SCV Business Journal November 2020

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, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · WWW.SIGNALSCV.COM · B1

HOMES, OFFICES COMING SOON IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer

Chamber B5 SCV Chamber advocacy B9 The SCV EDC Econowatch

NEWS & FEATURES B1 Homes, offices coming

soon to SCV B2 A few projects in SCV

pipeline B7 SCV housing market

bouncing back B7 Jobs picture continues to

improve

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

FROM THE EXPERTS B2 Paul Butler: Applying that

Golden Rule B3 Ken Keller: How to improve

profits B8 Paul Raggio: The

importance of planning B10 From the Assessor: A tax-

scam warning

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rom commercial and industrial spaces to offices and more homes, the Santa Clarita Valley has continued to expand its development projects this year.

Though the coronavirus pandemic has stalled progress, many projects have still been able to meet goals, either completed or nearing completion on development projects.

“These projects are great for our community as we strive to bring in the jobs that our residents need so they don’t have to commute, and then the stores and restaurants that they want to go to,” Jason Crawford, the city of Santa Clarita’s planning, marketing and economic development manager, said. “So it’s very exciting to see these businesses continuing to bet on the future of Santa Clarita.”

Here’s a look at the most significant developments that have happened so far this year in the SCV, according to the city of Santa Clarita and SCV Economic Development Corp.

THE CENTER AT NEEDHAM RANCH Thought of by developers as the highlight for new developments in the SCV, this 135-acre business park, which lies within a 252-acre industrial project site.

“That’s really one of the key development projects around, not only for the Santa Clarita Valley, but within the Southern California area,” Craig Peters, executive vice president of CBRE, the project’s leasing agent, said. “It’s an incredible project that offers the most functional state-of-the-art buildings that we’ve ever seen out here.”

Phase 1, which comprises six buildings totalling approximately 850,000 square feet, was completed earlier this year. Each building features minimum clear heights of 30-36 feet, a minimum 120-foot truck court depth with secure yard areas, ESFR fire sprinklers and abundant vehicle parking.

The development on the corner of Plum Canyon Road and Skyline Ranch Road will give Plum Canyon residents some nearby, much-anticipated shopping and dining options. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL “If you’re a warehouse operator that’s looking to store products, that additional clear height is extraordinarily important,” Peters said regarding the 36-foot clear heights.

Illumination Dynamics, a lighting and electric rental production company for television, motion picture, sports broadcast and studio installations, has already moved into a building in Phase 1A, while it was recently announced that Amazon, the e-commerce giant, is set to move into one of the buildings.

“There are two more deals that they’re very close to announcing,” Crawford said. “And while they’re signing leases for the buildings they’ve built, they’re already doing the prep work, the infrastructure, for building out the rest of the buildings.”

While COVID-19 threw a curveball in securing some of the tenants that had been in the works, other markets doing well during the shutdown stepped in to backfill those spaces.

“On the industrial side, the market has

done quite well, even during this challenging time,” Peters said. “Part of that was the effect of e-commerce companies continuing their insatiable desire to expand, but the other part of it was when the entertainment industry started filming again, you had a lot of pent up demand, so now that both those engines are firing, the industrial market has been doing very, very well.”

In fact, they’re getting ready to break ground on Phase 2, which is expected to include roughly another 1.1 million square feet of buildings, soon, according to Peters.

The business park located on Sierra Highway near Old Town Newhall, close to the southern tip of Santa Clarita, less than one mile north of the city of Los Angeles boundary and minutes from the Interstate 405 and 5 intersection, providing easy access to downtown, West L.A., LAX and the ports of Los Angeles and See GROWTH, page B9

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

NONPROFITS INCLUDED IN THE MAIN STREET LENDING PROGRAM TAMARA GURNEY

President and CEO of Mission Valley Bank

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YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR MISSION

Part 2 of a 2-part series

his year brought business owners and nonprofits challenging obstacles of enormous proportions. Every organization experienced the pandemic in ways that were distinct to them and specific to their situation.

In the early days of the pandemic, emergency financing options — including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — were made available to help organizations manage day-to-day expenses. But not all available lending is rescue financing.

The Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program is designed to help credit flow to small and medium-sized for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations — such as educational institutions, hospitals, and social service organizations — that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the crisis, but now need loans to help maintain their operations until they have recovered from, or adapted to, the impacts of the pandemic. (For profit businesses were discussed in the Oct. 2020 issue.)

It is important to note that Main Street loans are not grants and cannot be forgiven. However, borrowers that received a PPP Loan can also receive a Main Street Loan provided they are an eligible borrower.

The Main Street nonprofit loan terms generally mirror those of for-profit business loans, including the interest rate, principal and interest payment deferral, five-year term, and minimum and maximum loan sizes. Nonprofits are eligible for two loan options: the Main Street Nonprofit New Loans (maximum loan size is lesser of $35 million or the borrower’s average 2019 quarterly revenue) and Main Street Nonprofit Expanded Loans (maximum loan size is lesser of $300 million or the borrower’s average 2019 quarterly revenue). The nonprofit must have been in operation for at least five years and have a minimum number of 10 employees. Other eligibility criteria apply.

To get started, potential borrowers should review the program and contact their current financial institution.

As a sidenote, there is tremendous value in working with a client-focused, relationship-driven banker who will invest the time necessary to get to know a client and understand their unique needs. The path to long-term success is developing long-term relationships with bankers who demonstrate expertise, experience, and dedication to their clients’ success.

Mission Valley Bank is a locally-owned, full service, independent community business bank headquartered in Sun Valley, California with a business banking office in Santa Clarita. They have SBA Preferred Lender status and are participating as an eligible lender accepting new customers from Southern California in the Main Street Lending Program. For more information visit www.MissionValleyBank.com or call (818) 394-2300. 

GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS One lesson learned during these challenging times is that having the right bank matters. Where does your business place its trust?

As a locally-owned, relationship driven, community-based business bank, Mission Valley is committed to supporting clients through the ever-changing economic challenges of this extraordinary situation.

At the close of the Paycheck Protection Program on August 8, 2020, Mission Valley Bank successfully funded 360 PPP loans securing more than $71.2 million in funding for clients. As Trusted Advisors, they continue to secure much-needed funding through a variety of loan programs to meet client needs.

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal has recognized Mission Valley Business Bankers with the honor of “Most Trusted Advisor” for the past nine years. Client relationships with shared vision, purpose, and understanding makes this possible.

“After the application for a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan got hung up in my big bank’s bureaucracy for almost a month – in spite of my being a 30-year customer – I contacted Mission Valley Bank who came to the rescue. In my opinion, CEO Tamara Gurney is a Rockstar! She called me on a Friday evening within an hour and several times over the weekend to ensure my PPP loan happened. Their small business team navigated my company’s application to approval and funding within a week.”

— Gary Saenger, Founder and President Saenger Associates – Retained Executive Search Consultants

MISSIONVALLEYBANK.COM Branches located in: SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 9116 Sunland Blvd., Sun Valley

VISIT MVB AT ITS NEW LOCATION OPENING NOVEMBER 2, 2020 SANTA CLARITA VALLEY BRANCH OFFICE 26701 McBean Parkway, Suite 100,Valencia

818.394.2300

661.753.5693

B2 · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

A FEW SCV PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

BY TAMMY MURGA Signal Staff Writer

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s 2020 approaches its end, a number of Santa Clarita Valley projects are moving from the proposal to the approval and construction stages.

The COVID-19 pandemic has paused or slowed down several sectors, but planning and construction have stayed relatively active over the past year. Among several dozen projects the city is working on with developers, three major proposals have received the OK from the city: MASTER’S UNIVERSITY The Master’s University, originally from downtown Los Angeles, TMU stretches over 82 acres in the community of Placerita Canyon, located northeast of downtown Newhall.

After a 2009 decision by the Santa Clarita City Council, the campus will expand as indicated in the institution’s master plan project, which will ultimately subdivide the site, located at 21726 Placerita Canyon Road.

The latest advancement to the project came in February, just before the pandemic, when the Planning Commission unanimously approved a two-year time extension for a proposed subdivision of the property. The expiration date is Jan. 13, 2022.

The subdivision site would section the property to create multiple lots, including several college campus lots, a residential lot for 42 single-family condominium units, open space lots, homeowners’ association lots, a private street lot and a water quality basin lot, according to a city staff report.

The master plan project would also include incremental development of the campus by up to 240,000 square feet of new and expanded buildings, extensions of Dockweiler Drive and Deputy Jake Drive and the dedication of 21 acres of open space to the city. These components, including the Dockweiler Drive extension, remain in the review stages, according to city planning officials.

“This is a procedural time extension for a tentative tract map to implement, what we call, ‘the next phase’ or ‘the major phase’ of the campus expansion,” Dennis Hardgrave, TMU’s land planning consultant, said in February.

Vertical construction can’t commence until hillside grading occurs, according to James Chow, a city senior planner.

“According to the timeline, (developers) are actively working on refining their grading plan, and I wouldn’t expect the hilltop to take a couple of years, considering the complexity here and the cost associated with grading and the infrastructure for a new roadway,” he said.

“Mainly because of the shared amount of work for grading, that’s been the cause of the delay.”

Come October, however, there were no plans to kickstart the expansion, according to Hardgrave.

“As of now, there is not a scheduled start of construction date for the subdivision,” he said.

The coronavirus pandemic has not affected the developmental aspects of the project, said Chow. Currently, the university has focused on its hybrid approach in its return to learning this fall semester.

SAND CANYON PLAZA The Sand Canyon Plaza could return before the Planning Commission next

Top: The proposal for Sand Canyon Plaza would bring a number of new homes and amenities to the East side, including 580 residential units, 60,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and an 85,000 square-foot assisted living facility with up to 140 beds.

Right: An approved, proposed addition to The Master’s University would add a number of living spaces to the Christian college’s Placerita Canyon campus. COURTESY PHOTOS

year after its approval by the City Council in September 2017, according to city planning officials.

The project, managed by Tom Clark, is Canyon Country’s newest, mixed-use community — described as “resortstyle living — that is set to include 580 residential units, 60,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and an 85,000 square-foot assisted living facility with up to 140 beds.

On 87 acres, the site is located on the northeast corner of Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads.

“The applicant (Sand Canyon Plaza LLC) is looking to make revisions at the moment, and we’re not sure what those revisions will ultimately be but we will be ready to check those out when they become available,” said Patrick LeClair, a city senior planner.

Developers were unavailable for comment, but have previously expressed that they’ve met with more than 600

community members, including from the Sand Canyon Homeowners Association, the Canyon Country Advisory Committee and nearby residential communities, to receive feedback, which ranged from support of the project to concerns over possible increased traffic and noise in the area.

“We endorsed, and agree with all of them,” said Clark in a previous interview.

Developers may need a time extension on the project, according to LeClair.

“They (the developers) will likely be meeting with the Planning Commission in early next year to extend approval of the project and they will likely need a time extension, most likely,” he said.

OLIVER HOTEL Another project already approved that hasn’t yet made construction advances is the five-story Oliver Hotel on McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard.

The project consists of a 102,000-square-foot, 134-room building

on the site of the old Greens miniature golf course and includes a free-standing restaurant.

The approval came in 2016, eight years after another developer proposed a seven-story, 200-room hotel that was approved by the Planning Commission in 2009, but appealed by the City Council.

The Oliver Hotel’s original design had to undergo design changes, as the commissioner deemed its original aesthetic too “plain,” according to Tim Burkhart, who was the vice chair of the commission at the time.

Though some grading has occurred, no construction has taken place, according to David Peterson, associate planner with the city’s planning division.

“The developer (Hunter Oliver) has not indicated yet when construction will take place,” he added. 

APPLYING THE GOLDEN RULE PAUL BUTLER Signal Contributing Writer

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ike many of my fellow Santa Claritians, I am still musing over the dreadful events that occurred at a local high school recently, where a lone gunman shot and killed two of his fellow students as well as injuring two others before taking his own life.

The phrase “humankind” does seem to be an oxymoron — as the heart of the issue does seem to be the human heart. In last week’s article I highlighted the fact that the second highest cause of death for today’s employee is homicide — the first being transportation accidents related to the workplace.

I was listening to a song by the band Mercy Me this weekend called “Crazy Enough” and one of the lyrics asks the profound question: “Call me crazy but what if we learned to love each other, treating them as you first would treat yourself.”

The simplicity of this lyric hit me between the eyes — can you imagine a world where each of us actually did apply the Golden Rule? There’d be no school shootings; no lying; no theft; no adultery; no divorce; no rape and no murder.

Now, that would make “Awesometown” awesome!

Can you imagine in the workplace if coworkers treated other coworkers in a manner they themselves would want to be treated? Imagine what that would do

Can you imagine in the workplace if coworkers treated other coworkers in a manner they themselves would want to be treated? Imagine what that would do to workplace collegiality? (MC) to workplace collegiality? Imagine when in conflict at work we sought the needs of another and not just our own interests? What would it be like if a department truly did work as a team and had a vision bigger than self-interest? Now, that would truly make it a great place to work.

Imagine how an organization would function if employees at all levels treated the financial resources of their employer as if it was their own money? Imagine what that would do to assets, expenses, income, liabilities and shareholders’ equity?

If more senior leaders treated their

direct reports in a way they themselves would like to be treated, they’d literally be turning the organizational pyramid upside-down. How wonderful would it be if those in the greatest positions saw themselves as being of service to the lower levels rather than being so self-serving?

Talking of serving — what about customer service? Wouldn’t you agree with me, at the heart of poor customer service is when you as the consumer felt you weren’t treated how you believe you should have been treated?

Why can’t we apply the Golden Rule?

What is it within our DNA that causes all

these problems between human beings?

It seems we really are just fallible, imperfect individuals. We’re not all as bad as we could be and we’re obviously not all as good as we should be.

To lift our spirits, my wife and I decided to go and watch the feel-good movie: “A beautiful day in the Neighborhood” about the life of Fred Rogers. Surely, he was a perfect human being?

It seems he wasn’t, as what I found very haunting about the movie was the closing scene where Mr. Rogers banged all the keys on the piano (which was one of his ways of dealing with the anger and frustration he felt inside). So even Mr. Rogers, it seemed, had a heart condition.

My hope is that as leaders, team supervisors, coworkers and consumers we rhetorically just “bang all the keys on the piano” in solace now and again to vent our frustration rather than shoot, stab, cut, slash, pierce, hit, kick, beat and shove people — which according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, some of us are guilty of.

My hope for this Thanksgiving is that we would see more of the kindness put back into human kindness. Yes, that would indeed make a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

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 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · B3

HOW TO IMPROVE COMPANY PROFITS KEN KELLER

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SCVBJ Contributing Writer o improve business profitability, you must either make a larger gross profit on each dollar of sales or sell more without increasing fixed

costs.

Whether you are a service firm, distribution company or a manufacturer, you must continually look at your direct (variable) costs to see if you can maintain or improve the quality of your product or service at a lower cost.

You also need to focus on maintaining or reducing fixed costs. Many of my clients set a goal to keep overhead as a set percentage of sales.

It goes without saying that the biggest improvement in profits will occur if you can achieve both simultaneously.

START WITH DIRECT COSTS Remember your Gross Profit is the difference between the price of your product or service and what it costs you to purchase or create it. Therefore, the only way to increase your gross profit is to sell at a higher price or purchase/produce at a lower cost.

In most instances — but notably, not all — you will have limited scope to purchase or produce at a lower price.

However, it never hurts to ask for and to attempt to negotiate lower costs or more favorable terms and conditions from your suppliers. I have one client who negotiated with a key supplier not only a lower price for a direct cost, but also received a six-month hiatus on payments.

SECOND: ADDRESS PRICING Without a doubt, the biggest single barrier preventing CEOs from making an acceptable profit is their refusal to charge a price that will enable them to achieve this goal.

You are not in business to match the price your competitors set; you are in business to service your clients and to make a reasonable profit when doing so.

In fact, studies of the various factors that buyers regard as important influences on their decision to deal with any business indicates that product and price are relevant in only 15% of cases.

Not every buyer is a price only buyer and you need to ask yourself if that is the kind of client you want to have in your client portfolio.

Trying to hold or win market share using price discounting is the lazy CEOs competitive strategy.

It is relevant and applicable in only one situation and that is where you have a definite cost advantage (either variable or fixed) over your competitors and your product or service is one where customers are very price sensitive.

As an example: United Airlines has “owned” the Denver market for decades. Every time a competitor would enter the market, United would lower fares and simply wait until the competitor gave up the battle and left the market. United would then raise prices back to where

In most instances, there’s not a lot of “wiggle room” in terms of product of production cost, but in an environment like this, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s a discount available, writes expert Ken Keller.

(MC)

“

Whether you are a service firm, distribution company or a manufacturer, you must continually look at your direct (variable) costs to see if you can maintain or improve the quality of your product or service at a lower cost.

they were once again making a profit.

I have done some number crunching on the subject.

If your gross profit margin is 30% and you reduce prices by 10%, you need a huge sales volume increase — 50% — to maintain your gross profit dollars.

Rarely has such a strategy worked in the past and it’s unlikely that it will work in the future.

Once you start reducing prices it is very hard to increase them again. In most market segments, it soon becomes a race to the bottom, and no one wins.

Buyers understand justifiable price increases if they can be explained. My own advice to my clients is to raise

prices on a regular basis, backed by data from the Consumer Price Index or the Gross Domestic Product Price Index, which measures changes in the prices of goods and services produced in the United States.

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

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.



2020 DIRECTORS

B4 · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

CHAIR OF THE BOARD NANCY STARCZYK

Realty Executives

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

JOHN VANCE

Vance Wealth

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANDREA CARPENTER

Logix

STEVE COLE

SCV Water Agency

JASON CRAWFORD

City of Santa Clarita

JEFFREY FORREST

College of the Canyons

MONICA HARRISON

LA Film Locations

BRIAN HIGGINS

AAA Companies

PAM INGRAM

Re/Max of Valencia

ALEEN MANCHESTER

California Resources Corporation

PATRICK MOODY

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

BRIAN O’CONNOR

Princess Cruises

DAN REVETTO AT&T HENRY RODRIGUEZ

State Farm Insurance

SANDY SANCHEZ FivePoint 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 The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has the following 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.

10TH ANNUAL SALUTE TO PATRIOTS

In partnership with the City of Santa Clarita and collaboration with the Veterans Collaborative, we are proud to announce the honorees for the 10th annual Salute to Patriots: an event honoring local veterans for their service to our nation and leadership in our business community.

The 2020 honorees (listed alphabetically) are: • Hon. Bill Miranda • Phuong Quach • Paul Raggio • Jeffrey Stabile • Leslie Thorpe Veterans were nominated by both chamber members and local residents and selected by a committee composed of veterans and business leaders. Given the pandemic, the SCV Chamber has revamped most of their events to follow health and safety guidelines. With the Patriots Luncheon being one of the chamber’s most popular events, the decision to revamp the event virtually was simple.

Each individual honoree video will be shown daily leading up to Veterans Day , the full program will be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The honoree videos and full virtual program can be watched via the Chamber, The Signal, KHTS and The Magazine of Santa Clarita social media pages, as well as on SCVTV at 5:30 p.m.

SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE We recently announced the launch of our newest initiative, the Small Business Roundtable. As a branch off from the Chamber’s Small Business Council, the purpose of the Roundtable will be to help improve the survivability of recently launched small businesses, to sustain success of existing small businesses, and to help grow small businesses into larger businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Roundtable will host monthly discussions on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, sales, taxes, operational efficiencies, trademark, online marketing and employee incentives. Each session, the Roundtable will invite a professional to discuss a more technical topic and give a personal insight to current rules and regulation updates. This is a chamber member exclusive.

Industry & Technology

The first meeting is scheduled virtually for Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 a.m.

Small Business

If you are interested in joining the Small Business Council or would like to be informed of our Small Business Roundtable, please email hello@scvchamber.com. The Roundtable will be meeting virtually every second Friday of the month from 7-8:45 a.m.

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.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS Nov. 3 at noon Empowered Women Network with Jennifer Abbot from Human Element Company Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.

COVID Resource Webinar Series Working for You, Your Chamber of Commerce Nov. 13 at 7 a.m.

Small Business Roundtable Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.

Business After Hours Virtual Mixer hosted by LBW Insurance and Financial Services 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, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · B5

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

ELECTION WATCH 2020

Check out the SCV Chamber’s Election Watch 2020 page, under the Advocacy tab, for all the latest information on this year’s election.

Currently, you are able to find the Chamber’s official candidate endorsements as well as local and state initiative positions. There are also resources for you to find out where you can drop your ballot off, how to track your ballot once it’s been submitted and where you can vote safely in person.

On the night of election, check out our page and click on Election Results to follow along during the evening as results are announced.

CA-25 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE FORUM We were pleased to host Congressmember Mike Garcia and Assemblywoman Christy Smith for the only Congressional Candidate Forum held in the 25th District.

We had a chance to hear what each candidate’s vision is for the 25th Congressional District, what their goals are for to continuously better our business community and what their plans are as soon as they get into office.

If you missed this, or the City Council forum, please visit our Election Watch 2020 page, under the Advocacy tab, to check out both forums.

SCV CHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS

The Chamber’s Board of Directors has endorsed 16 candidates. Below, and on the Election Watch 2020 web page, which can be found on our website, www.scvchamber.com under the Advocacy tab, you will be able to find which candidates have officially been endorsed.

California’s 21st State Senate District Hon. Scott Wilk California’s 38th Assembly District Suzette Martinez Valladares Santa Clarita City Council Hon. Cameron Smyth Jason Gibbs College of the Canyon Board of Trustees Tony Watson - Area 2 Fred Arnold - Area 3 Hon. Michele Jenkins - Area 4 Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Hon. Gary Martin - District 1 Karla Waymire - District 1 Hon. Ed Colley - District 2 Piotr Orzechowski - District 2 Hon. BJ Atkins - District 3 Hon. Maria Gutzeit - District 3 William S. Hart Union High School District Hon. Linda Storli - Area 1 Hon. Steve Sturgeon - Area 4 Saugus Union School District Matthew Watson - Area 4

SCV CHAMBER LOCAL AND STATE INITIATIVE POSITIONS The Chamber’s Board of Directors have officially taken a position on the following initiatives: LA COUNTY MEASURE J — OPPOSE The measure, annually allocating in the County’s budget no less than ten percent (10%) of the County’s locally generated unrestricted revenues in the general fund to address the disproportionate impact of racial injustice through community investment and alternatives to incarceration and prohibiting using those funds for carceral systems and law enforcement agencies as detailed in the ordinance adopting the proposed charter amendment, be adopted.

PROPOSITION 15: SPLIT ROLL — OPPOSE Increases funding for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial property.

OUR ADVOCACY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT. JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY TO STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY GET READY TO VOTE - NOVEMBER 3 With the November 3 General Election rapidly approaching, we wanted to inform you about some important changes and updates.

• Due to COVID-19 there may be fewer in-person voting locations than normal, however voting locations will be opened earlier.

• All registered California voters should have received a vote-by-mail ballot with a prepaid postage return envelope.

• All voters can now get critical updates on their ballots through California’s official “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking tool by visiting www.california. ballottrax.net. You will be able to track when your ballot was mailed, received and counted.

VOTE BY MAIL Every registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2020, General Election. County elections officials will begin mailing ballots to voters by October 5, 2020.

After marking your choices on your vote-by-mail ballot, place it in the official envelope provided by your county elections office and seal it. Sign the envelope where directed. You have multiple options for returning your ballot. To ensure your ballot arrives by the deadline, return it either: • By mail: Must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by your county elections office no later than November 20. No postage is required.

• In person: Drop off at your county elections office or any vote center, polling place, or ballot drop-off location in California before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

Even if you receive your vote-by-mail ballot and envelope, you can still vote in person at your polling place on Election Day. Bring your vote-by-mail ballot to the polling place and give it to a poll worker to exchange for a polling place ballot.

IN-PERSON VOTE CENTERS Polling locations will be open from Saturday, October 31 through November 2 for at least eight hours each day and from 7am to 8pm on Election Day. To find a polling location, visit www.vote.ca.gov or text “Vote” to GOVOTE (468683).

Los Angeles County also allows you to vote at any vote center.

Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value. Exempts from this change: residential properties; agricultural properties; and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less. Increased education funding will supplement existing school funding guarantees. Exempts small businesses from personal property tax; for other businesses, exempts $500,000 worth of personal property.

PROPOSITION 19: PROPERTY TAX BREAKS AND CLOSING THE “LEBOWSKI LOOPHOLE” (ACA 11) — SUPPORT Allow homeowners who are over 55, disabled or victims of natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one. It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax payments. Most of the additional money raised would go into a state fire response fund.

PROPOSITION 21: RENT CONTROL — OPPOSE Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control on residential property.

Amends state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. Allows rent increases on rent-controlled properties of up to 15 percent over three years from previous tenant’s rent above any increase allowed by local ordinance. Exempts individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies. In accordance with California law, provides that rent-control policies may not violate landlords’ right to a fair financial return on their property.

PROPOSITION 22: SELF-EMPLOYMENT FOR RIDE-HAIL AND OTHER APP-DRIVERS — SUPPORT Changes employment classification rules for app-based transportation and delivery drivers.

Establishes different criteria for determining whether app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers are “employees” or “independent contractors.” Independent contractors are not entitled to certain state-law protections afforded employees—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Instead, companies with independent-contractor drivers will be required to provide specified alternative benefits, including minimum compensation and healthcare subsidies based on engaged driving time, vehicle insurance, safety training, and sexual harassment policies.

Restricts local regulation of app-based drivers; criminalizes impersonation of such drivers; requires background checks.

PROPOSITION 24: STRONGER CONSUMER PRIVACY LAWS — OPPOSE Amends consumer privacy laws.

Permits consumers to: (1) prevent businesses from sharing personal information; (2) correct inaccurate personal information; and (3) limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information”—such as precise geolocation; race; ethnicity; religion; genetic data; union membership; private communications; and certain sexual orientation, health, and biometric information. Changes criteria for which businesses must comply with these laws. Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than reasonably necessary. Triples maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under age 16. Establishes California Privacy Protection Agency to enforce and implement consumer privacy laws and impose administrative fines. Requires adoption of substantive regulations.

B6 · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

FILMING IS BACK IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY HOLLY SCHROEDER President & CEO of SCVEDC

H

ollywood North has become a common moniker of the Santa Clarita Valley in reference to the large amount of filming that takes place here. And it’s true – there are many TV shows, feature films, music videos and commercials shot in our region. After an industry-wide shutdown affecting film and television productions and thousands of workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming is finally back, and SCV sound stages are filling up quickly.

The Santa Clarita Valley has been popular with those in the industry since there was an industry. Our varied and beautiful terrain, proximity to Los Angeles, location at the edge of the 30 Mile Zone and our numerous movie ranches and sound stages make it an ideal location for filming. In recent years, the city of Santa Clarita’s filmfriendly attitude and Film Incentive Program, and the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program have brought many productions that had been lured out of state back “home.” Now the SCV is hotter than ever because productions are seeking locations closer to home due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.

And with space at sound stages at a premium, our region has added several more over the past year to accommodate the demand including the expansion of Santa Clarita Studios and the addition of LA North Studios in Valencia Industrial Center. These new soundstages bring the region’s total number close to 40. Studio interest remains high in the Santa Clarita Valley in stateof-the-art industrial developments like The Center at Needham Ranch.

In recent years, the Santa Clarita Valley has also become home to a growing number of companies that work in the background to support the film industry.

Illumination Dynamics, a leader in providing lighting, grip and power distribution services to the live entertainment industry, relocated from Sylmar to The Center at Needham Ranch. Triscenic Productions, which provides transportation and storage solutions for movie studios, has expanded multiple times in SCV. Elite Media Technologies, a post-production company that partners with Nexflix and others, relocated to the Santa Clarita Valley from Burbank, and Richard Photo Lab, a company that specializes in film and video processing and printing expanded to a new, larger facility last year.

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. 

ACCESS THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY'S

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SCV BUSINESS VOICES

3 COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING HEALTH DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

W

hen 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 Will my hearing worsen without hearing aids?

A No. In fact, hearing loss and its associated health conditions can continue to worsen if it is left untreated.

Hearing aids help you pick up on what you’ve been missing and keep your brain used to hearing different kinds of sounds in your environment. Because hearing loss is connected to other serious health concerns, such as dementia and depression, it’s important to treat your hearing loss as soon as possible.

Q Is tinnitus a type of hearing loss?

A Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” is not a type of hearing loss. Tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss or another issue, such as stress, ear infection, or a disease of the heart or blood vessels. Tinnitus is incredibly common. In fact, 94% of people with normal hearing experience tinnitus at some point in their life.

Q What are the advantages of Bluetooth hearing aids?

A Bluetooth hearing aids allow you to connect wirelessly to your smartphone or TV. They allow you to stream music, phone calls, and other audio directly to your hearing aids. You can also adjust your settings discreetly through a smartphone app. Control your volume and listening environments from your phone for an easy experience.

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! 

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · B7

SCV HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Staff Writer

A

s the economy continues to recover in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, housing prices hit a record high in the Santa Clarita Valley in September.

The median price of homes hit a record of $759,000, up 21.8% from a year ago, while the condominium median price rose 16.6% to $436,000, according to reports released Oct. 15 by the Southland Regional Association of Realtors.

This comes after the market took a nosedive in May, as the impacts of the shutdown were seen in the SCV, with only 111 single-family homes sold, down 54.5% from last year, according to SRAR reports.

“The shutdown from the coronavirus hit hard, driving sales and all activity down dramatically in May,” Louisa Henry, chair of the SCV division of the SRAR, said in a prepared statement. “Yet, the pandemic also unleashed heavy demand throughout Santa Clarita, fueled by historically low interest rates.”

Following the near record low figures in May, the housing market began its rebound, with sales of existing single-family homes surpassing 2019 totals for the third consecutive month in September.

A total of 268 single-family homes were sold in September, up 38.1% from last year, while the 132 condominiums sales increased 83.3% from 2019, per SRAR reports.

With interest rates at historic lows combined with the pent-up demand caused by the shutdown, SCV financial analysts agree that the housing market will continue to remain strong.

The SCV real estate market, fueled by high demand and affordable loans, remained strong in September according to local Realtors. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL “Affordability has gone up, and with rates going down, people can actually afford more house,” Jerrod Ferguson, vice president at Vance Wealth, said in a previous Signal interview. “With rates at all-time, historic lows, the million-dollar house that was never affordable, now all of a sudden is … (as) their budget’s a little bit higher because they’re able to borrow more money at cheaper rates.”

However, the brake on activity will be a lack of inventory, as the 323 active listings were down 37.8%, though pending escrows, which is a measure of future

sales, were up 37.6%, according to SRAR officials.

Even so, Henry said multiple offers were abundant, with buyer demand likely to keep sales high well into the fall.

SRAR member and SCV Realtor Marc Leos agreed, adding that it’s the low interest rates that will continue to assist in the recovery.

“Even with the low inventory, buyers are continuing their search,” Leos said.

“These interest rates are hard to pass up.”

Back in May, Leos was much less optimistic of the market’s rebound, but he’s

completely changed that opinion.

“Thankfully, I was wrong, and the market has surprised me,” Leos added. “It’s been extremely encouraging to see the turnaround, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future real estate market brings post COVID.” In addition, Leos anticipates new developments, such as Vista Canyon in Canyon Country and FivePoint in Valencia, will assist in providing inventory to those looking to purchase homes in the SCV. 

SANTA CLARITA JOBS PICTURE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

BY PERRY SMITH Signal Business Journal Editor

S

City Comparison of September Unemployment Figures

anta Clarita’s employment rate continued to improve in September, ahead of most cities of comparable size; however unemployment remains about twice the rate it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

With about 108,000 workers and 93,300 employment, the city’s unemployment rate was 13.6%, not a number that most cities want, when full employment is considered approximately 5%, but it’s all relative. Glendale, which nearly has as many workers as Santa Clarita at 101,500 workers, has an unemployment rate of 15.8%.

The return of filming, as well as rules for reopening salons at 25% and, most recently, skin care and cosmetology services and tattoo parlors, will no doubt continue to play a role in helping the city work its way down from the historic highs the unemployment rate saw in April and May. Just this past week, the city of Santa Clarita approved permits for 10 TV shows scheduled to film, in addition got four commercials and a feature film.

Recently, Public Health officials added esthetician, skin care and cosmetology services, non-medical

City Santa Clarita city Burbank

Labor Force 108,000 57,600

Employment 93,300 48,400

Unemployment 14,700 9,300

Rate 13.6% 16.1%

Glendale city Lancaster Long Beach Palmdale

101,500 63,300 232,900 63,000

85,500 52,400 196,200 52,100

16,100 10,900 36,600 10,900

15.8% 17.2% 15.7% 17.3%

San Fernando city

11,400

9,700

1,600

14.3%

electrology, body art professionals, microblading and permanent makeup, piercing shops, tanning services and nail salons to the list of reopened businesses.

The move comes after county officials announced last week they would adjust the health officer order to allow for additional reopenings with modifications, following California’s announcement Tuesday to allow personal

care services to resume.

“I hope this provides much-needed relief and respite for residents who are looking for some activities outside of their homes, (and) these updates will also bring more employees back to work,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose 5th District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing. 

Economic Development Corporation THE SCVEDC IS YOUR ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR BUSINESS NEEDS Santa Clarita Valley

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

chain experts have matched companies with capacity to those in need and have solved the most unique problems for manufacturers, such as finding packaging for niche products, tubing for electronics products, PPE equipment for medical organizations, and even special solid state motors for renewable energy companies. Whether you need assistance in addressing supply chain disruptions, or need help filling your extra manufacturing capacity, register your company for Supplier Scouting and Matching services. Learn more: www.scvedc.org/ supplier-matching-program

BY HOLLY SCHROEDER President and CEO of the SCV EDC

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he Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp.’s overarching goals are to support the creation of high-paying jobs for our trained workforce, stimulate economic activity that grows the regional tax base, and strategically position the SCV and its businesses to better compete in the global economy.

SCVEDC offers many services and resources to local businesses to help the access tax credits and incentives, workforce development and training, provides vital data and information, and connects companies for networking and peer support.

Here are just a few of the programs SCVEDC offers to support local businesses: LIVEWORKSCV.COM LiveWorkSCV.com is a comprehensive, highly visible job board that matches SCV career opportunities with SCV residents who want a job closer to home. Employers can post jobs, search for qualified professionals, or become a “featured employer.”

Job seekers can search for jobs, create a profile on LiveWorkSCV.com, and sign up to receive job alerts when employers post a position that matches their qualifications.

This is a free resource open to SCV employers and residents. Learn more: www.LiveWorkSCV.com

ADF The Aerospace & Defense Forum, with seven other chapters located across Southern California, Arizona and Texas, is a membership-based leadership community that provides opportunities for sharing of information, current events, and analysis, mutual support and encouragement, partnering, innovation, and performance breakthroughs.

The Santa Clarita Valley Chapter meets monthly with informative presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Learn more: www.scvedc.org/ aerospace-defense SUPPLIER MATCHING PROGRAM In collaboration with our partner, CMTC, the Supplier Scouting and Matching Program is now available to all California manufacturers. CMTC’s supply

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORECAST Each year, the SCVEDC compiles a research book with information vital to your business. The Economic Outlook Forecast features information and data that will help business leaders prepare for both the short term and the long term.

Economic forecasts are important for companies that need to have a picture of what the economic trends will be and how that will affect the decisions they make. An updated outlook book can be downloaded here: www.scvedc.org/ outlook The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. is a unique private-public partnership representing the united effort of regional industry and government leaders. The SCVEDC utilizes an integrated approach to attracting, retaining and expanding a diversity of businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley, especially those in key industry clusters, by offering competitive business services and other resources. 

B8 · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

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t was fall 1989, and XVIII Airborne Corps, our nation’s contingency force, was secretly planning in earnest to invade Panama and capture the de facto Panamanian leader, general and dictator Manuel Noriega. I was the law enforcement planning officer, and part of the team squirreled away on the top floor of the Corps Headquarters.

With me were representatives from all the major combat, combat support and combat service support elements making up the joint forces executing the operation.

Sequestered from the Fort Bragg population, we swore secrecy about the operation and discussed it with a very select and limited number of people. This was my first exposure to the Army’s detailed planning and Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), where life-and-death outcomes were, in part, determined by our thoroughness.

The MDMP contains seven steps. The second step, titled “Mission Analysis,” is by far the most important. If you get this step wrong, then the succeeding steps — course of action development, analysis, comparison and selection, all determined by the mission analysis — become irrelevant. In the mission analysis step of the process, defining the problem to be solved is paramount, and the purpose is to understand the situation with as much clarity as possible, visualize the outcome that leads to a successful conclusion, and articulate this visualization and outcome to those tasked to perform the mission.

Using this process counters three

decision-making fatal flaws: decide a problem is solved, when in fact, it remains; determine a problem is not solved, when in fact, it is; and devote effort in solving the wrong problem, thus, exhausting precious resources.

BUSINESS APPLICATION Just imagine businesses, no matter size or sector, using their own formalized planning process in creating their vision, mission, goals and objectives. The success and growth rates explode because companies bring clarity to where they are headed (vision), how they intend on getting there (mission), the progress pillars achieved along the way (goals) and the tasks assigned to team members responsible for carrying them out (objectives).

Absolute clarity, although never realized, is what businesses seek — clarity of their offerings, price-points, target markets, sales cycles, ideal customers, reliable vendors, cash availability, creditworthiness.

The value of planning is to draw out this clarity in solving current and foreseen challenges along the pathway to achieving the company’s vision, for, without a plan, there is nowhere to go.

I’ve observed many business owners struggle with company goal formation and development, the essential progress pillars needed to achieve its mission, and solidify its annual business plan. They lack a goal formation and development process, don’t know where to start or how to craft statements that are specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented and time-framed. The key to goal formation always starts with defining the problem … what is it you’re trying to solve.

See PLAN, page B9

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · B9

FOUR QUESTIONS

DR. KEVIN BOLDER

Dr. Kevin Bolder, Au.D, is the owner of Audiology Associates, which has been chosen as the “Best of” by the Santa Clarita Valley for 11 years in a row.

Bolder can be reached by contacting him at his office at 23838 Valencia Blvd., Suite 100, online at AudiologyAssociates.net or calling (661) 284-1900. the anatomy and physiology of the ear and properties of sound, I knew audiology would be a rewarding career choice.

This led me to a master’s degree in communicative disorders and ultimately a doctor of audiology degree.

2. What does Dr. Bolder enjoy most about running a practice in the Santa Clarita Valley?

1. How did Dr. Bolder first become interested in audiology?

As a child, my grandfather used hearing aids because of damage to his hearing from loud farm equipment. I was fascinated how he could hear so much better with such small electronic devices. This fascination with hearing and electronics stayed with me throughout college.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology and enjoying classes regarding

I really enjoy running into my patients around the Santa Clarita Valley and seeing how well they are performing with their hearing aids. It’s great to know that the devices my office prescribed make a huge impact on the daily lives and the communication abilities of the members of my community.

3. Recent Public Health orders have changed how everyone does business. How has Audiology Associates adjusted to make patients feel

safe in this new environment?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging, but we continue to practice audiology safely with our patients. While the office was closed for five weeks, we learned how the virus spreads and what extra precautions are needed to keep patients and staff safe.

In addition to thorough sanitizing of surfaces, staff members are wearing face masks and gloves. We continue to encourage our older patients who are immunocompromised to stay safe at home. We suggest that a family member or friend drop their hearing aids at our office for service. We also offer telehealth care so that patients’ hearing needs can be addressed from the comfort and safety of their own home.

Some hearing aids have the capability of being adjusted through an application on a patient’s smartphone with no

office visit necessary.

4. How has technology and innovation helped Audiology Associates better serve its patients in recent years?

Hearing aid technology has rapidly improved over the past few years.

Hearing aids continue to get smarter with faster processing and more features than ever before. These advancements have made it so much easier for us to help our patients with their communication needs. Patients can hear better and clearer in difficult listening environments like restaurants, parties, watching television and talking on their cell phones. Today’s hearing aid technology utilizes many new features that some people may not even know about. Examples of these features include: • applications for smartphone control of hearing aid settings • Bluetooth audio streaming from cell phones, home phones, iPads, tablets, televisions and computers • Fall alerts • Transcription of conversations • Foreign language translation • And remote microphones, just to name a few. 

GROWTH

Continued from page B1 Long Beach, according to the SCVEDC. “This project is going to be such a big driver for the economy with all of the businesses and all the jobs that come with that, providing, obviously, new opportunities for folks to work here instead of having to commute down to Los Angeles,” Crawford added.

VISTA CANYON Situated near Highway 14 and the Via Princessa offramp in Canyon Country, the 185-acre Vista Canyon project is set to become a mixed-use, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly community with townhomes, singlefamily residences and luxury apartments, as well as office and commercial space, a new transit center and more than 21 acres preserved for recreation.

“That’s really a unique one, and when you think that 50% of the population in the Santa Clarita Valley lives in Canyon Country, that’s going to be a really nice project, not only for companies that want to have their offices there, but just an amenity to that group of the population in the SCV,” Peters said.

They completed the first office building, and the city of Santa Clarita is working with them right now on what will be the second office building, which will be in construction soon, according to Crawford.

IAC COMMERCE CENTER This is a 1.3 million square foot brand new industrial development is situated on 116 acres located north of Highway 126 in Valencia.

The development consists of seven newly constructed industrial buildings, with phase one already completed and fully occupied.

The facility features 32 dock-high positions, 30-foot ceilings, one ground-level loading door, heavy power and abundant parking.

ORCHARD MEDICAL CENTER This two-story, 41,244-square-foot medical building sits on the northwest corner of Orchard Village Road and Wiley Canyon Road.

“They got approved at the end of last year, and then they were in construction through this year, and it is finished now,” Crawford said.

The project consists of the medical office building, along with site improvements, including more than 200 parking spaces and 16,700 square feet of landscaped area on a 2.76-acre site.

“The interesting thing with this one is they can sell off medical office condominium units, so that building really has the ability to do sales or leases from as small as 2,500 square feet up to the entire building of 41,244 square feet,” Peters said.

TOURNEY PLACE, BUILDING 6 The new three-story medical office building, located at 27335 Tourney Road, is a 45,675-square-foot addition to the larger Tourney Plaza III, which sits across from the Valencia Country Club.

They’ve just finished the shell construction, with CBRE already in negotiations with some potential tenants.

PLAN

Continued from page B8 CLARITY IS ESSENTIAL Similar to the second step in the MDMP, mission analysis, you want to understand the situation with as much clarity as possible, visualize the outcome that leads to a successful conclusion, and then articulate this outcome in your annual plan to those charged with carrying it out.

In further developing each goal, determine the resources and time you need to achieve it. If you don’t have the resources to invest or the time to complete the goal, it doesn’t meet the attainability test and eliminate it. Next, determine if achieving the goal is aligned with your mission and vision, and if not, it doesn’t meet the results-oriented test and eliminate it.

Leaders seek and provide clarity to their team by guiding them through the goal formation and development process,

Top: The Old Orchard Medical Building will provide a number of new services and spaces for the NewhallValencia area. Bottom: Vista Canyon brings a new, commuter-friendly community to the East side, near Via Princess and Highway 14. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL “Primarily, it can be general office, but really, there’s been a lot of demand for medical space, and so we’re seeing both inquiries from general office and medical office tenants in that area,” Peters added.

SKYLINE RANCH PLAZA The new mixed development is located on the corner of Plum Canyon Road and Skyline Ranch Road, giving Plum Canyon residents much-anticipated shopping and dining options nearby.

“It’s pretty exciting, seeing new retail centers open, with restaurants and stores,” Crawford said, adding that Telly’s Charburger, the longtime Santa Clarita staple, has moved over to the plaza.

In the SCV, new development will fuel business and population growth for years to come, creating opportunities for both local residents and businesses, according to the SCVEDC.

testing to ensure each goal is specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented and time-framed. And if a goal fails any of these tests, it’s eliminated from consideration. By doing so, leaders guard against deciding a problem is solved, when in fact, it remains; determining a problem is not solved, when in fact, it is; and devoting effort to solving the wrong problem, thus, exhausting precious resources.

Following this goal formation and development process provides the clarity businesses seek and document in their annual business plan to achieve outstanding results. With a plan, you will always see the pathway in front of you. Without one, there’s nowhere to go. 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. One True North is located at 28494 Westinghouse Place, Suite 209, and can be reached at (661) 309-9048. .

“There are definitely businesses that are betting on Santa Clarita moving forward with these projects, and we at the city are doing everything we can to be poised to have a strong recovery from this COVID crisis,” Crawford said.

Schroeder agreed, adding, “The new developments in the pipeline should really help the Santa Clarita Valley come out of this recession. Construction is likely to lead us out of the recession, and the fact that we have this pipeline is very good for us.

“Industrial construction is still underway, and despite the uncertainty of the economy, there’s a really strong demand for it and we’re seeing a lot of interest in it,” she added. “The state-of-the-art buildings that are under construction should really help with bringing more jobs to the Santa Clarita Valley.”. 

In the mission analysis step of the process, defining the problem to be solved is paramount, and the purpose is to understand the situation with as much clarity as possible, writes expert Paul Raggio. (MC)

B10 · SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

ASSESSOR OFFERS WARNING TO CONSUMERS ABOUT TAX SCAM

BY JEFF PRANG Los Angeles County Assessor

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here has been a report to one of my district offices in another part of the county of a property tax scam under the guise of COVID-19. I’m going to share with you what we know, and what to do if contacted.

Here’s what we know: Unknown people have attempted to fraudulently collect a property tax payment in person at a taxpayer’s home because of COVID-19. The individuals may have presented fake identification, along with the tax bill for this specific homeowner. These individuals allegedly are claiming that the homeowner must pay their property tax in-person because the COVID-19 pandemic has closed county offices to the public.

Although this is primarily a Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector issue because the Assessor does not collect taxes, the report came into one of my district offices and I felt obliged to alert the public to the possibility of this heinous, criminal act.

In fact, the alleged victim reportedly did write a check for the exact amount for the first and second installments of the property tax bill only to place a stop-payment a few hours later when it was revealed this was a fraudulent act.

It’s important to remember that this scam has not been reported to my knowledge anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley. The alleged act apparently took place in Rowland Heights, and we’re only aware of the one victim.

However, these are challenging times to say the least, and we felt it important to alert the media and the public to this scam.

My colleague, Treasurer and Tax Collector Keith Knox issued this prepared statement: “Please note that the County of Los Angeles Treasurer and Tax Collector does not conduct in-person visits to collect property tax payments and that any attempts to collect in-person payments are fraudulent. Should you be contacted at your home or hear about this in your neighborhood, do not make payment to the person requesting it and notify local law enforcement immediately. Be sure to provide a detailed description of the individual.”

I want to reiterate that sentiment and add that it’s important to be cautious with anybody making unsolicited offers. And please remember that appraisers sometimes will visit homes to appraise the property but our appraisers will never ask for tax payments. Never.

“This scam is sophisticated but do not fall for it,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a prepared statement. “County officials are not going to any homes to collect property tax payments – in fact, the Treasurer Tax Collector Office is not accepting is not accepting any in-person payments at this time.”

Here’s what we know: Unknown people have attempted to fraudulently collect a property tax payment in person at a taxpayer’s home because of COVID-19.

Finally, the TTC and Assessor offices are closed to the public and the TTC is not accepting in-person payments. The TTC accepts payments online, by mail, or over the telephone. For details on available property tax payment options, visit ttc.lacounty.gov. For assessor information, go to assessor.lacounty.gov.

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in

office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,400 employees and provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates $17 billion annually. 

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MANAGING YOUR WEIGHT AS YOU AGE PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

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lanning for the future is just as important when you’re 50 as it was when you were 18. To stay physically fit and in good health as you get older, it’s smart to manage your weight now.

People’s weight often creeps up on them as they grow older. One reason is that you may be burning fewer calories at an older age, especially if you are not very physically active. If you want to prevent weight gain, you’ll need to eat fewer calories and continue — or start — a regular exercise routine.

FIND OUT YOUR HEALTHY WEIGHT The first step toward maintaining a healthy weight in older age is to find out what a healthy weight is for you.

There are two good ways to do this: Ask your doctor about your body mass index (BMI).

BMI uses your height and weight to calculate your body fat. Your doctor can measure your BMI to find out where your weight falls on a scale of normal, overweight or obese.

Measure your waist. A waist measurement of more than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men is unhealthy and puts you at risk for a number of health problems, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

WHY DOES WEIGHT MATTER? Being overweight can have a variety of harmful health effects.

For example, being overweight or obese may increase your risk for: • Heart disease • High blood pressure • Type 2 diabetes • Bone and joint problems MANAGING YOUR WEIGHT THROUGH THE YEARS Keeping a healthy weight isn’t a short-term project.

To ensure that your weight stays in a healthy range in the years to come, you’ll need to make the following healthy lifestyle choices a permanent part of your life: Eat well. Although you may need fewer calories as you age, you still need to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Focus on foods that are rich in nutrients, such as: • A wide range of fruits and vegetables • Whole grains • Fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy products • Fish, lean meats, poultry and eggs • Beans, nuts and seeds Your goal is to get 150 minutes of physical activity every week, or 30 minutes on most days of the week. If that still sounds daunting, you can reach your goal by exercising in 10-minute bursts.

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. 