SCV Business Journal November 2021

SAN TA CL A R ITA VA L L E Y

BUSINESS O F F I CI A L P U B L ICATIO N O F TH E SCV CH AM BER OF C OM M ER CE

J O UR N AL

A Look at New Home Construction 5 Eviction moratorium Continuing to bring uncertainty 7 Spotlight on: Adel Villalobos 8 Craft Beer Scene 27 Santa Clarita Stock Index Keller Raggio Econo watch and More!

November 2021 VOL 13 • No 11 SCVBJ.COM

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N O V E M B E R 2021

2 0 2 1 Q U A R T E R LY B U S I N E S S E D U C AT I O N S E R I E S

EMPLOYMENT LAW Q4 UPDATE Protecting You and Your Business What Every Business Owner/Manager Needs to Know

Feel beat up running your business with the dozens of new labor-related laws introduced just this year?

Join Mission Valley Bank in the center ring with Brian Koegle, Poole Shaffery & Koegle, as he delivers more than a few punches of information your business needs to stay standing.

ROUND ONE:

COVID-19 in the Workplace Update

ROUND TWO:

Wage and Hour Law Updates

ROUND THREE: Harassment, Discrimination and Settlement Agreements ROUND FOUR:

Best Practices in a New Normal

Presenting Speaker:

Brian E. Koegle, Poole Shaffery & Koegle

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 10AM - 11:30AM Complimentary Virtual Seminar

No cost to attend but registration required.

Register online at www.MissionValleyBankRSVP.com For questions or to learn more about Mission Valley Bank’s business education seminars, contact Carrie Burrell at 818.394.2334 or CBurrell@missionvalleybank.com

M I S S I O N VA L L E Y B A N K . C O M Branches located in: SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 9116 Sunland Blvd., Sun Valley 818.394.2300

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY BRANCH OFFICE 26701 McBean Parkway, Suite 100,Valencia 661.753.5693

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N O V E M B E R 2021

C O N T E N T S NEWS & FEATURES

5 Housing market ready for new construction 7 Housing uncertainty continues to linger 8 CEO Spotlight: Adel Villalobos 10

SCV market showing seasonal ‘leveling off’

16

FivePoint Valencia Offers High Value, Lifestyle Choices

17

Santa Clarita Stock Average

21

Catching up on the local craft beer scene

22

Newsom extends outdoor dining

25

The concept of ‘good debt’

FROM THE EXPERTS 6 Ken Keller: Seven questions for a better 2022 20

Paul Raggio: Where are you planning to go in 2022?

23

Jeff Prang: Tax savings programs for Veterans

5 new construction

SCV BUSINESS VOICES 9 Audiology Associates 11

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

19

SCVEDC

27

Econowatch

CHAMBER SPOTLIGHTS 12

A Message from the SCV Chamber

14

SCV Chamber Events/Advocacy

21 telco wins business award November 2021 | Vol. 13 | No. 11

PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Richard Budman rbudman@signalscv.com (661) 287-5501

Perry Smith psmith@signalscv.com (661) 287-5599

PRODUCTION MANAGER Doña Uhrig

A proud publication of

SINCE 1919

SignalSCV. com Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal (a Signal publication), © 2021, is published monthly by the Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper, Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc., 25060 Avenue Stanford, Ste 141, Valencia, CA 91355. The SCV Business Journal is intended to provide business executives with a cross-section of industry news and information, trends and statistics that impact our growing community. Information gathered in the pages of the SCV Business Journal has been collected from what are considered reliable sources, and is believed to be accurate, but cannot be guaranteed. Articles may not be reprinted without publisher’s written permission. For reprint requests, please call (661) 259-1234.

COVER PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF SANTA CLARITA

8 ceo spotlight: adel villalobos

N O V E M B E R 2021

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L · 5

Housing market ready for new construction

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Senior Staff Writer

W

ith a retail-like showroom filled with a wide range of design choices, KB Home is changing the way its customers personalize their homes as it announces the grand opening of its Design Studio in Valencia “Today, consumers expect personalization at every turn; however, in homebuilding, most believe a personalized touch only comes with a custom home,” said Keltie Cole, president of KB Home’s Los Angeles and Ventura County division.

At the studio, homebuyers can explore a variety of design options, from flooring, countertops and cabinetry to lighting, appliances and fixtures, with the support of a design consultant who can help them make decisions that fit their style and price point, Cole explained.

“Through interactive displays and online design checklists, KB homebuyers will discover new ways to get inspired and see their selections firsthand,” Cole added.

KB Home chose to locate the studio in the SCV due to its central location to KB Home’s buyers, according to Cole.

“Santa Clarita, from a lifestyle standpoint, has been recognized as a perfect commuter market for the L.A. (County area),” added Tom Grable, Tri Pointe Homes Orange and Los Angeles County division president.

The SCV is a family-oriented community that provides a more tranquil, serene lifestyle for

Housing developments coming to the santa clarita valley

raising a family, out of the hustle and bustle of the dense, urbanized city area, while still allowing for easy accessibility to L.A., Grable noted.

This sentiment is true for many of the area’s builders and developers, many of whom are focusing efforts on the local community, such as Santa Clarita-based homebuilder Williams Homes, who has multiple ongoing projects in the SCV, including working with Family Promise to construct a transitional house for low-income and homeless families.

“We’ve been here 25 years, and we’ve made a huge commitment to staying in and growing in this community,” said Dan Faina, Southern California division president for Williams Homes.

But while Santa Clarita is one of, if not, the strongest market for residential development in California right now, opportunities are running

Chris Hopkins, KB Home vice president of sales and marketing, right, and Keltie Cole, division president, pull a countertop sample from a display at the developer’s Valencia design studio. PHOTO

BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL

out, according to Mackey O’Donnell, a senior vice president of Land Advisors Organization.

The SCV’s desirability, combined with a shortage of available land that can be developed, has led to prices being driven up — both for homebuyers and developers, O’Donnell added, noting that developments will continue, but at a higher density than what’s been seen in the past.

Even so, the SCV is bustling with new construction activity, as new home developments continue to crop up across the valley.

Developments under construction

Construction of Vista Canyon, the car-optional community in Canyon Country, has continued to make progress, with retail, commercial and homes continuing to be occupied.

The 185-acre, mixed-use, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly community includes townhomes, single-family residences and luxury apartments, as well as commercial space, a new transit center and more than 21 acres preserved for recreation.

Across town near Magic Mountain, the Valencia project has a similar all-inclusive community feel, consisting of approximately 15,000 acres and approximately 21,500 planned homes, along with 11.5 million square feet of commercial space, new schools and 10,000 acres of open space, among other amenities.

Construction on the first phase of the Valencia project is underway, and the community is set to open to the public soon.

Just north of that, on the northern border of the Valencia Commerce Center in Castaic, Williams Homes is set to break ground on 15 model homes at its Williams Ranch community later this month, according to Faina.

The 430-acre community is set to include 497 homes with a minimum lot size of 7,000 square feet, along with a private recreation center, citrus orchards and vineyards, a 5-acre park and nearly 5 miles of walking trails.

See HOUSING, page 24

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N O V E M B E R 2021

Seven questions for a better 2022 KEN KELLER

SCVBJ Contributing Writer

A

s your business planning continues for the new year, I pose thought-provoking questions to help guide your thinking.

What business are you really in?

Railroads were once in the transportation business, but now, excepting Amtrak, they are in the business of moving freight.

Starbucks started out as a coffee shop and it’s now an upscale, quick-service restaurant chain.

Over time, businesses mature, develop and adapt. Identify and acknowledge how your business has transformed.

What is your sustainable competitive advantage?

Competitive advantage occurs when an organization acquires or develops an attribute or combination of attributes that allow it to outperform its competitors.

Creating a sustainable competitive advantage is done from the outside in. Clients initially chose to work with a vendor because that vendor provides something, either tangible or intangible, not provided elsewhere. Clients stay with a vendor for specific reasons. The solution is to find out the “why” behind those buying decisions.

Is your vision still clear?

Distractions disguised as opportunities abound. Without a vision, without a target to hit in the future, short-term goals are not likely to be achieved. Does the vision reflect reality? Is it filled with energy, alignment, and focus? Can employees state what the vision statement? Is it memorable enough to be memorized?

How do you really measure progress?

While revenue growth, improving margins and larger profits are strong indicators of moving forward, other metrics may be more important.

Keller recommends you ask yourself six basic, thought-provoking questions to help guide your business into the next year. (MC) • • • •

Are you measuring client acquisition and retention?

Employee engagement?

Efficiencies in operations, purchasing and output?

How much progress has been made this year on the non-financial metrics and how much progress is anticipated in the year ahead?

How well are you avoiding the commodity trap?

CEOs and salespeople often believe that their offerings have become commoditized by the competition, meaning, pricing pressure seems to have taken over as the key decision behind purchasing.

A commodity is a good or service where there is demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation. When a buyer cannot discern a qualitative difference of offerings, price becomes the only factor in the decision to spend.

The opportunity is to build value that matters into the purchasing equation. Former, current, and potential buyers can provide invaluable information to help strengthen your existing sustainable competitive advantage and provide insight into what constitutes value for the client.

Who is your target market?

Review, refine and redefine the target market

of the company. Who is the ideal client? Has the client base changed? Who is making the buying decision; are there multiple buyers and influencers involved? What can you do to avoid single points of communication within your clients?

Are your key plans updated?

There are three key documents worth updating during the planning cycle. The first is the strategic plan for the company; the second is the marketing and sales plan for the next 18 months and the third is the operating plan for the year ahead.

Do you possess these critical documents and if not, when will you create them? The definition of business insanity is, “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” If you desire a better year in 2022, focus on these seven questions to help move your business to better outcomes.

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. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

Housing uncertainty continues to linger with eviction moratorium

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

s the end of another year in the pandemic nears, renters and landlords alike across the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond are working to recover from the economic crisis that ensued.

Despite the progress as businesses reopen and many return to work, the crisis is not over. Many renters are on the precipice of eviction, which could lead to a ripple effect across the broader housing market.

As of July, more than 15 million people live in households that were behind on their rental payments, or 7.4 million adults and 6.5 million households, according to an Aspen Institute study.

Back pay on rent is estimated to be between $13 billion and $57 billion as of early 2021, according to anoth-

Across the country, more than 15 million people live in households that were behind on their rental payments, according to an Aspen Institute study.

er study conducted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

While the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Center for Disease Control and Prevention from further extending its eviction moratorium that had been in place since

Together, we're building a stronger Santa Clarita Valley.

@SupervisorBarger @KathrynBarger @SupervisorKathrynBarger KathrynBarger.LACounty.gov

the onset of the pandemic, here in the Santa Clarita Valley and across Los Angeles County, some protections remain in place.

In October, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to extend the eviction moratorium through Jan. 31, 2022, continuing to provide a defense against eviction for commercial tenants, as well as “limited renter protections” for residential tenants.

Therefore, the true impact of evictions on the housing market remains unclear, as there are so many moving parts, explained Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the SCV Economic Development Corp, who noted that it will take time to see the true effects of the moratorium.

“The eviction moratorium hasn’t yet had a large impact on the economy because once an eviction process begins, it can take weeks and or months to actually remove a tenant from the premises, (and) there are also a number of government programs that are designed to help tenants and landlords pay back rents and bring their accounts current,” added Ivan Volschenk, president and CEO of the SCV Chamber of Commerce.

“From an economic perspective, we hope that this will have a very minor impact to the economy, businesses and residents. The SCV Chamber has been assisting local businesses with finding needed resources to support them through this process.”

Since December, nearly $50 billion in aid has been provided to renters and landlords across the U.S., but in California, that aid has been slow to reach those in need, with estimates indicating only around $526 million of the more than $1 billion the state has received had been administered.

The moratorium and the uncertainties that accompany it have made being a landlord nervewracking, especially for individual investors who only have a handful of properties, Schroeder said.

Schroeder believes there will be a shift in terms of the proportion of rental properties that are owned by larger- or mid-sized companies, as smaller investors don’t want to take the risk, causing the moratorium to impact these small businesses, or in this case investors, disproportionately. “(It) created a bigger chasm because larger organizations with more capital are able to make the pivots and the changes, (while) the small investor is not able to,e making it that much harder to be a small business,” Schroeder added.

Additionally, Schroeder believes the moratorium has taken some of the natural turnover out the market, as many have remained in the same locations rather than moving.

“We fundamentally still always have a supply problem … which is just really acute, and so all these moving parts I think are contributing to some of that lack of product becoming available,” Schroeder added.

SRAR member and SCV Realtor Marc Leos said it’s the lack of supply, combined with the demand for housing and skyrocketing prices, that indicate the housing market will be OK. “When the moratorium does end, I think buyer demand will still be high enough that an investor should be able to unload the property rather than let it default,” Leos said.

However, the true effects of the eviction moratorium remain to be seen. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

CEO Spotlight: Adel Villalobos, Lief Labs

BY PERRY SMITH

Business Journal Editor

A

fter starting out with a mission and a handful of employees working in about 8,000 square feet in 2007, Lief Labs CEO Adel Villalobos has grown operations to 325 employees at the company’s 260,000-squarefoot operation in Santa Clarita.

His company manufactures many of the dietary supplements, botanicals, herbal products, vitamins, minerals, protein products, energy powders and these types of products you traditionally can find everywhere from GNC to Walmart, he said, although, unsurprisingly, eCommerce and emerging brands who seek quality manufacturing make up a growing portion of the business.

“I came from the nutrition side … the productdevelopment side,” said Villalobos, “In college, I got a biochemistry degree (and) also studied nutritional biochemistry and also studied molecular biology and the cell.”

While studying biochemical reactions and the nutrients our bodies require, Villalobos said his interest in the topic became a “really strong passion,” and spawned his beginning in the industry during what he calls a “renaissance” period, around 1996 while he was still at CSUN. While the industry saw tremendous interest and growth during the subsequent years, this time period consequently also saw a significant increase in FDA regulations, which was what spawned a valuable opportunity for Villalobos for which the CEO says he’s still grateful.

Villalobos’ education on the technical side made a perfect fit for Natrol, publicly traded, national company that sells vitamins, minerals and supplements, with manufacturing operations near CSUN in Chatsworth.

Villalobos said his mentor there, Natrol founder Elliott Balbert, provided not only an opportunity, but also a great chance to learn the industry from someone whom he considered a “pioneer” in his field. This allowed Villalobos to learn everything he could from the quality control lab to marketing to, perhaps most significantly, product development, legal and the industry’s nascent regulatory environment. “(Balbert) was a driver in making sure our industry was recognized as an industry,” Villalobos said, mentioning the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, “and helped feed the early pioneers that drove the FDA to accept our industry, break it away from food and drug, and then became an industry on its own, which was the dietary supplement.”

One of Lief Labs’ roles, according to Villalobos, is being a source of health for its consumers. The company’s products aim to address the growing challenge in finding the time to make sure we are eating a balanced diet that includes all of the

“

We want to make sure that we’re training the workforce of tomorrow … that we have the right political climate that supports organizations … that we are upskilling our workforce and making sure our community does not stay behind.”

Lief Labs CEO Adel Villalobos runs a 325-employee company that manufactures many of the dietary supplements and other health products found everywhere from GNC to Walmart. PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL vitamins and minerals essential to good health, he said.

The recent pandemic has also made consumers more health-conscious, he said, noting that nationally, the industry has reported a 3% increase in the “daily usage of supplementation.”

After earning his undergraduate degree at CSUN, Villalobos studied executive leadership for an MBA program at UCLA, and then artificial intelligence and machine learning at Northwestern.

Villalobos said the company’s current footprint in the SCV will allow for some room for growth, and he’s now looking toward sharing what he’s learned with other leaders through his latest opportunity.

Villalobos was recently named to the newly formed L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce’s CEO

Council, which was announced in November, as “an advisory group of top business leaders dedicated to bringing balance back to the state’s public policies, encourage the economy and promote a robust business climate,” according to a Nov. 4 news release from the organization.

The role of the council will work on everything from how the area’s workforce can stay ready and on top of the kind of technological growth Villalobos studied at Northwestern to legislative advocacy for the area.

“We want to make sure that we’re training the workforce of tomorrow, make sure that we have the right political climate that supports organizations that want to make sure that that technology is moving so fast,” he said, “that we are upskilling our workforce and making sure our community does not stay behind.” 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

How to protect your ears from loud noises DR. KEVIN BOLDER

AuD, Audiology Associates

D

id you know that exposure to loud noises is one of the most common reasons why people develop hearing loss? According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), at least 10 million adults in the U.S. have noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears. Follow these tips on how to protect you and your family’s ears the next time you’re around high-volume noise.

1. Identify which sounds are too loud Sounds are typically measured in decibels (dB), but sounds perceived by the human ear are measured in A-weighted decibels (dBA). Exposure to any sounds over 85 dBA can cause

noise-induced hearing loss. As the volume increases, your chances of developing hearing loss increase, as well. To help you understand the loudness of different sounds, here are some examples of common everyday noises and their dBA rating.

• • • • •

Normal conversation: 60 to 70 dBA Movie theater: 74 to 104 dBA Motorcycle, dirt bike, lawnmower: 80 to 110 dBA Rock concert, chain saw: 110 to 120 dBA Fireworks show, gunshot: 140 to 160 dBA

2. Wear hearing protection Some exposure to loud noises is inevitable, and that’s okay. In that case, it’s recommended to wear protective hearing devices, such as ear plugs or earmuffs. There are many different styles available, making it easy to find one that

matches your needs and fits your ears comfortably. If hearing protection isn’t available, you can cover your ears with your hands.

3. Have your hearing evaluated The best thing you can do to make sure you are maintaining your overall health and wellbeing is receive regular hearing screenings in addition to your other doctor visits.

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, CA 91355 to schedule an appointment.

We are hearing healthcare excellence! 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

SCV market showing seasonal ‘leveling off’

BY PERRY SMITH

Business Journal Editor

F

or the first time this year, the volume of single-family home sales did not outpace the previous year, according to recently September data released from the Southland Regional Association of Realtors.

The statewide gains in the real estate market in September were slightly higher than the local numbers, leading the regional association to report the numbers were “the initial signs of a seasonal slowdown,” according to a report from SRAR CEO Tim Johnson.

The tally for the total number of Santa Clarita Valley home sales declined 2.6% from last month, and down nearly 28.8% from September 2020. This reverses a promising trend of month-over-month growth that Realtors have seen since last July, when quarantine conditions essentially shut down the market.

“Every month since, save September, has been higher than the prior year,” according to the report. “Association statistics reflected a similar pattern for condominiums, though September marked the third consecutive month below the prior year.”

NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ESCROW OPENED

438

NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ESCROW CLOSED

439

MEDIAN HOME PRICE

$800,000

Prices stay high

One promising aspect for sellers was the fact that a busy market and less than a month’s supply of homes kept prices high, although not quite at the record level seen in May 2021. The median home price for the SCV was $800,000, which was an increase of a little over 5% from a year ago, but slightly lower than the record high $830,000 recorded in June. It was also the fourth month in a row that the median price stayed above the $800,000 mark.

For a comparison to the statewide market, the statewide median home price was $808,890, which is actually down 2.3% from August, but up 13.5% from the same time last year. For the yearto-date number, home sales were up nearly 17% over the previous year, but much of that gain could be associated with last year’s shutdown.

Supply and demand

Part of what’s keeping the prices high is the fact that Santa Clarita has a very limited supply. Realtors are seeing somewhat of a “leveling off” when it comes to the number of offers when homes hit the market. However, the supply is equivalent to less than one-third of the historical average over the last 13 years, according to SRAR data.

For example in September 2019 and September 2020, the SCV had approximately 323 units on the market, in terms of total number of houses, townhomes or multifamily units available. In

comparison, December 2020 had a record low of 193 homes on the market. In the midst of the last housing bubble in September 2006, there were more than 2,600 homes on the active inventory market.

A seller’s hesitancy, despite the fact that it’s a seller’s market, comes from a number of factors, according to the experts.

Craig Martin of the Realty One Group noted that seasonally, people tend to be less hesitant to put a home on the market in September when, traditionally speaking, people are less inclined to move, as many families have just started a routine like the school year for their children.

“So, you’ll start to see a drop because families want to be moved in by August,” Martin said, adding that about 45% of home sales take place in a four-month period between spring and summer. “The ‘level-off’ means we’re going from 10-15 offers (on a new listing) and now we’re going to see about two or three,” he added. “If the market goes down a little bit, it’s not going to go down off a cliff.”

Erika Kauzlarich-Bird, a Southland Regional Association of Realtors board member, mentioned another practical reason for a less-than-

CONDOMINIUM SALES FOR SEPTEMBER 2021 NEW LISTINGS

115

ACTIVE LISTINGS

86

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

38

AVERAGE LIST PRICE IN THOUSANDS

526.3

MEDIAN LIST PRICE IN THOUSANDS

475.0

PENDING SALES NEW ESCROWS OPENED

124

TOTAL YTD ESCROWS OPENED

993

CLOSED SALES NEW ESCROWS CLOSED

109

TOTAL YTD ESCROWS CLOSED

945

COURTESY SOUTHLAND REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

normal supply.

The prices are still pretty high statewide, so unless someone is looking to move out of state, selling their home now might make it harder could potentially mean you have to down-size, due to some of the uncertainty in the market.

She expects the supply to return to a somewhat healthier level by 2022, she added. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

SCV BUSINESS VOICES

Should you be tested for diabetes?

PATRICK MOODY

D

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

iabetes is a serious disease. It can harm virtually every part of the body, but treatment can lower the risk for even the worst of its serious health consequences.

Often the tricky part is knowing if you have diabetes — it doesn’t always cause symptoms that you’d notice. That’s where testing comes in. In fact, it’s possible that you should be tested for diabetes right now, even if you’re feeling fine.

Why get tested?

Having diabetes means your blood sugar (glucose) is above normal, either because your body doesn’t make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or doesn’t properly make or use it (type 2 diabetes), according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Insulin is a hormone that helps the body convert glucose into energy.

Millions of people have diabetes and don’t know it, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). It’s also possible to have a condition called prediabetes without realizing it. That’s when blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Having prediabetes greatly increases your risk for type 2 diabetes.

If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for many serious health complications. Among them: Heart disease.

Stroke.

Kidney disease.

Vision loss.

Nerve damage.

Foot problems, such as sores that won’t heal.

When to get tested If you’re 45 or older, you should be tested for diabetes. If your test results are normal, you should be tested again at least every three years, according to the ADA. If you’re younger than 45, you should be tested for diabetes if you are overweight and: Don’t exercise regularly.

Have an immediate family member with a history of diabetes.

Are African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander.

Have, or are being treated for, high blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Have a history of heart or blood vessel

disease.

Have other conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as acanthosis nigricans (a skin condition characterized by a dark, velvety rash around the groin, neck or armpits).

Have been diagnosed with gestational

diabetes.

Have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital offers a Diabetes Prevention Program. An information session will be held on December 1. To learn more, call (661) 200-2300, or visit HenryMayo.com. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

SCV CHAMBER’S 2021 SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY As

the

largest

membership

business

organization

in the Santa Clarita Valley, we are the Voice of Business.

We actively advocate on behalf

of

our

business

community on important local, regional, statewide and federal issues that have direct impacts on our local businesses.”

our advocacy has never been more important.

JOIN the SCV chamber today to strengthen the voice of business in the santa clarita valley www.SCVCHAMBER.COM

2021 proved to be a unique and unprecedented legislative year in California.

During the legislative session, the SCV Chamber took action on 12 legislative bills and 11 Impact SCV Grassroot Campaigns.

We are immensely optimistic for the policy changes that will contribute to safer communities and a stronger economy. We thank you for adding your voice and appreciate you joining business leaders across the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County and California as a whole in supporting policies and programs that build a stronger workforce and economy.

Here’s a quick snapshot of accomplishments your SCV Chamber achieved: ASSEMBLY BILL 61 - SUPPORT - SIGNED INTO LAW:

SENATE BILL 314 - SUPPORT - SIGNED INTO LAW:

This bill authorizes the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), for 365 days from the date the Covid-19 pandemic state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor is lifted, to allow licensees to continue to exercise license privileges in an expanded licensed area authorized pursuant to a COVID-19 Temporary Catering Authorization, as provided.

SB 314 will help California’s events, restaurants, and bars recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by creating more flexibility in how they can serve alcohol, including where they can serve alcohol, how they can share spaces with other businesses, and how frequently a catering permit can be used. The bill also implements a oneyear grace period after the emergency order is lifted for businesses to continue expanded outdoor dining operations on their premises that locals have enjoyed throughout the pandemic.

AB 61 promotes job creation. With the expansion of additional outdoor dining space, restaurants will be able to bring back staff that have been unemployed/furloughed due to the COVID-19 related closures. It will also promote job creations for vendors that service restaurants.

SENATE BILL 31 - OPPOSE - BILL SUSPENDED:

This bill would explicitly incorporate building decarbonization within several aspects of electric utility ratepayer funded programs and within future, yet to be provided, federal moneys to address economic recovery, and would incorporate requirements for prevailing wage, among other things.

SB 31 risks resulting in state regulators funding only electrification efforts without fully recognizing the role of and need for molecules and the gas grid to achieve the climate policy imperative of net zero emissions, which would be contrary to the public interest and will diminish the prospects for achieving the climate policy imperatives.

Building decarbonization efforts need to be holistic, with a recognition of all of the interrelated resources and capabilities necessary to achieve economy-wide decarbonization

SB 314 makes permanent many of the temporary changes to state Alcoholic Beverage Control laws made to accommodate outdoor dining. This bill does not change local regulations meaning communities can decide for themselves whether to take advantage of the changes made to state law.

SENATE BILL 342 - OPPOSE - BILL DEEMED INACTIVE:

This bill adds two additional seats to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Governing Board to be filled by persons residing in and working directly with pollution-burdened and vulnerable communities on issues of environmental justice in the South Coast Air Basin.

By adding board seats, SB 342 implies that elected officials serving on the SCAQMD board are not effectively setting local policies, something that the current 13-member board has done for almost 50 years. This proposed legislative change ignores the fact that local elected officials possess a unique knowledge of the region and the local environment.

N O V E M B E R 2021

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IMPACT SCV Our Impact SCV is a direct message advocacy program that allows our members to make their voices heard. When we all speak with one voice and take action, we amplify The Voice of Business! Here’s a look at our grassroots achievements this past year.

SAFER AT WORK, SAFER IN OUR COMMUNITIES Our LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger proposed a reopening with the “Safer at Work, Safer in our Communities” plan to get us back to work and our economy moving again. Reopening LA County or allowing North LA County (Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Lancaster) to apply directly to the State for a variance is desperately needed to revive our County’s economy and allow for our workforce to provide for themselves and their families.

We were able to garnish over 3,300 emails to the LA County Board of Supervisors in support of Supervisor Barger’s proposal.

SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA WE ARE #READYTORIDESAFELY! COALITION FOR SAFE RE-OPENING’S California’s amusement parks and attracTHREE POINT ECONOMIC AND tions wanted to be a part of the solution as PUBLIC HEALTH RECOVERY PLAN California faced the unprecedented hurdles We joined the California Coalition for Safe Re-Opening. This Coalition consisted of local chambers of commerce and business and trade associations. Responding to the current COVID-19 emergency, the Coalition advocated for safe, reasonable, and predictable reopening plans in California that ensured the health of every resident, worker, and customer.

Our grassroots efforts brought in over 700 responses from the business community to show support for the plan.

presented by COVID-19. After the governor had rolled out the Resilience Roadmap, California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) crafted a comprehensive plan with health and safety protocols for parks to reopen. Our parks had been busy planning and preparing to implement their own site-specific plans for reopening in manner that promotes the safety of both guests & employees.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is a monument in our community and the SCV Chamber needed to ensure they were able to continue to operate. With our Impact SCV program, we head over 1,400 advocates voice their support for our parks.

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N O V E M B E R 2021

CELEBRATING SCV BUSINESSES We are so proud of the resilience of our business community in the Santa Clarita Valley. Despite the pandemic and all the challenges we have faced recently, we continue to grow and celebrate our amazing community. From celebrating new businesses opening or marking special occasions and achievements, we have been proud to be part of their celebrations.

Timios Title 18541 Soledad Canyon Road | Canyon Country www.timios.com

Guanatos Tacos 21525 Soledad Canyon Road |Santa Clarita www.guanatostacos.com

DeDeona Restoration 28170 Ave Crocker, #104 | Valencia www.dedonarestoration.com

Do you have a grand opening or anniversary coming up? Email us at hello@scvchamber. com for details about hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony.

N O V E M B E R 2021

2021 Board of Directors CHAIR OF THE BOARD JOHN VANCE - Vance Wealth

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HUNT BRALY - Poole, Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

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BUSINESS COUNCILS

As the third largest city in Los Angeles County, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Com-

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

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

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

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.

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 MARAL MATOSSIAN - Westfield Valencia Town Center PATRICK MOODY - Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital DR. IZU OKPARA- Omni Wound Physicians DAN REVETTO - AT&T BECKI ROBB - Princess Cruises HENRY RODRIGUEZ - State Farm Insurance SANDY SANCHEZ - FivePoint LINDSAY SCHLICK - SchlickArt Video & Photography 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

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.

NONPROFIT The SCV has a strong philanthropic community with more than 100 locally based nonprofit organizations that help our community thrive. Our nonprofits 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.

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.

If you are interested in joining any of our councils or finding out more please email us at hello@scvchamber.com

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FivePoint Valencia Offers High Value Choices In Home And Lifestyle

A

t FivePoint Valencia, just west of the 5 Freeway, new home shoppers can tour model homes for the community’s first design collections, visit the Porch welcome center and see newly completed amenities at this planned community. Online resources provide a great overview of 13 distinctive home collections now selling, upcoming model openings and much more.

Start with www.valencia.com for an online tour, and to register for timely updates on sales and model openings and special events. Also connect with the new community and other shoppers and buyers at Facebook.com/ValenciaCalifornia.

When it’s time for a personal visit, start at the Porch welcome center.

Here, helpful representatives can tell you more about Valencia and new home availability, and you can browse the space, gather information, and take virtual tours of new home possibilities, amenities and area attractions.

The Porch is at Magic Mountain Parkway and Navigation Avenue, and is open weekdays 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. The address is 27426 Navigation Avenue, Valencia 91381. Call (661) 203-3919 for more information.

Visitors can also view model homes by driving around Confluence Park. The Confluence Park Lounge is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can relax at the Lounge, and take in the park’s lawn and garden areas, and playground. The pools are not yet open but can be viewed from the Lounge.

As more than 200 households prepare to move into their new homes or are already moved in, Valencia’s first homeowners are getting acquainted with their neighbors. According to Valencia representatives, a welcome breakfast weekend in October drew more than 200 new buyers and owners, their families and interested shoppers.

Model tours are available for many of the 13 home collections selling at FivePoint Valencia. COURTESY TSUTSUMIDAPICTURES.

Everyone expressed enthusiasm over the many community amenities they have discovered at Valencia. Confluence Park got high marks for the accessibility it offers all residents, and for its pools, which include resort-style and family pools, a competition pool, and a spa.

Also praised was the community garden, and discovery points that surprised and delighted visitors of all ages. Bottom line? There is much to enjoy for homebuyers in their 20s through their 60s, with distinctively crafted design choices for varied life stages and priorities.

Today’s shoppers find purchase opportunities in 13 collections created by such notable builders as KB Home Lennar and Toll Brothers.

Coming soon are additional choices from Richmond American Homes and TriPointe Homes.

Pricing is from the $400,000s to the low $1.2 millions for currently available homes. Valencia’s first homes offer from 720 to 3,723 square feet of living space in detached and attached designs, with up to 6 bedrooms and up to 5.5 baths. Versatile layouts highlight all homes, which feature indoor/ outdoor living space and striking architecture. Floorplans respond to the design and lifestyle preferences of first-time, move-up and empty

Confluence Park Community Park Lounge at FivePoint Valencia. COURTESY ECHO MEDIA nester singles, couples and families.

Lennar offers multiple purchase opportunities, and self-guided tours. Visit www.lennar.com or call (888) 216-2494 to schedule a tour and begin pre-qualification.

Also selling are KB’s new homes of Clover. To learn more about homes, pre-qualification for purchasing and tours, visit www.kbhome.com or call (888) 524-6637.

Toll Brothers is bringing Skylar luxury designs to Valencia. Call (844) 700-8655 or visit www.tollbrothers. com for details.

Coming soon is Redmond by Richmond American Homes. Call (909) 345-1143 and visit www.richmond american.com Also coming soon are Calla and Rowan by TriPointe Homes. For details, call (949) 3393596 or email a New Home Specialist at OC-LA@TriPointeHomes.com Inspired by its historic Newhall Ranch origins, Valencia harmonizes progressive, sustainable concepts for homes and their surroundings, which feature diverse ways to explore the community’s glorious outdoor environment. In addition to parks and distinctive amenities, Valencia’s expansive spaces will hold neighborhood electric vehicle paths and hiking and biking trails. The future Valencia plan also includes light commercial uses.

The new community is served by the William S. Hart District for junior high and high schools, while elementary school children will be part of the Newhall School District or the Saugus School District.

In addition to the “must haves” of a new home, scenic location, community amenities and quality schools, shoppers will find much more to recommend the Valencia lifestyle. Nearby are desirable retail shops, dining options and additional leisure choices. Adjacency to I-5 puts area work centers and regional destinations within easy reach.

Connectivity also includes nearby access to Metrolink, freeways and airports.

This emerging community springs from the collaborative efforts of FivePoint, City, County and school officials. Civic organizations and Los Angeles County citizens also contributed to Valencia’s place-making concepts.

FivePoint is a California company that designs and develops mixed-use planned communities in the state’s most dynamic coastal markets. FivePoint is noted for integrating residential, commercial, retail, schools and entertainment and recreational elements, including civic areas for parks and open space. www.fivepoint.com. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

Santa Clarita Stock Average

Below you will find a list of local Santa Clarita based or prominent Santa Clarita companies used for our averages. Each month we will take the average of all these stocks and show that number. Tracking that number from month to month will give you a window of how our local companies’ stocks are performing.

The initial date was November 8th and we will use the 8th of the month each time.

The total index is 6,930.53 and the Santa Clarita Average is $231.01

Company

industry

ticker

Nov. 8

Amazon

Retail

NASDAQ: AMZN

3488.50

Bank of Southern California

Banking

OTC: BCAL

15.50

Bioventus

Biomedical

Nasdaq: BVS

16.58

Boston Scientific

Biomedical

NYSE: BSX

43.21

California Resources Corp.

Energy

NYSE: CRC

45.92

Carnival Corp.

Entertainment/leisure

NYSE: CCL

24.59

CBRE

Commercial real estate

NYSE: CBRE

106.02

Costco

Retail

NASDAQ: COST

503.81

Disney

Entertainment media

NYSE: DIS

176.87

Five Point Holdings

Home developer

NYSE: FPH

7.15

IQVIA holdings

Laboratory services

NYSE: IQV

251.50

ITT inc.

Aerospace/manufacturing

NYSE: ITT

103.75

KB Homes

Home developer

NYSE: KBH

42.00

Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical

OTCMKTS: OTSKY

19.86

Quest Diagnostics

Laboratory services

NYSE: DGX

142.22

Six Flags

Entertainment/leisure

NYSE: SIX

44.33

Sodexo

Home/food services

OTCMKTS: SDXAY

19.69

Sonova Holdings

Biomedical equipment

OTCMKTS: SONVY

87.54

Tri Pointe Homes

Home developer

NYSE: TPH

24.87

Walmart

Retail

NYSE: WMT

149.27

Woodward

Aerospace/Manufacturing

NASDAQ: WWD

118.93

Auto Nation

Auto Dealers

AN

126.01

Boeing

Aerospace

BA

219.47

Comcast

Communications

CMCSA

53.52

Home Depot

Retail

HD

370.50

Kohl's

Retail

KSS

59.67

Lennar

Home Builder

LEN

107.83

Lowes

Retail

LOW

234.63

McDonalds

Restaurants

MCD

250.98

Textron

Industrial

TXT

75.81

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The long road of recovery is paved with opportunities

BY TAMARA GURNEY

CEO and President of Mission Valley Bank

W

hen businesses first went into lockdown in March 2020, it was a relatively hard and fast stop.

Coming back in recovery from the pandemic is proving to be a slowgoing, steep hill to climb. Mandates, restrictions and consumer nerves have all played a role in slowing the process, but there’s also been worthwhile opportunity for change.

Many small businesses have found creative new ways to simultaneously grow their business while controlling costs. Whether expanding

into new markets, exploring financing options, focusing on customer retention or providing for employees, the ways of doing business in many industries has changed.

Despite all the obstacles the crisis brought to day-to-day operations, business owners honed their focus on the fact that staying in business takes sharp focus, unwavering determination, and valuable resources and partners to rely upon.

Having trusted professionals stand alongside to help navigate business during times of turmoil became an essential tool for survival.

Business owners and managers know the advantage of relationships that provide expertise in their specific industry. Woven into those relationships, businesses discovered the value of bankers that went

above-and-beyond to demonstrate their commitment with a clientfocused, community-minded, and relationship-driven approach.

Clearly, the path to long-term success for businesses is to develop long-term relationships with bankers who demonstrate expertise, experience and dedication to the client’s success.

Community banks have a distinct advantage over larger financial institutions. They know their clients and understand their business when trouble arises. This affords smaller banks the ability to immediately determine what solutions are the best fit for a businesses’ unique situation. And throughout the relationship, a trusted advisor works beside the business to provide the tools they need.

As part of an ongoing effort to be

a resource for both new and established business owners and decision makers, Mission Valley Bank is hosting a complimentary California Employment Law update webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 10-11:30 a.m. Brian E. Koegle, partner with Poole Shaffery & Koegle, LLP, register online at MissionValleyBankRSVP.com. For additional information or questions contact Carrie Burrell at (818) 394-2334 or email cburrell@ missionvalleybank.com.

Mission Valley Bank is a locally owned, full-service community business bank headquartered in Sun Valley with a branch office/business banking center in Santa Clarita.

Tamara Gurney is past president of the California Independent Bankers and can be reached at (818) 394-2300. www.MissionValleyBank. com. 

25 years of innovation in homebuilding —

Williams Homes celebrates an anniversary

T

his year, Williams Homes marks its 25th anniversary of building homes and delivering the American dream of home ownership. From the company’s first sub-division, Lola Lane in Santa Clarita, evolved one of the largest, privately held residential builders and developers in the Western United States with operations in six markets spanning four states and growing.

The combined operations have delivered more than 2,300 homes during the past two decades, from traditional single-family detached residences to contemporary multiplexes and townhomes.

“While new home designs have certainly evolved through the years, our commitment to quality, value and customer satisfaction has remained the cornerstone of our company,” said Lance Williams, chairman and CEO of Williams Homes.

“This reflects the hard work and dedication of all our employees, contractors and suppliers who have helped Williams Homes become one of the nation’s best homebuilders in the past 25 years.

Working together, we look forward to many more decades of success.”

Founded in 1996 by Lance and Sadie Williams, Williams Homes has grown substantially through the years actively responding to the needs of homebuyers. Today, the company is comprised

widen its existing footprint into other markets in order to provide new construction inventory geared to help meet rising consumer demand.

“Success for Williams Homes is capturing markets that provide growth for not only the new home offerings we provide today, but those with the right environment to support dynamic growth as we continue to expand our business,” added Williams.

“After a thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis where we blend traditional and trending market data, as well as leverage our unique internal insights on what we know works well for our business model, we will announce expansion into regions that meet the criteria for our company’s growth agenda.”

Williams Homes’ communities now selling in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties include Gate 26 in L.A.’s Valley Village and Shoreline in Oxnard.

The company will introduce several new communities in the coming months including

of six divisions including Southern California, Central Coast California, Northern California, Montana, Idaho, and Texas. Following a year of feverish growth, Williams Homes has further expansion plans in the Western United States to

•

master-planned Williams Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley

•

Finch Ranch in Piru and

•

Palmera in Camarillo.

For a complete listing of Williams Homes locations now selling and coming soon, visit www. williamshomes.com. 

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SCV BUSINESS VOICES

Come on in, stay a while — tourism bouncing back HOLLY SCHROEDER

President & CEO of SCVEDC

T

he Santa Clarita Valley has long been known as an ideal location to live, work and play. From theme parks and historic house tours to outdoor recreation and sporting events, you can fill your days with plenty of fantastic experiences for all ages.

As the third largest (and still growing) city in the county, it’s no wonder Santa Clarita has been dubbed the “Gateway to L.A.”. Here you’ll find everything you value in one outstanding Southern California destination that’s central to everything. Santa Clarita is the hub for family entertainment and a short drive to beaches, snow and other nearby attractions. Not to mention home to the thrill capital of the world: Six Flags Magic Mountain!

With so many things to see and experience, it’s no wonder that travel and tourism have become fundamental in the SCV economy. Visitor activity and spending helps support thousands of jobs and dozens of businesses providing lodging, meals and beverages, shopping, recreation and entertainment, and transportation.

These sectors were hit the hardest of all by the pandemic, and due to distancing and vaccination guidelines their recovery timeframe remained uncertain. The City of Santa Clarita successfully pivoted their media strategies in order to help promote the amazing events, venues, destinations, and more that we are known for.

Despite being the hardest hit, these sectors are bouncing back in tremendous fashion. This surge of growth in our economy has been led by consumer spending, job and income creation, leisure travel and tourism, and strengthening demand for public gatherings like concerts, conferences and sporting events.

Californians are desperately seeking ways to return to normal fun activity, all things the Santa Clarita Valley has in spades. We’ve added five new hotels this year alone, and hotel occupancy rates are continuing to normalize as the hospitality industry begins returning to full swing. Santa Clarita is well on its way to recovery, according to economist Dr. Mark Schniepp.

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) 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. 

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Where are you planning to go in 2022?

BY PAUL RAGGIO

Co-owner, One True North

T

here’s a famous refrain often quoted to those uncertain where they are headed: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road’ll take you there!”

Come to learn this is a paraphrase of the dialogue between Alice and the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s 1865 fairytale “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!”

The tale starts envisioning a bored and sleepy 7-year-old Alice, running after a talking rabbit and following it through the rabbit’s hole.

This rabbit hole leads her to a world of talking animals and animate objects, chockfull with uncertainty and sparking multiple adventures.

Then, halfway through the tale, Alice meets the Cheshire Cat, and their dialogue goes like this.

Alice asks the Cat, “Would you tell me please, which way do I go from here?” The Cat responds, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”

“I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. Many of you are living in uncertainty and question where you are going. Today’s business wonderland is very different than the one before the pandemic, and it’s a novel environment full of uncertainty and many adventures.

Of course, there are new obstacles to overcome including • growing inflationary pressures, • supply chain delays • labor shortages and • changing customer desires are but a few.

Nevertheless, opportunity abounds because the effects of the pandemic are slowly declining, consumer demand is high and discretionary income is flush! Likely, your market sector is disrupted, and when there is disruption, there is opportunity.

It’s your job to seek it out, and you can’t effectively do that if you don’t know where you’re going.

If you’re a CEO or business owner, you should be formalizing the response to “where are you going in 2022” as part of your strategic thinking, execution planning process.

However, before you start the process, define success by asking yourself • Is my business sustainable, predictable, stable, consistent and emotionally connected to stakeholders?

• Do my leadership team and I strive to master the five disciplines that create exponential growth: mission, strategy,

business development, people and execution?

Describing success provides you the framework for strategic thinking and execution planning.

Strategic thinking and execution planning is a defined and systematic, iterative process, and the operations and procedures therein are deliberately sequenced to produce superior results.

Every business, as a best practice, must strategically think and execution plan annually and each quarter.

Annually, the leadership team reviews where they have been and where they are going. Then they modify existing or carry-over goals or develop new ones aligned with the company’s purpose, vision, and mission. The goals must be specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-framed.

Notably, resourcing goals translate as inputs and outputs to the annual budget and multi-year financial forecast. Absent this specificity, those tasked with achieving the goals will flounder.

Quarterly, the leadership team reviews goal progress and makes appropriate adjustments to ensure success, or in some cases, delaying or eliminating the goal based on mission modification, constrained resources and market conditions.

This session is more than a simple monthly profit and loss review; the quarterly strategic thinking and execution planning session map out

the supporting milestones, tasks, activities and resources to achieve the annual goals.

The process of strategic thinking and execution planning is a best business practice instituted annually and quarterly. There is nothing magical about the process. However, if you invest the time to master it, you’re assured of magical results.

Don’t waste your precious resources chasing rabbits down rabbit holes into a wonderland full of uncertainty. Define success for your business, then strategically think, execution plan and create adventurous opportunities that profit your company.

Master the five disciplines of exponential growth and glide along the visionary path you charted to achieve the ten-year big, hairy, audacious goal that wowed your team and stakeholders. It may not be Alice’s Wonderland, but it most certainly will be yours if you master the strategic thinking and execution planning process! This is how you lead, think, plan and act.

Now, let’s get after it!

Retired Col. Paul A. Raggio is co-owner, with his sister Lisa, of One True North INC Leadership and Business Coaching Solutions. Paul and Lisa mentor and coach business owners on leadership and management principles in achieving and sustaining their business growth and profitability goals.

He can be reached at paulraggio@actioncoach. com. 

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N O V E M B E R 2021

Catching up with SCV’s craft beer scene

BY PERRY SMITH

Business Journal Editor

KEV KURDOGHLIAN Signal Staff Writer

S

ince we last caught up with Telco Brewery, co-owners Jaime Hernandez and Tony Santa Cruz have welcomed the reopening, seen significant growth and even picked up a local award in the business community.

The pair of friends who decided to turn one of their passions into a business model have seen continued growth since things reopened, which allowed them to expand the distribution of their product, add new flavors to their repertoire and garner an award from the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

During the organization’s celebration of Hispanic business leaders last month, the chamber’s Latino Business Alliance honored Telco with its Business of the Year Award.

Santa Cruz said he’s been very appreciative of the community’s support for their business, especially after what was a very challenging 2020.

“Things are going great; the community is great,” Santa Cruz said. “I think what’s nice is people want to get out, and we’ve been able to kind of benefit from that and that’s been nice to see.”

New brews

Among the new additions, Santa Cruz mentioned an imperial stout called The Triplet, which has been a popular addition to the menu. The brew is an 11.5%-alcohol-by-volume “dessert beer,” which is aged in six months in bourbon whiskey barrels that help bring out its dark chocolate and cherry flavor, he ad-ded.

Walk into Telco Brewery on a Tuesday or Wednesday after work hours and you’d think co-owners

Jaime Hernandez and Santa Cruz were preparing the Santa Clarita Valley’s largest oatmeal breakfast.

In a large tank, water, grain, oats and other essential ingredients swirl toward becoming one of the brewery’s most popular beers, the Static Haze IPA. “We thought it was just going to be a trend just like most beers are kind of like trends and then they kind of go away,” Hernandez said of the IPA — one of the three on the microbrewery’s opening menu in 2017. “The hazy IPA trend is still here.”

Beers like the Static Haze IPA and others on tap at Telco can trace their origins to the days when Hernandez and Santa Cruz — AT&T employees by day — were homebrewers.

“As a homebrew, you’re not even making the beer once,” said Santa Cruz. “I would make beers three or four times before I actually got it to where I was like, ‘Alright, this is the way I want it.’”

Since opening Telco, the duo has tweaked their beers to ensure each one is true to its style and meeting the tastes of their Santa Clarita customers who helped them survive the pandemic.

Hands-on production

With their industrial home in Valencia closed, canning was the only way to get their beer out during the pandemic.

“One of us was filling the beers, passing on to the next person. The next person was weighing it to make sure it had enough liquid. The next person was putting a lid on it.

The next person was labeling it. It was like our little production,” Hernandez said of his team, including Santa Cruz and their spouses.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease up, Telco has rolled up their garage door to welcome back customers to

a safe environment.

“We want to make sure we’re in compliance so we took the time to make,” said Hernandez, pointing out signage, facemasks, distancing and an online ordering system. “It’s important to make people feel safe.”

Telco is located at 27825 Fremont Court, Suite 13, 91355. Their website is telcobrewery.com.

Pocock Brewery

Events are returning to all of Santa Clarita’s breweries, including Pocock Brewery, founded in Valencia nearly six years ago by Todd Tisdell and Geoff Pocock. They serve about two dozen different beers spanning from a specialty double IPA called “Sign Yeah” to a series of fruited beers, including a new one dropping in mid-June called “Despicable.”

Tisdell said he hopes to bring back Pococktoberfest and the brewery’s annual beer festival to celebrate its anniversary in December as long as COVID restrictions

allow it.

“We tend to have brewers and decision makers or brewery owners that are there, participating in pouring beer. So, you actually get some really neat interaction with all the different breweries that show up,” he said, noting 25 breweries from all over Southern California join in the celebration.

New food options

Despite restrictions, the pandemic wasn’t all bad for Pocock Brewery, which installed a pizzeria last April and introduced new food options.

“We have Neapolitan-style pizzas, we have salads and we have a great huge pretzel that’s served with house-made beer cheese and house-made mustard,” said Tisdell of Castaic. “It was something that we wanted to do anyway, it’s just the pandemic kind of forced our hands a little faster.”

See CRAFTING, page 22

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CRAFTING

Continued from page 21

And new options like that are helping to fuel the growth of the craft brew scene in Santa Clarita.

“Now that there’s four different entities producing beer in Santa Clarita, I think that the craft beer scene is finally starting to take a nice foothold here in Santa Clarita and people are really starting to embrace the whole local beer scene,” Tisdell said. “As long as the four of us continue to make the good, quality beers that we’re making, I think the craft beer scene will continue to expand in Santa Clarita.”

Pocock Brewing Company is located at 24907 Ave. Tibbitts B, 91355.

Their website is pocockbrewing.com

Wolf Creek Brewery

Founded by Rob and Laina McFerren in 1997, Wolf Creek was the city’s first brewery.

Navigating the local health restrictions were tricky, but Wolf Creek, which brews all of their beers at their Valencia location, was very fortunate, according to Laina.

“We are 97% outside with a really big space that is very easy to social distance,” said McFerren, who is optimistic about the future.

Wolf Creek installed three new big screen TVs in addition to expanding their daily snack offerings, bringing back live music and welcoming more food trucks including a vegan

Telco Brewery co-owners Jaime Hernandez, left, and Tony Santa Cruz check the tank temperature to ensure they add pounds of grain at the right moment. food truck every Thursday night.

“As things are opening up, I believe that we will see a lot of pentup demand, once we’re finally allowed to do the things that we used to do,” she said.

New IPA

Wolf Creek recently released its white IPA, which had been made with blood orange, now with pineapple. In the coming weeks, McFerren will release two Belgian-style beers, including one in memory of

her late husband, who passed away earlier this year.

A founding brewery of the Los Angeles Brewers Guild, the McFerrens have helped shape the growth of craft beer in Santa Clarita.

“We are fortunate, I think craft beer in general and particularly the breweries out here, we have a really great relationship with one another.

We help each other out,” McFerren said.

The four Santa Clarita breweries,

including Draconum in Newhall, have even floated the idea of a Brew Hop Bus that would safely ferry people between all the local breweries.

“We have started talking to the city about that, prior to the pandemic, and would love to get something like that,” she said.

Wolf Creek’s brewery is located at 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, 91355.

Their website iswolfcreekbrewingco. com. 

Newsom extends outdoor dining

BY EMILY ALVARENGA Signal Senior Staff Writer

G

ov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Friday that allows the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages and outdoor dining expansions to continue as restaurants continue to work toward recovery from the pandemic.

“These innovative strategies have been a lifeline for hard-hit restaurants during the pandemic, and today, we’re keeping the entrepreneurial spirit going so that businesses can continue to create exciting new opportunities and support vibrant neighborhoods across the state,” Newsom said in a prepared statement.

Senate Bill 389 allows restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries that sell food to contin-

ue offering to-go alcoholic beverages with food orders through Dec. 31, 2026, while Assembly Bill 61 and Senate Bill 314 allow businesses that temporarily expanded their premises a oneyear grace period after the end of the emergency to apply for permanent expansion.

Locally, temporary-use permits issued by the city of Santa Clarita allowing the outdoor operations on sidewalks and in parking lots expired June 15.

Early on in the pandemic, Newhall Press Room invested in tamper-proof, sealable plastic bottles so they could sell glasses of wine to go, with co-owner Charles Potter noting the extension in regulations will benefit them, as they plan on continuing to offer to-go alcohol as long as they’re allowed.

“It seems to be a common theme across the country, and some states have gone as far as to say there’s no reason to take it away, so I’m happy to hear that Newsom has allowed that,” Potter said. “It’s nice that our customers can get to-go wine glasses with their meals, which adds to the experience.”

The California Restaurant Association also applauded the decision, with CEO and President Jot Condie saying in a statement, “The road to restaurant recovery will be a very long one and the importance of these measures taken together will remain a critical part of helping restaurants get back on their feet, reemploy massive numbers of Californians, and continue to safely serve the public.” 

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L · 23

N O V E M B E R 2021

Tax savings programs for Veterans

BY JEFF PRANG

Los Angeles County Assessor

A

s we prepare to give thanks this November on Thanksgiving Day, it’s also important to remember those that have served our great nation in the military and honor their courage and valor this Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a federal holiday celebrated this Nov. 11.

Veterans Day, as most of you know, is a tribute to military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

As a quick reminder, Veterans Day evolved from Armistice Day, which was proclaimed in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, celebrating the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. That occurred on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. and formally recognized the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” in 1918 that ended the war.

In 1954, the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans in all wars. We still celebrate this day, recognizing the tie with WWI,

SOFA announces chapter president NEWS RELEASE

T

he Society for Financial Awareness recently announced Lindahl Lucas would be chapter president representing Los Angeles County.

Lucas is CEO and Founder of Davinci Wealth Management Inc. SOFA is a nationwide nonprofit organization with the mission to end financial illiteracy across America, one community at a time.

The organization is comprised of various working financial professionals who volunteer a pro-bono service to their communities by conducting free financial, educational workshops and seminars to companies, churches and other organizations.

SOFA workshops are designed to educate, inspire and empower individuals to take better control of their financial lives.

For more information about SOFA, visit sofausa.org. To contact Lindahl Lucas call (310) 994-1596, ext. 369, or email LLucas@DavinciWM.com. 

meaning we celebrate Veterans Day the same day every year — Nov. 11 — regardless of the day of the week it falls. If Veterans Day falls on the weekend, it can be celebrated on the Saturday or Sunday and on the following Monday.

Since it’s a federal holiday, a bank holiday and a state holiday, federal and state employees get the day off from work.

Not only am I visiting with you about Veterans Day, but to remind you that we have tax savings’ programs available for veterans.

Here’s how it works: If you are a single veteran with assets of less than $5,000, a married veteran with assets of less than $10,000, or an unmarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran, you may apply for the Veterans’ Exemption of $4,000, which is applied to the assessed value of your property. Although it is unnecessary for the veteran to reside on that property in order to qualify, this exemption claim must be filed every year.

If you are a disabled veteran, the exemption is even greater. If a veteran is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of two or more limbs or is totally disabled as a result of injury or disease incurred in military service, you may be eligible

for a Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption. You may be eligible for an exemption of up to $150,000 of the assessed value of your home.

The Veterans Administration must certify the veteran’s disability. Unmarried surviving spouses of certain deceased veterans may also qualify.

We owe a tremendous debt to our veterans and I say thank you for all that you’ve done, all that you do and all that you will do. Our Democracy is built on your service.

My office offers other several tax-savings programs as well and the Veterans Exemptions are just two examples.

For additional property tax relief programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov/exclusions-tax-relief or call (213) 974-3211.

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

Resources How and where to apply for home, business or car loan: VA Home Loan Guaranty Program provides loan guaranties to service members, Veterans, reservists, and un-remarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums and manufactured homes, and for refinancing loans. You must complete VA Form 26-1880, Request for a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loan Benefits, and submit it to the VA Eligibility Center along with acceptable proof of service as described on the instruction page of the form. You may also obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loan Benefits at ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.

How to submit a claim for disabilities related to service or have a claim reevaluated: You may submit a claim for service-connected compensation or request a reevaluation of your claim at any time. You may submit your application via eBenefits or submit the request to the VA Regional Office by completing the VA Form 21-526ez, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension For local help: Contact the SCV Veterans Services Collaborative at SCV-vets.org, call (661) 7533559 or visit 23222 Lyons Ave., Newhall.



24 · S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

HOUSING

The 1,270-acre community is set to include 820 homes, 365 of which will be an age-qualified community, according to O’Donnell.

Home production is set to begin in December, with the first move-ins scheduled for summer 2022, Faina said.

Developments coming soon

Continued from page 5

Heading east into the northern region of the SCV, the Skyline Ranch community is continuing to take shape, as Skyline Ranch Road, the connection between Sierra Highway and Plum Canyon Road, opened just last month.

The 2,173-acre community has 1,221 units, consisting primarily of single-family homes and detached condos, as well as a 55+ gated community, public park, elementary school site and 1,667 acres of open space, according to Grable.

Development is currently underway with nearly half of the homes built and occupied, according to Jason Crawford, city of Santa Clarita planning, marketing and economic development manager.

In Newhall, grading is underway on Dockweiler 21, which is set to include 93 single-family condos and an on-site recreation center.

Construction of model homes for KB Home’s Trenton Heights community on the 19-acre site is anticipated in the first quarter of 2022, according to Crawford.

Grading is also underway at The Highlands, located at the top edge of Tesoro Del Valle in Valencia.

N O V E M B E R 2021

Over in Saugus, the development of a 75-acre residential community was approved by city planning commissioners last year.

The Bouquet Canyon project is set to construct up to 375 attached and detached, two-story housing units, along with dedicated open space areas, trails and recreation areas.

Located south of the intersection of Bouquet Canyon Road and David Way, the project would include the realignment of Bouquet Canyon Road and signalized connection to Copper Hill Drive, according to Crawford.

Adjacent to Vista Canyon in Canyon Country, another multi-family residential development was also approved by planning commissioners, Crawford said.

The 20.4-acre MetroWalk project is set to construct up to 498 residential units, consisting of a variety of housing types, including townhomes and apartments, with affordable senior apartment options, as well as a nearly 1-acre publicly accessible park adjacent to the future Vista Canyon Metrolink station.

Further north along Highway 14 in Canyon Country, Williams Homes recently took ownership of the Park Place Estates project at the point of extension for Shadow Pines

To further welcome new homeowners, KB Home Senior Design Consultant Rachel Munger creates a letterboard for new home design clients. PHOTO

BY BOBBY BLOCK / THE SIGNAL Boulevard in Canyon Country and is working on plans to develop 492 single-family homes, according to Faina.

The project consists of 500 gross acres, 75% of which is to be preserved as open space, including a 16-acre proposed public park, Faina said.

Land development is set to begin after grading permits are acquired in early 2022, with Williams Homes planning to bring its first homes to market in the first half of 2023, Faina added.

Almost directly adjacent to the Williams Homes project is Spring

Canyon, a nearly 500-home project that’s been in the works for 17 years, with a homebuilder recently going under contract for the first phase of 208 lots and scheduled to begin grading next year, according to O’Donnell.

Plans for Spring Canyon approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in 2019 were considered state-of-the-art in terms of sustainability, including solar panels for homes, charging stations for electric vehicles and gray water recycling for lawns, among other environmental protections. 

The List: H ome B uilders COMPANY

CEO

OFFICE

WEBSITE

Comstock Homes

Robert Comstock

2301 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 1150, El Segundo

comstockco.com

CBRE

Bob Sulentic

24305 Town Center Drive, Valencia

cbre.com

FivePoint

Lynn Jochim

25124 Springfield Court, Valencia

fivepoint.com

JSB Development

Jim Backer

27451 Tourney Road, No. 250, Valencia

jsbdev.com

KB Home

Jeffrey T. Metzger

25152 Springfield Court, Suite 180, Valencia

kbhome.com

Lennar

Rick Beckwitt, Jon Jaffe

28723 Calle de la Paz Drive, Valencia

resourcecenter.lennar.com

Richmond Homes

Larry Mizel

27105, W Sage St, Valencia

richmondamerican.com/california/ los-angeles-new-homes/valencia

Toll Brothers

Doug Yearley

19125 Merryweather Drive Santa Clarita

tollbrothers.com

Tri Pointe Homes

Doug Bauer

28701 Lambent Way, Santa Clarita

Tripointegroup.com

Williams Homes

Lance Williams

21080 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita

williamshomes.com

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L · 25

N O V E M B E R 2021

The concept of ‘good debt’

D

ebt is a four-letter word, and in many instances, a high amount of debt is perilous. However, debt isn’t always a black mark on individuals’ financial resumes.

Consumers may have heard the term “good debt” at some point and wondered just why owing money to certain creditors is more desirable than owing to others.

The debt helps experts at Debt. org note that there’s a simple explanation for this distinction. Debt that increases an individual’s net worth or future value is considered “good debt,” while debts that do not positively affect net worth are considered “bad debt.”

So which types of debt qualify as good debt? The following are three types of debts that generally qualify as good debt.

Student loan debt

Student loan debt can be tricky, but it’s generally considered good debt. That’s because education has long been linked to a greater earning potential.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of La-

bor Statistics indicates that individuals over 25 who were working full-time and only had a high school diploma had a median weekly income of just under $800. Individuals who had a bachelor’s degree had a median weekly income of more than $1,400.

However, it’s important that individuals recognize that certain degrees do more for their earning potential than others.

Taking on a high amount of student loan debt to earn a degree in a historically low-earning field could make it harder to make ends meet down the road. That won’t necessarily make the debt “bad” in the eyes of lenders, but it could force borrowers to wonder if they made the right decision.

in value on a yearly basis. That certainly qualifies mortgage debt as “good debt.”

Business loans

A business loan may carry more risk than a mortgage loan, but it still can turn out to be very good debt if the business ultimately succeeds.

However, that’s a big “if.” Data from the BLS indicates that 65% of new businesses fail within a decade of opening. Many small-business owners use personal guarantees to secure business loans, meaning the debt is theirs should the business ultimately fail. But owning a successful business can be a great way to build personal wealth, which is why business loans can be considered good debt. (MC) 

Mortgage debt

Mortgage debt is perhaps the most undeniable source of good debt. Historically, the appreciation value of real estate has made home ownership a worthwhile goal, even if home buyers have to finance their home purchases with bank loans.

Perhaps nothing has more success-

City wins 27th consecutive finance award NEWS RELEASE

F

or the 27th year in a row, the city of Santa Clarita has received an Investment Policy Certificate of Excellence Award from the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada for its investment policy.

The city is being recognized for its Fiscal Year 2021-22 investment policy due to its success in developing a comprehensive written investment policy.

In order to receive certification, investment policies must be carefully reviewed by the association’s Investment Policy Certification Committee.

The committee is comprised of 15 public and private sector volunteers from across North America.

For a policy to receive certification it must be approved by all reviewers

fully illustrated the value of home ownership in recent years more than the skyrocketing value of real estate during the pandemic.

The real estate research firm CoreLogic noted that home prices across the United States increased by 18% between July 2020 and July 2021.

Individuals who already owned their homes, including those who were a long way from paying off their mortgages, saw their equity rise considerably in that time period, even if they continued to make the same monthly payments they’d been making before the pandemic.

Though home prices may never again rise that much in a given year, real estate historically has increased

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on 18 areas spelled out in the model investment policy.

This policy includes elements the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada deems essential to a written investment policy such as policy, scope, delegation of authority, ethics and conflicts of interest.

For more information about the Investment Policy Certificate of Excellence Award, contact Brittany Houston of the city’s Finance division at bhouston@santa-clarita.com or by phone at (661) 255-4996. 

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26 · S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L

N O V E M B E R 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

S A N TA C L A R I TA VA L L E Y B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L · 27

N O V E M B E R 2021

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

The Economic Outlook Business Leader Panel, A Special Podcast Series

BY HOLLY SCHROEDER

health orders and each speaker explained how their company negotiated these challenges.

E

Part 2 — Changes to Workforce Culture and Technology

President and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. very year the SCVEDC hosts an Economic Outlook to provide vital information and data to SCV business and civic decision makers. The 2021 September event featured a panel of prominent business leaders Lance Williams (Williams Homes), Jan Swartz (Princess Cruises), and Christian Harris (Sunkist Growers), with Todd Stevens (Black Knight Energy) moderating the conversation. The group discussed corporate resilience, agility, and innovation in the face of recent challenges. We’ve split the business leader panel discussion into four sequential podcast episodes by topic:

Part 1 — Talent, Hiring, and Initial Problems After Lockdown

First the panelists explained how companies had to “make some very painful decisions” and pivot their employment strategies rapidly amidst the extreme uncertainty of the pandemic. According to Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises was forced to “reduce their team here at global headquarters quite considerably.” Every business was affected differently by public

In the next segment each panelist discussed the rise of hybrid work models and how it has changed collaboration and culture in the workplace. The panel then went over the positive and negative impacts from this shift, with Lance Williams noting how “Ultimately the technology is just better for us as a company.

It was freeing for me because I was always either at a job site or at the office. Now it’s more fluid and I can do both, and actually attend more meetings.”

Part 3 — Navigating Vaccine Mandates

This episode covered what companies have been doing to adjust their business and address vaccine mandates, working diligently to keep up with ever-changing guidelines.

Part 4 — Supply Chain and Key Lessons Learned

In the final segment of the series, each leader reflected on the resiliency, agility and creativity that were vital in overcoming serious supply chain issues. Employees left no stone unturned in finding needed materials as quickly as possible, be it lumber or concrete,

shipping containers, or particular wine selections. Our panelists finished with their biggest takeaways from the last 19 months, including key lessons learned and new practices being put in place. The disruptions that the pandemic created for businesses and communities allowed for many to take a step back and reevaluate how employers interact and work alongside their employees. Christian Harris put it very elegantly, saying that “… as leaders moving forward, we should consider the person not the role. Focus on work-life balance more, start being kind to each other more.

Start really paying attention to how someone’s day is going, not what you need to get out of them that day.”

Watch or listen to the SCV Means Business podcast for the full panel discussion at www. scvedc.org/podcast, or on YouTube!

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) 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. 

Econo Watch Santa Clarita Valley Q3 2021 Q2 2021 Q1 2021 Sq Ft Commercial Vacancy Rates Office Space 18.12% 16.71% 2,799,950 Industrial Space 2.3% 4.90% 25,240,876 Total Marked Sq. Ft. Vacancy%age: 28,040,826 Office Space - as a % of Vacancy 9.99% 9.97% Industrial Space - as a % of Vacancy 90.01% 90.03%

Building Permits

Sep ’21 Aug ’21

New Commercial/Industrial Building Permits Commercial Tenent Improvements/Alterations

Local Company Stock Prices Bank of Santa Clarita (BSCA) California Resources Corp (CRC) Carnival Corp. (CCL) FivePoint (FPH) Mission Valley Bank (MVLY) Six Flags * (SIX) Woodward (WWD)

8 25

N/A N/A

Aug ’20 18 65

Sep ’21 Aug ’21 % Change 14.76 41 25.01 7.83 15.09 42.5 113.2

14.1 34.23 24.14 7.99 15.1 42.24 120.94

Unemployment Rates

4.68% 19.78% 3.60% -2.00% -0.07% 0.62% -6.40%

0 31

Aug ’21 Jul ’21 % Change

Santa Clarita

7.2%

Palmdale

11.5% 12.6% -8.73%

Lancaster

11.8% 12.9% -8.53%

Glendale

8.5% 10.2% -16.67%

Los Angeles County

8.2%

State

7.5% 7.7% -2.60%

Housing Stats

SCV Average Home Price SCV Average Condo Price

8.5%

9.7%

-15.29%

-15.46%

Jul ’21 Jun ’21 Jul ’20 843 896 713,500 837

549

453,900

SCV Home Sales

2,273

2,011

266

SCV Condo Sales

506.7

746

96

SCV Avg. # of Days on Market (SF) 22 27 41 SCV Single Family Home Inventory

242

315

291