Jump-Starting Your Direct Reports
BY KEN KELLER SCVBJ Contributing Writer
Mentoring and coaching department heads is a vital responsibility for every CEO. It’s about guiding and developing leaders who, in turn, will drive the success and culture of your company. Here are my thoughts on how you can excel in this role.
Building a Foundation of Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of any effective relationship. You need to establish trust by being transparent, consistent, and reliable. Regular one-on-one meetings and open communication are essential. When department heads feel their CEO (you) is approachable and genuinely interested in their growth, they are more likely to embrace being coached and mentored.
Being a Mentor and Coach
You should embrace these two roles. Mentoring involves sharing wisdom, experiences, and insights (not lecturing), while coaching focuses on developing skills and competencies. To be successful at this, you need to learn to be an active listener, patiently provide guidance, and offer support. Creating and having a safe space for department heads to discuss challenges and seek advice is crucial. Being a mentor and coach means being genuinely invested in the personal and professional growth of your department heads.
Establishing Clear Expectations
You must clearly communicate your company’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. Department
heads need to understand how their roles link to and contribute to these overarching objectives. Setting clear expectations involves defining specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This clarity helps department heads align their efforts with the company’s priorities and measure their progress effectively.
Providing Constructive Feedback
Effective input is crucial for growth. The observations and insight you provide should be specific, actionable, and balanced, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. It needs to be given in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. Encouraging department heads to self-assess and reflect on their performance can also be a useful and powerful tool for development.
Empowering DecisionMaking
You need to be able to trust your department heads to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. This involves delegating authority and providing the necessary resources and support. Empowered leaders are
more engaged and motivated, and they are more likely to innovate and take ownership of their work.
Encouraging Continuous Learning
You need to promote on-going learning by providing opportunities for professional development, such as workshops, training programs, and conferences. Encouraging department heads to seek out new knowledge and skills helps them stay current with industry trends and business best practices. If your people are not growing, your company isn’t either.
Celebrating Achievements
Recognizing and honoring achievements is important for motivation and morale. You need to acknowledge both individual and team accomplishments, highlighting how these contributions support the company’s goals. Recognition is critical. Acknowledging success reinforces positive behaviors and helps to foster a culture of excellence.
Fostering Collaboration and Teamwork
Mentoring also involves
promoting cooperation and teamwork across and among department heads. To build redundancy and bench strength, you should encourage crossdepartmental initiatives and create opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Building a cohesive leadership team enhances problem-solving capabilities and drives innovation.
Promoting a Culture of Accountability
Accountability is essential for achieving goals and maintaining high standards. As the CEO, you should set clear expectations for accountability and ensure that department heads understand their responsibilities. Regular performance reviews and progress assessments help maintain focus and drive results. Holding department heads accountable for their performance fosters a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. It also sends a clear message to the rest of the team about achieving goals. Even a successful company can get better. It begins with you accepting that you need to become a mentor, and a coach.
Is Coffee a Heart Healthy Drink? It Depends.
TBy Patrick Moody Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital
hey say timing is everything, and how we enjoy our coffee is no exception to this rule. A new study in the European Heart Journal highlights how drinking coffee in the morning—but not throughout the whole day—may have some surprising health benefits.
HOW HEALTHY IS A MORNING CUP OF JOE?
Scientists looked at data from 42,188 adults in the U.S. to see how coffee habits affected their risk—and cause—of death. Researchers compared the health records of people who drank coffee in the morning, all-day coffee drinkers, and people who didn’t drink coffee, covering a period of almost 10 years.
Here’s what they discovered:
People who drank their coffee in the morning hours were significantly less likely than non-coffee drinkers to die from heart disease or other causes.
Drinking two to three cups of coffee each morning offered the biggest benefits.
People who spread their coffee drinking throughout the entire day didn’t have these same health benefits.
Researchers also reported that:
People who drank higher amounts of coffee in the morning showed better survival outcomes than those who consumed less.
The benefits were shared by people who drank caffeinated coffee and those who chose decaf.
The research team noted they didn’t look at how genetics might affect survival rates. They did factor in lifestyle differences like exercise, smoking and health issues.
WHY WAKING UP WITH COFFEE IS SUCH A PERK
What causes morning coffee to boost survival? While researchers can’t be sure, they think it might have to do with the body’s natural rhythms:
The body’s inflammation signals tend to be higher in the morning, so coffee’s inflammation-reducing effects may have a bigger impact.
Caffeinated coffee can change natural sleep-wake cycles in the afternoon or evening hours in ways that stress the body and
increase the risk of heart disease.
SPILLING THE BEANS ON COFFEE’S HEALTH BENEFITS
Coffee is full of antioxidants and inflammationfighting chemicals that may help reduce your risk of:
Type 2 diabetes.
Heart disease.
Parkinson’s disease.
Since even decaffeinated beans contain caffeine, coffee can also help your brain stay alert
and your body perform better during exercise. Low doses may even help elevate your mood. CAN YOU OVERDO IT?
The American Heart Association says moderate coffee drinking—up to four to five cups each day—is safe for most healthy adults. Anything more than that and you may have anxiety, headaches and trouble sleeping. If you’re concerned about how coffee might affect your health, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor.
More Mall Talk, New Eateries In Store
DEVELOPING STORIES
BY PERRY SMITH
SCV Business Journal Editor
Ivestment it estimates to reach more than $900 million.
t seems as though any holiday lull that might have happened is definitely over at Santa Clarita City Hall’s Planning Division, based on what’s happened so far in January. In addition to Centennial giving us its first glimpse of its plans for Phase I of the mall’s renovation, there will be a handful of new local businesses joining the scene and even a new day spa.
The previously unpublished renderings came from a request by the mall’s owners for $60 million to $75 million in order to build a parking structure for the first phase of Valencia Town Center’s renovations.
Bits and pieces of Centennial’s plans have slowly been leaking out through “showand-tells” in the community with prospective tenants, but the company’s executive leadership has so far stayed quiet on commenting about an in-
In a letter from Centennial CEO Steve Levin, he states the company is picking up where the previous owners left off, noting Unibail-RodamcoWestfield announced a $100 million expansion in January 2020, before a national pandemic changed everything.
In return for the investment, the Dallas-based developer expected to connect the pedestrian bridges that span Valencia Boulevard and Magic Mountain Parkway via a protected pathway; a new meeting and event space attached to a 125-room hotel; a large central plaza that can be utilized for events and celebrations; the creation of nearly 1,200 permanent and 4,165 construction jobs; and the necessary steps for future development.
Food and Leisure
On a much smaller development scale, here’s a few of the other happenings that were approved for the city in recent weeks.
Another option for Indian food is joining a growing collection in the Santa Clarita Valley. India Garden is going
into the River Oaks Shopping Center in Valencia, which is anchored by Target. The address for the new location is 24341 Magic Mountain Parkway.
India Garden will face stiff competition for the best curry from longtime local favorite Royal Tandoor and the relatively newer SCV Food Hub spot Great India Kitchen, which also has great portions.
If you’re on the east side of town, Namaste Spiceland is also a newer option for curry lovers.
Transitioning to traditional comfort foods, Main Chick Hot Chicken will be the newest chicken place in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Main Chick is another popular fried chicken chain that’s gaining ground. It’s opening a new location in Canyon Country, at the Regal Theater shopping center on Soledad Canyon Road.
Also joining the eats on the east side, Handel’s Ice Cream is adding a second location, which is across the valley from its other location off The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch.
If you haven’t had Handel’s ice cream before, be prepared
and bring your appetite. (And I suggest asking for a cup to go with your cone, because their servings are massive.)
Moving to midtown, Victory Pizza was unfortunately too short-lived, and is now being replaced by — a new pizza venture. (I’m told commercial pizza ovens aren’t that portable, so it makes sense.)
While Victory Pizza played off an old-school pizzeria vibe with an arcade and popular brews, I’m told Society Pizza is intended to be a little bit more upscale perhaps, a hipper place to get a pie, if you will.
And for those looking for a quick meal on the go, you might notice Jack in the Box is renovating some of its local spots, starting with a re-facade for the Soledad Canyon Road near Crossglade.
For those looking for a little R and R, or maybe just a skin treatment, Pasha Medical Day Spa on McBean Parkway is also coming to town. Formerly DSM Aesthetics, the location near Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital promises “a world of personalized beauty and wellness at Santa Clarita’s boutique medical day spa.”.
An artist’s rendering of the proposed Valencia Town Center development. In a letter to the city, Centennial said the company is picking up where the previous owners left off, noting URW announced a $100 million expansion in January 2020, before a national pandemic changed everything. SOURCE: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA.
Steffanie Stelnick Shares How the American Dream Became Her Reality
BY MICHAEL PICARELLA Signal Staff Writer
When Stevenson Ranch resident
Steffanie Stelnick was 12 years old, her grandfather became paralyzed from the neck down due to, she said, negligent doctors. No doctors were helpful in his situation. According to Stelnick, the only help came from lawyers. That’s when she knew she wanted to practice law for a living.
Stelnick, 38, not only became a lawyer with her own law firm (the Law Office of Steffanie Stelnick), but she and her husband, Todd Stelnick, also own and operate JSL Real Estate Group (their house-flipping property rental business), Southern California Real Estate Management (a full-service residential and com mercial property management company), JSL Realty (Stelnick’s real estate broker age firm), Blo-Out Lounge (a beauty salon
in Santa Clarita) and Bulldog Vacations (the couple’s short-term property rental business).
“The best decision I ever made at 12 years old was falling in love with Todd,” she said during a recent telephone interview. “The only reason I can do what we do is because he is the best partner. I married my best friend. We’re business partners, we’re soul mates, we have three amazing kids. I couldn’t do what I do without him.”
Born in Northridge, Stelnick came to the Santa Clarita Valley when she was 6 months old. Much happened to her when she was 12 — her grandfather’s struggles began at that time, and she also met the person who would become her husband. Stelnick knew instantly she wanted to marry him. Unfortunately, she said, he didn’t even know who she was for an-
Entrepreneurs Steffanie and Todd Stelnick were honored with the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award at the recent SCV Chamber Awards and Installation. PHOTO BY KATHERINE QUEZADA / THE SIGNAL
STELNICK
Continued from previous page
other five years.
The two met at Congregation Beth Shalom in Santa Clarita. But that would be the extent of their relationship for quite a while.
“Even weirder, my sister and his brother dated for like five years,” Stelnick said. “He still didn’t know who I was.”
In 2004, Stelnick graduated from Valencia High School. By the time she got to college, she and Todd had begun dating. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Judaism, which is now American Jewish University, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in advocacy and communications in 2008.
The next year, she and Todd got married. During that time, she was attending Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, where, in 2012, she received her juris doctor degree.
Stelnick came out of law school, still with the goal of being a personal injury attorney. Thinking back to what happened to her grandfather, who died of a heart attack when she was in high school, she wanted to be a plaintiff’s attorney and defend people’s rights. However, finding a good lawyer job at a law firm during the recession at the time, she said, was extremely difficult.
A neighbor of hers told her he could help her go out on her own.
“He’s like, ‘OK, I need 100 grand a month to make you the biggest personal injury attorney.’ I said, ‘I just spent a quarter million dollars on law school. I don’t have 100 grand a month to give you.’ So, he’s like, ‘OK, how about you do $500 a month and you do real estate?’”
Stelnick was not thrilled with the idea. She said she learned in law school that property law wasn’t for her. But this neighbor convinced her that California real estate and property law in law school were not the same things at all.
In June 2013, Stelnick took this person’s advice and his help, and she made the leap of faith, starting her own practice. She said she’s been thriving ever since.
It was actually that work in real estate law that got her husband, she said, into flipping homes for profit.
“We would go to conventions for my clients where they would teach about flipping homes — buying, renovating and
flipping homes,” she said. “He got the flipping bug.”
In 2017, Stelnick’s husband formed JSL Real Estate Group — the acronym, JSL, for the couple’s kids, their 10-year-old Joey and their 8-year-old twins Sydney and Louis.
Within a year, the company was making what Stelnick called a “significant amount of money flipping homes.” As a result, the couple invested their profits. They started buying rental properties. Then, in 2020, they acquired Southern California Real Estate Management to manage it all. But first they formed JSL Realty, Stelnick’s Real Estate brokerage firm — she had to become a broker, she said, in order to own a property management company.
That company began with a little over 430 properties in the Santa Clarita Valley, the San Fernando Valley and Tehachapi, California, and over the years the couple
has grown that number to almost 1,000 properties.
“The only way I can explain what we do is to say that the law firm is like the bottom of the triangle,” Stelnick said. “It’s the base, and we kind of grew the property management out of that. The salon is kind of like my hobby.”
The salon, of course, is the Blo-Out Lounge that was previously located in the Valencia Town Center. Stelnick said that in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous owner was struggling to keep the business afloat and had plans of selling the place and moving to Idaho.
Stelnick jumped at the chance to keep it from closing or going into the wrong hands. She successfully bought it and moved it from its former location to its new location at 28001 Smyth Drive in Santa Clarita.
Todd Stelnick formed JSL Real Estate Group in 2017. The name honors their children Joey, Sydney and Louis. COURTESY PHOTO
A Consultation with an Experienced Business Attorney Can Provide Clarity on These Issues
JASON BEAMAN, ESQ. Poole & Shaffery
Millions of new businesses are started each year. Starting a new business is an exciting time but every business startup comes with a host of legal issues that need careful consideration and planning. Taking the right steps from the beginning can save time, money, and potential legal headaches. Here are some of the key issues that a business startup needs to consider:
Choosing the right business structure is one of the most critical decisions for any startup. The most common types of organization are:
• Sole Proprietorship: Simplest to set up but offers no liability protection for owners.
• Partnership: Suitable for businesses with multiple owners but offers no liability protection.
• Limited Liability Company: Provides flexibility and liability protection.
• Corporation: Offers liability protection and is ideal for businesses planning to raise capital.
quires foundational documents to formalize its operations.
Articles of Incorporation or Organization: Filed with the state to establish your entity officially.
• Operating Agreements/ Bylaws: Define ownership structure, member/shareholder roles, profit distribution, and dispute resolution processes. Even singlemember LLCs benefit from having an operating agreement to maintain liability protection.
Legal obligations don’t end after formation.
• Annual Filings: Submit required state reports.
• Board Meetings and records: Hold annual meetings and record minutes.
4. Protecting Intellectual Property
Protect your business’s name, branding, and ideas.
1. Selecting the Right Business Entity
2. Drafting Core Documents Every business entity re-
• Business Contracts: Use written agreements with customers, vendors, and suppliers.
3. Ongoing Compliance
• Trademarks: Safeguard your business name, logo, and other branding elements. Conduct a trademark search to find possible conflicts and avoid re-branding later.
• Patents: Secure rights to your inventions.
The Importance and Impact of Chamber Advocacy: Empowering Members to Shape the Future
Advocacy, at its core, is the process of actively supporting or lobbying for policies and issues that impact businesses and the broader economy. For a chamber of commerce, advocacy goes beyond merely representing the interests of its members— it’s about driving meaningful change that helps businesses thrive, ensures equitable opportunities for growth, and creates a robust economic landscape for all sectors.
However, for this advocacy to be truly effective, it requires more than just the chamber staff or leadership to lead the charge. It’s essential that the members of the chamber, from small startups to large enterprises, become actively involved. After all, it is the collective voice of the members that shapes the chamber’s advocacy priorities.
The Power of Advocacy
Our advocacy is about ensuring that businesses, regardless of size or sector, have a voice in shaping local, state, and federal policies. Whether it’s lobbying for tax relief, advocating for workforce development, addressing regulatory burdens, or promoting infrastructure improvements, the chamber’s advocacy efforts help create a business-friendly environment that nurtures innovation, competitiveness, and job creation.
The SCV Chamber’s advocacy network extends far beyond our local community. As members of influential organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, CalChamber, BizFed LA, VICA, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and others our chamber gains direct access to high-level advocacy initiatives at the local, state and national levels. These powerful networks advocate for policies that directly impact businesses in areas such as trade, taxes, healthcare, labor laws, and environmental regulations. By being part of this extensive network, our chamber ensures that your voice is heard in the halls of government, whether that be in Santa Clarita, Sacramento or Washington D.C..
Benefits of Chamber Advocacy
Policy Influence: One of the biggest benefits of chamber advocacy is the opportunity to influence policies that directly impact your business. As a member, you gain access to a unified platform to voice concerns, share insights, and shape the issues the chamber pursues. When many voices come together, the chamber can advocate more effectively, pushing forward initiatives that benefit the broader business community.
Access to Resources and Expertise: As a member of the chamber, you’re plugged into a network of professionals who are experts in navigating the complex legislative landscape. This gives you the chance to not only advocate for change but to stay informed about potential policy changes, legislative developments, and emerging trends. Through updates, newsletters, and reports from national and state chambers, you receive the information needed to respond to new challenges swiftly.
Chamber News
Advocacy Networks: With our advocacy partnerships, we are continuously working to advance the business community’s interests. These collaborations enhance our effectiveness, ensuring that issues important to our region and your business are prioritized at the local, state and national level. As a member, you are a part of a community with collective influence.
Economic Growth and Stability: When we advocate for business-friendly policies it creates an environment where businesses of all sizes can grow, innovate, and succeed. Effective advocacy often leads to lower taxes, reduced regulations, improved infrastructure, and better workforce development initiatives, all of which contribute to a more stable and prosperous economy.
How to Get Involved in Chamber Advocacy
It’s easy to see that advocacy is one of the chamber’s core pillars, but how can members actively engage and contribute to these efforts? Here are some tangible ways to get involved:
Attend Monthly Government Affairs Meetings: Our monthly government affairs meetings are an excellent starting point for any member who wants to engage in advocacy. These meetings, held virtually, ensure that all members—regardless of location or schedule—can participate. During these sessions, we discuss current issues, review legislative updates, and identify the chamber’s position on various topics. Members have the chance to ask questions, provide input, and even suggest new advocacy priorities.
Be a Voice for Your Industry: Members from all industries bring unique perspectives, and it’s important that all sectors are represented. By attending meetings and providing feedback on specific issues affecting your industry, you can help guide the chamber’s advocacy priorities and ensure that your sector’s needs are addressed. This is particularly important in diverse economies, where issues can vary greatly across different industries.
Stay Informed and Take Action: Advocacy requires timely action. Through email alerts, newsletters, and action alerts from the chamber, members are kept up to date on pressing issues and urgent calls for action. When these calls come through, take the time to respond by contacting your local representatives, signing petitions, or attending rallies. These individual actions collectively amplify the chamber’s influence.
Action Form: Complete an action form requesting assistance from the Chamber. These can be obtained by emailing hello@scvchamber.com or calling 661-702-6977. If you have specific concerns or issues you’d like to raise, you can complete the form or contact us. Our government affairs team can help you understand how to get involved and even facilitate communication with elected officials on your behalf.
Chamber advocacy is an essential element in fostering a supportive, business-friendly environment. It provides members with the opportunity to be heard, influence policy, and ensure that businesses of all sizes and sectors thrive. By participating in advocacy efforts, attending meetings, and staying informed, you actively contribute to shaping a future where businesses can grow, innovate, and succeed. Remember: your involvement matters. The strength of our advocacy network depends on the active participation of our members. By staying engaged and bringing your expertise and perspective to the table, you’re helping drive the policies that will shape the future of our community, our state, and our nation. So, I encourage every chamber member to take a more active role in advocacy. Together, we can create a thriving business climate that benefits everyone.
We’re thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating the exciting new businesses opening in our community! Each grand opening is not just a milestone for these businesses but also a chance for all of us to come together and support our local economy.
From marking special occasions to recognizing remarkable achievements, we feel honored to share in your celebrations. Our grand opening and ribbon-cutting events are FREE and open to everyone to attend! It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow community members, meet the passionate individuals behind these new ventures, and explore what they have to offer.
Let’s show our support and make these celebrations unforgettable! Bring your friends and family, and let’s celebrate the growth and vibrancy of our community together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Congratulations to Hammer & Nails Valencia Town Center on your grand opening in January. Go visit them at 24305 Town Center Drive #150, Valencia. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and support them. Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie
Congratulations to Hammer & Nails on your grand opening. Find our more at www.hammerandnailsgrooming.com/location/valencia-ca.
Celebrating SCV Businesses
Di Thompson, 2025 Chair of the SCV Chamber Board congratulates Benjamin Oyeka & Dr. Denita Oyeka owners of Hammer & Nails on their grand opening. Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie
Whether you’re launching a brand-new business or celebrating an important anniversary, we’d love to celebrate you with a memorable ribbon cutting ceremony.
This is the perfect opportunity to showcase your business, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and celebrate your hard work and success.
Email us at hello@scvchamber.com to learn more about how we can assist in organizing your ribbon cutting or grand opening.
Monica Fawcett, from the Economic Development Department at the City of Santa Clarita congratulates Benjamin Oyeka & Dr. Denita Oyeka owners of Hammer & Nails on their grand opening.
Photo credit: Joie de Vivre Photographie
EVENTS
We invite you to join us for an exciting and dynamic evening at our February Business After Hours Mixer at FastSigns Santa Clarita! This is more than just a networking event—it’s an opportunity to engage with fellow business owners, leaders, and community members in a relaxed and welcoming setting. By participating, you’ll not only expand your professional network, but you’ll also help strengthen the local business community and drive collaboration that leads to success for all. Our chamber thrives because of active, involved members like you, and your presence at this event is a chance to contribute to that collective growth. Share ideas, discuss challenges, and explore new opportunities to grow your business while building lasting relationships. This is an evening of community, connection, and involvement—essential ingredients for a prosperous future. Don’t miss the chance to be part of something bigger and make an impact in the business community. We can’t wait to see you there!
To view our full calendar and event details go to www.SCVChamber.com or scan the QR Code to the right.
VOICE(S) OF BUSINESS PODCAST
Episode 11 of The Voice(s) of Business is now live! Be sure to subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode. Share the podcast with a friend or colleague and help us expand the conversation— together, we can bring even more voices to the table.
Celebrating SCV Businesses
EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE
Staying informed about the latest employment laws is essential for the success and compliance of our local business community. We were proud to host our Annual Employment Law Update in January, providing valuable insights and expert guidance on the current labor laws and their impact on day-to-day operations. By offering this educational opportunity, we aim to help our community navigate these complex changes with confidence, ensuring their continued success.
We remain dedicated to equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving legal landscape. A special thank you to Brian Koegle, Managing Partner at Koegle Law Group, for generously sharing his expertise once again and making this annual event an impactful and essential resource for our community.
ENTREPRENEUR
Continued from page 8
“We brought it in house,” she said. “We own the building that we’re in, so, we now have a law firm, property management and the Blo-Out Lounge all under one roof.”
And if that wasn’t enough, in 2022, Stelnick and her husband acquired Bulldog Vacations, where they rent out air bed-and-breakfast properties in the Napa Valley, Newport Beach, Rancho Mirage and Santa Clarita.
Even with all that, Stelnick still wants to grow. It’s that mentality that might be the reason she and her husband received the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Spirit Award in January.
According to Ivan Volschenk, president and CEO of SCV
Chamber, the Entrepreneur Spirit Award honors those with the vision, innovation and perseverance that define true entrepreneurial success.
“By recognizing individuals who embody these qualities,” Volschenk wrote in an email, “we not only celebrate their achievements, but also acknowledge their profound impact on inspiring growth, ambition and resilience within our community.”
Volschenk said that 2025 marks the eighth year the SCV Chamber has presented the Entrepreneur Spirit Award, adding that the chamber is honored to recognize the Stelnicks for their exceptional leadership, drive and accomplishments.
“Steffanie and Todd are more than just business owners,” he said. “They are trail-
blazers whose unwavering dedication and ambition have shaped a remarkable portfolio of successful businesses and investments across multiple industries. Their commitment to excellence, coupled with their legal expertise, business acumen and passion for real estate, has empowered others to achieve success and make a lasting impact. They truly exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit — fearless, innovative and devoted to creating meaningful change.”
Stelnick said the award forced her and her husband to step back and see what it was they’d actually built.
“I’ve never received anything like this award,” she said. “You can say you’re an entrepreneur, but you don’t really think about it like that. Then you realize — when you list all the businesses that we have — it’s just kind of surreal.”
She added that doing all that she and her husband have done has made her want to push that entrepreneurial spirit onto others — she wants others to be able to do the same thing, to realize
the American Dream as she’s done.
Just recently, an old high school acquaintance seemed to take inspiration from Stelnick and her husband and asked for advice about purchasing rental properties so that he could start building a sort of empire of his own. Stelnick laughed and said she was happy to be “infecting” this person with the entrepreneurial spirit.
“Really, to be able to employ like 30 people,” she said, “to have a bunch of businesses in Santa Clarita, to give back to my community that gave me so much, it means the world to me.”
She admitted that she has a habit of wanting everything and going after all of it, but it comes at a cost.
“That comes with a lot of lessons to be learned because you don’t always hit it right the first time,” she said. “There are a lot of mistakes that happen. But I don’t regret it. I don’t regret anything. I think I look at everything as a learning experience.”
PHOTO CREDIT SCHLICK ART
SCVEDC: Your Partner in Business Success Since 2010
TBY ONDRÉ SELTZER PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
he Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation’s (SCVEDC) overarching goals are to support the creation of high-paying jobs for our trained workforce, stimulate economic activity across our region, and strategically position the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) and its businesses to better compete in the global economy. SCVEDC offers many services and resources to local businesses to help access tax credits, workforce development assistance, and vital data in support of economic vitality.
Through a multifaceted approach, SCVEDC assists businesses with expansion within the SCV and relocation to the SCV by providing comprehensive support services tailored to their specific needs. From site search to business incentives, from talent recruitment to job training, from expediting permitting processes to conducting labor market analysis, the SCVEDC serves as your one-stop resource center.
Here are just a few of the programs SCVEDC offers to support local businesses:
LIVEWORKSCV.COM
LiveWorkSCV.com is a comprehensive, highly visible job board that matches SCV employment opportunities with SCV residents who want to work within their own community and avoid otherwise long commutes to work. Local SCV companies spanning across a variety of industries can post all levels of open positions and job seekers can search for jobs, create a profile, and sign up to receive job alerts when employers post a position that matches their qualifications.
This is a free resource open to SCV employers and residents. Learn more: www. LiveWorkSCV.com.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
The SCVEDC promotes policies, programs, and activities that seek to create and retain high-quality jobs, facilitating economic growth. We continually work with community partners, educational institutions, and local businesses to facilitate workforce development efforts and programs. Whether it is customized skill development programs at little to no cost through College of the Canyon’s Employment Training Institute, establishing apprenticeship programs for your business, or even identifying
subsidized hiring programs, Santa Clarita Valley businesses have a wealth of resources at their disposal. The SCVEDC team will connect you to the right resources to help you achieve business productivity improvements and increased capabilities to attain expansive growth.
BROKER PORTAL
To companies considering moving to the business-friendly Santa Clarita Valley, as well as their brokers and site selectors, the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development strives See SCVEDC, page 19
Realtors See Jump in Annual Home Sales
BY DAVID WALKER For the SCV Business Journal
The inventory of homes and condominiums listed for sale in the Santa Clarita Valley during 2024 increased by double-digit numbers, leading to the first rise in annual sales in three years, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported in December.
Local Realtors assisted the close of escrow of 1,919 single-family homes and 753 condominiums during 2024. The home total was up 11.3% from the prior year while condo sales increased 6.7%.
The market activity from the real estate sector benefited a number of other related industries as well, according to the experts.
Those changes in ownership generated $2.26 billion for owners and generated additional billions of dollars for the local economy in related services ranging from landscaping and home repairs to furniture and remodeling projects. The total was up 15% over 2023.
“Santa Clarita is a wonderful place to live and remains in high demand, so any increase in listings was welcome news to prospective buyers, many of whom had competed unsuccessfully with other buyers,” said Anthony Bedgood, 2025 president of the 11,000-member Southland Regional Association of Realtors.
“While local events, such as devastating brush fires, may drive prices higher and impact supply,” Bedgood said, “we expect 2025 to be similar to or slightly better than 2024 for buyers and sellers in the Santa Clarita Valley.”
The annual average number of listings per month of single-family homes increased last year by 30.5% to 374 active listings per month while the monthly condo average came in at 162 active listings, up 52.0%.
There are multiple factors that go into the equation when considering what this means for the future of the market, according to SRAR leaders in their December report.
“Listings are what we need and if 2024 trends continue into 2025 the Santa Clarita market should be in good shape,” said Valerie Biletsky, SRAR’s CEO. “Issues
such as inflation and home insurance availability and affordability along with what policies the new administration in Washington introduces may impact residential real estate here in Southern California.”
The annual median price of the 2,671 homes sold last year came in at $867,750. That was up 3.7% from the 2023 annual home price and continued an unbroken string of annual single-family homes price increases dating back to 2012. The condominium annual price of $576,750 was up 7.1% over a year ago.
The median price for condos has similarly seen an annual price rise every year since 2012 with the lone exception of 2023 when the Association recorded a 0.3% decline. SRAR’s Income-to-Loan guide for December found that an income of $222,300 was needed to qualify for an 80% loan of $704,000 on a Santa Clarita Valley median-priced home of $880,000.
With a lower interest rate than a year ago, the income needed to qualify was up 1.0%, according to the index. The monthly PITI — principle, interest, taxes and insurance payments — would come to $5,557. Santa Clarita pending escrows — an indicator of future sales — fell 10% compared to December 2023 condo sales.
Chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920, the SRAR is the voice for real estate in San Fernando and Santa
December’s figures indicated another year-overyear increase in the area’s median home price. Courtesy/SRAR
Clarita valleys. With nearly 11,000 members, SRAR serves as a trusted resource and partner to the real estate profession and the community at large.
The living room in one of the homes on the market for the KB Home Sage community at Valencia. File photo
Mind Your Language, Words Have Immense Power
BY PAUL BUTLER SCVBJ Contributing Writer
I’m no psychologist — I’m a recovering accountant — but I think I’ve learned enough about the human condition to confidently say, “Mind your language.”
I’m originally from Warwickshire in Central England, the county that gave us William Shakespeare — or “Billy Shakes,” as we used to refer to him in our school assignments. He wrote in “Hamlet”: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” He first penned this in the early 1600s.
The shoulders on which Billy stood, though, came from
the “Book of Proverbs,” which states, “As a person thinks in their heart, so are they.” This collection of wisdom is believed to have been completed around 700 BCE — about 2,300 years before Billy took the stage.
What does this historical detour have to do with the working world in 2025? I’d propose — everything.
Our words have immense power: They can lift us up and inspire others, or they can drag us down and negatively impact those around us.
Let’s look at some examples. Are you impressed by people who constantly tell you how “busy” they are? Are you even more impressed when they emphasize their self-importance and frazzled state by saying they’re “crazy busy” or
“super crazy busy?”
I’ve observed that many people use their business as a smokescreen to avoid accountability. If I’m “super crazy busy,” you’re less likely to ask me to take on more work as my manager, and you’re more likely to excuse late or substandard work.
Here’s something intriguing: the Chinese word for “busy” consists of two characters — one meaning “death” and the other “heart.” If the brain truly accepts whatever we suggest to it, as both Billy and Proverbs imply, I wonder if we’re unconsciously saying “death to the heart” when we rush around, overwhelmed by how busy we claim to be.
If we have a lot on our plate, we can still be truthful without reinforcing stress. Instead of saying “I’m busy,” try “I’ve had a challenging day” or “I’m pretty full-on right now.”
Polynesian cultures embrace this kind of proactive language, describing it as being “on top of the surf” rather than “under the surf.”
I encourage you to avoid phrases like “busy,” “crazy busy,” “super crazy busy,” “buried,” or “slammed” — words that serve neither colleagues, customers, nor vendors well.
Do you have a habit (and that’s all it is — a habit) of telling people how tired you are?
If you say you’re exhausted at 10 a.m., do you feel more or less tired after lunch? Our words can be self-fulfilling prophecies. If you keep saying “I’m exhausted,” your body will comply. Instead, try saying, “I need more energy.” You’ll likely find yourself reaching for water and fruit instead of caffeine and sugar, finishing the day much stronger. Now, let’s talk about the
word “try.” How confident are you that something will get done when someone says they’ll “try” to do it? Nobel Prize-winning researchers Ornstein and Sperry discovered that the brain doesn’t truly understand the word “try.” It responds best to decisive language like “yes” or “no.” So, don’t “try” to do something — either say “yes” with conditions or “no” with reasoning and alternatives.
Gandhi once said, “A no uttered with the deepest conviction is better than a yes uttered only to appease but not actually do.” That ancient “Book of Proverbs” echoes this sentiment: “Let your yes be a yes and your no be a no.” It seems there really is nothing new under the sun.
Our words are simply habitual behaviors. One of the wonderful aspects of being human is that tomorrow doesn’t have to be the same as yesterday — we have the freedom to make different choices today. We truly become the sum of our choices.
George Orwell once said, “By the time you leave this earth, you have the face you deserve.” I believe he meant that our thoughts turn into actions, and those actions shape both our lives and even our physical appearance.
So, as we step further into 2025, may we mind our language — squeezing the maximum juice out of each workday, serving others at our highest level.
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