SCV Business Journal January 2021 by Signal

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

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

BUSINESS JOURNAL BJ INSIDE SPOTLIGHTS B4 A message from the SCV

Email: psmith@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place Suite 100 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · WWW.SIGNALSCV.COM · B1

A LOOK BACK AT WHAT WAS FOR 2020, WHAT’S COMING IN ’21

Chamber B5 SCV Chamber advocacy B8 The SCV EDC Econowatch

NEWS & FEATURES B1 A look back at 2020, and

how it will affect 2021

SCV BUSINESS VOICES B1 Mission Valley Bank B3 SCVEDC B6 M & M Fasteners Supply B6 Audiology Associates B10 Henry Mayo

FROM THE EXPERTS B2 Paul Butler: Lessons from

Boxing Day B3 Ken Keller: Focus on your

cashflow in 2021 B8 Paul Raggio: Say

something, not just anything B10 From the Assessor: A look

at a tax-savings for your home

One of the largest legislative debates for the business community was about AB 5, and what constitutes an employee under the law. Like many issues, due to COVID-19, it’s expected to be an issues in 2021, too. PHOTO COURTESY UBER By Perry Smith Business Journal Editor

‘As the Santa Clarita Valley looks toward the new year with hope and optimism after what, for many, was a most challenging 2020 — and for others, one of the most difficult years in recent history, perhaps ever — as a community, the difficulties also brought everyone together in a number of ways. An unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health crisis wrought havoc and created record-high unemployment — but it also showed what Santa Clarita was capable of doing when the community pulled together. People and their businesses united and created partnerships that had never before been necessary, or even thought of, yet people made them work. The city created ways to get as many people safely back to work as possible and, while an inevitable hit was taken as the

state and county public health departments figured out preventative shutdowns and proper health protocols, the local employment numbers bounced back faster than many predicted because of the concerted efforts of many. In The Signal and the SCV Business Journal, these stories were presented as great examples of what organizations like the SCV Chamber of Commerce or the SCV Economic Development Corp., for example, are capable of when people work together with a common goal. So with this look back on 2020, we salute those efforts and also look forward with hope and promise for what 2021 will bring.

January The year began with the population

blissfully unaware of the health crisis to come and the pandemic that would leave us all in quarantine, with no greater

evidence of this than coverage starting with a large legislative focus on Assembly Bill 5. The discussion of who’s an employee vs. an independent contractor is an issue that played a huge role in legislative agendas, which is saying something in a year that prompted a major shift to everyone’s agenda in March. For 2020, the latest chapter in the discussion thus far was the passage of Proposition 22, which, as passed, classifies app-based drivers, such as those who work for Uber or DoorDash, as independent contractors, and calls for labor and wage practices specific to app-based drivers and companies. Voters passed this measure with 58.63% of the vote, with the second part essentially guaranteeing the discussion will be part of the legislative agenda for the business community in 2021, as well.

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

PLANNING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN 2021 TAMARA GURNEY President and CEO, Mission Valley Bank

hile the unprecedented nature of 2020 took us all by surprise, the challenge moving forward is how best to plan for the continued uncertainty the new year will likely bring. There are, however, some basics fundamental to planning that remain applicable. FIRST QUARTER Major changes in your personal life in the past year can affect this year’s finances. Review and revise financial and legal considerations that may arise. Estate planning can be difficult but is crucial for financial peace of mind. Update documents and review major changes in your professional life. If you started a new business, closed a business, changed jobs or retired, adjust your budget accordingly. SECOND QUARTER Reevaluate retirement plans and compare how much you have now and how much you need in the future. Consult your Trusted Advisor to ensure saving and investment strategies align with personal goals, particularly if a change in your life or circumstances has occurred. Review and update all insurance policies. Compile a comprehensive list of online bank accounts, usernames and passwords for your reference, and store the list in a secure location. THIRD QUARTER Conduct a mid-year review of income and expenditures and adjust accordingly for the remaining months. Check your credit information and report any discrepancies to appropriate agencies. Request a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement from the Social Security Administration that summarizes your social security earnings history and provides an estimate of the benefits to which you are entitled. Be sure to verify you have been credited for all your earnings. FOURTH QUARTER Get a jump on your taxes in October. Estimate taxes and take the steps to minimize them before years’ end. Consider making gifts and charitable donations in the fourth quarter to ensure timely deductions. Resolve major issues before Dec 31. Finally, review your progress for the year, recalculate net worth and compare against the beginning of the year. If you are not already doing business with an independent, community business bank, consider making the switch. This gives you the ability to take advantage of the services of a Trusted Advisor who can assist and advise every step of the way. Mission Valley Bank is a locally owned, full service community business bank headquartered in Sun Valley, California with a branch office/business banking center in Santa Clarita. Tamara Gurney is past president of the California Independent Bankers and can be reached at (818) 394-2300. www. MissionValleyBank.com. 

See REVIEW, page B7

B2 · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

TAX-SAVING MONTH ON YOUR PRIMARY HOME WITH NEW WRINKLE BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor

his month, I want to take a moment of your time to visit about a property taxsavings program my office offers that’s just waiting to reduce your budget. I’m speaking about the Homeowners’ Exemption that can automatically reduce your tax burden by $7,000, if the home is your primary residence as of Jan. 1. That translates to an actual reduction of $70 to a homeowners’ tax bill. And all the homeowner has to do is fill out the application at assessor.lacounty.gov and they are good to go. The deadline is Feb. 15 to get the entire savings but if you miss the deadline, please file anyway and you will get it prorated this year and the full amount the following years. Homeowners need only apply once in order to receive these savings each year. The savings continue until a change (such as a sale) is recorded. However, nearly one in three homeowners in Los Angeles County do not take advantage of this tax savings program, leaving $30 million unclaimed each year. Across the County, an additional 435,000 families can be saving on their tax bills. For Santa Clarita, about 37 percent are not availing themselves of this tax savings program. Although the largest number of unclaimed exemptions usually falls within Los Angeles, the highest rates of unclaimed exemptions have been in Palmdale, Lancaster, Lynwood, Pomona and Norwalk. This savings is probably the simplest to get and still people don’t use it. In fact, in the past because I feel so strongly about this savings program I have along with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed January as Homeowners’ Exemption Awareness Month.

Current law allows family members to transfer a primary home of any value and not cause a reassessment, even if they use it as a rental property, according to Assessor Jeff Prang. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL This year the homeowners’ exemption is even more important than ever before because of Proposition 19. Prop. 19 changes the rules that apply to transfers between parents and children or in some cases, even grandparents to grandchildren. Current law allows these family members to transfer a primary home of any value and not cause a reassessment, even if they use it as a rental property. Each person can also transfer other property, such as rental homes or commercial property, and exempt up to $1 million of assessed value (not market value) from reassessment. A married couple can transfer up to $2 million. Prop. 19 abolishes these transfers of any property not being used as a primary residence. It also eliminates the current parent-to-child and grandparentto-grandchild exemption in cases where the child or grandchild does not use the inherited property as their principal residence, such as using a property as a rental house or a second home.

But this is most important: The parent/owner of the home that is going to be left to the children must have the Homeowners’ Exemption at the time of the transfer. Currently, that’s not a requirement. If the home does not have the homeowners’ exemption, the children do not receive the tax benefit and they could get stuck with a huge property tax increase. This provision applies to transfers starting Feb. 16, 2021. As with any ballot initiative, the Legislature may be forced to propose legislation to clarify implementation of Prop. 19. Moreover, there are a number of drafting errors that will need to be fixed so that I and the other 57 assessors statewide can administer it. The Board of Equalization, which provides guidance to county assessors, said it “will issue guidance once election results are final and upon completion of our analysis of Proposition 19.” In the meantime, I do imagine that

Prop. 19 will likely disrupt some homeowners’ estate plans and throw others in the midst of buying or selling their home into limbo, awaiting for very specific and technical clarifications. I will be providing regular briefings as we move forward and our website will be continuously updated to provide general information on Proposition 19 that may assist taxpayers. For more information on Prop. 19 or other tax savings programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov or call (213) 974-3211. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,400 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion. 

SAY SOMETHING, NOT JUST ANYTHING BY PAUL RAGGIO Co-owner, One True North

n moments of great, societal peril, I think of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower talking to the 101st Airborne before the Screaming Eagles climbed into their C-47 aircraft with orders to jump into Normandy. Certainly, Ike knew many would not survive the jump, and many more would perish in the ground battle that would follow. This didn’t stop him from seeing his paratroopers, nor communicating the importance of the mission and how much he cared for the men. Historical films show him walking among the troopers the evening before D-Day, talking, laughing, patting them on their shoulders and backs, providing words of encouragement, and on occasion, a hug. He was saying something to them, but not just anything. Words, yes, but so much more. It was his presence and vision that calmed the troops, allowing them to release pent up anxiety, permission to expose their fear, and a chance to revel in a world to come because of their doing. He gave them a purpose. This is what leaders communicate in times of crisis. Lisa and I have conducted several presentations via webinars since the pandemic hit. They covered leadership and best business practices and how to cope with the fallout caused by the pandemic. In each of these presentations, we emphasized the importance of leaders

Listen to business expert Paul Raggio’s podcast on The Signal’s website or through the app. Visit signalscv.com/video/ sponsored/scv-leadership-and-business-solutions to listen online. communicating clear, direct, purposeful, and inspirational messages to their family, team, customers, and any other stakeholders they come in contact with. Right now, leaders should be delivering informative, upbeat, and inspirational messages that calm and reassure their constituents that we will get through this together, projecting an enduring vision of growth and prosperity, and most importantly, giving them purpose. We’re halfway through the COVID-19 marathon. The future is brightening.

Two very promising vaccines with ninety percent plus efficacy are staged for FDA emergency approval. Distribution and dispensing of the vaccines are feasible by the end of the year. Nevertheless, vaccinating the public at large is likely several months away. Plan on late spring or early summer before we will be in a new normal. The holidays are upon us, and temptations for in-person gatherings abound. Leaders’ words and actions are being watched and tested. For some, hypocrisy exists, and followers note many leaders say one thing and do quite the other. A crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic is a time when you must show up as a leader and demonstrate your company’s values by what and how you communicate. Organizations that handle crisis communications well are proactive in their messaging and regularly connect with their internal and external audiences. Now is not a time to be silent nor create your messages by default. Better to error on the side of over-communicating than not. Take time first to examine your intentions, get clear on your “Why?” regarding what you want to say, and then add doses of positivity, passion, and enthusiasm to inspire solutions. On a routine basis, communicate these purposeful messages to all your team, including staff, customers, clients, suppliers, stakeholders, networks, strategic alliances and partnerships. Communication isn’t just words; it’s actions, too. Importantly, practice what you preach and lead by example. Like many other crises in the past, COVID-19 has the potential to bond more of us around common causes. We can look to our faith-based, service, and nonprofit organizations and ask what they need and how we can help and encourage and unite our teams and audiences to get engaged and make a difference to those in

need. Think about our collective impact, and remember we are all in this together, one team, one fight, one mission, with the purpose to survive COVID-19 physically, mentally and economically. If you are like us, you’ve adapted to this virtual environment, learning new words and activities like zoom, go-to, webinars, webcasts, WebEx and the like — all in pursuit of remotely engaging our stakeholders and customers. This virtual environment is the new normal and probably a permanent change in the way we do business. Why not consider this an opportunity and fresh approach to promote your business? If your company has vision, mission, purpose and points of culture statements, now is the time to update and revise them. Then message and reinforce these statements in your virtual meetings and conference calls and on your emails, social media, direct mailers and newsletters. If your business hasn’t developed these essential commitment statements, take the time and do so now, it will be imperative when you arrive at the new normal. During this time of crisis and uncertainty, be that leader through your virtual presence that says something, but not just anything! Calm your followers. Allow them to release pent up anxiety. Give them a vision and purpose. Permit them to expose their fear and let them revel in a world to come because of their doing. This is what a leader communicates in times of crisis. Now, let’s get after it! Paul A. Raggio is co-owner, with his sister Lisa, of One True North INC Leadership and Business Coaching Solutions. One True North is located at 28494 Westinghouse Place, Suite 209, Valencia 91355. The phone number is (661) 309-9048. 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · B3

ADVICE FOR 2021: FOCUS ON YOUR CASH KEN KELLER

SCVBJ Contributing Writer

ash is the oxygen that allows any organization to run. Its flow provides for choices, because without a steady stream of cash, the company will gasp and fail. Your business can survive a long time without profit — but you can’t survive a day without cash. Even better is having a cash reserve for your business that allows for expansion and growth. Most CEOs don’t understand that “Growth sucks cash.” Even moderate growth causes many companies to run through cash at a rate faster than they can generate it. One of the best tools to help manage cash is to calculate your cash conversion cycle, which measures how long it takes between the time you layout or spend the first dollar, whether it’s on marketing, design, or buying products until you get that first dollar (and hopefully many more), back from the sale of the service or the finished goods. As an example, in the early days of Dell, their cashconversion cycle was running 63 days. In other words, from the time they first spent a dollar to make your computer until the time they sold that computer to you was about 63 days. (I know many manufacturing companies that run around 90 days or greater.) So, Dell started focusing on decreasing its cash-conversion cycle. Today, they’re running -35 days. That’s not a typo — it does say “minus” 35 days! When you are a client of Dell, they get your money 35 days before they start spending money making your computer. How does the company do that? Well, they get paid up front and then, of course, create an order to start making your computer and, by the time they pay vendors, it’s 35 days since they’ve had your money on hand. Dell has successfully changed from being a bank for you to you being a bank for them. For your company, imagine a dramatic change from +63 days to -35 days. What would that do for your cash flow? What would that do in terms of removing stress from your life? I doubt that most companies can see that dramatic of a swing but an improvement of some sort is possible with sharp focus and your time and attention. Consider what it would mean going from a +40day scenario to a +10-day turnaround … 30 days of improved cash flow is a lot of money in your pocket that you’re not using lines of credit or other sources to be able to meet the payroll to continue to operate the business. You can survive a long time without profit but you cannot survive a day without cash, so take time now to calculate your cash conversion cycle. Take a look at how you generate cash and where and when you spend it.

The way Michael Dell has turned around his cash-conversion cycle sets an example for all business owners to follow, according to Ken Keller. PHOTO COURTESY DELL

“

You can survive a long time without profit but you cannot survive a day without cash, so take time now to calculate your cash conversion cycle. Take a look at how you generate cash and where and when you spend it.”

There’s an article in the Harvard Business Review by Neil Churchill and John Mullins titled “How fast can your company afford to grow.” It will provide insight into what the cash conversion cycle is really all about — and help you calculate your own cash-conversion cycle. Everything in your business depends on cash. Improving your cash flow has got to be at the top of your priorities in 2021.

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.



SCV BUSINESS VOICES

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY’S MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Holly Schroeder President & CEO of SCVEDC

here is no doubt that 2020 has been a challenging year for all, but most especially those on the front lines caring for those who are gravely ill with COVID-19. It was hard to predict in March how our region would be affected, but those heading up the medical response had been preparing for something like this for a long time. The leadership and preparedness from SCV medical professionals have been exemplary. The emergency response team at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital had stockpiles of N95 masks and other PPE well in advance of this crisis, and the new patient tower was completed just in time to expand capacity. Hospital officials moved quickly to create a COVID-19 task force and implemented a drive-through testing facility and isolated floor of the new tower to safely treat COVID positive patients. Ten months later, and now into our second and more serious spike in coronavirus cases, the teams at Henry Mayo and other regional medical facilities are working harder than ever. This pandemic has brought to light that there is a dire shortage of trained medical professionals nationwide, which is also true in the SCV. College of the Canyons’ acclaimed nursing program typically graduates 50-60 nurses a term. Because of the pandemic, the numbers are down. Despite the challenges, the COVID -19 has created unique learning opportunities as well; COC programs serving all students have had to pivot to accommodate current conditions as students are dealing with a bevy of health and mental health issues which have provided a way for nursing students to creatively meet some of their requirements as peer counselors. Nursing students have also had the opportunity to volunteer at the campus’ Los Angeles County drive through COVID testing site and can count those hours towards their training requirements and completion. Overall, those employed in the health care industry in the Santa Clarita Valley comprise about 18% of the total workforce. This number is projected to grow over the next several years to nearly 13,000 jobs. Henry Mayo and Kaiser are large employers of these professionals, as are Quest Diagnostics, Q2 and the state’s new COVID-19 testing lab. Holly Schroeder is president and CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corp., a unique private / public partnership representing the united effort of regional industry and government leaders. For more information about the SCVEDC, visit SCVEDC.org, or call (661) 288-4400. 

The Board of Directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation extends its deepest gratitude to our health care heroes. Hoping 2021 brings much health, happiness, and success to our SCV community! scvedc.org 661.288.4400

2021 DIRECTORS

B4 · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

MOST DIVERSE LEADERSHIP FOR 2021, BUILDING A STRONG, UNITED BUSINESS COMMUNITY We have announced our 2021 leadership team, which will further continue the Chamber’s work of building a united business community. As the largest business membership organization in the Santa Clarita Valley, the Chamber’s leadership will work to bring businesses together to provide greater member benefits that reduce business expenses and providing value-driven programming.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD JOHN VANCE

Vance Wealth

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HUNT BRALY

Poole, Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

MARISOL ESPINOZA

Southern California Gas Company

KEVIN HOLMES

Martini Akpovi Partners, LLP

TROY HOOPER

Kiwi Hospitality Partners

DR. CHRIS RAIGOSA

Kaiser Permanente

CHRIS SCHRAGE

LBW Insurance Financial Services

NANCY STARCZYK

Realty Executives

BOARD OF DIRECTORS KAREN BRYDEN

SCV Locations

ANDREA CARPENTER

Logix

STEVE COLE

SCV Water Agency

JASON CRAWFORD

City of Santa Clarita

ANDREA DE LA CERDA

Scorpion

“I’m proud of the strong leadership team we’ve had for the SCV Chamber this year,” stated Nancy Starczyk, outgoing chair of the board for the SCV Chamber. “It’s more important than ever that the Chamber has had a clear vision of brining the entire business community together to work together as we move forward in providing high-quality, value-driven programming and pro-business advocacy for our members.” As we embark into 2021, the SCV Chamber has established a broad-based leadership team representing small, medium and large businesses from a broad spectrum of industries to guide the Chamber into the new year in an effort to best work together as a united community. “It’s a unique moment when we’re able to appoint such a large new group of local business leaders to serve on the Chamber Board of Directors,” said John Vance, incoming chair of the SCV Chamber. “With all the positive changes happening with the SCV Chamber, we’re excited to add well-respected, diverse leaders to the board and continue with the returning board members who were invaluable this year.”

MATT DIERCKMAN CBRE JEFFREY FORREST

College of the Canyons

ALEEN MANCHESTER

California Resources Corporation

MARAL MATOSSIAN

Westfield Valencia Town Center

PATRICK MOODY

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

DR. IZU OKPARA

Omni Wound Physicians

DAN REVETTO AT&T BECKI ROBB Princess Cruises HENRY RODRIGUEZ

State Farm Insurance

SANDY SANCHEZ FivePoint LINDSAY SCHLICK

SchlickArt Video & Photography

LIZ SEELMAN

Southern California Edison

G. JESSE SMITH

California Institute of the Arts

DR. DIANNE VAN HOOK

College of the Canyons

DENNIS VERNER Burrtec KARINA WINKLER

Holiday Inn Express

BUSINESS COUNCILS Government Affairs

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

The Chamber has continuously worked, especially through the global pandemic, to provide the highest-quality member services and to be The Voice of Business for the SCV business community. It continues to build a well-respected and regionally recognized business advocacy organization in the third largest city in Los Angeles County. “If there is one thing we have worked towards this year, it’s to bring unity and support for our entire business community, to work together, and to help one another survive and endure during the global pandemic,” stated Ivan Volschenk, managing partner at Evolve Business Strategies, which manages the SCV Chamber. The 2021 Board of Directors is the most diverse in the 98-year history of the Chamber with women making up 45% of the board membership; 41% of board membership are people of color; and 10% of the board represent the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, two board members are foreign-born entrepreneurs.

Industry & Technology

“Since 2017, the Chamber has strategically focused on ensuring our leadership represents the growing diversity of our community to ensure equity and inclusion is part of our focus as an organization,” said Volschenk. “It’s proof we can all work together for pro-business advocacy and support businesses.”

Small Business

The new board members will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2021. Incoming Board Chair John Vance, alongside the full board, will be ceremonially installed on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 virtually at the Chamber’s 98th Annual Awards & Installation.

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

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

Non-Profit

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

Latino Business Alliance

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

NextSCV

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

The 98th Annual Awards & Installation will take place virtually on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 starting at 6:00 PM for a cocktail reception and networking, with the program beginning promptly at 7:00 PM. VIP tickets will include a three-course dinner specially crafted for the event. The Santa Clarita Valley Business Choice Awards will also be awarded, nominees will be announced in early January with the winners announced live at the event. Sponsorships and tickets are available. To find out more about the Chamber, the benefits of membership, its business councils and all its resources please email hello@scvchamber.com or visit

SCVChamber.com

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · B5

COMING UP

LATEST NEWS IMPACT SCV

MEMBER 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN

The SCV Chamber successfully 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. We represent our members before local, regional, state and federal governmental entities and provides a forum for our members to develop policy positions that directly impact the Santa Clarita Valley business community. The SCV Chamber works with all elected officials, irrelevant of political party affiliations.

The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce recently launched its new SCV Chamber Member 401(k) Retirement Plan which is designed to save local businesses time and money in the administration of a 401(k) program for their employees, while creating individual, customized plans.

Given the COVID-19 crisis, our advocacy work has never been more important. The SCV Chamber launched IMPACT SCV, a direct message advocacy program, to allow our members to make their voices heard. When we all speak with one voice and take action, we amplify The Voice of Business! Currently, we are gathering support for the following campaign:

We have partnered with Lincoln Financial Group to oversee the Multiple Employer Aggregation Program (MEAP) including the plan’s important administrative, recordkeeping and fiduciary services. Locally, LBW Insurance and Financial Services, will serve as the preferred local agent for the plan helping to get more businesses enrolled in the plan to help them reduce overhead expenses and meet new state requirements. The plan is also open for all Chamber-member agents to participate.

Support Bipartisan COVID-19 Economic Assistance The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce is working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to support the bipartisan COVID-19 pandemic relief bill. While it’s critical that lawmakers get the details right, the situation is dire and urgent. The call will be urging swift passage of legislation that would allow small businesses a second draw on PPP loans, ensure PPP tax deductibility, and provide forgiveness for the smallest PPP borrowers. We will also urge lawmakers to work with the SCV Chamber and business community to ensure that relief reaches small businesses as soon as possible and that liability reforms provide meaningful protections like in the ‘Safe to Work Act’. Visit www.scvchamber.com under the Advocacy Tab to click on the Impact SCV page. During 2020, the SCV Chamber was pleased to have launched the following campaigns and sent over 4000 emails to elected officials: Oppose Cumbersome Workers Compensation Liabilities for Businesses During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Retired September 1, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our daily lives as necessary ‘Stay at Home’ orders have created conditions in which businesses have needed to shut down and unemployment has increased. The SCV Chamber is concerned that SB 1159 would be detrimental for many employers who are struggling to keep their businesses alive in the face of this public health and economic crisis.SB 1159 would create a rebuttable presumption that an employee testing positive for or being diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of working at their place of employment is eligible for workers compensation.

Support The California Coalition for Safe Re-Opening’s Three Point Economic and Public Health Recovery Plan - Retired July 20, 2020 The SCV Chamber has joined the California Coalition for Safe Re-Opening. This Coalition consists of local chambers of commerce and business and trade associations. Responding to the current COVID-19 emergency, the Coalition advocates for safe, reasonable, and predictable reopening plans in California that ensure the health of every resident, worker, and customer. Join us in support of the Three Point Economic and Public Health Recovery Plan created by the coalition, which was formed following Governor Newsom’s order to temporarily close indoor dining and operations for restaurants in 19 counties less than a month after allowing them to reopen.

Working in collaboration over the last year, the team at LBW initiated and developed the 401(k) Retirement MEAP plan to best suit the needs of Chamber members to provide numerous benefits for businesses.

The Chamber Member 401(k) Retirement Plan has a goal to create a minimum $25 million fund within the next year. The Program was launched with already having secured $5 million in retirement accounts from local businesses. This is the first of the major member benefit changes the SCV Chamber is making to provide greater value to our members. We are proud to receive the following quotes from our elected officials: Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares — “Beginning June 30, 2021, California will require all businesses with over 50 employees to offer their employees a retirement savings program. Then, by June 30, 2022 companies with 5 or more employees will be required to provide a retirement plan. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber is helping to ensure our businesses are one step ahead and have created a local 401(k) Retirement Plan that will not only be cost-effective, but allow businesses to cut out the administrative responsibilities and unnecessary overhead cost. Our SCV Chamber is diligently working to bring our community together, to be able to work together, and succeed together.” Supervisor Kathryn Barger — “Our local business community has invested significant resources to do right by their employees and customers. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber has always provided forward-thinking, innovative solutions to support and strengthen businesses in their efforts to succeed. I’m proud of the SCV Chamber for their commitment to provide a 401(k) plan solution to save Santa Clarita Valley businesses time and money.” Mayor Bill Miranda — “If there’s one thing the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber has proven, it is being on the cutting edge for our businesses, no matter the size or sector. One of their newest initiatives is their 401(k) Retirement Plan for SCV businesses. The Chamber has worked to bring the strength of our businesses together to create an easy and cost-effective method for our businesses to provide state-required 401(k) retirement plans for employees. Pooling our resources, the SCV Chamber is saving businesses money and reducing administrative time while remaining compliant with new state regulations.” Businesses seeking more information on the new SCV Chamber Member 401(k) Retirement Plan can email us at hello@scvchamber.com. There will be a workshop in January. Register on our website.

Support LA County Minimum Wage Increase Delay Ordinance - Retired May 27, 2020 The LA County minimum wage is set to automatically increase on July 1, 2020 just as our businesses are starting to reopen and as we attempt to get our economy moving again. The LA County rise in the minimum wage is ahead of the State of California’s scheduled increases to get to $15/hour. Safer at Work, Safer in our Communities - Retired May 27, 2020 Our LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has proposed a reopening with the “Safer at Work, Safer in our Communities” plan to get us back to work and our economy moving again. Reopening LA County or allowing North LA County (Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster) to apply directly to the State for a variance is desperately needed to revive our County’s economy and allow for our workforce to provide for themselves and their families. We are asking our business community for input if there are any campaigns you feel the Chamber should be activating our grassroots efforts on. If you have a suggestion or would like to discuss further, please email hello@scvchamber. com.

To find out more about the events and to register go to

SCVChamber.com

B6 · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

CHANGE THE WAY YOU CAN HEAR THE WORLD DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

ust like any other technology, hearing aids are always evolving to become more intuitive, perform better and improve the user’s experience. Today’s hearing aids are designed to be small, discreet and compatible with your lifestyle. For example, new technology from Oticon works seamlessly with accessories to change the way you hear the world around you. A few of the latest updates from Oticon include: The Oticon ON App: With the Oticon ON App,

you can connect your Oticon Opn hearing aids to other Internet-connected devices. This allows you to receive information directly to your hearing aids such as: a notification when the doorbell rings, the weather forecast, news alerts, and more. You can also control the lights in your house, security systems, or smart appliances in your kitchen. The possibilities are endless! The ConnectClip: With the ConnectClip, you can make hands-free phone calls and stream music from your smartphone. It transmits a call directly to both of your hearing aids, and the built-in microphones receive your voice, so you can be heard clearly by the person you are speaking with. This is also true for video calls using apps such as Skype and Facetime. You can even listen to someone speaking from a distance using the remote microphone functionality. The ConnectClip is

compatible with Apple and Android devices. The Oticon TV Adapter: Avoid arguments with your family over the volume of the TV! Oticon’s TV Adapter allows you to stream your favorite movies and TV shows directly to your hearing aids while leaving the volume at a comfortable level for others. The best thing you can do to make sure you are maintaining your overall health and well-being is receive regular hearing screenings in addition to your other doctor visits. To schedule a hearing aid consultation today, please call Audiology Associates at 661-284-1900. Kevin Bolder, Au.D, Patrice Rifkind, Au.D. and John Davis, Au.D. are three of the best in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. Visit our website at AudiologyAssociates. net or stop by our office located at 23838 Valencia Blvd, Suite 100, Valencia. We are hearing health care excellence! 

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

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

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



THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 · B7

REVIEW

Continued from page B1

February The second month of the year offered

the last full month of normalcy for the world, as the Santa Clarita Valley was consumed with the promise and discussion of a luxury movie theater and a Costco location where there once sat a Sears. The plans were very briefly contested by an attorney from out of the area who claimed to represent concerns about the project. The objections to the plans eventually went away on their own. And, due to the uncertainty around the marketplace that COVID-19 created, the plans ultimately were adjusted on their own, regardless. Santa Clarita City Council members reviewed the modifications, which ultimately shrunk the project’s overall size from 101,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet, and changed its architecture. The development will cut out the 34,000-square-foot gym, the 32,000-square-foot cinema and the Costco rooftop parking deck, as well as reduce the amount of retail space being added. New retail space and the expansion of the existing Canyon Santa Clarita music venue will take place, officials said. February also saw the sale of the 232-unit Monterra Ridge Apartments in Canyon Country recorded. The 22-acre property, located at 28085 Whites Canyon Road, features 16 buildings, was sold by Los Angeles-based investment and asset manager Gelt Inc. for $62.5 million.

March In March, change came fast and sudden

to the Santa Clarita Valley, California and the world. As the city of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County and the state of California began to shut things down as a caution due to the pandemic, the SCV, like the rest of the world, jumped on Zoom en masse. A state of emergency was declared in the first week of March, a month that also began with the announcement that Cemex is appealing the federal court decision that

The Westfield Valencia Town Center proposed plans to add a Costco, which were later reconfigured by Westfield officials due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL SCV community created countless ways to support each other, particularly in the business and educational communities. A group of Valencia High juniors created a platform called SupplyNeighbor for people to help each other. The Vondrasek brothers temporarily turned their Azeo Distillery into a facility for making hand sanitizer. Local business owner AJ Apone and his father Allan used their 3D printers to create hospital-grade masks from scratch. Many more donated food and supplies to help health care workers and first responders.

May In May, The Signal began to cover the

rollercoaster ride of a journey taken by the facility formerly known as Valencia Ice Station. As the pandemic closed down thou-

Clarita’s unemployment rate surpassed 20%, a historic high that echoed the rest of Los Angeles County and the rest of the state for May. By August, the reopenings, coupled with the city’s efforts, helped bring that figure in Santa Clarita back down to 15% — still considerably higher than its historical average. By December, despite an ever-changing series of protocols to follow, Santa Clarita’s rate was down to 9% — still more than double the rate for the same time the previous year in Santa Clarita, when it was 3.8%. The state and county public health departments continued to send mixed messages on recovery as the orders, and information available about COVID-19, continued to evolve. The state OK’ed the reopening of nail salons this month, but the county did not — so Santa Clarita’s remained closed.

City of Santa Clarita officials created a number of ways to support local businesses, including persmission to temporarily reconfigure their spaces to allow for more outdoor dining. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL put the international Mexican mining conglomerate on the hook for $25 million. The mining company received a partial win in a decision levied in January by the Interior Bureau of Land Appeals in response to the mega-mine’s request that the appeals board overturn about $25 million in fees the company was previously assessed. The court battle is over two disputed contracts that Cemex claims are valid, which would allow the company to mine in Soledad Canyon. The city has fought this effort for more than two decades, but the mining company continues to try and exhaust every legal avenue for compensation, due to the potential value in the contracts. A recent estimate on the average price of aggregate put the value at approximately $9.25 per ton, according to Statista.com, meaning the contract’s potential value could be in the half-billiondollar range. The value of aggregate varies depending on the type of aggregate, as well as the supply and demand. For the city of Santa Clarita, which has been fighting to halt the mega-mine, it’s currently a waiting game until a decision is reached. The battle is going to extend into 2021.

sands of businesses, places where people could gather publicly, such as movie theaters, and places where people work out, i.e. gyms, were especially hard hit. This made the Ice Station, which combined the two, particularly vulnerable, in addition to the fact that most sports were paused, as well. The month began with reports of an urgent plea to the community, expressing that the rink would go the way of the buffalo if there was no intervention. City of Santa Clarita officials ultimately once again stepped in, creating a plan to purchase and revitalize the facility, with help from a $14 million bond. The new facility is expected to add a number of amenities for Santa Clarita, giving the city a convention center-type space, with more conference rooms and venues at its disposal. The acquisition was ultimately approved in August, with plans and work on the renovation currently taking place. By the end of May, hope was on the horizon for summer, as the state began a reopening for the first time, with county variances on the shut-down order being granted to businesses involved in feeding and grooming.

April As April got underway, Santa Clarita

June Bars and wineries were hit hard in June

officials began to work outside the box to create plans in place to support businesses during the pandemic, as city projections started to anticipate a revenue drop resulting from so many mandated closures. These efforts would later result in unique outdoor permitting solutions and temporary authorizations to allow for businesses to re-allocate their space in an effort to create more social distancing. The city also followed the county and state in creating a ban on evictions. Another amazing thing happened: The

due to a public health order calling for their closures, while filming and television were slowly developing guidelines for a return by state officials, which made a huge difference for Santa Clarita. Every year, being a part of Hollywood’s Thirty-Mile Zone helps Santa Clarita promote and attract the filming industry, which has long been a part of the SCV community, Estimates by city officials put the impact at in excess of $30 million annually. In fact, the previous month, Santa

July Early in July, The Signal reported on

how SCV restaurants were in “survival mode,” due to the public health orders banning dine-in service. The city launched several efforts to encourage local shopping among residents, including its Eat Local program. A local businessman also was personally thanked by President Donald Trump for giving the White House a statue commemorating the 75th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima. Dennis Nobile, owner of Sun Air Parts, a vintage airplane engine parts supplier based out of Valencia, had the statue commissioned in 2013 and asked the artist to depict the famous photo “Raising the Flag

on Iwo Jima” — the Pulitzer Prize-winning image that depicts six Marines raising the American flag following one of the bloodiest battles in World War II. Nobile, in fact, had five statues commissioned, two that he would keep for himself, two that he would give away, and one that would be given to the White House. The county also began to crack down on businesses operating in violation of its health orders, while the federal government continued to offer relief from the first CARES Act, a $660 billion relief effort that was also recently a hotbed discussion in Congress again this month.

August State Sen. Scott Wilk began calls, taking

the state’s employment office to task for its backlog of more than 1 million cases that had not yet been reviewed. Proposition 15 was a hot-button issue in an election year, with county Supervisor Kathryn Barger the lone opposition to a county measure that looked at supporting the measure. Prop 15 was one of several proposed efforts to try and change Prop. 13, which specifically targeted commercial and industrial property. Ultimately, the voters sided with Barger, defeating the measure, 51.97%-48.03%. Santa Clarita Valley also appeared to largely avoid some of the COVID-19-related impacts that were predicted for the real estate market with the uncertainty that the pandemic created. Both commercial and residential Realtors noted that as the SCV remains a very desirable place to live, a relatively low supply on the market kept housing demand and values high, with agents receiving multiple offers on a properties almost as soon as they list, and extremely motivated buyers. In one week in August, for example, the largest warehouse to sell in two decades sold in Valencia for $28.4 million, a buyer secured $20 million in financing to purchase Bouquet Canyon Plaza and a piece of heavily trafficked retail at 18717 Soledad Canyon Road in Canyon Country sold for $1.5 million.

September September continued to present chal-

lenges and opportunities for the Santa Clarita Valley, as it sought to stay healthy while the pandemic hit the half-year mark. The SCV Business Journal shined a spotlight on UltraViolet Devices Inc., which is a global leader in UV-C, which uses disinfecting robots sent to hospitals across the nation and worldwide, including right here to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, to fight the spread of coronavirus and other infectious diseases. The technology came from a study that found that UVDI’s robot was not only able to kill 99.99% of pathogens, and also reduce a hospital’s infection rate. Breweries and wineries also gained the ability to reopen, albeit in a limited capacity, but still a facet that helped save a number of local businesses that were in danger of shutting down. See 2020, page B10

Dozens of customers sit outside, in the parking lot during Pocock Brewing Company’s reopening in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

B8 · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

HELPING OTHERS AT WORK PAUL BUTLER Signal Contributing Writer

oday — the day after Christmas Day is not just Dec. 26, but for many it’s Boxing Day. It’s often said in England, “Christmas Day is for family and Boxing Day is for the people you really want to be with.” Charming! For the last 14 years, we’ve hosted a Boxing Day party at our home — whereas this year, of course, we will be Zooming folks in, hoping they’re not all Zoomed out. The exact roots of this holiday are unknown, but there are two leading theories, both of which are connected to charity traditionally distributed on the day after Christmas. One idea is that Dec. 26 was the day centuries ago when lords of the manor and aristocrats typically distributed “Christmas boxes” often filled with small gifts, money and leftovers from Christmas dinner to their household servants and employees, who were required to work on Dec. 25, in recognition of good service throughout the year. These boxes were, in essence, holiday bonuses. Another popular theory is that the Boxing Day moniker arose from the alms boxes that were placed in churches during the Advent season for the collection of monetary donations from parishioners. Clergy members distributed the contents of the boxes to the poor on Dec. 26. Regardless of which of these two theories is accurate, or if they both are correct or neither is true — what I see common between them is the giving to someone else who may be in need. Have you noticed there are some fine leaders who look out for the needs of others whereas most mediocre managers only tend to look out for their three favorites — me, myself and I? Leaders must have followers. Without followers, a leader isn’t leading anyone— they’re just wandering around aimlessly barking orders no-one else hears. It can be exhausting for a leader to have to keep

Business expert Paul Butler points out that great managers look out for the needs of their employees, whereas mediocre ones usually do not — but both set the expectation for their employees. (MC) “carrot and sticking” their subordinates. If their people perform, they give out a carrot, if they don’t, they metaphorically yield a stick. Great leaders always look out for the needs of others — they turn the organizational pyramid upside-down and seek to serve than to be served. They give because they’ve received the same gift from another in the past — just like Boxing Day. Likewise, have you noticed there are some coworkers who will go out of their way to help their colleagues — whereas others will run the other way complaining about how “frazzled” or “stressed” they are to see beyond themselves? Some coworkers will go over and beyond to delight the customer whereas others will do the bare minimum. It’s

almost as if some people need no job description because they always exceed expectations and volunteer assistance before they’re even asked. Other colleagues seem to be a walking-talking job description. I remember working with a client organization once and a rather unfriendlylooking employee had her job description mounted in a plastic frame on her desk, which proudly declared her own independence from any requests her boss or coworkers asked that were not present in the plastic. I guess that’s one way of seeing the working world. Great coworkers are great colleagues because they are constantly reminding themselves that the “co” in coworker and colleague means us, working together interdependently to support each other

in our service to the person who pays our wages — the customer. Just like on Boxing Day. As we head into this new year after the one we’ve all endured, let’s stay focused on regifting what we’ve been gifted. I am sure each of us has much to be grateful for, regardless of whether we’re a business owner, a leader or a coworker to our colleagues. We need each other now perhaps more than ever as we climb out from under the cloud of COVID. Paul Butler is a Santa Clarita resident and a client partner with Newleaf Training and Development of Valencia (newleaftd.com). The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Signal newspaper. For questions or comments, email Butler at paul.butler@newleaftd. com. 

Economic Development Corporation Santa Clarita Valley

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

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY’S MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE as well; COC programs serving all students have had to pivot to accommodate current conditions as students are dealing with a bevy of health and mental health issues which have provided a way for nursing students to creatively meet some of their requirements as peer counselors. Nursing students have also had the opportunity to volunteer at the campus’ Los Angeles County drive through COVID testing site and can count those hours towards their training requirements and completion. Overall, those employed in the health care industry in the Santa Clarita Valley comprise about 18% of the total workforce. This number is projected to grow over the next several years to nearly 13,000 jobs. Henry Mayo and Kaiser are large employers of these professionals, as are Quest Diagnostics, Q2 and the state’s new COVID-19 testing lab.

BY HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corp.

This pandemic has brought to light that there is a dire shortage of trained medical professionals nationwide, which is also true in the SCV. College of the Canyons’ acclaimed nursing program

typically graduates 50-60 nurses a term. Because of the pandemic, the numbers are down. Despite the challenges, the COVID -19 has created unique learning opportunities

Holly Schroeder is president and CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corp., a unique private / public partnership representing the united effort of regional industry and government leaders. For more information about the SCVEDC, visit SCVEDC.org, or call (661) 288-4400. 

Econo Watch Santa Clarita Valley

Q2 2020

Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Sq Ft

Commercial Vacancy Rates Office Space 12.49%% 11.62% Industrial Space 7.10% 5.20% Total Marked Sq. Ft. Vacancy Percentage: 27,737,678 Office Space - as a % of Vacancy Industrial Space - as a % of Vacancy

Building Permits

New Commercial/Industrial Building Permits Commercial Tenent Improvements/Alterations Local Company Stock Prices Bank of Santa Clarita (BSCA) California Resources Corp (CRC) Carnival Corp. (CCL) FivePoint (FPH) Mission Valley Bank (MVLY) Six Flags * (SIX) Woodward (WWD)

Unemployment Rates Santa Clarita Palmdale Lancaster

10.11% 89.89%

10.07% 89.93%

2,804,704 24,932,974 N/A N/A

Nov ’20

Oct ’20

Nov ’19

9 33

3 29

3 35

Nov ’20

Oct ‘20

% Change

10 21.8 19.98 5.64 9.36 30.73 111.83

Jan ’20

9.13 13.4 13.71 4.19 7.7 21.62 79.55

Dec ’19

9.53% 62.69% 45.73% 34.61% 21.56% 42.14% 40.58%

% Change

10.7% 13.6% -21.32% 15.6% 17.3% -9.83% 15.9% 17.2% -7.56%

Glendale

12.3% 15.8% -22.15%

Los Angeles County

12.0%

State

9.3% 11.1% -16.22%

Housing Stats

Jan ’20

15.1%

Dec ’19

-20.53%

Jan ’19

SCV Average Home Price

747,300

760,900

625,000

SCV Average Condo Price

463,700

454,000

415,000

SCV Home Sales

256

299

176

SCV Condo Sales

107

SCV Avg. # of Days on Market (SF)

24 29 88

SCV Single Family Home Inventory

188

296

135

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 · B9

The List: Largest Law Firms YEAR EST.

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

CONTACT INFO

Retainer or hourly

1998

John Shaffery Managing Partner

25350 Magic Mountain Parkway, Suite 250 Santa Clarita, 91355 (661) 290-2991 www.pooleshaffery.com

Hourly

1992

James Reape Senior Managing Partner

25152 Springfield Ct., Ste 100 Valencia, 91355 (661) 288-1000 www.divorcedigest.com

Hourly

2015

Bob Crockett Owner

23929 Valencia Blvd., Suite 303 Valencia, 91355 (323) 487-1101 bobcrockettlaw.com

Depends

1999

Mark T. Young

25152 Springfield Ct., Suite 345 Valencia, 91355 (661) 259-9000 www.donahoeyoung.com

1977

Richard A. Patterson, Esq. /Susan Owen, Esq./ Greg Owen, Esq.

23822 W. Valencia Blvd., Suite 303, (661) 799-3899 www.opolaw.com

Bill Thompson, Esq.

28212 Kelly Johnson Parkway, Suite 195 Valencia 91355 (661) 222-7964 www.billthompsonlawoffices.com

COMPANY

MAIN PRACTICE AREAS

# FULL-TIME COMPENSATION ATTORNEYS SUPPORT STAFF

Poole, Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

Business & Employment Law

Reape-Rickett Law Firm

Family Law

Crockett & Associates

Business Litigation

Donahoe & Young LLP

Bankruptcy, Estate Planning & Business Law

Owen Patterson and Owen

Personal Injury

Contingency

Law Offices of Bill J. Thompson

Civil Litigation & Business Law

Depends

The List: Lawyers — Solo Practitioners

*INFO FROM SCVEDC.ORG

NAME

PRIMARY PRACTICE

CONTACT

Bridgeford Law Office

Workers Compensation

25060 Avenue Stanford, Suite 285 Valencia, 91355 (661) 775-9300

Carter Law

Civil Litigation, Civil Rights/ Discrimination

25152 Springfield court Sute 100 Valencia, 91355 (323) 825-5529

Cohen Law, PLC

Business & Corporate

28039 Smyth Drive, Suite 200 Valencia, 91355 661-257-2887

Daniel Gunning, Esq.

Business & Real Estate

28470 Avenue Stanford, Suite 360 Santa Clarita, 91355 (661) 287-4120

Gharibian & Oliver

Family Law

25350 Magic Mountain Parkway, Suite 240 Valencia, 91355 (661) 254-4100

Group One Legal, PC

Landlord/Tenant, Real Estate Law

27720 Dickason Dr., Suite 232 Santa Clarita, 91355 (661) 702-4651

Holmquist Law

Employment Law

25350 Magic Mountain Parkway, Suite 302 Valencia, 91355 (661) 505-8315

J. Umana Law P.C.

Business Law & Intellectual Property

19197 Golden Valley Rd, Suite 124 Santa Clarita, 91387 (661) 755-9861

B10 · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 · THE SIGNAL

2020

Continued from page B7 The state also unveiled its tiered system in October, which once again changed the system of guidance for businesses, but in a way that’s expected to last a little bit longer than previous temporary orders. The announcement put Los Angeles County in the most restrictive tier, where it remains as of the end of December.

October At the end of October, thousands

were still unable to open their respective businesses, but in spite of that, the area’s jobless rate continued to improve and construction, which was unabated by the health orders as part of the “essential” industries list, continued to thrive. Renewed discussion surrounding the plans for a resort in Sand Canyon began to pick back up as the project’s driver, Steve Kim, sought an environmental review on his proposal for Sand Canyon Country Club. The plans would greatly expand the offerings and jobs for the sleepy bedroom community, however, many residents expressed concerns about the potential traffic and fire hazards the area could create. The project’s discussion is likely to carry well into next year as the environmental impact review is underway. The county also announced the malls could open at 25% percent capacity, and the city approved a 375-unit housing development for Bouquet Canyon. In less promising news for one of the SCV’s largest employers, Newsom

Property Master Dick Kyker of Studio Props prepares prop cameras for an upcoming shoot. The filming industry was initially hit hard by COVID-19, but it started up again with new guidelines. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL announced that “There’s no hurry” on theme parks, as Six Flags Magic Mountain and its hundreds of workers await their return to the workforce. By the end of the month, it was revealed they’d be able to open when the county reaches the least restrictive tier with respect to its COVID-19 infection rate and hospitalizations,

PerkinElmer’s new laboratory on Livingston Avenue in Valencia opened at the end of October with a visit from the governor. TAMMY MURGA

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

meaning theme parks were unlikely to open any time soon.

November As November began, one of the newest

locations in the fight against COVID-19, a state-of-the-art lab in Valencia, was up and running, with Gov. Gavin Newsom stopping by at the end of October to take a tour. The city of Santa Clarita also received a proposal from the owner of Blackhall Studios, who submitted a proposal for a massive studio facility in the Santa Clarita Valley. Developers were looking for a “one-stop review” of the property considered the gateway to Placerita Canyon, a vacant 93-acre lot near Railroad Avenue in Newhall, which they’d like to turn into a major motion picture studio. In other development news, California Department of Toxic Substances Control officials are developing draft agreements that break down what can and cannot be done in areas that will be restricted in the nearly 1,000 acres on the former Whittaker-Bermite site following the cleanup. The governor also announced he was pulling the “emergency brake” on reopening, as the state began to see a second surge of COVID-19 diagnoses, which prompted the state to adjust its metric to include intensive care unit availability as a condition of reopening. Capacity needs to hit 15% available beds and, as of Dec.

24, the number of the Southern California region, which includes the SCV, was 0%. A new statewide stay-at-home order followed suit.

December Early on in December, another of the

SCV’s most significant employers, Princess Cruises, announced it was suspending operations while it awaited federal guidance on how cruise lines can operate safely. The cruise operations impacted include all cruises sailing through March 31, 2021, and all cruises longer than seven days sailing in and out of U.S. ports through Nov. 1, 2021. A legal battle fought by restaurant owners made real progress, which ultimately was once again stymied by a rising COVI19 infection rate and decreasing available health care resources. The court ruled L.A. County did not have adequate proof that outdoor dining impacted the infection rate, so the outdoor dining ban was illegal. The victory was short-lived though, as restaurants were still banned from outdoor dining due to the statewide health order, which superseded the county’s order. The county also approved a tract plan for a housing development near Castaic High School, which would add 140 homes. Also in development and health care news, Henry Mayo announced a proposal looking to add a new tower, a testing and diagnostics facility and additional parking for the hospital.

COVID-19 TIPS FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

o you share a home with grandparents, parents and kids? Bringing multiple generations of a family under one roof can be rewarding and a good source of support. But during a pandemic, it poses some extra challenges. Grandparents, for instance, may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 just by virtue of their age. Others in the home may be at increased risk because of pregnancy, smoking or underlying health conditions. Everyone in a family can take steps recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect themselves, like wearing masks and keeping distance from people outside one’s home. But there are additional steps multigenerational families may want to take too.

PROTECTING THOSE AT HIGH RISK In general, the CDC says a good rule of thumb is this: Everyone living with a high-risk person should act as though they are at high risk too. Some smart steps to take: Be careful about contact. If you’re not at increased risk, you should keep your distance from those in your home who are. That means avoiding things like: • Hugging. • Kissing. • Sharing food or utensils. • Drinking from the same cup. Limit visitors. Try not to have any visitors inside your home. If people must visit, have them wear masks and stay outside, if possible, while keeping at least six feet away. Designate an errand runner. People at high risk should stay at home as much as possible. So it’s a good idea to decide on one or two lower-risk people who can make visits to the store or run other errands when needed. They should wear a mask at all times and stay at least six feet away from others while they’re out. Travel safely. Try not to ride in vehicles with people from other households. If you must, open the windows to ventilate the vehicle. Sit as far from each other as you can. And clean and disinfect door handles, seatbelt buckles and other high-touch items after each trip. Delegate child care. People at high risk for severe illness should not be tasked with caring for children in the home, if possible. If they must care for children, the children should not have contact with people outside the home. For more information, visit henrymayo.com/community/coronavirus. Patrick Moody is the director of marketing and public relations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. For more information about local community health programs, visit HenryMayo.com. 