came to support them! Photo credit:

Do you have a grand opening or anniversary coming up?

Email us at hello@scvchamber.com for details about hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Congratulations to Planet Fitness on your grand opening and celebration in May! Find out more at www.planetfitness.com. Thank you to all that came to support them!

Please join us at these upcoming Grand Opening/Ribbon Cuttings.

Joie de Vivre Photographie

City Councilmember Bill Miranda congratulates Fred Arnold on the grand opening/ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie

Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie

Field Deputy for Senator Scott Wilk, Kris Hough, congratulates leadership of Planet Fitness for their grand opening/ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie

2023 Board of Directors

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

BECKI ROBB - PRINCESS CRUISES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

HUNT BRALY - Poole Shaffery

ANDREA CARPENTER - Logix

MARISOL ESPINOZA - Southern California Gas Company

Michael Grisanti - Hedman Partners, LLP

DR. CHRIS RAIGOSA - KAISER PERMANENTE

SANDY SANCHEZ - FivePoint

JOHN VANCE - Vance Wealth

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JENNIFFER ABBOTT - HUMAN ELEMENT COMPANY

KIARA BROWN - CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS

KAREN BRYDEN - SCV Locations

STEVE COLE - SCV Water Agency

Tom COLE - City of Santa Clarita

MATT DIERCKMAN - Colliers International

TROY HOOPER - Kiwi RESTAURANT Partners

PATRICK MOODY - Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

DR. IZU OKPARA - Omni Wound Physicians

HENRY RODRIGUEZ - State Farm Insurance

LINDSAY SCHLICK - SchlickArt Video & Photography

CHRIS SCHRAGE - LBW Insurance Financial Services

ROCHELLE SILSBEE - Southern California Edison

DI THOMPSON - THOMPSON REALTY ADVISORS/eXp REALTY

DR. DIANNE VAN HOOK - College of the Canyons

DENNIS VERNER - Burrtec

KARINA WINKLER - Holiday Inn Express

BUSINESS COUNCILS

As the third largest city in Los Angeles County, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce represents over 65,000-member workforce. We realized we can better serve our business community by having six Business Councils, allowing members to work on issues specific to their area. Our Councils provide a channel for our members to be involved in solving problems, discussing issues, and implementing special projects and events for the benefit of the area being served. Participation offers members the opportunity to prioritize and bring a focus to the business needs of the area, and to take community leadership roles in addressing these needs. It can increase members’ business network, and provide stronger representation on area issues. Also, since area councils exist as industry-specific, participation provides an opportunity for area-specific networking with others doing business.

LATINO BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Our LBA council works to promote Latinoowned 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 Latinoowned businesses.

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.

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.

BLACK BUSINESS COUNCIL

Our Black Business Council works to inspire, empower, and promote the economic growth and sustainability of black businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals within the Santa Clarita Valley. In addition it serves as a catalyst for engagement, awareness building and consultation; eliminate barriers to opportunities and addresses issues unique to black owned businesses, professionals, and their families.

API BUSINESS COUNCIL

Our Asian Pacific Islander Council works to identify and advance API-owned businesses and business leaders in the Santa Clarita Valley. The API Council develops programs and offers resources to strengthen the API business community. The purpose of the API Council is to build and foster community among API-owned businesses to create a positive impact in where we work and reside.

NON-PROFIT COUNCIL

The SCV has a strong philanthropic community with more than 100 locally-based nonprofit 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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cafe con Leche

June 6 | 9:00 am

Come network with our Latino Business Alliance! Enjoy coffee and pastries and meet with other Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs.

InfluenceHER - Navigating Belonging in Leadership

June 13 | 4:00 pm

A diverse workforce is an innovative workforce. Diversity in all its forms—from gender to culture to age to race—inspires new ideas and fosters innovation. Different perspectives offer different lenses of growth and attract diverse talent.

In June, our InfluenceHER brings together panelists who will discuss their leadership experience within the SCV Chamber, their career, and at home. They will discuss what it means to belong and what it means to uplift other women in unique times and situations.

Government Affairs Council

June 14 | 10:30 am

Our Government Affairs Council convenes monthly to discuss, review and take action on policy decisions at the local, county, state and federal levels. The SCV Chamber works on behalf of its members to maintain a healthy and vibrant business climate in what has been ranked one of the most business friendly cities in California. The Chamber takes an active role in shaping legislative policies in support of business. The Chamber represents its members before local, regional, state and federal governmental entities and provides a forum for its members to develop policy positions that impact the Santa Clarita Valley business community.

Growing Your Business as a Vendor in Santa Clarita

June 15 | 1:00 pm

We invite you to attend an informational webinar to learn how to become a vendor with the City of Santa Clarita, the William S. Hart Union High School District, and the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency.

Vendors specializing in all areas of business including printing, security, construction, janitorial supplies, engineering, landscaping, professional services, and more will be able to utilize this information to make new connections and grow your business. This event is a unique opportunity to learn about the fundamentals and best practices of working with each group.

There will also be a Q&A session where representatives will be available to answer your questions and offer additional information. Given the demand for this webinar, we recommend you send your questions ahead of time to hello@scvchamber.com.

Business After Hours Mixer at Six Flags Magic Mountain

June 21 | 5:30 pm

Join us for our June Business After Hours Mixer! Enjoy a unique and exciting experience at Santa Clarita’s very own Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park while catching up with friends and making new connections. Tickets include appetizers and drinks. Stay tuned for more details.

To find out more information about these events or any other upcoming programming and to register go to: www.SCVChamber.com/Events

INNOVATIONS

Continued from page 10

U.S. Wind Farms

Bringing offshore wind to the U.S. hasn’t exactly been a breeze, but this year wind energy could finally have its moment: The energy company .

Its Vineyard Wind 1 project, which sits over 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, will offer a capacity of 800 megawatts. Plenty of other wind farms are in the works, including potential projects off the coasts of California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia.

We can also expect a huge win for nuclear energy. The nuclear waste company Posiva will begin operating the world’s first storage facility for nuclear fuel in Olkiluoto, an island off of Finland. The facility will hold up to around 7,000 tons of radioactive uranium, which will be put into copper canisters and buried over 1,300 feet underground. Fortunately for the people living above, the waste will sit guarded for millennia.

Virtual Reality

If 2022 was the year of Metaverse fails, 2023 could herald its comeback — and improvements in VR and AR tech as a whole.

“I believe we will see virtual reality technology’s continued refinement,” Christopher Ball, an assistant professor of augmented and virtual reality at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Meta Quest 3 headset will be announced later this year, and it will likely be more affordable than the Meta Quest Pro. But the new Quest could pack some advanced features now found exclusively in the Meta Quest Pro, according to Ball.

He also predicts that virtual reality companies may focus less on gaming and ramp up promotion of other uses to consumers, like working from home, exercising and socializing. For example, the recent partnership between Meta and Microsoft will

bring Office 365 apps to VR. And Meta is currently trying to buy Within, a VR company with a popular exercise app called Supernatural — against the wishes of the FTC.

This fall, Tim Cook announced that Apple will offer augmented reality products. In the coming year, Ball hopes that Cook will divulge more details.

“Hopefully, we will also learn more about Apple’s long-gestating mixed-reality headset. Apple has a strong record of refining consumer technologies with improved software integration,” Ball says. “Therefore, many observers are eagerly anticipating Apple’s entrance into the mixed-reality space, as they may become the trendsetters for extended reality technology and software over the next decade.

Biotech Breakthroughs

After the success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines by pharmaceuticals, one of those companies BioNTech reportedly is planning to begin human trials for shots against tuberculosis, malaria and genital herpes.

After the miraculous success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines from BioNTech and other pharmaceutical giants, scientists have doubled down on developing more mRNA jabs to protect against a range of potentially deadly diseases. In 2023, BioNTech plans to begin human trials for shots against tuberculosis, malaria and genital herpes, as reported by Nature. Another buzzy technology could make inroads this year. The Swiss-American biotechnology company CRISPR Therapeutics could make history by receiving the first-ever regulatory approval for a CRISPR gene-editing therapy in the U.S. and

Europe. CRISPR Therapeutics is seeking FDA approval for a treatment for two genetic blood diseases — sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. If all goes well, it could even hit the market in the coming months.

Of course, there’s no telling how exactly 2023 will play out. But if recent years are any indication, developments that have been decades in the making could finally start to take off. After all, scientists did just manage to bombard hydrogen with lasers long enough to create some mystical fusion energy.

Avangrid Renewables plans to take the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project online in 2023. PHOTO CREDIT AVANGRID RENEWABLES

PHOTO CREDIT MICHA FROM PIXABAY

A Resilient Economy Through Diversification and Collaboration

HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of SCVEDC

How often do you think about your community’s economic development?

Never, you say? Or maybe just when that alluring new business “opens up shop”? We get it. It’s the job of economic development organizations to think about this all the time so you don’t have to!

Many times, the work of economic developers goes unnoticed and cruises under the radar. And that’s okay! Being a silent investor in a region’s economic well-being and quality of life is rewarding in itself and in May is celebrated with Economic Development Week.

It is an honor for our business development team at the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) to serve this region and help drive economic growth in our economy. Now more than ever, a thoughtful, integrated approach to economic development is critical to growing and sustaining quality jobs.

Our approach to economic development targets a diverse set of industries to create a resilient economy: aerospace and defense, information technology, digital media and entertainment, advanced manufacturing, medical devices, and corporate headquarters.

These sectors are targeted because they are complementary to each other and the L.A. region, while also being distinct enough that they have different economic drivers, reducing the risk that macro-economic trends will affect all sectors simultaneously. It is a deliberate strategy designed to ensure ongoing employment opportunities and tax generation, which helps us maintain our high quality of life.

SCVEDC offers the unique collaboration of a public/private partnership with the City, the County of Los Angeles, educational institutions, and local business leaders. These partnerships allow us to comprehensively approach economic development for the entire valley, bringing quality jobs and increased opportunities today and in years to come.

Yes, economic development can be tricky. That’s why curating it is so valuable, and why it’s worth your time to, at least occasionally, pay attention to how your community is growing and the industries that are taking root there.

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. is a unique private/public

partnership representing the united effort of regional industry and government leaders. The SCVEDC utilizes an integrated approach to attracting, retaining, and expanding a diversity of businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley,

especially those in key industry clusters, by offering competitive business services and other resources. For more information, visit SCVEDC. org.

Seven Leadership Principles

BY PAUL BUTLER SCVBJ Contributing Writer

Recently, my father passed away and it caused me to pause and consider what a great leader he was.

He didn’t have management responsibilities in the work he did (especially for perhaps the last 10 years of his working life), but he exhibited so much by the way of his self-management and influence that I considered it useful to share.

Here’s an excerpt from a poem I wrote him on what became his last Father’s Day — let’s look at the leadership lessons hereafter:

“Like Father, Like Son…”

You took time to play with me and so I played with my children

You cheered me on in sports and so I’ve cheered on mine

You volunteered to help others and so I’ve volunteered the same

You served at my schools and so I served

You’ve helped out neighbors and so I followed your lead

You worked hard and so do I

I never saw you waste money and so I’ve always been frugal

I watched you live within your means and so I live within mine

You always provided for your family and so I’ve done the same

I always saw you discuss and agree plans with your wife— my Mum, and so I’ve followed your way

I’ve seen you cry and show your humility and my children have seen the same in me

You never hit me and so I never hit my children

You love your wife and so I love mine

I saw you do jobs way below your abilities to provide, and so I’ve done the same

I watched you encourage others and so I lift others up too

You never walked away from your marriage and so I haven’t either

I watched you lift up the chins of others with your words and I’m always trying to do the same

I’ve seen you stand up and speak up for the underdog and I’ve been known to do just that

You like baked goods and a good cup of coffee and guess that’s why I enjoy the same

You’re sociable and so am I

I never saw you raise your hand to my Mum and so my

children have never seen that in me

You read and so I read

You enjoy meeting new people and I have the same zest

I never seen you drunk and so I never drink to excess

I’ve never seen you in a street brawl and so I’ve avoided trouble

The police never visited our home because of you and so they’ve never come to mine

You encouraged me to do my best in school and so I encouraged my children to do just that

You told me to do everything to the best of my ability and I passed on your instruction

You are a good, good father and I want to say thank you.”

I see seven leadership principles in the above prose:

Be an example: Nothing motivates others better than you putting in a hard day’s work.

Treat your organization’s resources like your own. Investors, creditors, employees and vendors to name but four siblings of the workplace need you to manage money, time and equipment well. Be a good steward.

No person is an island: Discuss direction and decide

with others. People tend to support what they help create. Just as families thrive when there’s unity, so do wonderful workplaces.

Don’t hurt people. Leaders have explicit and formal authority but some use it to lord it over others. Don’t be like that. Leadership can hurt if not self-managed.

Stand-up when someone is out of order. Part of your role as a leader is to speak for what’s right and not allow others to suffer because of your silence.

Leaders are readers: keep learning how to positively influence others. Go back to school. Attend seminars. Be teachable. Keep growing as a leader.

My father said he didn’t care what I did for a job as long as a I did it to the very best of my ability. Don’t quietly quit and slide on by. Do good work.

Thank you, Dad, for your lessons at home and for the workplace. Slàinte.

Paul Butler is a Santa Clarita resident and a client partner with Newleaf Training and Development of Valencia (newleaftd.com). For questions or comments, email Butler at paul.butler@newleaftd.com

The Value of Professional Advice: The Benefits of Having a Financial Advisor on Your Side

In today’s complex and volatile markets, making sound investment and financial decisions is a challenge. Investing on your own can be complicated, overwhelming and risky. In fact, studies have shown that self-directed investors can often be their own worst enemies, entering and exiting the market at inopportune times in reaction to market movements that make them uncomfortable or emotional.

Steps to Successful Investment

Successful investing involves fortitude and a focus on the long term. The first steps you can take toward minimizing the likelihood of costly mistakes are:

1. Understanding the emotional and behavioral factors that contribute to investor pitfalls

• Psychology influences the choices investors make, such as how often they trade and how they make buy-sell decisions. Common psychological blind spots include:

• Overconfidence – assuming you know more than you do.

• Mental accounting – consciously or unconsciously dividing your wealth into separate buckets.

• Anchoring – fixating on past prices, such as what you paid for a particular stock.

• Loss aversion – putting more em-

phasis on avoiding losses.

2. Defining your goals and developing a plan—and an asset allocation—that helps you reach them Having a plan and sticking to it can help you avoid making emotional decisions.

3. Having the discipline to stay the course as markets fluctuate Some investors try to time the market by moving in and out of it. Professional advice can help keep you focused by taking emotions out of the equation.

Your Financial Life is More Than Just Your Investments

Over the past few years, the proliferation of robo-advisors that provide digital financial advice based on algorithms has received significant buzz. While robo advice offers a low-cost entry into investing, it also comes with little to no human intervention, Instead, an asset allocation is generated from an investor’s answers to an online questionnaire. But, how you value money—and what you believe about money—cannot be captured or solved by mathematical rules or algorithms. You want advice that connects with your thinking, experiences and beliefs around money.

If you’re deciding among traditional Financial Advisors or robo-advisors, con-

sider the following:

• What is most important to you at this stage of your financial life?

• How confident are you in your financial knowledge?

• Are you able to take emotions out of your financial decision-making?

• What are the financial complexities that you currently face?

If there are complexities in your financial life—debt, children, employee benefits, major life events, estate and tax issues—you may want to consider choosing a traditional Financial Advisor who can help you customize a plan that is tailored to your specific situation. And, keep in mind that reaching your goals often involves going beyond investment advice to include conversations about estate and wealth transfer planning, risk management and even your philanthropic aspirations.

By working with an experienced Financial Advisor, you can have the best of both worlds—the freedom to make your own investment and financial choices, but with the guidance of a professional who understands your unique needs, improving your chances of achieving your goals.

Courtesy of: Brian Jacobs, Executive Director, Wealth AdvisorBranch Name: Morgan Stanley, Valencia, CA Phone Number: (661) 290-2022. 

Jay Nolan Community Services Offering Soft Skills Training

Jay Nolan Community Services Inc. is launching the Employment Soft Skills Training Program, a 12-week training course for young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

The Employment Soft Skills Training Program is designed to address challenges particularly for young adults with high support needs, deaf or hard of hearing and those coming from under-served

communities. This training curriculum consists of softskills training that is critical to success in the workplace, the organization said in a prepared statement.

Topics include job matching, networking skills, interview essentials, resume writing, dressing for success, benefits planning and more. The program uses real-time translation tools for students with multi-lingual needs and the inclusion of AI/virtual reality tools aimed to simulate and practice the interview pro-

cess.

Each cohort of 10 students will include in-classroom training instruction four days per week (four hours per day) over the course of three months, with office hours offering additional support on Fridays. The pilot cohort is scheduled from July 17 to Oct. 13, and the second cohort is set to begin in January 2024.

The end result for participants is career readiness and the tools needed for successful employment in a job of their choice, the release said.

This includes a certificate of completion, a customized cover letter and resume, and an individualized service plan for benefits planning. Participants will also receive postprogram support through a referral to the Department of Rehabilitation for job placement, a $100 stipend for purchasing professional attire, and ongoing interview training.

For more information, contact knavarro@jaynolan.org, call 818-838-5432 or visit jaynolan.org. 

T he L is T F inancia L a dvisors

Santa Clarita Stock Average

Santa Clarita Stock Average Below you will find a list of local Santa Clarita-based or prominent Santa Clarita companies used for our averages. Each month we will take the average of all these stocks and show that number. Tracking that number from month to month will give you a window into how our local company’s stocks are performing. Last month the index was 3,150.02 and the average price per share was $105.00. This month the index is 3,002.31 down 147.71 or 4.7%. for an average share price of $100.08

The 2023 L.A. County Assessment Roll

BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor

Icome before you this month to let you know we are in the final stages of fulfilling our Constitutional mandate and probably the most significant item I do as your assessor: the Assessment Roll.

As I visited with you last year about this same time, some of you were scratching your head and wondering: What is the Assessment Roll? Others are more than familiar with the comprehensive tally that values more than 2.5 million real estate parcels in L.A. County that results in the very tax dollars that goes to pay for our vital public services, such as police, fire, schools and even libraries, to name just a few.

In the meantime, I have announced the May 15 forecast for the 2023 Assessment Roll to the Board of Supervisors that taxable property values are anticipated to increase approximately 5% over 2022, marking 13 years of continuous growth. Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Assessments are based on the value of property as of the lien

date of January 1, 2023.

The May Forecast projects the anticipated growth rate for the annual Assessment Roll, which closes in early July. The forecast is an important tool for local governments as they prepare their annual budgets in anticipation of property tax revenues. The annual Assessment Roll is the inventory for all taxable property in the County and can provide insight into the state of the real estate market and the local economy.

As an example, the Assessment Roll last year grew by a record $122 billion, which is almost 7% in growth over the previous year’s Assessment Roll and is approximately $1.89 trillion in total net value. The

total net value translated to nearly $19 billion in property tax dollars.

“The roll,” as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in the county’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas. It also breaks down the number of single-family residential homes, apartments and commercial-industrial parcels.

The 2022 roll was comprised of 2,589,521 real estate parcels and business assessments, including 1,889,000 single-family homes, 250,000 apartment complexes, 248,000 commercial and industrial properties and more than 165,000 business property assessments.

The roll also is driven in large measure by real property sales, and that added $69.6 billion to the Roll last year; the CPI adjustment mandated by Proposition 13 reached its full potential of 2%, adding an additional $34.2 billion; and new construction added another $6.3 billion.

I always like to remind the readers that although the roll grows in assessed value, that doesn’t necessarily correlate to an increase in the property tax bill. Most property owners

last year only saw a 2% adjustment prescribed by Proposition 13.

All this exhaustive effort goes into the Assessment Roll because it is the very foundation of Los Angeles County’s property tax system. If the roll is not thorough and accurate, the county might not receive the necessary funding for the year and critical government services are left wanting. Others cannot do their job until we do ours.

The 2023 Assessment Roll will be released in early summer and, yes, you can expect it will still be affected by this past pandemic, even though the requirements are now lifted. The economy may be sluggish while it re-acquires its footing. We will know more as the details are finalized.

For more information about the Assessor’s Office and the many tax savings programs we offer, please visit our website at assessor.lacounty.gov.

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 1,300 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually. 

Economic DEvElopmEnt corporation

AT2 Aerospace Joins SCV’s Thriving Local Industry Cluster

BY HOLLY SCHROEDER

President and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp.

This month, Lockheed Martin announced the completed transition of their hybrid airship IP and related assets to a newly formed commercial company, AT2 Aerospace. AT2 is developing airship solutions to support commercial and humanitarian applications around the world. The development of airships is anticipated to provide new freight alternatives for shippers, as well as the ability to reach remote locations efficiently.

“The SCVEDC is proud to welcome another innovative aerospace company to our robust local cluster,” said Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the SCVEDC. “We can’t wait to see these airships fly.”

AT2 chose to locate their headquarters here in Santa Clarita, where they will function as the design, development and engineering base for the company. Located above the bustling Bridgeport Marketplace, AT2’s current staff, led by President and COO Dr. Bob Boyd, expect to grow to more than 50 people by Fall 2023. Production of the actual airships

Econo Watch

will take place in North Carolina, and they should be flying by mid-2025.

“We’re thrilled to base AT2 in Santa Clarita, where we have access to excellent engineering and design talent,” Boyd said. “We are confident that this is the right location for us to launch our new venture.”

AT2 airships promise to provide cargo alternatives that are faster than land and sea and cheaper than existing air costs. The unique capabilities of the airships

allow for multi-terrain capacities that can access remote locations. Dr. Boyd reported that several letters of intent for Z1 airships have already been received.

„ The Z1’s unique Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS) allows the Z1 to land and takeoff from almost any location on the planet.

„ The Z1 utilizes buoyant lift technology delivering exceptional fuel efficiency, minimizing carbon emissions, and ultimately reducing transportation costs.

„ The Z1 will connect emerging economies to global trade networks.

„ The Z1 moves cargo faster than sea and land transportation at a fraction of the cost of existing cargo aircraft, filling a major gap in the global transportation market from a speed vs. cost perspective.

For more information on AT2 visit https://www.at2aero.space/, or email info@at2aerospace.space .mailto:info@ at2aerospace.space „

AT2 Aerospace says its hybrid airship technology will be able to operate in the most remote and inaccessible conditions, with the potential to revolutionize cargo transportation. PHOTO COURTESY AT2 AEROSPACE