Contact: Perry Smith Business Editor Phone: 661-287-5599
S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y
BUSINESS JOURNAL BJ INSIDE SPOTLIGHTS B3 A Message from the SCV
Chamber
Email: psmith@signalscv.com Mail: 26330 Diamond Place Suite 100 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · WWW.SIGNALSCV.COM · B1
SURVIVING IN A VOLATILE MARKETPLACE
B4 SCV Chamber Events/
Advocacy B8 SCV Econowatch B9 The List: Top 20 Aerospace
& Defense Employers NEWS & FEATURES B1 Surviving in a volatile
marketplace B2 Celebrate SCV Day with
job fair, expo B8 Man turns passion project
into Push Skate School B9 Consumers Furniture closing
after 43 years SCV BUSINESS VOICES B1 Henry Mayo Newhall
Hospital B3 SCV Economic
Development Corp. B4 M&M Fasteners B10 Audiology Associates FROM THE EXPERTS B2 Keller: Two issues to tackle
for your business B2 Paul Raggio: Self-examine
and lead yourself first B7 Jeff Prang: A Look at The
Roll B9 Carl Kanowsky: 5 crucial
commercial lease issues
Quality Control Supervisor Trey Hajek moves a pallet of orders at M & M Fasteners in Valencia. COVID-19 caused massive disruptions in global supply lines. M & M found a way to pivot and survive with the help of a business development manager. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer
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n the last 18 months, virtually every industry was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including manufacturing, which arguably had the biggest impact on the economy — not only locally, but worldwide. The manufacturing sector is a major part of the economy, accounting for nearly 16% of the global gross domestic
SCV BUSINESS VOICES
product in 2018. While most manufacturers in the U.S. were deemed essential, able to continue operations through the pandemic, lockdowns across the world still resulted in production disruptions, causing a ripple effect that was felt down global supply chains. For example, shutdowns in Asian markets left the U.S. manufacturers and distributors without critical components, resulting in delays in import and transit
times across industries, as well as material shortages, which, in turn, led to steep price increases. Global foreign direct investment, or FDI, collapsed in 2020, falling 42% from $1.5 trillion in 2019 to an estimated $859 billion, according to a January United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report. Such a low level hasn’t seen in the 1990s and is more than 30% below the See SURVIVING, page B5
ENJOY THE MANY PERKS OF FAMILY MEALS PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital
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tudies show that when families regularly enjoy meals together, both parents and kids typically eat more nutritious foods. Kids in particular often take in more calcium, iron, fiber and vitamins—and less unhealthy fats. COMING TOGETHER Shared mealtimes nourish families in other ways too. When you sit down together, you: • strengthen bonds. Sit-down meals let families connect after a busy day. They’re a great time to listen, share stories and even help each other through rough patches. • boost school performance and language skills. Eating together appears to help kids do better at school. And all that table talk stimulates language development in kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. • help prevent risky behaviors. Studies suggest that shared meals lower the risk of smoking, substance abuse and behavior problems in kids. MAKE THEM HAPPEN If you’re juggling work, school and activity schedules, regular family dinners may seem like a tall order. Do what you can with these family-friendly tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Be flexible. If daily meals together aren’t realistic for your family, aim to eat together at least several times a week. If shared meals are a new tradition for you, commit to at least one each week. Plan ahead. Schedule mealtimes together. Then mark them on your collective calendars. You’re less likely to have no-shows, especially if your family includes busy teens. A routine helps too. When everyone expects dinner at 6 p.m. on Sunday, they’re more likely to reserve that time. Think beyond dinner. If other commitments crowd out suppers together, how about breakfast? You could even set the table the night before for a less-rushed morning. Keep it simple. Enjoy more time around the table and less in the kitchen by serving meals that don’t require a lot of effort. MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME • Keep the conversation positive. Ask everybody about their day and share something funny or interesting about yours. This is a time to connect, relax and recharge—not complain or nag. • Tune out distractions. Agree to make meals device free—turning off the TV and setting aside phones. That’s the best way for everyone to truly be present with each other. • Set a good example. 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.
B2 · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · THE SIGNAL
CELEBRATE SCV DAY WITH JOB FAIR, BOUTIQUE EXPO BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Senior Staff Writer
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ocal business leaders are gathering to celebrate Santa Clarita Valley Day Aug. 14 with an inaugural job fair and boutique expo. The event is set to highlight local businesses, both big and small, while celebrating the SCV community. “Because we have had such a rough year, we deserve a day,” organizer Laura Munoz said of the event’s name. Munoz got the idea to host a job fair to help get the community back on its feet after the pandemic, then thinking to also include vendors who were also financially impacted by the shutdowns, she said. “It’s just putting everyone in the same place at the same time,” Munoz said. “That’s where it started, but it just blew up.” Now, Munoz hopes the free event will allow visitors to shop, eat and network with their local community, allowing the community a day to celebrate and bond together. Of the 65 vendors set to attend, many haven’t been able to attend an event as a vendor in more than a year and are looking forward to returning to business, according to Munoz. “It’s great to have everybody so excited about participating,” Munoz added. “It’s turning out to be a huge ‘We’re back’ celebration.” The event is scheduled to be held at the Creekside Place parking lot, near Barnes & Noble, with the help of
From left to right, Joe Allis, general manager at Porsche Santa Clarita, Pilar Molina of illi Commercial Real Estate and Laura Munoz are a few of the individuals who helped make the first SCV Day a reality. COURTESY Pilar Molina of illi Commercial Real Estate, who manages the property. In addition to the job fair and vendors, the event is set to feature food trucks, live music, and kids’ activities,
such as face painting, balloon animals and story time. Santa Clarita Valley Day is scheduled 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 14 at 23626 Valencia Blvd. For more information, visit scvday.com.
TWO ISSUES TO TACKLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS KEN KELLER
SCVBJ Contributing Writer
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f not now, when? First, fix the glaring failure of longterm employees past their shelf life. This is not about age. I’m talking about under-performance and bad behavior. Both are a result of having an entitlement attitude. Let me clarify my definition of bad behavior. It could be bullying, passive aggressive actions, intimidation of coworkers or simply thinking and acting as if the rules, norms, policies and procedures of the company are fine for others but do not apply to them. This is interesting because I believe that the longer a person is employed somewhere, the better example they should be setting when it comes to following policies, procedures, rules and norms. Bad behaviors do not go away, and when not addressed, are repeated, and often escalate. Others believe they can join the bandwagon. You know who these individuals are. In your mind, if not on paper, you already have your list. Your harder working, more committed employees have already brought to your attention that these individuals are screwing things up, can’t do their jobs, aren’t taking ownership and are making the company (and you) look bad with
Addressing bad behavior — regardless of the specific form it takes — should be done quickly and effectively, writes business expert Ken Keller. customers or suppliers or both. You may consider these individuals to be loyal. In reality they are a liability. They are the Internal Terrorists. These individuals need to be fired and everyone knows it. Termination should have happened long ago. Maybe you thought that these employees would either improve or leave. They haven’t left and they won’t. Do you know why? Because your tolerance of their lousy performance and bad behavior has been interpreted by every employee, customer and supplier that you approve of their failure to achieve results
and you find it acceptable as to how they behave. Don’t like to terminate people? No one does. But you will be doing these people a favor by freeing them to pursue opportunities elsewhere. When you finally let these people go, their fellow employees will line up to ask you, “What took so long?” How will you respond? What excuses will you make? Let these individuals become some other CEOs issue. If you are concerned that these employees won’t find a job, please know that there has never been a better time to
be unemployed. In the job market today, the only people who are not working are those choose not want to be. Second, it’s time to pivot. For the last 18 months, you have likely been in survival mode. If the pandemic is in your rear-view mirror, you need to work to improve your company’s business model. If you are not working on the business model, you are not focused on the future of your company. It’s not just that you need to add “Global Pandemic” under “Threats” in your SWOT Analysis. It’s time to take a long hard look ahead at the future of your industry. The pandemic was painful, but had silver linings. CEOs discovered that some offerings were not profitable and were no longer wanted in the marketplace, at any cost. Others found that their companies were seriously overstaffed. Many companies found significant efficiencies and reduced costs accordingly. These are internal changes forced by circumstance. What can you do now to challenge the marketplace with game-changers? 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.
SELF-EXAMINE AND LEAD YOURSELF FIRST BY PAUL RAGGIO Co-owner, One True North
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his past year, Lisa and I have addressed several groups in our SCV community, sharing our thoughts on leadership. This is our passion, promoting servant leadership and coaching on the skills to create exceptional leaders. And the starting point for molding any outstanding leader is self. Focus on leading yourself first before you step into the arena and lead others. People do what they see: Consider children mimicking parents, students mirroring teachers, office staff projecting the CEO. That’s why the principle of leadership by example is so compelling. Monte Wyatt, the best-selling author of “Pulling Profits Out of the Hat,” encourages leaders to self-exam and explore these five areas: Be conscious of the words you use; adapt to others; choose your attitude and mindset; always be learning; and know your priorities. Be conscious of the words you use. Words matter in meetings, emails, social media, constituent engagements. How and what you say and write matter. The tone you use to deliver the words matters. The body language you display when offering the words matters. The emotion you attach to the words you provide matters. People do what they see, and they hear, listen, and watch the words you use and mainly how you deliver them. A leader’s words are the connective tissue between vision and action. If you want positive action, then be conscious of the words you use. Adapt to others. We’ve been taught since preschool, treat others the way we want to be treated. If you want to be treated well, then you better treat others well. There’s an adaptation to this rule that creates better outcomes for leaders, and that’s subscribing to the platinum rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated. This meaningful philosophy rightfully puts the burden on the leader to know and understand their followers. A key element of leadership is making an emotional connection. An emotional connection creates trust, and trust is the cement required for loyalty. If you want to make an emotional connection, follow the platinum rule, and
THERE’S AN ADAPTATION TO THIS RULE THAT CREATES BETTER OUTCOMES FOR LEADERS, AND THAT’S SUBSCRIBING TO THE PLATINUM RULE: TREAT OTHERS THE WAY THEY WANT TO BE TREATED. adapt to others. Choose your attitude and mindset. Abundance beats scarcity, positivity beats negativity. Leaders say and demonstrate an “I can” attitude rather than an “I can’t attitude.” Even under the most challenging conditions, leaders express optimism and encouragement, not pessimism and disincentive. This must be a leader’s mindset, not some of the time, all the time. People do what they see and when a leader projects optimism and encouragement, inspired followers produce. Always be learning. Curiosity, inquisitiveness and ingenuity are human attributes that lead to unbelievable accomplishments. My father is a space pioneer. He led the design teams that created our first string of interplanetary spacecraft that started discovering our solar system. If not for the curiosity, inquisitiveness and ingenuity of the team he led, a man never would have set foot on the moon, let alone soar in space. Leaders are constantly learning and satiating their bottomless curiosity. People do what they see, and when a leader is curious and inquisitive, followers ingeniously solve the most complex problems. Know your priorities. Chaos, opaqueness and directionlessness are the antitheses of leadership. Leaders envision time, distance, space, and results and translate them into a vision for followers. They prioritize activities best meeting the operating conditions, minimizing risk and optimizing outcomes. They acknowledge scarce resources and rank courses of action that achieve the mission. Leaders know their priorities and directly, clearly, purposefully, and inspirationally communicate them to their followers. People do what they see and, when leaders prioritize, followers act with conviction. No matter where you are on the leadership spectrum, whether you’re the President of the United States, a
A big part of leadership is setting an example with your words and actions, as well as being accountable, writes business expert Paul Raggio. multibillion-dollar conglomerate CEO, state governor, college president, city mayor, business owner, school principal, church pastor, nonprofit executive director or leadership and executive business coach, self-examine and lead yourself first! And when you do, be conscious of the words you use, adapt to others, choose your attitude and mindset, always be learning and know your priorities. This is how you lead, think, plan and act. 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.
2021 DIRECTORS
THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · B3
LATINO LEADERS IN POLITICS FORUM WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS Latino Leaders in Politics, hosted by our Latino Business Alliance, which will include Congressman Mike Garcia, Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares and Santa Clarita City Mayor Bill Miranda. This event marks the first time Santa Clarita has elected Latino representation at the local, state, and federal level at the same time. The event will take place on Friday, August 20 at 4:00 PM. Location will be provided upon RSVP.
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
MATT DIERCKMAN
Colliers International
JEFFREY FORREST
College of the Canyons
MARAL MATOSSIAN
Westfield Valencia Town Center
PATRICK MOODY
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital
DR. IZU OKPARA
Omni Wound Physicians
“We’re very proud of our Latino community and to see elected representation on all levels of government come from Latino leaders,” stated Elizabeth Seelman, 2021 Chair for the SCV Chamber Latino Business Alliance. “With our voice being heard now on multiple fronts, we are very excited to host our representatives and have the opportunity to discuss policy matters that are not just important for our business community as a whole, but for our Latino business community.” This marks the first time the Santa Clarita Valley is represented by elected Latino leaders simultaneously at each level of government. Furthermore, it is the first time the City of Santa Clarita has a Latino Mayor. The event will bring an opportunity for each representative to give an update on what is occurring in their office, provide some insight on future plans, and then have an opportunity for open discussion with the audience. This event is open to the full business community. We would like to thank Lief Labs for being the Title Sponsor for this event. “The past few years, the SCV Chamber has worked to continuously diversify on all levels and ensure the full community’s voice is heard – whether it be in Santa Clarita, Sacramento, or D.C.,” stated Ivan Volschenk, Managing Partner at Evolve Business Strategies, which manages the SCV Chamber. “Our Latino Business Alliance works each year to represent the full Latino business community, and this year are proud to offer a platform for each business’ voice to be heard, with the decision makers. The LBA is a vital voice for our business community.” To register for the event, please visit www.scvchamber. com and click on Upcoming Events under the Events tab. We encourage attendees to submit their questions to the Congressman ahead of time by emailing hello@scvchamber. com. Tickets are free for SCV Chamber members and $15 for non-members.
DAN REVETTO AT&T BECKI ROBB Princess Cruises HENRY RODRIGUEZ
State Farm Insurance
SANDY SANCHEZ FivePoint LINDSAY SCHLICK
SchlickArt Video & Photography
ROCHELLE SILSBEE
Southern California Edison
G. JESSE SMITH
California Institute of the Arts
DR. DIANNE VAN HOOK
College of the Canyons
DENNIS VERNER Burrtec KARINA WINKLER
Holiday Inn Express
BUSINESS COUNCILS Government Affairs
The Government Affairs council meets to discuss policy decisions on a local, county, state and federal level. As a member, you are encouraged to attend a meeting and have your voice heard throughout the SCV and take a stance on pertinent issues relative to the business community or your industry in particular.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND WIN A new month means you stand another chance to win up to $250! Thank you to our Annual Sponsor CGI+ | Real Estate Investment and this month’s sponsor Collge of the Canyons. One point per dollar spent will be allocated and two points per dollar spent will be allocated if at a Chamber-member location. At the end of each month, the top three winners will be announced with their respective prize. To participate, shoppers can request an entry form by emailing hello@scvchamber.com to receive the form that needs to be turned in with a copy of your receipts each month. Forms and receipts must be scanned and emailed to the Chamber before the end of the month.
Industry & Technology
The Industry and Technology council works to improve and enhance a strong business climate for Santa Clarita Valley based industry, manufacturing, processing and technology companies through pro-business advocacy to develop balanced laws, effective regulations and sound public policies to stimulate economic growth and create new jobs while safeguarding environmental resources.
Small Business
Small Businesses are at the core of our Chamber’s membership and are the backbone of our economy. The Chamber offers a variety of educational and networking programming to help your small business thrive. The council focuses on three main objectives: Advises the SCV Chamber on small business related issues, programming and networking opportunities; Supports the Chambe’s “Retail Walks” with elected officials; and helps promote the nationwide “Small Business Saturday” program which highlights small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Non-Profit
The SCV has a strong philanthropic community with more than 100 locally-based non-profit organizations that help our community thrive. Our non-profits are a key reason why Santa Clarita is a great community and always looking towards a better future. The council provides business resources for our local non-profit leaders to help them connect, grow and learn about valuable information so they can successfully meet their organizations mission and goals.
Latino Business Alliance
Our LBA council works to promote Latino-owned business as well as relevant issues facing our Latino business community. In addition the LBA helps to educate businesses on how to enhance a company’s business efforts with Latino customers and other Latino-owned businesses.
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.
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
B4 · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 202 · THE SIGNAL
ADVOCACY NEWS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COUNCIL WEIGHS IN ON SENATE BILL 12
As the largest business membership organization in the santa clarita valley, the scv chamber of commerce is the voice of business. the chamber actively advocates on behalf of our business community on important local, regional and statewide issues that have direct impacts on our local businesses.”
Our Government Affairs Council recommended an oppose position to the Board of Directors on Senate Bill 12. The bill, which is strongly opposed by developers across the state, will establish certain fire hazard planning responsibilities on local governments and requires cities and counties to make specified findings on fire standards prior to permitting development in very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFHSZ).
URGE CALIFORNIA CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISION TO PLACE THE SCV IN ONE DISTRICT
According to the author, “California’s largest, most destructive, and deadly wildland fires have all taken place in the last decade — with over 38,000 homes and structures destroyed by California wildfires since 2015. As climate change deepens and the hots grow hotter, the hazard wildfire poses to California communities is greater than ever before. We must take decisive action now to save lives.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will decide boundaries for Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly District, and State Board of Equalization districts. We urge the Commission to place the Santa Clarita Valley within one district and include the communities of north Los Angeles County, including the Antelope Valley.
SB 12 presents a comprehensive approach to ensuring data driven, firesafe development. It does not say that communities cannot develop but does tell them that they have to do it safely using the new and aggressive wildfire risk reduction standards. SB 12 requires local governments to do extensive planning to identify fire risks to their communities. To ensure that local governments have the information they need to do this planning, it requires the OPR and the State Fire Marshall to develop best practices and update maps relating to wildfire risk reduction and preparedness.
For decades, North County cities and communities have partnered in advancing public transportation, various development issues, land use, public health initiatives and public safety concerns. Most of these programs impact the region as a whole and are not specific to one community. It is in the best interests of the continuity of these initiatives that the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys be able to continue to advocate as one body. Email hello@scvchamber.com or visit our Impact SCV page to sign onto our letter.
OUR ADVOCACY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT. JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY TO STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY KEEP NORTH L.A. COUNTY COMMUNITIES TOGETHER The Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) will be deciding the boundaries for each supervisorial district. It is imperative that our voices are heard, and that Santa Clarita remains together with North County communities (cities of Lancaster and Palmdale) in the same supervisorial district. The North County is a “Community of Interest”, as defined by the state’s County Redistricting legislation SB-958; our communities share social and economic interests, as well as relying on the county for many overlapping services and contracts. There is still time to sign onto our advocacy letter to ensure the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys be able to continue to advocate as one body. The ability to communicate with a single County Supervisor is critical for our shared region. Email hello@scvchamber.com or visit our Impact SCV page to sign onto our letter.
Importantly, SB 12 prohibits local agencies from approving developments that are not adequately protected from fire hazards and do not meet the new standards established in this bill. Finally, SB 12 creates the Wildfire Risk Reduction Planning Support Grants Program to assist jurisdictions to implement the planning activities the bill requires.” Opponents to the bill state, developments of nine or more residential units in fire hazard zones would require primary and secondary routes and capacity for evacuation and emergency response at the same time. Los Angeles County notes similar concerns in an opposition letter, stating that SB 12 “goes well above and beyond what is required, creating unnecessary and costly hurdles. The bill could negatively impact future projects as well as already approved projects because it would limit approval of ministerial permits for new residential projects located in a VHFHSZ unless the County makes findings required by standards not yet developed by the State Board of Forestry.” Los Angeles County also writes that the bill imposes a costly mandate that would “require the Safety Element include a comprehensive retrofit strategy to reduce risk of property loss from wildfires, including identification of funding sources or financing options for needed retrofitting of public and private properties. Developing this retrofit strategy would seem to necessarily require an assessment of all properties in a VHFHSZ as to their current ability to withstand fire which would be a time consuming and expensive task which the County would be required to fund.” Other concerns with the bill being noted are that it states that these newly created obstacles to housing should be reasonable, feasible and achievable only to a majority of projects. SB 12 would interact with the ongoing state policy changes currently underway. Cal Fire is currently updating their Fire Hazard Severity Maps. The California Board of Forestry is updating their Fire Safe Regulations. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research is also looking to make very type of homes affordable to the majority of Californian’s unaffordable through their newly published Technical Advice Series. All three of these agencies play an interweaving and critical role to the ability of homebuilders to bring homes to the market. Before SB 12 is sent to the Governor these critical regulatory activities must be completed so we can fully understand how these agency actions impact the various statutory provisions of SB 12. The SCV Chamber Board of Directors voted to take the Council’s recommendation and oppose Senate Bill 12. Our Government Affairs Council meets every second Tuesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It is open to all members. If you are interested in joining, please email hello@scvchamber.com.
MEMBER UPDATE AAA FACILITY SERVICES 25TH ANNIVERSARY In August 1995, JoAnn Katinos and Brian Higgins started AAA Electrical & Communications Inc. in Southern California. Since then, the company has focused on doing whatever it takes to deliver the best possible service to its clients. That philosophy has grown the company from a modest electrical and data cabling business into the skilled trade powerhouse that it is today. Serving the local commercial real estate market, as well as Fortune-1000 Companies, it offers professional construction, plumbing, electrical, repair and maintenance, and emergency services. Throughout the company’s growth, each decision was guided by their mission statement: We are obsessively focused on the endless pursuit of a higher standard of service to our team members, clients, and service partners. As the business evolved into AAA Facility Services, the mission statement motivated the implementation of modern communication technology, new services, additional licenses, and advanced certifications to meet the clients’ ever-changing needs. Above everything, it meant simply being there. “It makes a difference when clients have an actual relationship with our team,” said JoAnn. “We’re not just a call center.” That same attitude comes through in the company culture as well. AAA Facility Services team members enjoy an environment that is genuine and open which stems directly from JoAnn and Brian’s approach to life and saturates the company. It’s the best way to develop a company culture – it exists simply by the nature of the people who
work within it. No gimmicks, no grandiose promises, just real people doing an honest day’s work. JoAnn and Brian never had a vision of starting a do-everything business. There was never a goal for a certain number of team members or services. Since day one, it’s always been about being there for the clients and doing whatever it took to provide the best possible service.
THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · B5
SCV BUSINESS VOICES
SAFE, AMBITIOUS AND READY FOR BUSINESS HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of SCVEDC
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anta Clarita has recently been recognized as being one of the safest cities of its size in the country, and for being one of the most business-ready. While it may not seem obvious at first, these two endorsements go hand in hand. They result from deliberate efforts to grow the number and quality of jobs in the SCV in order to provide great opportunities for residents. Working locally results in our safety ranking, according to law enforcement experts. Sheriff’s Station Capt. Justin Diez summed it up the best: “What we have here is very unique and that is simple, an overwhelming amount of our employees live in Santa Clarita, and because of that they truly, truly care about our success. When you work and live in the same place, it is that extra spark that makes a difference.” That Santa Clarita “spark” is what makes so many people want to move here to grow their families. Thanks to Diez and our diligent Sheriff’s Department, we consistently rank as one of the top-10 safest cities in the nation to live in, recently placing eighth due to low crime rates. Our awardwinning region is a family-friendly community with extensive recreational amenities, high quality of life and an unrivaled aesthetic value. And we are still expanding! Unlike other areas of L.A. County, SCV has the capacity to build and grow your family, as well as your business. Ranking fourth this year in Verizon Business’s nationwide study of the most ambitious and business-savvy cities was gratifying, but unsurprising given the amount of dedication and resources this region puts into the success of its employers as well as the employees that live and work here. Our valley continues to be the ideal place for companies to do business, with great access to state of the art facilities, workforce and markets. To keep pace with an ever-changing business climate, we must plan, be proactive and actively invest in our future. The results create local job and career opportunities for residents. When you love where you live, why would you want to work anywhere else? For more information, contact the SCVEDC at SCVEDC.org or call (661) 288-4400.
SURVIVAL
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cases per day, with the Delta variant fueling a 65% jump in cases.
low that followed the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, according to the UNCTAD report. And the situation is likely to get worse, just as importers and exporters enter the traditional peak shipping season for the Halloween and Christmas holidays, experts suggest. As recently as last week, factories in Vietnam were forced to suspend production as Vietnam sees its worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, while companies in Ho Chi Minh City have also halted production due to insufficient safety measures. The story is similar across the globe, as variants of COVID-19 are clouding the outlook for a return to stability in the second half of the year, including in the U.S., which is now averaging more than 43,000
KEEPING A FINGER ON THE PULSE The COVID-19 pandemic was a rude awakening for everyone, including Eunice Hajek, CEO of M & M Fasteners Supply Inc., a Santa Clarita-based fastener distributor, who described the first six months of the pandemic like being “frozen in time.” “People just stopped,” Hajek said. “Sales went flat — they were the worst I’ve ever seen.” While M & M was considered an essential business, that doesn’t mean that all of its customers were. The near-complete stop was followed by a huge spike, once businesses began to reopen. “I felt like the floodgates opened a bit,” Hajek added. “We were really busy. It was wonderful, but then, that tapered down too.”
Rather than be lulled into a false sense of security, as higher prices meant sale figures looked better on the surface, Hajek found herself having to keep her finger on the pulse, reviewing margins almost every couple of weeks. IMPACTS OF THE LACK OF STABILIZATION And though there have been some spikes in sales the time since then, Hajek said the uncertainty of the pandemic has left a big question mark over the industry, as inventory remains unstable, with both delays and costs rising. “We just get emails from our suppliers that say, ‘Due to the current environment, it’s volatile, we don’t know (specifics, but) there will be price increases — it can be up to 30%,’” Hajek said. Hajek isn’t alone in seeing these
increases, as the Consumer Price Index rise for April from a year earlier was the sharpest since September 2008, while the monthly gain in core inflation was the largest since 1981. Lumber prices alone have risen 124% in 2021 amid persistent demand for building materials. “It’s all the way around — everyone is paying the price for this unstabilized environment. … And every day Americans are suffering as a result,” Hajek added. “We have no control over it.” Price surges also have come amid supply bottlenecks caused by a number of factors, such as lack of containers to transport goods as well as lack of raw materials. See SURVIVAL, next page
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661.702.6000 CEO Eunice Hajek at M & M Fasteners, recognized early on in the shutdown that change was necessary for survival, and she was able to locate new customers and diversify her clientele. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL
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B6 · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · THE SIGNAL
SURVIVAL
Continued from previous page For M & M, these price surges have meant a markup in their own prices — and a change in pricing procedures. “Every item has to be requoted based on the current cost … and quotes are only valid now for five days (when) they used to be valid for 30 days,” Hajek said. While Hajek has heard that freight is supposed to start to see some stabilization by the end of the third quarter or in the fourth, many of the industry professionals agree it’s never going to go back to the way it was. “I don’t know what stabilization means,” Hajek added. “What does that look like? Does it mean it’s going to go down by 10% when we’ve already been marked up 300%?” FINDING CREATIVE BUSINESS STRATEGIES Hajek started at M & M as a typist in 1982 before leaving, only to return in 2014 after finishing school and being involved in manufacturing for a time. In 2016, when she took over ownership of the company, Hajek had to virtually start over, creating a new business model that would carry them through the pandemic. “I brought my mom in to fix my books, which, she’s retiring now, so I’m training my daughter-in-law in to do it,” Hajek said. “I pulled my son in, and told him, ‘I need you to come help me run this company.’” So, when the pandemic hit, Hajek couldn’t afford to shut down, instead choosing to hire a new business development manager, intending on finding new customers in diverse industries to make up for the shortfall. And the strategy seems to be working, she said, as the company is busy enough to need an additional salesperson. M & M was even able to open a new branch in Idaho at the beginning of last year, entering the construction market, which has continued to see growth in the
Operations Manager Mike Yandoli checks orders ready for shipping at M & M Fasteners in Valencia. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL last year, allowing them to already move into a larger facility. “We just have to find ways to make it work,” Hajek said, adding that what
they’ve found is key is balance in every facet of the business, whether customers or quality of parts. “I feel very fortunate … (and) I’m certain that with the team
that I have right now, that it’ll be good.” Now as Hajek looks ahead to the postpandemic world, she said she anticipates slow, steady growth for the company.
Left: Machinist Gel Austria removes valve actuators form five-axis milling machine at ITT Control Technologies in Valencia. National numbers indicate hiring is on the rise for the industry on a national level. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL Right: College of the Canyons Welding Lab helps a growing industry find workers for businesses locally and throughout California. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL
EMPLOYMENT AND HIRING DATA FOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Data series
Mar. 2021
Apr. 2021
May 2021
Jun. 2021
Employment, all employees (seasonally adjusted)
12,299
12,264
12,303
12,318
Employment, production and nonsupervisory employees (seasonally adjusted)
8,514
8,468
8,523
8,553
5.20%
5.80%
4.80%
5.40%
Job openings
751
870
854
Hires
419
406
456
Separations
394
445
399
Employment (in thousands)
Unemployment Unemployment rate Job openings, hires, and separations (in thousands)
Establishments This section presents data on the number of establishments and the number of establishments experiencing job gains or job losses in manufacturing. Also included in this section is information on productivity and costs, presented as indexes and changes in output per hour and unit labor costs.
Data series
Back data
1st quarter 2020
2nd quarter 2020
3rd quarter 2020
4th quarter 2020
356,581
356,829
359,570
361,742
39
39
39
39
Number of establishments Private industry Local government State government
24
24
24
24
Federal government
46
46
47
48
With job gains (seasonally adjusted)
89
68
102
102
With job losses (seasonally adjusted)
101
147
95
86
Establishments with changes in employment (in thousands)
Data series
Median weekly earnings 2017
2018
2019
2020
Full-time workers
$884
$917
$936
$1,008
Members of unions
$943
$992
$962
$1,016
Represented by unions
$927
$992
$962
$1,012
Nonunion
$878
$908
$933
$1,008
THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · B7
REVIEWING THE 2021 ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR L.A. COUNTY BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor
I
t’s that time again, when the Assessor’s Office undertakes its most important function of the fiscal year that lays the ground work for the very property taxes that pay for our vital public services: the Assessment Roll. The Assessment Roll for 2021 has been closed, and it reflects growth for Santa Clarita and the rest of Los Angeles County. However, the roll has COVID-19 ramifications, and I will explain that in a bit. First off, let me say this comprehensive tally values more than 2.5 million real estate parcels in Los Angeles County and results in the very tax dollars that goes to pay for vital public services, such as health care, police, fire, schools and librarians, just to name a few. I am constitutionally mandated to close the roll by the end of the fiscal year June 30. I am pleased to announce that the 2021 Assessment Roll has a total net value of $1.76 trillion, indicating the 11th year of consecutive growth. The 2021 roll also grew by $62.9 billion (or 3.7%) over 2020. That value places $17 billion in the hands of the county to be used for those public services I just mentioned. Locally, Santa Clarita for 2021 came in at $38.3 billion for taxable values, which is a 3.1% increase over last year’s
numbers. That includes 63,652 singlefamily homes, 490 apartment complexes, 4,660 commercial-industrial parcels for a grand total of 68,802 taxable properties. However, these figures have COVID implications and here’s how that works. Assessments are based on the value of property as of the lien date of Jan. 1, 2021, which was well into the pandemic. While the overall value indicates growth, the total also reflects a reduction of $5.5 billion in business personal property, which includes machinery, equipment, boats and aircraft. Having said that, we recognized the impact specifically on small businesses so we proactively reduced about 73,000 personal property assessments in the hardest-hit areas to offer some property tax relief. Also, air travel was severely restricted, resulting in reduced aircraft assessments. Additionally, daily commuting and other travel declined due to stay-at-home orders, resulting in reduced fuel demand, which in turn led to reduced fuel prices. Consequently, several major refineries saw a decrease in net cash flow and a commensurate reduction in fixture value. Moreover, when COVID hit and we were all put under quarantine as required by the Safe at Home protocols, my force of nearly 1,300 employees went into a massive teleworking mode of operations. We had 85 to 95 percent of our workforce teleworking on any given day and the transition proved challenging. Some basics: The roll, as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in
the county’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas. It also breaks down the number of single-family residential homes, apartments and commercial-industrial parcels. This year’s roll comprises 2.58 million real estate parcels as well as business assessments countywide. That includes 1,885,579 single-family homes, 250,190 apartment complexes, 248,293 commercial and industrial properties and more than 161,488 business property assessments. Since the roll is the inventory for all taxable property in the county, it can provide some insight into the health of the real estate market. The roll is also driven in large measure by real property sales, which added $44.9 billion to the roll as compared with 2020; the CPI adjustment mandated by Prop. 13, which this year came in at 1.036%, added an additional $16.4 billion; and new construction added $8.8 billion. Finally, as we move forward during this critical period, I wish for everybody to stay safe and heathy. This is a tumultuous time in our history. No question about that, but to repeat what has been said so many times before during emergencies that demand the best from us, this could be our finest hour. 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
The Assessor’s Roll has a net value of more than $1.7 trillion, which helps pay for vital public services, such as new fire stations and new Sheriff’s Department facilities, among many others. MC is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,400 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually.
VALLEY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 28368 Constellation Road | Suite 360 | Valencia | CA 91355 | 661.294.8088 | www.via.org
A D V O C A T E . E D U C A T E . I N N O VA T E .
VIA ANNOUNCES 2022 CHAIR! JOIN US FOR AN EVENING AT THE VIA BASH
CELEBRATING
4 years FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 5, 2021
7:00 PM COCKTAILS | 8:00 PM DINNER & PROGRAM HYATT REGENCY VALENCIA BLACK TIE OPTIONAL
THE BASH IS BACK!
We are delighted to announce the return of an in-person VIA BASH event for 2021! Please join us on Friday November 5, 2021 for the RUBY BALL, a spectacular evening celebrating VIA’s 40th Anniversary and recognizing the remarkable businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley. The BASH event also helps support the VIA Connecting to Success Program. For the last 19 years, Connecting to Success has helped equip the students of the William S. Hart Union High School District and various Charter Schools with the skills they need to enter the world of work. Tickets and Sponsorships Available! Please visit https://www.via.org/via-bash or contact the VIA Office at (661) 294-8088 or by email: kathy@via.org See Less
The Valley Industry Association is pleased to announce that David Cantrell of American Family Funding will assume the role of Chairman of the Board in January of 2022. David has been in the financial industry for 34 years, working for some of the largest investment firms in the country including UBS and Raymond James. He has always put a high value on integrity, ensuring excellent repeat business. David continues to bring that same integrity and business acumen to the mortgage lending industry and his business experience and straightforward approach continues to produce happy customers on both sides of the lending transaction. David joined American Family Funding in 2015 as Sales Manager and has been an active member of the SCV business community since that time. American Family Funding has been a member of the VIA Board of Directors since 2012, and David assumed that role in 2020. An active member of the VIA Membership and Advocacy for the last several years, David has also assisted in the production of the VIA CEO Forum and helped lead our Legislative Candidate Interviews prior to the 2020 election. His professional affiliations include the Southland Regional Association of Realtors (SRAR), the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR), the California Association of Mortgage Professionals (CAMP), and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). David has been married to his wife, Lori, for 27 years and they have two children, Lexy and Logan. When David is not working on deals or helping Lori with their spice rub business, Man Cave Grub Rub, he spends his time coaching the West Ranch High School pole vault team.
FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS, VIA HAS SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE. WE ADVOCATE, EDUCATE AND INNOVATE ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
2
As part of our 40th anniversary celebration VIA wants to help your business grow. We can’t wait to help you get to the next level! Joining is easy and the benefits are endless. Call (661) 294-8088 or contact Kathy Norris, VIA’s CEO/President at kathy@via.org for more information. We’re ready and waiting to welcome you to our membership!
VIA offers ongoing business to business initiatives and opportunities specifically designed to help companies make contact and grow! — Lee Watters, The Watters Group
Visit via.org for more information or call 661.294.8088
B8 · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · THE SIGNAL
MAN TURNS PASSION PROJECT INTO PUSH SKATE SCHOOL BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer
W
hen Shawn Rennie was growing up in Santa Clarita, there was no real skateboarding
venue. “I remember being 12 or 13 years old … and sitting on the initial City Council meeting to sign the petition to get the very first skate park built,” Rennie said. Since then, the Santa Clarita Valley has seen not one, but two skate parks built, while Rennie has seen a tremendous evolution in the sport, with it going from a “rebellious” hobby to an art form, with its athleticism being highlighted as it makes its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo. However, it was Rennie’s goal to simply give kids in the SCV what he didn’t have growing up — a safe, productive avenue to learn skateboarding — that drove him to create Push Skate School with his partner Danny Sanchez. “The mission of Push Skate School has always been just driven from wanting the thing that I wanted as a kid that would allow me to continue in the sport,” Rennie added. “We wanted to create an area that allowed kids to meet other skateboarders of the same age and (skill level) … and that they have a safe place to do this.” Now able to make a career out of his passion, Rennie has been able to pass that love for skateboarding on to his students, offering both lessons for groups and individuals, as well as birthday party events, where they create a pop-up skate park. “The goal is to have kids outside having a good time, and it seems like if I just set the tools down on the floor, the kids manifest all the fun — they’re the ones that make it what it is, I just get to be the catalyst,” Rennie said, adding that it has been rewarding to watch kids gain confidence in themselves. Push Skate School has also been working with the city of Santa Clarita to piggyback on the program and offer lessons at the Santa Clarita Skate Park during weekend junior rider hours, where kids 12 and under can have a safe place to go skate with kids their own age, according to Joe Harris, recreation and community services supervisor with the city. “It’s really great,” Harris said. “During that program, (Rennie) offers classes, and parents can come in, set up chairs and watch. It’s an important program and is just an opportunity for kids to ride in a safe environment and learn the right way. Shawn does a great job with the kids.” For Rennie, it’s been most rewarding to be able to start this business right where he grew up, he said. “I’m just proud and so excited that I
Students play “red light, green light” as they practice starting and stopping on their skateboards during the skate class. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL got to be part of it within Santa Clarita … and feel like I’m etching my history in the city that I was raised in,” he said. After the pandemic highlighted the importance of outdoor sports activities, Rennie said he’s excited to show others how important skateboarding is as a tool to get kids back outside and return to that sense of community, recalling an instance just a few weeks ago where a student got the wind knocked out of her, and he was in awe as he watched her fellow students gather around, encouraging her to get back up. “It has been a great outlet for these kids,” Rennie added. “It’s such a driving force behind this passion of ours that we know that from what we’ve done since the beginning of January to today has really helped not only families but also some kids who have some social anxiety issues, and I think that it’s fair for us to
acknowledge that those are real things in this world and that they may have been heightened due to the pandemic, so now we can try to redirect that curve by being a source of good times for them.” Next month, Push Skate School is teaming up with Fitstyle LA for the “Ultimate Game of S.K.A.T.E.,” a rail jam, along with open skate times for kids ages 5-16, focusing on both skating and fitness. “The main goal is going to be a combination of exercise and fitness and skateboarding and trying to really link those two worlds together with kids and getting them excited about going to a gym,” Rennie said. Ultimate Game of S.K.A.T.E. is scheduled 2-7 p.m. on Aug. 7 at Fitstyle LA, located at 26380 Ferry Court. For more information, visit pushactionsport.com or call 661-299-7807.
Rennie hangs on to student Christian Yohannes, 6, as he loses his skateboard coming down a ramp.
Economic Development Corporation 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road | UCEN 263 | Santa Clarita, CA 91355 | (661) 288-4400 | www.scvedc.org
Econo Watch Santa Clarita Valley
Q2 2021
Q1 2021 Q1 2021 Sq Ft
Commercial Vacancy Rates Office Space 16.71% 14.46%
2,795,259
Industrial Space
25,234,329
4.90%
Total Marked Sq. Ft. Vacancy Percentage: 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)
5.60% 28,029,587
9.97% 90.03%
10.05% 89.95
N/A N/A
Jun ’21
May ’21
Jun ’20
8 40
4 31
1 45
Jun ’21
Apr ’21
% Change
14 30.14 26.36 8.08
13.5 29.01 29.56 8.02
3.70% 3.90% -10.83% 0.75%
Mission Valley Bank (MVLY) Six Flags * (SIX) Woodward (WWD)
Unemployment Rates Santa Clarita Palmdale Lancaster Glendale Los Angeles County State
Housing Stats
14.35 43.28 122.88
Apr ’21
14.2 45.43 127.18
Mar ’21
1.06% -4.73% -3.38%
% Change
9.0% 9.6% -6.25% 13.5% 15.0% -10.00% 13.5% 15.0% -10.00% 10.4% 10.7% -2.80% 10.1% 11.0% -8.18% 7.9% 8.1% -2.47%
Jun ’21
May ’21 837,100
Jun ’20
SCV Average Home Price
880
SCV Average Condo Price SCV Home Sales SCV Condo Sales SCV Avg. # of Days on Market (SF) SCV Single Family Home Inventory
559 532,100 443,000 1,443 1,156,00 200 560 456 77 29 35 44 320 270 197
691,000
THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 · B9
CONSUMERS FURNITURE CLOSING AFTER 43 YEARS BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer
A
fter 43 years in business, Consumers Furniture Gallery announced to customers recently it would be closing its doors permanently, following a liquidation sale. Owner Greg Moser’s father and uncle opened the business in 1978 at a building just down the street from their current location, which they moved to in 2004 when the Golden Valley Road bridge was built. After reopening in May 2020 from the COVID-19 shutdowns, business began to pick back up, with sales actually increasing, as customers had a lot of discretionary money to spend on their homes, as well as new home construction continuing, Moser said. Even so, Moser felt it was the right time to move on, adding, “We thought it was a good opportunity at this point in time to sell the building.” Nonetheless, Moser wanted to thank Consumers’ customers over the years, many of whom have shopped with them for generations. “We’ve had multi-generations of customers,” Moser said. “We’re now selling to customers’ grandkids … and we hear that all the time.” It’ll be those customers and the Santa Clarita community that Moser said he’ll miss most. “We couldn’t have been as successful as we were without our loyal customers,” he added. “That’s the sad part … I’ll miss the customer interaction.” Consumers is hosting a private sale for its customers
Consumers Furniture Gallery, owned by Greg Moser, above, is closing its doors after 43 years in business and is holding a private sale (left) for its customers through Sunday. PHOTO BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL this weekend until Sunday, and plans to remain open Consumers Furniture Gallery is located at 21048 Golden for the next few months until all the inventory is cleared Triangle Road. For more information, visit consumersfurniture. out, with markdowns of 30-50%, according to Moser. com or call 661-259-9609.
5 CRUCIAL COMMERCIAL LEASE ISSUES, PART IV getting; and, C) how long the sublease will last.
BY CARL KANOWSKY Kanowsky & Associates
Q
uick recap. Sam Johnson (purveyor of big cats and craft beer) has found the perfect place for his unique venture, “Growlers – Felines & Ale.” There you can find jaguars dripping blood while sipping a delightful malted beverage (that’s you drinking the brew, not the jag). What a combo! But I’ve cautioned Sam about jumping on a location based simply on price and location. There are a number of other issues to consider. Of the other issues, so far we have covered 1) Exclusivity 2) Use of the property, and 3) Renewal of the lease.
The next topic is Assignments. Now, let’s begin this discussion by distinguishing assignments from subleases. In a sublease, the tenant (in this case, Sam) rents out some or all of the property that the tenant is leasing for some or all of the remaining time left in the lease. This new renter, called either a subtenant or a sublessee, negotiates with Sam three things: A) how much the rent is for the subtenant; B) what portion of the property is the subtenant
Generally, the landlord has the final say-so as to whether there will be a sublease and if the proposed subtenant is acceptable. Assuming the landlord approves, then the subtenant moves in and pays rent to Sam. Sam continues to pay the landlord the rent Sam agreed to in the master lease. If the subtenant fails to pay rent or breaches the sublease, it is up to Sam to kick him out. Sam would remain responsible for the rent payments regardless of whether the subtenant makes or misses any payments of rent to Sam. An assignment works differently. In an assignment, the original tenant vacates the premises, and a new tenant replaces the original one. In the case of Sam’s Growlers — Felines & Ale, it would mean Sam is gone and the new tenant takes over. A common scenario would be where Sam sells his business, letting the proud new owner of the big cats and the brewery take over. In other words, one tenant taking over for another, something often covered in most leases. An open question can be whether Sam remains liable for anything under the lease if the new tenant screws up. Under many leases, not only does the landlord have absolute discretion as to whether to accept or reject the new tenant, but in addition, the lease can provide that the landlord can demand a hefty fee to consider the
assignment. Also, for many landlords, an assignment is a gift from the heavens. The landlord can move out a questionable tenant and bring in a stronger one. Additionally, the landlord can hold both Sam and the new tenant responsible for all aspects of the lease. So, if the new tenant misses rent, the landlord can demand payment from Sam, who has moved on with his business. That is why negotiating assignments is so important. Landlords often resist any release of the original tenant when there is an assignment. If the tenant fails to address this issue before he/she/ it signs the lease, then they are generally stuck with the language keeping them on the hook for the lease even if they have found a suitable replacement. So, we are going to tell the landlord that, if he really wants you as a tenant, then the assignment language is open for discussion. Carl Kanowsky of Kanowsky & Associates is an attorney in the Santa Clarita Valley. He may be reached by email at cjk@ kanowskylaw.com. His column represents his own views, and not necessarily those of The Signal. Nothing contained herein shall be or is intended to be construed as providing legal advice.
The List: Top 20 Aerospace & Defense Employers NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE
SCV EMPLOYMENT
Woodward Inc
25200 Rye Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita www.woodward.com
(661) 294-6000
721
Wesco Aircraft
24911 Avenue Stanford, Valencia, CA 91355 www.wescoair.com
(661) 802-5132
375
ITT Aerospace Controls
28150 Industry Dr, Valencia, CA 91355 www.itt.com
(661) 295-4000
360
B & B Manufacturing
27940 Beale Ct, Valencia, CA 91355 www.bbmfg.com
(661) 257-2161
330
FMI Aerostructures / Forrest Machining Inc.
27756 Ave Mentry, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 www.forrestmachining.com
(661) 257-0231
232
ASC Process Systems
28402 Livingston Ave, Valencia, CA 91355 www.aschome.com
(818) 833-0088
226
PCC Aerostructures ADI
25540 Rye Canyon Rd, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 257-3535
213
Fralock
28525 Industry Drive, Valencia, CA 91355 www.fralock.com
(661) 702-6999
200
Stratasys Direct Manufacturing
28309 Ave Crocker, Valencia www.stratasysdirect.com
(661) 295-4400
198
Adept Fasteners
28709 Industry Dr, Valencia, CA 91355 www.adeptfasteners.com
(661) 257-6600
185
RAH Industries Inc.
24800 Ave Rockefeller, Valencia, CA 91355 www.rah-ind.com
(661) 295-5190
185
Novacap / Knowles
25111 Anza Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 www.knowlescapacitors.com/novacap
(661) 295-5920
182
Crissair, Inc.
28909 Ave Williams, Valencia, CA 91355 www.crissair.com
(661) 367-3300
180
HRD Aero Systems
25555 Avenue Stanford, Valencia www.hrd-aerosystems.com
(661) 402-4067
158
TA Aerospace
28065 Franklin Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355 www.esterline.com
(661) 775-1100
155
Regent Aerospace Corp.
28110 Harrison Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355 www.regentaerospace.com
(661) 257-3000
140
Curtiss-Wright
28965 Ave Penn, Valencia www.curtisswrightds.com
(661) 257-4430
130
PPG Industries Inc
24811 Ave Rockefeller, Valencia www.ppgaerospace.com
(661) 678-4209
123
Triumph Actuation Systems
28150 Harrison Pkwy, Valencia www.triumphgroup.com
(661) 295-1015
115
Donaldson Company
26235 Technology Drive, Valencia
(661) 295-0800
114
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Explosion sparks fire Blast at Valencia industrial park business sends three burn victims to hospital By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer
An explosion at a Valencia industrial park sparked a brush fire and sent at least three people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon with critical burns and other injuries. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel first responded to initial reports of a possible explosion on the 25100 block of Rye Canyon Loop just before 4:45 p.m., according to Supervisor Leslie Lua. Meanwhile, SCV Sheriff’s Station officials advised residents to stay clear of the area as fire crews and Hazmat units worked to conduct their investigation. Units arriving on the scene reported a quarteracre brush fire running uphill just before 5 p.m., Lua said. “Three burn victims are all being transported to a local trauma center with additional injuries,” added Supervisor Ed Pickett. “We don’t know what caused it, and we are doing an investigation right now.” Forward progress on the blaze, dubbed the #RyeFire, was halted around 5:20 p.m. at 1 acre, according to Supervising Fire Dispatcher Martin Rangel, adding that “initial reports are that it was an explosion at
Judge hears case of DDA union vs. Gascón
S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y
BUSINESS JOURNAL
The Official Publication of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
MARCH 2020 | VOL. 12 | NO. 3 | SCVBJ.COM
IT’S TAX TIME
Decision expected by end of the week
Proud to be this community’s only local newspaper.
By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer
Caleb Lunetta/The Signal (above) Dan Watson/The Signal (left, below left, below)
(Above) A firefighting helicopter drops water from above while personnel from multiple agencies battle the Rye Fire — which officials say was sparked by an explosion in a Valencia industrial park Tuesday. (Left) Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Officer Jonathan Matheny holds a news conference Tuesday evening about the investigation of the explosion. (Below left) The county Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad arrives on the scene to help with the investigation. (Below) First responders clear the roadway as three burn patients in critical condition are transported to a local trauma center Tuesday.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge said Tuesday a decision in the case of the union for county prosecutors against District Attorney George Gascón could come by the end of the week, after hearing both sides of the argument. Judge James C. Chalfant held a preliminary injunction hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in L.A., where attorneys for the union argued that such a hearing was appropriate to help prevent deputy district attorneys from “violating the law.” The lawsuit argues that it was illegal for Gascón to issue what they deemed as a blanket rule that prohibits prosecutors from seeking sentencing enhancements under the Three Strikes law. “I think preliminary injunction here is appropriate, your honor, in particular, because, as a result of the special directives, the deputy district attorneys in this county are put in the unfortunate position of having to violate the law in carrying out their duties in prosecuting these cases,” said David Carroll, attorney for the union. “By the special directives, telling the deputy district attorneys, ‘It doesn’t matter; you can’t plead See GASCÓN, A2
See EXPLOSION, A2
City: Business losses ‘significant’; help on the way Council begins discussion of pandemic’s economic turmoil, 2021-22 spending plan By Tammy Murga Signal Staff Writer
Santa Clarita businesses suffered a total revenue loss of more than $300 million, while others permanently closed in 2020, painting a clear image of the economic turmoil brought
forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, but city officials announced Tuesday hope is on the horizon. At the start of the coronavirus crisis, sales tax revenue was projected to drop in the double digits, and it did at 13%, or $3.2 million last year.
“I want to emphasize the sales tax revenue collected by the city is only 1%,” City Manager Ken Striplin said in a budget meeting before the City Council and commission members. “As you look at what is the economic impact of that loss beyond our $3.2 million, you’re looking at a total loss of revenue to local businesses of $300 million. So, definitely a very significant number.”
Much of the loss in revenue comes after unwavering health orders that forced major industries, ranging from restaurants to retail, to shut down or implement a series of changes. Santa Clarita is also facing an unemployment rate of 9.3%, which falls just below L.A. County’s rate of 10.7%. At the peak of the pandemic over the summer, Santa Clarita had reached a rate of 20%,
according to the state’s Employment Development Department. There are now 109,400 jobs across the city, a number that dropped from 114,000 in 2019, according to Striplin. “The longer we remain in this crisis, the more prolonged the impacts will be felt and the longer the recovery will take,” said Striplin, adding that the See BUDGET, A2
Hart district to discuss return to school By Caleb Lunetta Signal Staff Writer
The William S. Hart Union High School District governing board is set to discuss school safety practices, a return to school campuses and the recognition of Black History Month. One of the first topics the board will cover is a school safety update from Collyn Nielsen, chief administrative officer for the district, according to the meeting agenda for tonight’s session. The presentation breaks down the 22 items involving safe school best practices in four different categories: mental health and wellness, site security, policy and training, and communication. Nielsen’s report will go through
the various items, and explain why each policy is a best practice before highlighting the district’s progress in that area, according to a publicly available PowerPoint presentation. The plan includes continuing the district’s partnership with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, including professional development opportunities for teachers, standardizing security cameras at each site and installing bulletproof glass. Kathy Hunter, assistant superintendent of educational services, will also provide the board with an update on the status of online learning in the district, and the continued planning for a return to campus when it is deemed safe to do so. The district has said it is targeting a Feb. 8 return date for small groups of cohort students to return to campus.
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The board also plans to join in with the rest of the nation during the month of February and recognize Black History Month. The resolution reads that the William S. Hart Union High School District “recognizes and celebrates the contributions of African American historical figures, leaders, teachers, parents, community activists and students” but also encourages each of the district’s school sites to “host discussions and presentations to enhance the education of each student.” The virtual Hart district governing board meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. The meeting can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ WQC9_nrWLm8. Public comments can be submitted by email to wshpubliccomments@hartdistrict. org no later than 4 p.m. today.
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3 COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING HEALTH ANSWERED DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates When it comes to hearing loss, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. As hearing care professionals, we frequently have patients come in with questions about their hearing, hearing aids, different types of hearing loss and how we can help them find a solution. Q What causes hearing loss? A Depending on the type of hearing loss you have, there are many factors that could have contributed to
your hearing loss. Some common causes of hearing loss include: ear infection, head/ear trauma, malformation of the outer/inner ear, aging, genetics, earwax build-up, perforated eardrum, exposure to loud noise or medications that are toxic to hearing. Q Can I talk on the phone with my hearing aids in? A You can talk on the phone with your hearing aids in, and with today’s technology, you won’t receive any distracting feedback or whistling. With Bluetoothcompatible hearing aids, you can connect your devices directly to your smartphone. This allows you to stream phone calls straight to your hearing aids. Bluetooth hearing aids make listening to phone calls easier and less complicated.
Q What if I lose my hearing aids? A If you lose your hearing aids and they’re still under warranty, contact us immediately. Many manufacturer warranties will replace a lost hearing aid within two years after you’ve purchased the device, but it varies depending on the manufacturer and type of device. To learn more about rechargeable hearing aids, make an appointment with Audiology Associates at 661-284-1900. Kevin Bolder, Au.D and John Davis, Au.D are two of the best in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. Visit our website at www.AudiologyAssociates.net or stop by our office located at 23838 Valencia Blvd, Suite 100, Valencia. We are proud to have won The Signal’s Best Audiologist for the 12th year in a row! We are hearing health care excellence.
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M & M FASTENERS SUPPLY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR RETURN OF FILMING, CONSTRUCTION GROWTH
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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.