A V Party Rentals
AV Party Rentals has been family-owned and operated in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1968. The company provides services for parties, business events and weddings.
Owners: Rusty Parr, Cathy Holm, Ryan Parr, Roger & Patricia Parr
Year firm began: As a business, 1968; as “A V Party Rentals,” 1978
Founded by: Roger & Patricia Parr
Founder’s relationship to current owner: Parents
How many generations: Three
How many employees: 30
Family members who work for the company: Rusty Parr, Stephanie Parr (Rusty’s daughter), Michael Parr (Rusty’s son), Cathy Holm, Stephen Holm (Cathy’s son), Ryan Parr
Annual gross earnings: $1.5 Million
One challenge company faced and how you handled it: The 2008 recession. Having an experienced and loyal staff, we had to decide whether to let some go, or find a way to keep the staff. We let everyone know that hours would be closely watched and reduced when possible, and that overtime would be eliminated until it became necessary. The key was making it clear that these cuts were across the board, and if they didn’t meet the needs of both management and workers, that employees would begin to be laid off, without regard for seniority or position. After eight years, the staff is as strong as it’s ever been. We’ve only lost a few employees to other opportunities.
Canon Recruiting Group LLC
Staffing and permanent placement in finance, banking, insurance, medical devices and technology.
Owners: Laurie and Tim Grayem
Year firm began: 1980
Founded by: Tim Grayem
Founder’s relationship to current owner: same
How many generations: 2
How many employees: 300
Family members who work for the company: Tim, Laurie, John
Annual gross earnings: $14 million
One challenge company faced and how you handled it: After the financial crisis of 2008, we worked hard to pivot our business model to broaden our client base and geographic areas. We embraced new technology in order to emerge from the crisis with a more diverse client base, doing more volume as a company.
Flair Cleaners
Flair Cleaners offers professional dry cleaning, laundry, garment care, and tailoring services to customers in and around Valencia and greater Santa Clarita area. The Valencia location is the newest of five Flair Cleaners in Los Angeles County. It touts a GreenEarth dry cleaning process. For six consecutive years, Flair Cleaners has been voted the Best Dry Cleaners in Santa Clarita. Flair offers in-store service, home pickup and delivery, and office pickup and delivery. Flair Cleaners was one of the first cleaners in Southern California to adopt the GreenEarth dry cleaning process, the industry’s premier all-natural cleaning method. Its Hanger Recycling Program and The Better Bag help all its customers live a healthier, green lifestyle.
Owner’s name: Gary Futterman and Bob Singer
Year firm began: 1958
Founded by: The Futterman and Singer families
Founder’s relationship to current owner: Fathers
How many generations: Three
How many employees: 28 employees in Valencia; 160 at all five locations
Family members who work for the company: Gary Futterman, Bob Singer, Drew Singer
One challenge company faced and how you handled it: The way that our customers purchase and receive services has changed over the years. Flair has always maintained modern, large retail locations with ample parking and drop-off services to make it convenient. As our customers embrace online shopping, they have come to expect products and services will be delivered right to their homes. To meet this need, Flair Cleaners introduced Home Pickup and Delivery Cleaning will always be returned on the next trip. Drivers are in each neighborhood twice a week.
Company: Lightning Limos/Party Bus LA
Brief description of business: Black Car, Limousine, & Limo Bus Company focused on providing, high end, consistent, timely, reliable, and friendly service.
Owner’s name: Veena Bali
Year firm began: 2007
Founded by: Kuldip Bali
Founder’s relationship to current owner: Husband
How many generations: 2
How many employees: 6
Family members who work for the company: Vin Bali
One challenge company faced and how you handled it: The biggest challenge we face is giving our customers the best while still keeping the price affordable. We recently upgraded our entire fleet of black cars, and buses to make sure our customers can get to and from their destination safely. There have been a lot of companies with older buses undercutting the market, and we lost a lot of customers initially. However, after realizing out attention to detail, and quality of service, they came back. It’s a constant struggle educating our customers on the dangers of renting only on price. We continue to focus on providing the best service possible day in and day out. That is our culture.
Company: NASAC, INC., dba Nicholas Aire Systems
Brief description of business: Full service and installation of residential & commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems.
Owner’s Name: Nicholas P. Frank
Year firm began: 1993
Founded by: Nick & Donna Frank
Founder’s Relationship to current owner: Husband & Wife
How many generations: 2
How many employees: 9
Family members who work for the company: Nick, Donna & Jeffrey Frank
One challenge company faced & how you handled it: Not enough hours in a day. Work harder and provide excellent customer service.
Nick Frank and Donna Frank of Nicholas Aire Systems. 031912
Company: Teague Custom Marine Inc.
Brief description of business: High performance marine engines, parts & accessories; on-site marine service, repairs, and fabrication.
Owner: Bob Teague
Year firm began: 1972 (in current location in Valencia since 1994)
Founded by: Bob Teague
Founder’s relationship to current owner: same
How many generations: 2
How many employees: 18
Family members who work for the company: 6 including owner Bob Teague.
Andrea Teague (Bob’s spouse); Norm Teague (Bob’s brother); John Teague (Bob and Andrea’s son)
Cherilyn Noack (Bob and Andrea’s daughter); Josh Noack (Bob and Andrea’s son-in-law)
One challenge company faced and how you handled it: We were in the middle of moving the company from Van Nuys to Santa Clarita when the Northridge earthquake hit in Jan. 1994. We had literally done the final walk-through of our new building the night before the quake hit. We had damage at both this location and our shop in Van Nuys.
