Top 51 2020

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16th Annual Issue Special Section to The Signal — October 2020

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Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal 3

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Table of Contents PAGE 5

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No. 1

No. 25 Roger Seaver

Barbara Ferrer

PAGE 6 No. 2

Ken Striplin

No. 3

Cameron Smyth

PAGE 8 No. 4

Kathryn Barger

No. 5

Scott Wilk

No. 6

Mike Garcia

PAGE 10

No. 27

Stephanie English

PAGE 21 No. 28 Kevin MacDonald No. 29 Rick Patterson No. 30 John Shaffery

PAGE 22 No. 31 Linda Storli No. 32 Marlee Lauffer

No. 7

Patrick Moody

No. 33 Holly Schroeder

No. 8

Dianne Van Hook

PAGE 24

No. 9

Bob Kellar

No. 34 Robert Newman

PAGE 12 No. 10 Steve Sturgeon No. 11 Laurene Weste No. 12 Don Kimball

From the Publisher

No. 26 Carrie Lujan

No. 35 Sandy Sanchez No. 36 Matt Stone

PAGE 25 No. 37 Marsha McLean No. 38 Wayne Crawford

PAGE 13

No. 39 Michael Berger

Welcome to The Signal’s list of the “Top 51 Most Influential” people in the Santa Clarita Valley.

No. 13 Jason Crawford

PAGE 26

First off, I would like to Congratulate the 51 people who made this year’s list, you are the driving forces that make the Santa Clarita Valley one of the greatest communities on earth to live in.

All of your hard work and contributions to the valley are greatly appreciated. This list is to recognize you and all of your combined contributions to our valley.

2020 has been an unusual year to say the least and this year’s list has been shaped by and reflects the unique dynamics of the world wide Corona Virus pandemic.

I would especially like to welcome the eleven new members to this year’s “51 Most Influential” list.

Congratulations and Thank You to all 51.

No. 15 John Musella

Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

No. 14 Joe Messina

No. 40 Michele Jenkins No. 41 Mike Kuhlman

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No. 42 Joan MacGregor

No. 16 Hunt Braly

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No. 17 Cheri Fleming

No. 43 Cary Quashen

No. 18 Capt. Justin Diez

PAGE 16 No. 19 Nola Aronson No. 20 Joe Caso No. 21 Bill Miranda

PAGE 18 No. 22 Dr. Bud Lawrence

No. 44 Bill Cooper No. 45 Bob Jensen

PAGE 29 No. 46 BJ Atkins No. 47 Kathy Martin No. 48 Ivan Volschenk

PAGE 30 No. 49 Kathy Norris

No. 23 Don Fleming

No. 50 Dr. Cherise Moore

No. 24 Christy Smith

No. 51 Maria Gutzeit

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Barbara Ferrer “Regardless of your feelings about the response to COVID-19, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has made unprecedented decisions and determined outcomes that impact more than 10 million people’s day-to-day lives, some in irrevocable ways.

It would be hard to make an argument for anyone having more influence over our day-to-day lives this last year.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner Before Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, a nationally known public health leader, was named to her current spot by the Board of Supervisors in 2017, the county had a 15-page document on-

line detailing its strategic priorities.

The word pandemic isn’t mentioned once.

Ferrer was hired as the head of the Los Angeles County Health Agency, which has since transformed, with the departments of Health Services, Mental Health and Public Health all eventually turning into the Department of Public Health.

And in her monthly statement posted on her website for February 2020, it notes the discovery of a novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan City,China which had one case reported in L.A. County, as of Feb. 17. As has become part of the Public Health mantra, it mentions sanitizing, staying home if you’re sick and, of course, facemasks — “which are most effective when used

appropriately by health care workers and people who are sick,” according to the notice.

The point is, times have changed drastically in the last few years, and even more dramatically, over the last seven months. Never in our lifetimes have health concerns and Public Health Department decisions made such an impact on the shaping of our daily lives, playing a role on where we can go, where we eat, and who and when we can go to work, these are only a few of the areas impacted by COVID-19. In fact, It is almost impossible to find something that has not been affected by the decisions she made.

Ferrer also has worked to educate the county about precautions and how to build back our confidence

outside of quarantine daily. Her efforts in this manner place her in a position to face rebuke from both sides, but she must soldier on with few other options, and even less in terms of a roadmap on what to do.

While the task may seem overwhelming and the return to normalcy impossible to picture right now, the reality of the situation is, things are getting better. Even as this is being written, small groups of students are starting to return to our classrooms. The rates are showing signs of improvement. And the reality of the situation at the end of the day is that, as the ancient adage goes, “This too shall pass.”

Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal 5

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Ken Striplin

“Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin is the leader of a city government that’s consistently recognized for its top-notch administration but, more importantly, he helps make sure Santa Clarita remains an amazing place to live and somewhere we can always be proud of.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner Ken Striplin has spent 20-plus years trying to make Santa Clarita the best place possible to live, raise a family or pursue a career, and it’s hard to list everything that he’s done over that span to better the city. But that’s also because it’s also difficult to manage all the things that makes Santa Clarita great.

Striplin has worked in a leadership position in every department for the city, which is part of why his leadership comes from a place of understanding how the city runs — a crucial factor in its continued success.

The great relationship the city

has with our Sheriff’s Station, from outreach events to community-based programs, help position Santa Clarita as one of the safest cities in America.

Innovative leadership for the business community and programs like the city’s Film Office, or how the city improvised its permit process during the COVID-19 health crisis to try and safely keep as many businesses open as possible.

Whether the discussion was around how the city could create safe ways for people to maintain their livelihoods in a global health crisis or dealing with a rising awareness in the health risks of vaping, the city of Santa Clarita’s government has faced unprecedented challenges beyond its control, but still made sure residents always felt as safe as possible while having the trust and confidence of the population.

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“Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth’s leadership abilities have proved particularly valuable during 2020 serving as the public voice of the city, his calm, measured response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been just what the community needed as he bridges the gap between the “old guard” and the next generation of leaders.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth has a record of public service that goes back more than 15 years, joining the City Council as its youngest member in 2000. He went on to represent the area as an assemblyman for the 38th District, and then returned home to lead again.

Smyth focused his efforts on public safety, maintaining a balanced budget, economic development and growing the city’s parks and recreation program. His outreach efforts and presence in the

community started then, and have continued to grow.

Cameron Smyth, who follows a tradition of public service, is a second-generation leader here after his father, Clyde, who served as the superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District. He understands the importance of keeping Santa Clarita one of the best places to raise a family that there is, and he’s demonstrated a dedication to keeping it that way for decades.

Smyth also has been a critical part of that effort as the face for the city. While the third-largest city in Los Angeles County could never be immune from regional, national or global challenges, as 2020 has more than ever the value in having local, dedicated leaders who work constantly to ensure our streets are safe and clean, our economy is as healthy as possible and Santa Clarita remains one of the best places their is to live, work and raise a family.

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Kathryn Barger

Scott Wilk

Mike Garcia

“Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Katherine Barger has faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, always willing to make the hard decisions she believes in, she represents millions of residents, but she always keeps the Santa Clarita Valley’s interests well-represented.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“State Sen. Scott Wilk has shown time and again to be an individual who has the patience, dedication and leadership abilities to serve the people of the Santa Clarita Valley. His character, understanding and care for his hometown make him an example for all public officials.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“In less than a year, Congressman Mike Garcia already has faced truly unprecedented challenges thanks to a global pandemic and the issues surrounding it, but he continues to do an excellent job of representing his constituents in the 25th District.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Supervisor Katherine Barger, who’s currently chair of the county’s Board of Supervisors, is not afraid to be a lone no vote, if she thinks that’s what’s in the best interests of her constituents.

She’s helped the area with funding for the new Santa Clarita Valley Bella Vida Senior Center, the new sheriff’s station under construction and public works for residents in areas including the skate park and other facilities serving Castaic, Stevenson Ranch and Val Verde, among other areas.

Barger has used her position as chair of the Board of Supervisors to call for accountability in areas including homelessness, mental health and public safety, as well as the circumstances under which those concerns converge. Recently, her advocacy for the homeless, including a call for collaboration between government agencies, nonprofits and faith-based groups, helped the local nonprofit organization Bridge to Home transition operations for the SCV’s homeless shelter from seasonal to year-round.

While the community and the economy work to recover from COVID-19, leaders like Barger have given the area’s residents representation they know they can count on in a crisis.

The global pandemic has given every elected official an opportunity to rise to the challenge of an unprecedented health crisis, and state Sen. Scott Wilk proved this past year that he was able to rise to meet the difficulties head on for Santa Clarita Valley residents.

When Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down California in March in response to COVID-19, Wilk was quick to call on the state to make sure there were resources available to help the community.

In authoring Senate Bill 634, which created the SCV Water Agency, Wilk helped save local water users millions in the years to come, another example of his constant effort to keep the government as efficient as possible in consolidating several local water districts into the one.

This has also been one of the motives behind his yearslong effort in asking for more transparency in the state’s high-speed rail project.

Wilk has been an opponent of wasteful spending from his time on the College of the Canyons governing board, through two terms in the state Assembly and in his current role in the state’s 21st Senate District.

Congressman Mike Garcia, a former Raytheon executive and fighter pilot for the U.S. Navy, is a Santa Clarita Valley resident whose experience in the military and with Congress on behalf of his former employer represent great assets for the region at the federal level, as the region’s economy has been bolstered by industry surrounding our nation’s defense for decades.

In less than a year since his success in the special election for the 25th Congressional District seat, he’s already sponsored or co-sponsored 29 pieces of legislation, which includes the 911 SAVES Act, America FIRST Act, the Back to Work Child Care Grants Act of 2020, the JUSTICE Act and Protect and Serve Act of 2019, to name a few.

Garcia graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and then earned a master’s degree from Georgetown. During his time in service, he flew nearly 30 combat missions during the 2003 invasion of Iraq before being honorably discharged.

In Congress, he quickly gained his bearings, serving as a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology for his first term.

8 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

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Patrick Moody

Dianne Van Hook

Bob Kellar

“Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has always been an important part of the community, but this year, the SCV’s only hospital took on a whole new level of importance, and Patrick Moody, the person responsible for representing the hospital as spokesman, has been an invaluable asset.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“College of the Canyons’ community contribution extends far beyond Santa Clarita Valley classrooms, and the biggest reason for that over the last 30 years has been COC Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook and her dedication to the college’s success.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Patrick Moody has helped communicate to the community for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital through some significant advancements in recent years, perhaps most significantly the recent patient tower, which added dozens of beds in a new state-of-the-art facility.

However, the constant work and pressure that comes with speaking for the Santa Clarita Valley’s most significant health leader during a global pandemic has been a contribution that’s likely to be remembered for some time.

Moody’s ability to provide accurate information always in a fast, professional and transparent manner has been a credit to how well the hospital is run, as well as his dedication to the daunting task he’s been assigned, especially since the entire planet has been adjusting to a pandemic.

In addition to helping tens of thousands of people every year, the hospital is sure to continue to grow in its role, tied closely to the health and success of the community, making Moody’s steady presence an important and reliable voice for the SCV.

College of the Canyons Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook has made it her mission over of the last three decades to make the area’s only community college not just a place for textbook learning, but one that fosters innovation and the type of partnerships that can be foundational to a community’s economy.

Van Hook’s leadership can been seen in how she led the college through projects like the University Center, which bears her name, and hosts the SCV Economic Development Corp., the Small Business Development Center, and a number of four-year degree institutions.

Van Hook has been a part of about three dozen statewide organizations, including the statewide Economic Development Program Advisory Committee, the Community College League of California Board of Directors and the Association of California Community College Administrators.

Since she’s taken the helm in 1988, the college has hired 279 additional full-time faculty and staff, added 57 certificate training programs and 58 degree programs, welcomed 15,491 additional students to its campus, established the Canyon Country campus and expanded its budget by $231.1 million.

“Always earnest, honest and working in service to the Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Clarita City Councilman Bob Kellar has dedicated his entire career to public service. After the military, he retired from a career in law enforcement and then went into service for the city he loves, where he’s served with distinction for the last two decades.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

10 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

As Santa Clarita City Councilman Bob Kellar enjoys his final year on the dais, he can look back on more than two decades of experiences helping city residents as four-time mayor and former leader of the Canyon Country Chamber of Commerce, before it merged with the SCV Chamber of Commerce.

In that time, he’s helped shepherd the city through such projects as the Cross-Valley Connector and the development of much of the Golden Valley area that surrounds it, the redevelopment of Old Town Newhall and the list continues for quite a bit.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Kellar has also been a strong advocate for SCV’s veterans, supporting resources and memorials like the city’s Veterans Historical Plaza. He’s also served as president of the SCV Veterans Memorial Committee.

Also active through his current professional career as a Realtor who leads Kellar Davis Real Estate and former president of the Santa Clarita Division of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, Kellar will be a strong voice in the community for years to come.

Congratulations 2020 Signal Top 51!

Thank you for your contributions and dedication in positively shaping the Santa Clarita Valley.

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Steve Sturgeon

Laurene Weste

Don Kimball

“Steve Sturgeon is a constant supporter of Santa Clarita Valley schools and personifies what it means to support student achievement, lead a successful business and also share his time and efforts with the community that made him a representative for its largest school district.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Laurene Weste has been an advocate for keeping the Santa clarita valley’s natural setting as pristine as possible, while also balancing the needs of the business community. Santa Clarita residents are better off for her work on their behalf.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Steve Sturgeon is a well-known and long-respected presence in the Santa Clarita Valley, not only just for his experience as a business owner and entrepreneur, but also as a leader for the education community.

In addition to being named an SCV Man of the Year by his peers in the nonprofit community, he recently served as board president for the William S. Hart Union High School District, which governs about 22,000 junior high and high school students in the Santa Clarita Valley.

His support has also extended locally to the SCV Child & Family Center, the SCV Sheriff’s Foundation, the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, Boys & Girls Club and the Betty Ferguson Foundation, to name a few. He also helped the local Rotary chapter, a business-service organization, earn the Silver Bell during his term as presidency.

Perhaps one of his biggest and proudest accomplishments for the SCV has been as a steward for the district’s efforts to complete the long-anticipated high school for the Castaic area.

An ardent supporter of both open space and historical preservation, Weste has been a strong voice for keeping Santa Clarita a beautiful, bucolic bedroom community surrounded by acres of rolling hills and trails residents can appreciate.

Coming to the Santa Clarita City Council dais as a member of the city’s Park and Recreation Commission, she’s been a big advocate for the city’s development of more than three dozen parks and facilities throughout the city.

She’s also served on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Board, pushing the agency to save the 800-acre Mentryville, which is both a part of nature and part of Santa Clarita’s history as an early boom town.

Weste was also a staunch supporter of the effort to develop downtown Newhall, which she helped oversee during her 22-year-plus run on the City Council.

As a board member for the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging, which runs the brandnew, state-of-the-art Bella Vida SCV Senior Center, she’s also been a voice for the community’s senior citizens. Her decades-long commitment to the betterment of Santa Clarita has been an asset for this community.

“There’s been no company that played a bigger role in shaping the Santa Clarita Valley than Newhall Land and its successor, FivePoint, and business leaders who lead and also give back like Don Kimball are part of what gives Santa Clarita an “Awesome Town” reputation.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

12 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

The history and future of the Santa Clarita Valley are in a big way tied to the fortunes of Newhall Land, which is responsible for most of why the SCV looks the way it does. The Newhall Land and Farming Co., and its successor, FivePoint, have shaped the look and feel of the SCV, and the region as a whole.

But Newhall Land doesn’t just lead in land development, the company also sets an example for how businesses should operate, with CEOs and other high-level executives like Kimball always willing to give back to the community.

Kimball has used his position in one of the SCV’s most powerful companies to volunteer time and energy for other community organizations like Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. Kimball has served on Henry Mayo’s board for more than 10 years, having been a chairman there, as well as being involved in countless projects to support the hospital. We look forward to seeing the organization’s continued success in bringing home great plans for our future.

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Jason Crawford

Joe Messina

John Musella

“When you think of business-friendly locations to do business in California, it’s not surprising that Santa Clarita is always near the top of the list, and that’s not a coincidence — it’s due to the dedicated work of people like Jason Crawford, the city’s director of economic development.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“As a member of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s governing board, Joe Messina has been a longtime voice for Santa Clarita Valley high school students, and his dedication to developing opportunities for children has been vital to our community as it continues to grow.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“The Santa Clarita Valley is extremely lucky to have an advocate and leader on its behalf like John Musella, who represents many of the SCV’s largest employers through his company Evolve Business Strategies, which also represents the SCV Chamber of Commerce.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

City of Santa Clarita Economic Development Director Jason Crawford helps maintain the city’s great reputation by creating and directing policy for the business community, which has never been harder than in 2020, when the world was suddenly faced with an unprecedented global health crisis.

However, one can see how well the city’s leadership rose to the task just by looking at how — once the initial economic devastation from the quarantine subsided — Santa Clarita’s outlook steadily improved: With the real estate market already starting to rebound, the city’s unemployment rate is already several percentage points better than our neighbor’s to the north or the overall countywide rate.

Santa Clarita’s been able to be at the forefront of recovery due to its commitment to policies that have encouraged safe and creative solutions.

Whether it’s through the way the Film Office started back up almost immediately after it was deemed safe to do so or unique work-arounds to create space for business, Crawford’s leadership of the city’s economic development is a very large reason for local success.

The William S. Hart Union High School District is consistently mentioned as an award-winning school district, no small feat for an organization that educates more than 22,000 students each year.

Longtime board members like Joe Messina, who has more than a dozen years experience in leading the district from the dais, can point to a number of achievements for the district, but the opening of Castaic High is undoubtedly going to be the most lasting legacy. Messina helped lead an effort that persisted through a number of obstacles in opening the school.

He’s also been involved with the business community, and one of the staunchest advocates for career technical education that the region could have asked for on its behalf. As a small-business owner and entrepreneur, Messina uses his real-world experience to encourage students to take any path possible to pursue their dreams.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most recent challenge for local officials, the Hart district has managed to continue to operate and innovate new ways to create a virtual classroom.

John Musella has been a strong and consistent force for an impressive list of clients that do business in the Santa Clarita Valley for years.

While his client list includes Fortune 500 companies like Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which runs the Westfield Valencia Town Center, and Brookfield, the nation’s fifth-largest homebuilder, Musella is an SCV resident who’s never forgotten his community, always working to make it a better place to do business.

In addition to leading the SCV Chamber through Evolve Business Strategies, which he runs with his husband, Ivan Volschenk, through his other company, The Musella Group, Musella is a part of the L.A. County Business Federation, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, the SCV Economic Development Corp. and the Building Industry Association, to name a few.

Musella has also helped the SCV Chamber grow and become more significant by merging with the SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce.

He’s also actively working to support the next generation of leadership in the SCV’s business community through his work with NextSCV. Whether it’s through creating networking opportunities or informational events, Musella’s work has been a great asset for the SCV. Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal 13

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Hunt Braly

Cheri Fleming

Capt. Justin Diez

“Whether it’s a nonprofit that needs guidance or a client that needs help with an issue, Hunt Braly, a partner in the firm Poole Shaffery & koegle is working behind the scenes for the betterment of the SCV.” — Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Cheri Fleming gives constantly of herself to the community’s local nonprofits, which she’s been able to do as a longtime successful business owner of Valencia Acura. Leaders like Cheri are what makes Santa Clarita so special.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt.

Justin Diez has done an exemplary job of leading the SCV’s law enforcement efforts over the last six-plus months, and we look forward to continuing the kind of community-based policing efforts that’s helped make our neighborhoods so safe.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

As the head of the Land Use and Governmental Affairs practice group for one of the area’s most influential law firms, Hunt Braly’s efforts in the area over the last few decades include important work with city of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County officials on projects that play a major role in the SCV. He also has years of experience working with the state Legislature in Sacramento.

The projects Braly has worked on include Golden Valley Ranch’s commercial and residential development, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Vista Canyon Ranch, among many others.

Braly has the client list and experience — whether it’s advocating on behalf of local housing like the Tesoro Del Valle development, a local nonprofit like Bridge to Home or for regional nonprofits like Homes 4 Families — to easily qualify as one of the SCV’s 51 most influential people. Braly, an SCV resident since 1989, lives in Santa Clarita with his wife, Pamela.

Cheri is a regular feature on this list, due in part to her constant willingness to give back — part of the label that she uses for the Valencia Acura is calling it a “Friendship Dealership.”

Cheri has won numerous recognitions for her penchant for giving, most recently earning the Silver Spur Award, College of the Canyons’ highest honor, which is an acknowledgment given to the college’s most significant contributors.

Cheri Fleming has been a huge supporter of the nonprofit community, setting an example for others with prominent roles in several important nonprofit organizations: Fleming is currently board president for the Santa Clarita Valley Child & Family Center, and formerly she was president of Soroptimist International of the Americas. Through these two efforts, Fleming has been able to make a big difference locally, and far beyond her home in the SCV. Cheri has also been very involved with the American Cancer Society and the Boys & Girls Club, as well as being a past honoree of the SCV Woman of the Year.

While SCV Sheriff’s Station Capt. Justin Diez has been with the local station just six months, he’s no stranger to the area. It’s actually his second stint, with his first being as the operations lieutenant, who helped manage much of the dayto-day activity at the station.

In his short tenure thus far, he’s shown a willingness to be a transparent, fair and effective leader, who also lives in the community where he works.

In a recent interview with The Signal, Diez said he knew he wanted to be in law enforcement from a young age, he said, recalling “CHiPs,” a popular NBC TV show filmed in and around the San Fernando Valley, where he grew up, as one of his earliest influences.

But after achieving his initial goals as motorcycle deputy and an experienced officer in the fight against criminal gang activity for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Diez continued to meet new challenges and promotions for the force head on, including his most recent assignment.

14 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

WITH LEADERSHIP LIKE THIS IT'S NO WONDER THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY IS STILL GOLDEN Congratulations to The Signal's Top 51, especially valued members of the Board of Directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to congratulate those named to the Signal’s Top 51 and would like to thank you for all the work you do in our community!

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Nola Aronson

Joe Caso

Bill Miranda

“Nola Aronson’s presence in the community has not only helped countless people hear again through her practice, Advanced Audiology, but she’s also been able to give back to the Santa Clarita Valley through her philanthropy for the place she calls home.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Joe Caso is a community-first businessman who gives back to support youth activities, he is also a family man who has roots in the Santa Clarita Valley and truly cares about where and how he does business and tries to make it a better place for everyone.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“The Santa Clarita City Council is an important part of why the Santa Clarita Valley is a great place to live. Over the past several years, Bill Miranda has shown his capability in being a strong advocate for the business community during his time on the dais.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Audiologist Nola Aronson of Advanced Audiology is not only a leader of her profession, but also someone who’s commitment to the Santa Clarita Valley is incredible. A few of the organizations she plays an active role in include Circle of Hope, the Bella Vida SCV Senior Center, Soroptimists of Greater SCV and the Valley Industry Association. Aronson is the type of person who offers support for the senior center one day and the SCV Boys & Girls Club the next.

Her efforts go far beyond nominal memberships in groups, with her volunteerism recently earning another SCV Woman of the Year nomination for Aronson. She’s also supported leadership programs for VIA, in additions to fundraisers and numerous other events to help local nonprofits.

Her experience in her field also leaves the SCV with an expert who’s also involved with the state and national Academy of Audiology, American Hearing Aid Association, the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and a number of others.

Aronson’s expertise in audiology and penchant for giving are true assets the SCV is lucky to have.

Joe Caso, owner of Frontier Toyota, has for years given to nonprofit organizations while running a thriving local dealership. He’s been a part of the Santa Clarita Valley’s auto row on Creekside Road in Valencia, and known not only for an honest deal, but also for giving when there’s someone in need.

Caso and Frontier Toyota family share with the community every year with their hosting of the annual Frontier Toyota / Henry Mayo “Drive Safe” Golf Classic, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. The event is a benefit for our local hospital’s emergency room services and programs.

One of the more prominent ways that Caso helps set an example each year is with the dealership’s White Ribbon program, which encourages community volunteers to hand out ribbons to honor and remember the lives of young people who’ve been killed in car crashes. His concern and passion for the future generations in the area where he lives sets an example for all of us in our community.

Bill Miranda, whose wealth of experience comes includes serving in the U.S. Air Force, started the first major bilingual publication exclusively for the SCV in Our Valley Santa Clarita, and beyond his success in the business community, now as a consultant, Miranda has looked to give back in a number of other ways, as well.

A small-business owner and City Council member, Miranda has been an advocate for the community through his work and leadership in local organizations like the Latino Chamber of Commerce, and now the SCV Chamber of Commerce, since the two organizations have merged.

Miranda’s community contributions come as a 35-plus-year resident of the city of Santa Clarita, someone who stepped up to fulfill an appointment in 2017, and was then sent back to the dais by voters by a significant margin in 2018.

His resume includes experience in multiple Fortune 500 companies, as well as a master’s degree in management systems, giving him a thorough understanding of the business environment.

16 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

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Dr. Bud Lawrence

Don Fleming

Christy Smith

“Although little of 2020 has gone how we’ve planned or expected it to, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has been there to offer treatment, comfort and information at a time when it’s never been more important, and Dr. Bud Lawrence has been a crucial part of that.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“As a leader for an industry that makes up one of the city’s largest economic drivers, Don Fleming of Valencia Acura has been a longtime supporter of Santa Clarita Valley Business, using his influence to try and make his community a better place to work and live.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

The last six months have given everyone cause to rethink how we prioritize our health, and perhaps no one knows this better than Dr. Bud Lawrence, whose leadership of our local hospital’s Emergency Department has put him on the front lines of a global health crisis.

Whether it was his weekly sitting down and answering questions from the community or helping to lead the hospital’s response as medical director of Henry Mayo’s Emergency Department, Lawrence has been a steady and calming presence.

While informing the Santa Clarita Valley about the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can minimize its local impact has thrust Lawrence to the forefront of the community’s media reports and awareness, Lawrence has been there to inform for years, on topics ranging from heroin overdoses to suicide awareness to most recently, vaping.

As these regional, national and global issues come to our doorstep, we’re grateful for the professionalism and dedication of people like Lawrence, who inform the public responsibly while raising caution and awareness, and always calming potential panic with transparency and information.

“The Santa Clarita Valley is lucky to have a dedicated representative like Assemblywoman Christy Smith, an SCV resident who’s served the area well for years as a leader for the Newhall School District, and now with a significantly larger constituency in the Legislature.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

The SCV Auto Dealers Association is the professional group for car dealers, which provide a vital tax base for the city of Santa Clarita. And Don Fleming has long been its figurehead. The SCV Economic Development Corp. is an organization of business leaders that works to better the region’s jobs and opportunities, and Fleming is a chairman emeritus. A pattern develops.

Whether they’re being recognized as winners of the College of the Canyons’ well-known Silver Spur award as benefactors to COC or garnering the SCV Man & Woman of the Year as an acknowledgment of how they give back, both Flemings have been recognized for their many contributions.

The list of nonprofit organizations the pair have been involved with also include Henry Mayo Newhall Health Foundation, the Child & Family Center, the SCV Chamber of Commerce and the American Heart Association.

While Valencia Acura was struggling mightily when the two took it over, it’s become a success that Acura itself has awarded, with the J.D. Power 2019 Dealer of Excellence Certification and more recently earned the Acura Precision Team distinction for the 14th time.

Assemblywoman Christy Smith has made no secret about her passion for education, garnering her spot in Sacramento after years of stewardship in Newhall, where she grew up, attended Hart High and College of the Canyons, and now works and raises a family.

In only two years in the Legislature, she’s already sponsored 31 bills ranging from education to public safety, and been a part of eight different committees. She’s also co-authored bills addressing nurse-patient safety, mental health care and financial help for veteran-owned small businesses.

Smith helped bring additional dollars to several important SCV resources, including $700,000 for the Free Clinic , $450,000 for the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center and nearly $400,000 for College of the Canyons. During her eight years with the Newhall School District, Smith helped lead the successful effort to get Measure E passed, which brought $60 million to local schools, and the reason why we have a renovated Newhall Auditorium.

18 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

All of us at Kellar Davis congratulate those who serve and contribute to our community and have been chosen the Top 51.

Congratulates Santa Clarita’s Top 51 Most Influential People LEADERSHIP

Bob Kellar 661.510.0987 16670 Soledad Cyn Rd.

starts with learning

visit

canyons.edu

kellar@earthlink.net CalBRE#01030351

Congratulations to Santa Clarita’s Most Influential of 2020

from

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Roger Seaver

Carrie Lujan

Stephanie English

“The job of leading our community’s hospital has never been a more daunting or important task, and Roger Seaver of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has proven in 2020 to be a wise and capable CEO who has led the organization through an unprecedented global health crisis.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“The city of Santa Clarita has enjoyed being ranked one of the safest, cleanest cities in the state and the country, and no one does a better job of communicating the city’s goals and accomplishments than its spokeswoman, Carrie Lujan.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office always provides the Fifth District with excellent representation with great team members like Stephanie English, despite the numerous challenges that arrived this year during a global health crisis, Stephanie always kept us informed.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Roger Seaver was named to the position of president and CEO of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital on April 1, 2001. And in the last 19 years, he’s led Henry Mayo through incredible growth, adding a number of new resources to improve our community.

The Roberta Veloz Cardiac Cath Lab, the Kim and Steven Ullman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Wayne and Connie Spears Intensive Care Unit, the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center and the most recent addition, a state-of-the-art patient tower, all demonstrate how Seaver has been able to garner and maintain support for the hospital over the years, as a direct result of its great service to the community.

The most recent addition, a multimillion-dollar patient tower, will help hundreds more get the care they need when they need it.

Seaver is also an accomplished figure in the field of hospital management, recognized as a member of the board of directors at California Healthcare Insurance Co. Inc., a risk-retention group, as well as a trustee of California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.

Since Carrie Lujan assumed the role of spokeswoman for the city of Santa Clarita, her communications staff has garnered a number of awards for the way our city has consistently created fun, engaging and informative programs for the public.

While Lujan is quick to credit the community and Santa Clarita City Council for the success of the city, her tireless work remains a huge part of why Santa Clarita has such a great reputation year in and year out.

Whether it’s creating a unique and original idea like Sammy Clarita, a small stuffed horse that’s been a part of a number of public relations campaigns for the city or soliciting input from the public for new community resources.

From coordinating the messaging during the current pandemic to leading the outreach efforts to ensure residents are always as ready as possible for an emergency, Lujan’s experience in media gives the city a steady and practiced voice for its residents.

Stephanie English’s years of experience communicating with the constituents of Los Angeles County’s 5th District has always been a crucial asset for Barger’s office, but when a health crisis rears its ugly head, a thorough, understanding of the community that comes from years of service is more than a helpful aid, it’s an invaluable tool that one can’t really quantify.

She’s earned numerous recognitions for her work in that field during incidents like the Station Fire, which burned more than 160,000 acres. And English can always be relied upon to deliver important and timely updates from Barger, as well as seeking outreach when residents need someone to speak with, such as a representative for an issue in Castaic, or an ear for a challenge that might arise in Stevenson Ranch.

In addition to being a calming presence for residents during some of the SCV’s most dangerous brush fires, working with media outlets like The Signal to make sure residents are aware of county resources available, she’s now working with Los Angeles County officials on an even bigger scale.

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Kevin MacDonald

Rick Patterson

John Shaffery

“Kevin MacDonald, executive director of the Bella Vida Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, has done an amazing job under circumstances few could have possibly imagined at the start of this year, but one for which the whole community owes him a debt of gratitude.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“A founding partner of OPO Law, Rick Patterson has been a community leader for decades and an important voice in the community he lives in and loves. His impact can be seen on our campuses, courtrooms and the Bella Vida SCV senior center.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“For more than 20 years, the firm of Poole & Shaffery, and now Poole Shaffery & Koegle, has been a leading business law firm in the Santa Clarita Valley, and John Shaffery is one of the biggest reasons for that, as a founding partner of the firm and leader in the community.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

When COVID-19 began to change everyone’s reality earlier this year, nonprofit organizations were especially hard hit, but the Bella Vida Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center continued to serve thousands of residents every day thanks to the constant work of the center’s Executive Director, Kevin MacDonald.

While the community has been dealing with an infectious disease that is particularly harmful to SCV seniors, MacDonald has found a way to manage a dedicated team of volunteers through the delivery of meals that many of them rely on, not only for sustenance, but for interaction, too.

In fact, under MacDonald’s leadership, after five months into the pandemic in August, the Senior Center hit a remarkable milestone — 100,000 meals served since the onset of quarantine. And all of this with access to the top-notch facility he helped open just last year severely limited.

The fact that MacDonald and his team have done an amazing job of rising to the challenge is no surprise considering MacDonald has spent most of his adult career as a leader in nonprofit organizations like the Senior Center and The Arc Los Angeles and Orange counties before that.

Rick Patterson of Owen Patterson & Owen has been very active and involved in numerous organizations throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Patterson’s work includes representing clients throughout the country in very high-profile cases, such as his recent work on behalf of the shooting victims from the Route 91 tragedy in Las Vegas, which included numerous SCV residents.

He’s long been a champion for people who’ve been hurt by accidents or otherwise unfortunate incidents, with a specialty in serious motor vehicle accidents including automobile, truck, motorcycle, motor-home and bicycle accidents.

His work has resulted in millions of dollars of settlements throughout the country, but Patterson’s appearance on this list has more to do with how he’s championed SCV causes and been a community leader.

Patterson is also widely known in the business community as a panel attorney for the California Association of Realtors and SCV Bar Association honoree. One of his lasting achievements includes lobbying on behalf of stalking victims and protecting children’s privacy through his support for Assembly Bill 534.

John Shaffery co-founded Poole Shaffery & Koegle, which is headquartered in Valencia and first opened in downtown Los Angeles in 1998, before moving to the Santa Clarita Valley not long afterward.

Since then, Shaffery has been a driving factor in the firm’s success with a reputation for success among his peers and clients, evidenced in his recent recognition as a top-10 attorney in the state for client satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.

Perhaps the most publicly visible sign of the firm’s service and advocacy for the SCV business community is its annual employment law luncheon, in which key members of the Poole Shaffery & Koegle provide business leaders important updates on changes in state law that affect employers throughout the state.

Shaffery also brings more than 25 years of civil litigation experience to serve the firm’s clients and has successfully tried cases throughout the state of California with verdicts in the last six years in four different counties.

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Linda Storli

Marlee Lauffer

Holly Schroeder

“Linda Storli has been involved in the Santa Clarita Valley business community for a number of years as a Realtor, but her decades of commitment to our students as a teacher, and now a board member, have had a tremendously positive influence in the SCV.” — Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Marlee Lauffer’s work for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has helped our community through one of its toughest times, a global pandemic that’s changed everything as we know it in terms of health care, and kept our continued confidence and trust in this most important resource.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp is lucky to have President and CEO Holly Schroeder, who’s a tremendous champion for local businesses and always doing a great job of putting the SCV’s best foot forward when it comes to representing the business community.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

After a quarter-century of helping to shape the future of the SCV from the front of the classroom at Canyon High School, Linda Storli took on a spot from the dais with a slightly larger view, as a governing board member for the William S. Hart Union High School District.

During her time on the board over the last five years, in addition to her current term as board president, she was there for the final push to open Castaic High School, which had been a decades-long effort for the Hart district, and part of Trustee Area No. 1, which she represents.

She’s also no stranger to family business, which is a staple of the SCV economy, working as a Realtor with her daughter and husband at Storli-Koontz Realty, and with her son-in-law who was just named principal of Valencia.

Storli’s also served as a member of the city of Santa Clarita Parks Commission and president of the Fourth of July Parade Committee, as well as her support of the Boys & Girls Club, the SCV Senior Center and the Zonta Club.

From Newhall Land & Farming to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Marlee Lauffer has had an indelible impact in the Santa Clarita Valley, from her work involved in leading Valencia’s “Awesometown” marketing campaign to her current efforts in support of the community’s only hospital.

As vice president of communications for the hospital, Lauffer also leads the organization’s fundraising and community advocacy as president of its foundation. Her ability to garner support has also served the Zonta Club of the SCV, which is an international organization that works to empower women through service and advocacy.

A recent Woman of the Year winner from another Top-51 winner, state Sen. Scott Wilk, Lauffer’s influence is wide-ranging in the business community, where she also serves as a board member for the Bank of Santa Clarita.

Knowing she’s at the helm for communicating from the SCV’s health care leader, we’re confident Henry Mayo will continue to meet the health care needs of the community, whatever they may be as 2020 continues to create an unprecedented environment.

Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp., leads an organization that acts as an ambassador to the world, really, for the local business community, and by all accounts, the area’s reputation remains near the top of most lists, in part, due to her leadership.

The SCVEDC has helped attract, retain and grow investment from places like Sunkist, MechanixWear and more recently, Amazon, businesses that have brought jobs and tax revenue to the area in times when other areas are seeing investment leave the state, due to a number of obstacles.

In addition to working with local and regional governments on attracting companies, a big part of the EDC’s work is also behind the scenes, such as, for example, when local warehouses needed a slightly higher clearance, Schroeder’s team was there to promote a competitive advantage for our community. This type of understanding and involvement is one of the many reasons why the SCV is lucky to have Schroeder on its side.

22 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

Congratulates Santa Clarita’s

TOP

51

Thank you for your SERVICE. You make the COMMUNITY a better place to live and work.

You bring VALUE to the lives you touch.

SERVICE. COMMUNITY. VALUE. yourSCVwater.com

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Robert Newman

Sandy Sanchez

Matt Stone

“Santa Clarita is constantly improving its roads, facilities and even details like traffic lights, so things move as smoothly as possible for residents, and much of the credit for these upgrades go to city Public Works Director Robert Newman.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Sandy Sanchez, community development director for FivePoint, gives one of the Santa Clarita Valley’s most important company’s a voice that understands family-friendly communities like ours, and what it takes to create a great place to live, work and play.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency is emerging from a merger as promised, a leaner, more efficient operation, thanks to the leadership of General Manager Matt Stone, who has our confidence in guaranteeing the delivery of that all-important resource to our homes each year.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

When the City Council members decided to embark on an ambitious Santa Clarita 2020 plan a handful of years ago, it was a commitment to the public to provide a new sheriff’s station, a new community center and a slew of other projects.

The plan also represented a massive undertaking for Robert Newman, the city’s director of the Public Works Department. Tens of millions of dollars were budgeted and Santa Clarita residents, despite a global pandemic that’s changed pretty much everything, is on track to make that ambitious plan a reality.

While some of those projects are still coming, such as a library for Saugus and the new sheriff’s station on Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita has already finished a new fire station, redeveloped Old Town Newhall and seen a host of other new additions.

After 25 years of service to the city, Newman is responsible for more than 130 employees, the Division of Building and Safety, Capital Improvement Projects/Parks and Trails Planning, Engineering Services and more that we might take for granted, but would be hard-pressed if they didn’t run so smoothly.

As the voice for Santa Clarita Valley’s most prominent land-management business, FivePoint Director of Community Development Sandy Sanchez speaks for one of the company’s most responsible for how the SCV is the way it is — safe, reputable and a place where people come to raise their families.

She represents FivePoint with distinction while doing this, leading a wide-ranging communications effort while being a prominent advocate for the business community her leadership in organizations like the Los Angeles County Business Federation, which she’s president of; the Valley Industry & Commerce Association, where she sits on the board; the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.; and the SCV Chamber to Commerce, to name a few.

While Sanchez works for a company with influence far beyond the SCV’s borders, she’s always generous with her time and supportive of local efforts to better the SCV. As FivePoint continues to develop west of Valencia, we look forward to the company’s continued success in planning out the safest and most desirable neighborhoods it can for our future.

California’s water supply is subject to forces well beyond the control of General Manager Matt Stone and our elected officials, but thanks to Stone’s leadership over the last five years, Santa Clarita Valley residents have seen statewide shortages and pitched in to help out, but never had to really worry over our supply.

That in and of itself is not only a tremendous responsibility, but also evidence of a job well done. Residents have also seen a number of new facilities and projects to help secure the cleanest water possible for SCV residents.

Stone’s influence extends well beyond the SCV, as Stone is also on the board of the State Water Contractors, a nonprofit that represents State Water Project contracting agencies. He’s also been chair of the Urban Water Institute, which focuses on education for elected officials How our water supply is managed will continue to grow in importance as the SCV keeps developing, adding new homes and businesses to the community. This makes the valley lucky to have consistent and steady leadership like Stone’s.

24 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

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Marsha McLean

Wayne Crawford

Michael Berger

“When you think about why Santa Clarita has been such a great place to raise a family, look at the consistency of leadership and people like Marsha McLean, who has served as mayor four terms in her 18 years on the dais, a small-business owner who understands this community.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Through his success in helping to build much of what we recognize around the Santa Clarita Valley, Wayne Crawford’s support of schools and the community have been tremendous — an impact that’s hard to calculate but easy to see everywhere you go in the SCV.” — Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Michael Berger represents a role model for this community, someone who’s spent three decades here raising his family, running his career and always finding time to give a tremendous amount back, whether it’s for the local community college or a local nonprofit.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Marsha McLean has made public safety, the environment and transportation — all facets of life important to thousands for SCV residents — hallmarks of her career in public service.

As a founding member of the SCV Canyons Preservation Committee, she brought support for a bill that funded the effort to keep Elsmere and Whitney canyons as the pristine open space we enjoy today.

In terms of transportation advocacy, she’s served as president of the Los Angeles County division of the League of California Cities, in addition to being a board member for the League of California Cities and her representation of North Los Angeles County on the Transportation Policy Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments.

McLean also brings an understanding of the family-based community the SCV has always strived to be, raising her children and grandchildren here with her husband of more than 30 years, and a penchant for supporting nonprofits.

Wayne Crawford, president of Santa Clarita Concrete, is known for being a business leader, philanthropist and prominent member of the community.

The contributions from his company can be seen all over the SCV, and the list of projects that Crawford’s company helped build with his concrete totals tens of millions of dollars in work all over this valley, from Canyon to West Ranch high school, and many places in between.

His generous giving and leadership in the business community have benefited numerous local nonprofits and resources, such as the Boys & Girls Club, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Carousel Ranch.

Carousel Ranch in particular has been a cause near and dear to the Crawfords, a facility that provides equine therapy for children with special needs at its facility in Sand Canyon — which was built and named after the Crawfords due to the giving that helped make the a recent riding arena possible.

Michael Berger, a longtime member of College of the Canyons’ governing board, is a senior vice president and family wealth manager with Morgan Stanley, who’s been a part of this community’s leadership for some time.

Elected to COC’s governing board in 2009, Berger’s involvement in the college’s governance comes after 20 years of involvement in the college’s foundation board, supporting it and also earning COC’s Silver Spur award.

It’s also harder to find a major SCV organization or agency Berger hasn’t helped out than list all the ones he has.

The COC alum has also been a member of the city of Santa Clarita Planning Commission, chair of the SCV Child & Family Center, the SCV Rotary Club, a board member for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation (which supports children battling cancer and their families), bond measures for to support local education and a former SCV Man of the Year honoree, which is given annually to a nonprofit volunteer who’s nominated by at local organization.

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Michele Jenkins

Mike Kuhlman

Joan MacGregor

“Michele Jenkins has given more than three decades in service to her alma mater, College of the Canyons, and as anyone who’s been at this community for any amount of time knows, it’s one of the most important and well-led institutions that we have in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“William S. Hart Union High School District Superintendent Mike Kuhlman leads the educational efforts for more than 22,000 junior high and high school students, making sure tomorrow’s leaders have a strong educational foundation for success in academia, business and life.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Joan MacGregor has been a dedicated servant to the Santa Clarita Valley’s educational community for generations, and it would be hard to fully encompass her impact in the space granted for these summaries in the last 30-plus years.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Michele Jenkins is the longest-serving Santa Clarita Community College District governing board member, and more than a half-dozen successful re-election bids have shown she repeatedly has the support of her constituents with the job she’s done.

Her work there helped guide the college through the opening of the second campus in Canyon Country. Perhaps one of the most impressive feats is how the community’s access to COC has grown under her tenure, with the number of graduates growing each year for the last half-dozen years.

A well-respected voice outside the local education community also, Jenkins has also served for 11 years on the statewide California Community College Trustees board of directors, serving as the CCCT president and president of the Community College League of California.

Jenkins and her husband, Greg, who attended COC together, also started their family business, The Doctor’s Office, here in the SCV, where Greg was one of the founding practitioners.

William S. Hart Union High School District Superintendent Mike Kuhlman has provided more than two decades of leadership and directions for those filling the seats and writing on the chalkboards for Hart district classrooms, from the time he was named assistant principal of Canyon High School in 2001.

His steady promotion through the ranks to the district office, and now his position at the district’s helm, are a testament to his ability to serve students, as well as the interests of staff, teachers and SCV families. As someone whom former Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht called her “right hand,” he has a unique understanding of what it takes to lead.

Since taking over the district, he’s faced obstacles never before seen in our classrooms, from a tragic school shooting to a global health crisis that temporarily closed down every campus — but no matter what the challenge, he’s proven himself a talented administrator who understands how to help our students succeed.

His ability to lead is an important factor in why SCV schools maintain their reputation for achievement and success.

26 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

Another of the longtime education advocates the Santa Clarita Valley has been lucky to have for the last few decades, College of the Canyons governing board member Joan MacGregor has worked tirelessly for the college.

A three-time board president, MacGregor has called the SCV home since 1969, and a part of the education community pretty much since.

MacGregor has also been someone who’s long recognized the college’s ability to support the community far beyond just classroom learning, as a founding patron of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at COC. MacGregor has long seen the value in community partnerships, with another one of her legacies being a founder of SCV Trustees Association.

MacGregor also uses her influence to support K-12 education, as well, as her advocacy started with the PTA. And one of her lasting accomplishments was her help to the Sulphur Springs Union School District for Canyon Country elementary schools and a $72 million bond measure that was passed. She also helped the college with its foundation board and work on the passage of the college’s $230 million bond measure.

EXPERIENCE! EXPERIENCE!

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credit through Mercedes-Benz average credit Mercedes-Benz average credit Mercedes-Benz average credit through Mercedes-Benz 1/26/17.

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57095 53 945 CERTIFIED Valencia CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PRE-OWNED

EXPERIENCE! HUGE HUGE HUGE INVENTORY INVENTORY INVENTORY MANAGER SPECIALS MANAGER SPECIALS WEEKEND WEEKEND WEEKEND SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS

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Offer expires 11/26/17.

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Offer expires 11/26/17.

Offer expires 11/26/17.

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Premium Pkg, Panorama Roof, Navigation, Rear View Camera, Heated Seats, Keyless Go, 19” Wheels

<FNAME>Review <LNAME> blueTEC Diesel blueTEC Diesel Premium & Sports Packages, Parktronic,19" AMG Wheels, 2,642 Miles and Loaded Camera, Keyless-Go Premium & Sports Packages, R COMING BY!* Parktronic,19" AMG Wheels, Only 2,642Only Miles andMB Loaded Review Camera, Keyless-Go 2015 MB 2016 MB 2015 MB - VIN#WDDZF4JB3JA339978.

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Offer expires Offer expires 11/26/17.

New Ownership,Offer expires ML350 <ZIP>11/26/17. ML350 recipient only. Offer expires 11/26/17. Polar White/Black Polar White/Black

Carbon Fiber Trim, Prem.Pkg,

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Carbon Fiber Trim, Prem.Pkg, Black/Black Premium Package 19” Wheels, Different Experience blueTEC Diesel Different Experience Premium & Sports Packages, Parktronic,19" AMG Wheels, Only 2,642 Miles and Loaded Review Camera, Keyless-Go Certified Pre-owned Prem.Pkg.,Nav,Rear Keyless GoGB181586 and more, Low miles STK 56607/VIN STK 56705L/VIN FA590533 Drivers STK Assistance 56472A/VIN EA119953 much to list FA476119 STKToo56734L/VIN STKView 56478/VIN FB095754 STK 56607/VIN GB181586 Camera, Sport Package, Heated STKSeats 56705L/VIN FA590533 STK 56472A/VIN EA119953 STK 56734L/VIN FA476119 STK 56478/VIN FB095754 SPAÑOL! New Ownership,

SE>, CARD ,988 $37,988 FTGIFT CARD $37,999 $39,998 $66,988 Different$37 Experience <FNAME> <LNAME> <FNAME> <LNAME> <ADDRESS> *BY!* <ADDRESS> UCKS GIFT CARD <FNAME> <LNAME> STK 56607/VIN GB181586

STK 56478/VIN FB095754

STK 56705L/VIN FA590533

STK 56734L/VIN FA476119

STK 56472A/VIN EA119953

MANAGER SPECIALS2015 MB 2015 MB

<CITY> <STATE> <CITY> <STATE> <ZIP><ZIP> <ADDRESS>

$20 Starbucks MING BY!* aeive $20aStarbucks 1999 JAGUAR

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2007 Bentley 2007 Bentley

CONTINENTAL CONTINENTAL 2500 XK8 SIENNA 2500 PRIUS C A4 XK8 SIENNA PRIUS C A4 2015 MB 2007 Bentley “FLYING 2008 TOYOTA 2014 AUDI 1999 JAGUAR 2008 TOYOTA 2013 JEEP CHEROKEE New Ownership, “FLYING SPUR”SPUR” CHEROKEE wonly.

Ownership, Offer expires 11/26/17.

CONTINENTAL

2500 “FLYING SPUR” $23,998 $32,998 $48,998 $7,998 $9,998 Different Experience$9,998 $13,998 $23,998 $32,998 $48,998 $17,998 $7,998 $13,998 $17,998 $23,998

Recent Carfax Arrival!1 Owner, GRAND Immaculate AMAZING CONDITION, Must Carfax 1 Owner, Arrival!

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$7,998

$9,998

STK 25979B/VIN XC035595

STK 26089A/VIN S105246

Carfax 1 Owner, Immaculate

Carfax 1 Owner,

Carfax 1 Owner,

Carfax 1 Owner, Recent Arrival!

$13,998 $17,998

Carfax 1 Owner, Immaculate Condition

43,413 Low Miles 43,413 Low Miles Carfax 1 Owner, and inCondition Immaculate Condition Carfax 1 Owner, and in Immaculate 43,413 Low Miles

Carfax 1 Owner,

and in Immaculate Condition

$32,998 $48,998

/VIN DC592395 /VIN 78044614 /VIN F5948956 /VIN XC035595 /VIN S105246 /VIN E1567609 STK 25991ASTK /VIN25991A DC592395 STK 26146ASTK /VIN26146A 78044614 /VIN N043304 STK 56650PSTK /VIN56650P F5948956 STK 25979BSTK /VIN25979B XC035595 STK 26089ASTK /VIN26089A S105246 /VIN56689P E1567609 STK 56689PSTK STK 26074ASTK /VIN26074A N043304 STK 56689P/VIN E1567609

STK 26074A/VIN N043304

STK 25991A/VIN DC592395

STK 56650P/VIN F5948956

STK 26146A/VIN 78044614

Dealership was voted best luxury brand for Santa Dealership was voted best luxury brand for Santa <FNAME> <LNAME> Dealership was voted best luxury brand for Santa <FNAME> <LNAME> Dealership was voted luxury brand for Santa <FNAME> <LNAME> Dealership waswas voted best luxury brand for Santa Dealership voted best luxury brand for Santa <ADDRESS> <ADDRESS> 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Clarita in <ADDRESS> 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Clarita in 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Clarita in Clarita in 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Clarita in 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Clarita in 2017 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal <CITY> <STATE> <ZIP> <CITY> <STATE> <ZIP> <CITY> <STATE> <ZIP>

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of Valencia Mercedes-Benz of Valencia Mercedes-Benz of Valencia Mercedes-Benz ofofof

661-753-5555 www.MBZvalencia.com www.MBZvalencia.com 661-753-5555 www.MBZvalencia.com 661-753-5555 www.MBZvalencia.com www.MBZvalencia.com www.MBZvalencia.com 23355 23355 Valencia Valencia Blvd., Blvd., Santa Santa Clarita, Clarita, CA CA 91355 91355

23355 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA 23355 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA Valencia Clarita, CA 91355 91355 2335523355 Valencia Blvd.,Blvd., SantaSanta Clarita, CA 91355 91355

All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, dealer document processing charge, electronic filing charge and any emission testing charge.

All advertised pricesofexclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge and any emission testing charge.

Offer expires close business, date of publication.

LAA5188397-1 Offer expires close of business, date of publication.

LAA5192002-1 All advertised prices government exclude government fees and taxes, any charges, finance charges, dealer document processing charge, electronic filingand charge and any emission testing charge.

All advertised prices exclude fees and taxes, any finance dealerany document processing charge, charge, electronic filing charge any emission All advertised pricesof exclude government fees and taxes, anycharges, finance charges, dealer document processing any electronic filingand charge and anytesting emission testing charge.

Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020charge.

•charge.

The Signal 27 All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge any emission testing Offer expires close business, date of publication.

Offer expires of business, date of publication.

LAA5188397-1 expires close of business, date of publication.

Offerclose LAA5188397-1 close of business, date of publication.

Offer expires LAA5192002-1

LAA5192002-1

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Cary Quashen

Bill Cooper

Bob Jensen

“There’s no more well-known force in Santa Clarita Valley when it comes to talk about the fight against addiction than Cary Quashen, a nationally known advocate in the fight against this mental health disease thanks to his work with his treatment facility, Action Drug Rehabs.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Veteran, advocate and steward for the Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply, Bill Cooper of the SCV Water Agency and longtime nonprofit volunteer has made community service to the city he lives in and loves a hallmark of his time in Santa Clarita.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Another longtime stalwart for education, local CPA, family man and elected official Bob Jensen has been a voice for the Santa Clarita Valley’s largest school district for more than a decade, bringing his financial acumen and experience as a parent to help others in his hometown.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Through his work with facilities like Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Action Drug Rehabs, Cary Quashen has saved countless lives in the Santa Clarita Valley, and helped hundreds of teens get a second chance with the help they need to battle addiction Former director for the local hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit, Quashen has seen firsthand how drugs can ruin someone’s life in an instant and, consequently, works to not only help those who have fallen ill, but also to spread a message of awareness and education to parents and youth, so more don’t have to end up as worstcase cautionary tales.

Quashen’s corporation counts 12 locations and 16 programs in the Southern California area that specializes in alcohol and substance abuse intensive outpatient, residential treatment programs for both teens and adults, as among the help he offers, in addition to sober living facilities in Bakersfield and Santa Clarita Valley.

In his three-decades-plus of helping local addicts, Quashen has helped put addiction and recovery in not only the national spotlight but, most importantly, part of the local conversation, as well.

Former Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board president and current board member Bill Cooper has made a career of helping communities like the SCV all of California get clean, potable water. Before joining the organization responsible for securing and delivering the SCV’s water supply, Cooper managed the water resources for millions of water users through his previous job with the Metropolitan Water District.

As president for the new SCV Water Agency’s first two years of existence, Cooper has played a role in shaping how the area’s supply will be obtained and delivered for decades. But he’s also spent years in the SCV giving his time and energy to causes that he cares about, like the SCV Child & Family Center and College of the Canyons, to name two of the many causes he supports. Cooper joined the Child & Family Center Foundation during its first year of existence, and also served as president of the organization’s governing board, in addition to working on numerous committees, and being named an SCV Man of the Year nominee for the organization.

Since William S. Hart Union High School District governing board member Bob Jensen first joined the district in 2009, he’s helped local schools add to wellness programs across junior and high and high school campuses, continued the effort to modernize school facilities to ensure the optimal learning experience for students and helped the district maintain a top-notch reputation. And before that, he served as a governing board for the kindergarten-to-sixth-grade Newhall School District.

Involved in support for local businesses and schools, Jensen is another of the many on this list who give a great deal to the SCV. Speaking of top-notch reputations, Jensen’s firm, KKAJ LLP has been providing accounting, audit and other business consulting services to clients for more than 60 years. The business also generously gives to support local nonprofit organizations.

But perhaps Jensen’s most significant contribution so far has been his work to help open the long-anticipated Castaic High School, a state-ofthe-art facility that will help thousands of students for generations to come.

28 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

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BJ Atkins

Kathy Martin

Ivan Volschenk

“BJ Atkins has been involved in keeping the Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply safe, clean and reliable for a long time, and his continued dedication have helped this area grow and develop with new family-friendly housing tracts, businesses and open spaces preserved along the way.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Kathie Martin, who represents the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency as the spokeswoman, leads an award-winning outreach effort with her team, keeping the community connected with virtual creativity while COVID-19 has changed operations for everyone.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“As president of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ivan Volschenk has proven himself to not only be a great leader for the local business community, but also the kind of hard-working advocate a business community needs to network and move the economy ahead.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

BJ Atkins started Environmental HELP Inc. after graduating from Hart High School and College of the Canyons and briefly leaving the area to finish his degree. His decades in the field of regulatory compliance, resource management and working with environmental concerns have made him a trusted voice in the process, and a person with an understanding of how developments and projects move from approval to the ribbon-cutting process.

The longtime Santa Clarita resident has served on the governing boards for the Newhall County Water District, the Castaic Lake Water Agency and now their successor agency, the SCV Water Agency, for the last 15 years. During these times, he’s led through some of the state’s worst droughts and difficult financial periods, including the last six months — however, our water service always remained unaffected and our supply uninterrupted.

Active in the business community, Atkins is also a past board member for the SCV Chamber of Commerce and the COC Foundation Board, in addition to being a member or leader of a number of professional organizations.

Kathie Martin came to the SCV Water Agency just weeks before the merger between the Castaic Lake Water Agency, Newhall County Water District, Santa Clarita Water Division and Valencia Water Company.

The new agency that Martin speaks for provides water service to approximately 300,000 business and residential customers over an area of nearly 200 square miles, with half of the water in the SCV coming from local groundwater and the other half imported from the State Water Project and other sources.

Martin has been honored by the California Association of Public Information Officials, where she’s been a leader, as well. The professional organization for public relations also just gave Martin and her team their first award as an agency, earlier this year. CAPIO honored the agency for its ongoing communication efforts surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals Whether the talk is how our local water agency is keeping our supply clean or how residents can save on their water bills with tips for responsible usage, Martin has always been a great liaison for one of the community’s most precious local resource,

While we’ve heard business owners lament the difficulty in doing business in California, COVID-19 took that to a new level in 2020, for everybody. While a national quarantine made things more challenging for just about every business, the leaders of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce didn’t sit back, give up and watch from the sidelines.

The SCV Chamber made good on its pledge of being the voice for SCV business advocacy with informational events, virtual networking opportunities and, in general, keeping up a sense of community as much as possible among the SCV’s entrepreneurs, managers and investors — which is no easy task in such an uncertain time, with rules and regulations on how to do business constantly changing.

The SCV Chamber has grown by leaps and bounds since Evolve Business Strategies has taken over management, with more than 1,100 members, a leadership-development group for future generations in NextSCV and a thriving merger with the former Latino Chamber of Commerce, that’s also made their business advocacy a broader, more inclusive effort.

Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal 29

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Kathy Norris

Cherise Moore

Maria Gutzeit

“Support for our business community has never been more important than this past year, and the Valley Industry Association has been just that, led by the steady hand of CEO Kathy Norris, who is always working on behalf of the Santa Clarita Valley with its best interests in mind.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

“Since joining the governing board for the largest school district in the Santa Clarita Valley, Cherise Moore has stepped up and played an active role in supporting local students through what’s been a year filled with unprecedented challenges.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

Whether it’s bringing together presidents and CEOs for discussions of strategy and leadership or advocating for a better business environment in front of government officials, Kathy Norris of the Valley Industry Association leads an organization that’s been supporting Santa Clarita Valley businesses for nearly 40 years.

A business-to-business organization, Norris has been the person behind the monthly luncheons that have helped grow countless partnerships over the years. Through VIA, Norris helps represent the interests of a diverse collection of interests, from companies like American Family Funding to the Bank of Santa Clarita to Wolf Creek Brewery and the manufacturing firm Woodward.

Touting itself as a “one-stop shop” for business support, Norris’ team at VIA is always responsive to local concerns for how to make a better business environment for SCV companies, as well as being ready and able to make a difference, whether it’s by offering workforce-development seminars helping other business leads get on the same page to accomplish a goal.

Perhaps more than ever before, our students needed strong leadership working on their behalf, and Cherise Moore of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s governing board has shown she understands how to support students and be a leader for the district.

Whether it’s being able and willing to ask questions from the dais or stepping in and rolling up the sleeves to help out a wellness center or speak with parents, Moore has thrived since first joining the board with her appointment in 2017, and then re-elected in 2018.

Moore also has been an advocate for students beyond the SCV through her work as principal researcher with AIR, where she is serving with the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO). Moore has an extensive background in adult education, who’s been a member of the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Adult Education Field Partnership Team, the CDE Adult Education Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the CALPRO Professional Advisory Board.

As our educational systems will continue to need creative solutions and innovation for the foreseeable future, the SCV is lucky to have Moore as a local problem-solver.

“Maria Gutzeit serves the Santa Clarita Valley as a leader of the SCV Water Agency, where she’s able to use her years of expertise in the field of environmental compliance to make sure our local water interests are represented with thought and care.”

— Richard Budman Signal Publisher/Owner

30 · Santa Clarita’s Most Influential 2020 • The Signal

A business owner, elected official and parent in the community, Maria Gutzeit is owner and principal engineer for Compliance Plus Environmental Consulting, which has given expert insight on projects, as well as ensuring project’s regulatory compliance for about 25 years.

Gutzeit came to be named the first vice president of the recently created SCV Water Agency which manages the acquisition and storage of the SCV’s water supply for the valley’s 275,000plus residents — after serving as the final board president of the Newhall County Water District.

Her role in helping the transition go smoothly is one that likely will have an impact on the SCV for some time.

Gutzeit is a longtime resident, which is also why she invests her time in supporting nonprofit organizations like the SCV’s Committee on Aging, which operates the Bella Vida SCV Senior Center, and the SCV Chamber of Commerce.

M I K E V E T S Living the American Dream

This is a book about Steve Kim, who in 15 years from 1985 to 1999 successfully formed two startups and garnered sensation in the U.S. IT industry as Asia’s Bill Gates. It includes the life of a young Korean who started with his bare hands and his experience of trials and errors during the process of founding his startups. Moreover, the book encompasses the management strategies he implemented and the hardships he endured as a businessman until he elicited unprecedented results in Nasdaq.

In 2007,

he closed the chapter of his life in American and left behind his fame and splendor to return to his homeland in Korea. Then through a chance opportunity, he released his book, “Asia’s Bill Gates, Steve Kim’s Dream Hope Future.” After its publication, the book was in the spotlight of the press and the media, leading him to lecture throughout the country for the next 10 years. Then, through his Dream Hope Future Foundation (Korea) and the Steve Kim Foundation (U.S.), he began scholarship and education businesses both home and abroad and has been implementing noblesse oblige through a variety of ways.

In 2016, he took over Sand Canyon Country Club, In Canyon Country and poured all of his time into the renovations of the golf course. Since then, he has beautifully restored the course while also creating an elegant , accommodating events venue. Originally a 36 –hole course, he changed it to a 27-holes and began developing The Sand Canyon Resort and Spa since 2017 where the remaining nine holes were located.

He revised his book that had already been published in Korea to include the passion he has recently been developing into managing the golf course and the process of resort development. Additionally, his vision, philosophy of life, and worry for the next generation will be better understood through the newly revised book.

In particular, this book will provide a more concrete understanding for those interested in the Sand Canyon Resort and Spa development. It will be made available at the Sand Canyon Country Club Pro Shop and the e-book can be downloaded free of charge on the Sand Canyon Country Club website.

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