While the Santa Clarita Valley has a host of people and interests who are looking out for businesses, it’s the job of Jason Crawford, who does excellent work on behalf of the city, making sure it’s a place where people want to live and work.

When you have so many interests at play when it comes to industry and commerce in the Santa Clarita Valley, it’s important to have a unifying force keeping an eye on the big picture, and the SCV is lucky to have SCV Economic Development Corp. CEO Holly Schroeder in that role.

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.

Bill Miranda has been a strong advocate for the business community during his term as a City Councilman, re-affirming the decision made by his fellow council members when they made his appointment. Our City Council is a major reason why the Santa Clarita Valley is a great place to live.

“One of the Santa Clarita Valley’s most trusted resources is its hospital, and the man charged with the task of keeping it running has managed to add programs, funding and facilities since taking leadership, making the hospital one of the best even better.

Sandy Sanchez has been a welcoming community presence for FivePoint, which is planning and developing the future of the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley. Her longtime community involvement is comforting to see in a company so important to our area’s outlook.

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, along with her husband, Don. Our leaders who care are what makes the Santa Clarita Valley so special.

Assemblywoman Christy Smith seems to be learning her way around Sacramento very quickly, as evidenced by some of the work she’s already been able to accomplish on behalf of Santa Clarita Valley residents. We look forward to her building on a successful first year in office.

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 businesses, using his influence to try and make his community a better place to work and live

“The jury’s out: The merger of the various water districts in the Santa Clarita Valley has been a huge success, thanks to legislative work and water board leadership. A big congratulations for that goes to SCV Water Agency General Manager Matt Stone.”

John Musella of Evolve Business Strategies is someone who’s helped build a network of support for Santa Clarita Valley businesses when one almost didn’t exist, and then turned it into something stronger than ever, which is one of the many reasons why he belongs on this list.

In a very short time, Congresswoman Katie Hill has made a national name for herself, and able to position herself in several high-profile roles in Congress, which continues to bring national attention to the 25th Congressional District.

“Faced with one of the most difficult jobs in the Santa Clarita Valley — keeping an entire community safe, Capt. Robert Lewis of the SCV Sheriff’s Station regularly makes sure we live in one of the safest communities in the entire country.”

“Hunt Braly has long been a respected dealmaker in the Santa Clarita Valley, who’s been responsible for helping a number of developments along, as well as being a noted figure in political circles. For decades, he’s also used his influence to support a number of causes.”

Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht has been a real asset for the William S. Hart Union High School District as school leaders have navigated through the challenges of opening a state-of-the-art high school from scrat in Castaic.

“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, and Santa Clarita residents are better off for her work on their behalf.”

Cameron Smyth is a second-generation leader here in the Santa Clarita Valley who 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.

“Steve Sturgeon has been a longtime supporter of Santa Clarita Valley schools, as well as a successful entrepreneur in our community. His support of the nonprofit community is also part of what makes this community so great.

It would be harder to find someone who’s worked harder than Bob Kellar on behalf of city of Santa Clarita for things like veterans support, public safety and small businesses, among other issues, over the last 20 years.

“College of the Canyons Chancellor Dianne Van Hook is a leader’s leader in the Santa Clarita Valley, and someone whose lasting power and continual ability to deliver top-notch results for COC makes her work there an invaluable asset for our community.”