January 2017

Serving Southwest Riverside County Since 1989 

VOLUME 28, NUMBER 1 

And... 

Brotox 

JANUARY 2017 

Virgil Gibson 

Are you prepared 

of the Platters 

for tax filing 

Special Valentine’s 

season? 

Concert 

page 

31 

page 26 

Supervisor Chuck Washington Appoints 

Highest 

Jeff Comerchero as New 

Job Count Chief of Staff 

in City History 

Riverside County Third District Supervisor 

Chuck Washington, announced the appointment of 

Jeff Comerchero, a long-time Temecula councilman, 

by 

as his 

Helen 

chief of 

M. 

staff. 

Ryan 

SEE PAGE 29 

Southwest Healthcare: 

Winner of the Inland Empire 

SEE PAGE 27 Top Workplaces Award 

SEE PAGE 25 

By Ted Saul, 

Sr. Staff Writer 

One Simple Way 

to Live a Longer, 

Healthier Life 

When you think about improving your health or increasing 

your longevity, you probably picture yourself 

taking drastic measures like going vegan or switching to 

a lower-stress job. But there is actually one very simple 

way that you can get healthier and add years to your 

life, and almost everyone can do it. 

SEE PAGE 29 Presented by Steve Amante 

SEE PAGE 21 

Dive into the New Year 

When Do I Need a Power of 

with More Energy, 

Attorney? 

Less Stress and Better 

page 27 

New California 

Worker’s Comp 

Technology Trends 

to Consider 

city of temecula announces 

“ 

We 

are thankful for those businesses that made the decision to relocate and 

expand in Temecula. The City of Temecula continues to be focused on 

retaining, attracting and creating jobs here in town.” ~Mike Naggar, Mayor 

Are Your Prices 

Too 

High 

or Too 

Low 

? 

Pricing basics and common sense tell us that if the price is too high customers 

won’t buy. There is also the perception that if a product or service is priced too low, 

quality may be questioned inhibiting sales. 

But another aspect often overlooked is simplicity. I ran into a “pricing conundrum”, during a 

recent visit to a favorite sandwich shop. Normally it’s a quick stop for my “usual” but unfortunately 

the chain changed their pricing options. 

Because of this new and improved advertised low price, to obtain the lunch with all 

the same extras the total ended up higher. Even after going through option one, two, three 

and so on with the cashier, it became evident I was lost in the world of pricing specials. 

FINANCIAL HEALTHY LIVING LEGAL 

NMA’s CEO Heather Petersen 

to Speak at the CES Digital 

Money Forum 

Health 

page23 page 14 

page 19 page 19 page 19 

Government

www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 

2 January 2017

January 2017 



3







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www.facebook/ 

thevalleybusinessjournal 

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please 

e-mail publishertvbj@verizon.net or 

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Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

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Helen M. Ryan 

www.HelenMRyan.com 

VP OF DISTRIBUTION 

Dane Wunderlich 

STAFF WRITERS/ 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Gene Wunderlich 

Ted Saul 

Helen M. Ryan 

Stefani Laszko 

Nicole Albrecht 

Julie Ngo 

Tracey Papke 

Craig Davis 

Vickie Becker 

Tom Plant 

Esther Phahla 

Dr. Dennis Petersen 

Steve Amante 

Jack Brown 

Dr. Derek Albrecht 

Monique deGroot 

Mort Grabel 

Jeffery Nickerson 

Robert Rosenstein 

Steven Brunette 

John Messina 

Andrea Shoop 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Cy Rathbun 

Todd Montgomery 

Kip A. Cothran 

Tom Plant 

Pat Benter 

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7




In this issue 

Highest Job Count in Temecula City History 1 

Jeff Comerchero as New Chief of Staff 1 

Are Your Prices Too High or Too Low? 1 

Southwest Healthcare: Inland Empire Top Workplaces Award 1 

One Simple Way to Live a Longer, Healthier Life 1 

Community and Business News 9-10 

Dual Agency - Not in the Consumer’s Best Interest 11 

Preventative Law – “Protect Your Business” 12 

Have You Recently Thought: “Is Bankruptcy Right for Me?” 13 

When Do I Need a Power of Attorney? 14 

A New Year Resolution 15 

‘Teachers are Heroes’Award 16 

Business Seminars & Workshops 17 

LLU Surgical Hospital Earns ‘2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award’ 19 

“Bro”tox and Men’s Skin Care 19 

LLU MC Offering First-of-its-Kind Fully Dissolving Heart Stent 20 

Temecula Valley Hospital Unveils New Helipad 22 

Dive into the New Year with More Energy, Less Stress and Better Health 23 

New California Workers’ Comp Law Effective January 1st 24 

A New Perspective! 24 

Technology Trends to Consider in the Coming Year 25 

Are You Prepared for Tax Filing Season? 26 

National Merchan’t Association 27 

Coasting into Year-End 27 

Arts & Entertainment 30-31 

January ‘17




9 

TVCC Business and Citizen of the Year Nominees 

Each year the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce honors exceptional 

businesses, service/charitable organizations, and individuals with 

the title of Business or Citizen of the Year, during the annual Awards 

Gala. Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce members nominated 

businesses, and individuals they felt to be outstanding in their service 

to the community, business values, and leadership. Business, Service/ 

Charitable Organization, Citizen and Valley Young Professional of the 

Year winners will be announced at the Annual Awards Gala on Saturday, 

February 18, 2017 at Pechanga Resort & Casino. Congratulations to the 

following businesses and individuals for being nominated: 

Bronze Business of the Year Nominees: 

Alexander Pacific Electrical Contractors, Craig Davis Family Insurance Agency, 

Dubots Capital Management, Home Perfect Carpet & Tile Cleaning, Inc. 

/ Home Perfect Emergency Services, Impact Marketing & Design, Inc., India 

Hicks, JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc. / JDS Actors Studio, The Law 

Offices of Hitzeman & Evenson, APC, Mufflers West Auto Services, Murrieta 

VIP Florist, Nerium, Prime Lending, Rancho Physical Therapy, Inc., Reid & 

Hellyer, APC, The Valley Business Journal, Wine Country Notary 

Sterling Business of the Year Nominees: 

AppleOne Employment Services, Carrington Construction, Commerce Bank 

of Temecula Valley, Fabozzi & Miller, APC, The Law Offices of Rosenstein & 

Associates, Pacific Barcode, Prudhomme Associates CPA’s, Sizzler Restaurants 

/BMW Management, Inc., Temecula Valley Communications, Inc. (TVC), 

Gold Business of the Year Nominees: 

ABC Village, CR & R Environmental Services, Murrieta Day Spa, Paradise 

Buick GMC, Robinson Printing, Southern California Telephone Company, 

Tilted Kilt Temecula, Valley News, Wiens Family Cellars 

Platinum Business of the Year Nominees: 

Abbott, AXEON Water Technologies, Baker Electric, Inc., DCH Auto Group 

Temecula, Infineon Technologies America’s Corporation, Loma Linda University 

Medical Center – Murrieta, National Merchants Association, Securitas 

Security Services USA, Inc., Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula Valley Toyota 

Service/Charitable Organization of the Year Nominees: 

American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County, Canine 

Support Teams, Inc., Green Acres Interactive Therapy, Linfield Christian School, 

Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Resource Center, Mt. San Jacinto College, Safe 

Alternatives for Everyone, Southwest Healthcare Auxiliary, Special Olympics 

Southern California Temecula Valley Area, Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, 

Visit Temecula Valley, Workforce Development Center of Riverside 

County 

Citizen of the Year Nominees: 

Oscar Babb, Doug Castino, Rose Corona, Myrna Crowther, Robin Johnson, 

Edward Miller, Donald Murray, Carol Roquemore, Diana Serrano, Bernie Truax, 

Liza Vega Tallman, Paul Villamil, Gene Wunderlich 

Valley Young Professional of the Year Nominees: 

Ashlee Collins, Nicole Farnum, Jared Johnson, Donna San Miguel 

Community Partners: 

City of Temecula, Visit Temecula Valley, SWC Legislative Council, Small 

Business Development Center, Southwest California Economic Development 

Coalition, Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, Old Town Temecula 

Business Association, SCORE, Temecula Valley Entrepreneur’s Exchange 

Our Mission - The Mission of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is 

to promote positive economic growth while protecting the environment for all 

businesses and by doing so, support the programs which preserve and improve 

the quality of life for the entire community.




JAMI MCNEES: 

women’s peer 

conection 

january speaker 

Jami McNees will be the featured 

Women’s Peer Connection speaker on 

January 12th at Claim Jumper Temecula. 

Using the Pareto Principle, also 

known as the 80/20 Principle, Jami increased 

her income by 2000% in 4 years. 

If she can do it, anyone can. She’ll share 

with WPC the strategy of identifying and 

tracking the Vital Few actions that will 

result in exponential growth in every area 

of life. Join us at 11:15am on Thursday 

January 12th. First time guests $20. 

This January meeting will take place 

on Thursday, January 12th at Claim 

Jumper restaurant on the corner of Rancho 

California and Ynez. Registration 

begins at 11:15am. Members are $20, 

guests are $25. 

Using the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Principle, 

Jami increased her income by 2000% in 4 years 

BWN Announces January Meetings 

BWN is happy to announce their 

next meeting will be Tuesday, January 

10 from 12:00 to 1:30 at the Broken 

Yolk in Temecula. We will have 2 of our 

members making presentations on their 

business. They are Felicia Durling and 

Tara Borghese. 

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 

Jan 24th and our guest speaker will 

be Lorie Raupe from the John Maxwell 

Team presenting ‘Goal Setting for the 

New Year.” 

Meetings are every 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 

of each month 12:00 - 1:30PM 

info@ 

business-womens-network-temecula. 

com 

SW Riverside County Bar Association Names 

‘Attorney of the Year’ and ‘Judicial Officer of the Year’ 

The Attorney of the Year is Robin 

Johnson, who has practiced criminal 

defense since 1981, handling everything 

from traffic citations, DUI’S, drug, theft, 

juvenile, white collar cases, and very 

serious strike crimes. Her mission is to 

debunk the negative image of attorneys 

that some people have. To that end she 

Robin Johnson & Bradley Snell 

volunteers as an ambassador the Temecula 

Chamber of Commerce, is membership 

committee chairman of the chamber, and 

a power networking panelist. She is on the 

‘Women in Business’ committee annually. 

She enjoys having people shadow her in 

court, and is the attorney mentor for the 

city of Temecula’s summer legal intern 

program. Robin gives free legal advice 

at all the legal clinics and law days at the 

Temecula Library. 

The Judicial Officer of the Year is 

Commissioner Bradley Snell. Commissioner 

Snell currently is a hearing officer 

in Hemet where he presides over a family 

law court, ruling in child custody issues, 

child and spousal support, restraining 

orders and property division. Prior to 

his 6 years in family law, he presided in 

criminal and juvenile dependency courts. 

Since December, 2007, he has presided 

over the Family Preservation Court, which 

is a year-long drug treatment program for 

addicts with children. It is a highly successful 

program. Prior to his becoming 

a commissioner in 2007 he was a deputy 

district attorney in Riverside county.


Dual Agency - Not in the Consumer’s Best 

Interest 

LEGAL 

by 

by John A. Messina, Jr., Esq. 

Steve Fillingim 

“One cannot serve two masters. A 

broker, even with two separate agents, 

should not represent both buyer and 

seller.” 

Dual Agency, where the broker or 

the broker’s agents represents both buyer 

and seller, is allowed in California; it is 

a good thing for the broker but not so 

good for their clients. In California, a 

real estate broker and his agents owe a 

fiduciary duty to their client; the highest 

duty one owes to another—this is the 

same duty created between a person and 

his lawyer—the duty of the fiduciary to 

always act in his client’s best interest. 

I liken it to the relationship between a 

loving and caring parent to their own 

child—the parent always acts in a manner 

consistent with the best interest of their 

child, even if it is against their own best 

interest. This is what a fiduciary relationship 

is and what is legally expected 

of a real estate agent to his client. As a 

real estate litigation attorney for the last 

22 years, and my years as a real estate 

practitioner, I convinced the vast majority 

of real estate brokers and their agents do 

not appreciate the scope of duty which 

they owe their clients. 

In the most recent California Supreme 

Court case of Hiroshi Horiike 

vs.Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 

Company Et Al., the Court laid out 

the duties and responsibilities of real 

estate salespersons and their brokers acting 

as dual agents. Since salespersons do 

not work independently of their brokers, 

even where one of the broker’s salesperson 

represent the buyer and another of 

the broker’s salesperson represent the 

seller, as held by the Supreme Court in 

Horiiki, the single broker is the agent 

for both the buyer and seller and owes a 

fiduciary duty to both. So, while the seller 

and buyer are represented by even two 

separate individuals, the broker is legally 

responsible to act, through his salespersons, 

in the best interest of both buyer 

and seller. This is nearly impossible to do. 

Human nature, what it is, defaults to 

each of us acting in our own best interest. 

It is because of a higher calling, that of 

a parent to child, a doctor to patient, or 

a lawyer to client that causes one to act 

against their own pecuniary interest and 

act in the best interest of their principal. 

The higher calling is acknowledged and 

accepted as being greater than one’s own 

individual needs and demands sacrifice. 

This is hard for a real estate agent. A real 

estate agent (broker or salesperson) sells 

real estate for a commission—the call to 

represent the best interest of their client 

is most often obfuscated by the desire 

to be paid. These individuals often do a 

wonderful job of marketing properties 

for sale and ultimately bring willing 



buyers and sellers together; without their 

marketing skills, buying and selling real 

property would be much harder. But, 

for all their marketing prowess, the real 

estate agent is a salesperson, paid for the 

deals they close; not for the deals that 

never materialize. The agent works hard, 

marketing his services, showing property 

to those who never buy, cold-calling 

for new listings, competing in a market 

where everyone has a family member in 

real estate, etc., The agent sees the commission 

as his just reward for all his hard 

work and commonly resents any person 

or thing that hinders his reward—sometimes, 

even his own client. 

In one case I litigated, the agent 

who represented both the buyer and 

seller marketed her Seller’s property to 

a prospective purchaser without ever 

disclosing the fact the property was in a 

redevelopment zone. She knew the buyer 

was champing-at-the-bit to purchase the 

property at a below-market price to sell 

for a huge profit after zoning changed 

from residential to commercial. The 

agent, having both ends of the deal, knew 

a completed sale would give her a large 

payday. When the seller found out about 

her agent’s failure to disclose a material 

fact, after close of escrow, a lawsuit was 

filed against the agent and her broker 

for breach of fiduciary duty—the agent 

offered to settle; disgorging all her commission 

and paying attorney fees—the 

buyer offered to rescind the sale. 

One cannot serve two masters. A 

broker, even with two separate agents, 

should not represent both buyer and 

seller. The temptation by the agents to 

share inside information or to favor their 

co-workers offer is too great. Sellers 

deserve their own independent representation; 

someone who will always act 

in their best interest, even if it means 

no sale. Equally, the buyer deserves to 

be represented by someone who is their 

best advocate for their best outcome, 

even if it means not buying. Dual agency 

allows real estate agents to represent 

opposing parties when an actual conflict 

exists—i.e. seller want the most for his 

property and buyer wants to acquire it 

for the least amount possible. The desire 

for commission drives agents to close 

the sale and, generally, while this works 

to the benefit of all, sometimes the outcome 

results in the client being wholly 

misrepresented. The bottom line—Buyer 

and Seller beware of the “Dual Agent”; 

insist on exclusive and independent representation. 

“ 

The desire for commission drives 

agents to close the sale and, 

generally, while this works to the 

benefit of all, sometimes the outcome 

results in the client being 

wholly misrepresented 

11




Preventative Law – “Protect Your Business” 

Advertise with a proven winner! 

(951) 461-0400 

LEGAL 

by 

by Steven E. Brunette, Esq. 


So many of my clients are so 

“busy” – developing & producing 

products, marketing, selling, making 

new connections - they simply forget to 

establish, and manage the infrastructure 

of their business. This can be a critical 

mistake – and financially disastrous. 

Having spent 40 years as In House 

VP General Counsel with Billion $$ 

companies, Contract Corporate Counsel 

with Multi-Million $$ companies, and 

Contract Counsel for start-ups and entrepreneurs 

– this has always been my 

first advice to Clients and to focus upon. 

In simple terms, establish procedures 

and solid business practices “before” 

the mess, litigation or claims – which 

you will then be required to hire lawyers 

to clean up (no offense intended to my 

legal colleagues) – at substantial costs 

and lost time. 

Here are some Strategic Business 

Infrastructure Elements: 

Business Plan – Assuming an original 

was created, has it been reviewed, 

modified (usually required), and followed? 

Have you updated, re-considered, 

re-evaluated the market and your 

competition? Met your objectives? 

Modified your objectives? 

Financial Controls/Banking – Have 

you established dual signature requirements 

from CEO/CFO for significant 

financial obligations? Established a 

regular check up with your Personal 

Banker (i.e., in today’s world hacking 

accounts and compromised accounts is 

prevalent)? 

Contracts – The old “handshake” 

is long gone. Are your Contracts in 

writing, prepared by legal counsel, and 

enforceable? Have you considered arbitration 

clauses versus litigation (much 

more expensive)? Have you considered 

the ability to recover monies due and 

owing – even should you succeed in 

litigation? 

Human Resources – One of the most 

important areas – hiring and firing – 

always brings in the plaintiff lawyers. 

Have you an Employee Handbook? 

Imperative – rules & regulations keeps 

the structure in place. 

Records Maintenance & Record 

Retention Policy – To many C-Office 

executives keep every contacts/correspondence/and 

connections for their 

entire career. In a litigation proceeding, 

request for documents will be extensive 

and possibly destructive. I have seen 

this occur many, many times. Establish 

a Policy of 5-7 years, and regulate it 

through management policies. Have 

your CPA advise you on Tax Returns 

and maintenance. 

Insurance – Protect your Company, 

your Officers & Board Members – discuss 

this at length with your Insurance 

Agent. An Umbrella policy is often 

suggested and well useful. 

Intellectual Property - Be certain all 

of your IP is protected and enforceable. 

It may be expensive to protect and enforce, 

but that is a decision you make 

when threatened or exposed. 

Information Technology – Your database 

can be the most important part of 

your business. Be certain it is secured 

and maintained on a regular basis by 

your IT Administrator. 

Succession Planning – What happens 

if your CEO or CFO or whomever gets 

seriously ill or just leaves your Company? 

Who takes control? How do you 

transition the business with little or no 

delays? Establish a Plan and review it 

regularly. Find or train new Executives 

who have the talent and abilities to 

succeed. 

One final comment – remember 

this – “Everyone is Watching”. Your 

competition, your clients and all the 

Government agencies and the class action 

plaintiff attorneys. Take this advice 

as only that as it is not intended as legal 

advice or representation, but is offered 

to the public - to help you succeed. 

© 2016 Law Offices of Steven E. 

Brunette, All Rights Reserved. 

Steven E. Brunette, Esq. Attorney 

at Law, LAW OFFICES OF STE- 

VEN E. BRUNETTE, Cell phone 

(714) 356-2607. Murrieta Office 951- 

200-7991, Fullerton Office 714-993- 

1593 - www.brunettelawoffices.com 

www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbrunette 

“ 

What happens if your CEO or 

CFO or whomever gets seriously 

ill or just leaves your Company? 

Who takes control? How do you 

transition the business with 

little or no delays? 

Establish a Plan and review 

it regularly. Find or train new 

Executives who have the talent 

and abilities to succeed.




13 

Have You Recently Thought: 

“Is Bankruptcy Right for Me?” 

by Morton J. Grabel, Attorney at Law 

For many people, declaring bankruptcy 

is not only a financial decision; 

but sometimes a personal one. Therefore, 

no one can really advise you if it’s right 

for you. 

However, factors such as the stigma 

of filing bankruptcy has considerably 

lessened over the years. Moreover, the 

Federal Government has deliberately 

carved out a place in the IRS Code [for 

example a Chapter 7] for individuals who 

need a fresh start by filing bankruptcy. 

In light of the preceding, consider 

the following: 

1: Can you file for bankruptcy? 

If you have enough money to pay your 

creditors, you may be ineligible to file 

for bankruptcy. 

Question - How would the bankruptcy 

courts know if you are qualified to file 

for bankruptcy? 

Answer - You will be required to complete 

specific paperwork, show recent 

tax filings and pass the “means test” 

created within the Bankruptcy Reform 

Laws. If you make less than the median 

income established in California, you 

may qualify. On the other hand, if 

your income exceeds that figure and 

you have money left over after paying 

your necessary monthly expenses, you 

might not be able file. 

2: Your immediate future is bleak and 

you do not predict it getting better 

without filing bankruptcy. 

Question - But what if you know your 

hardship is temporary? What if you 

foresee better cash flow in the next 

couple of months or 6 or even 8 months 

from now? 

Answer - You may want to wait it out. 

When your financial circumstances 

improve, you can pay down more of 

your debts. But then again, only you 

know if you can endure the pressure 

of collections letters, services being 

cut-off, debt collectors calling you and 

creditor lawsuits being filed against 

you. 

3: Ok, but what if: a] your debts are 

long term, b] your income continues 

to dwindle, c] there is a no light at the 

end of the tunnel and d] most debts are 

unsecured? 

Question - Will all of your debts and 

liabilities go away in bankruptcy? 

Answer - Bankruptcy discharges most 

unsecured debts such as credit and 

charge card balances, medical bills, 

collection accounts etc. 

Note: * Other debts like student loans, 

certain tax debt, certain legal bills and 

child support arrearage may not go 

away even though they are unsecured. 

In addition, liens on a secured debt like 

a mortgage or a car loan may remain 

your obligation to pay unless there is a 

“cram down”. So look at your liabilities: 

If the bulk is dischargeable, you 

may wish to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy. 

[There is also a chapter 13 Bankruptcy, 

but that is for another day]. 

4: Be sure you thoroughly understand 

the downside of bankruptcy and the 

conditions that must be met in order 

to be successful in your bankruptcy. 

Question - What exactly do you mean 

the downside and the conditions of 

bankruptcy? 

Answer - For example, your credit rating 

score will drop and the bankruptcy 

filing will be on your credit report for a 

long time. Also, there are some simple 

conditions that must be met: a] For 

example, you will be required to take 

a Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling 

Course after you file your petition for 

bankruptcy. The course is inexpensive 

and takes usually about 60 to 90 minutes 

to complete. b] There is also an 

inexpensive Post-Bankruptcy Debtor 

Education Course. The course is usually 

a little more than 2 hours and must 

be completed no later than the 45th day 

after the creditor’s 341 meeting. Both 

courses can be taken on-line by computer 

or by telephone. Joint bankruptcy 

filers can take the courses together. 

Thank you for taking the time to read 

this article on Bankruptcy. Our office 

provides Chapter 7 bankruptcy services 

for only $1385 including filing fees and 

attorney representation at the 341 hearing 

*in Riverside County Only*. 

Please note the information provided 

above is general and must not to be relied 

upon for your specific legal needs. *You 

should always consult an attorney to 

answer your legal questions. For more 

information about bankruptcy or other 

legal matters, contact the Law Offices 

of Morton J. Grabel here in Temecula at 

(951) 695-7700. Mort is a graduate of an 

ABA Law School, possesses an MBA, is a 

Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in 

good standing and also a licensed Real 

Estate Broker. He formerly served as the 

President of the Mt. San Jacinto/Hemet 

Bar Association, for the years 2013-2014 

and is a member of several Chambers of 

Commerce. 

“ 

On the other hand, if your income exceeds that figure and you have 

money left over after paying your necessary monthly expenses, you 

might not be able file




When Do I Need a Power of Attorney? 

by LEGAL Andrea Shoup 

by 

Andrea by Shoup 


Many people have heard the term 

‘power of attorney’ but have questions 

about when it is needed, and under 

what circumstances. A power of attorney 

(POA) grants a family member or 

other trusted individual the ability to 

make financial or healthcare decisions 

for you as your ‘agent’. This responsibility 

can be as broad or narrow as 

you wish to make it, and the POA will 

contain all of the specifics. 

Often, a POA can be in place immediately 

or be triggered when you 

become incapacitated through illness 

or injury, but it could also be used if 

you are traveling out of the country 

and need to have your affairs handled 

if you are unavailable. 

While incapacity may seem like a 

remote possibility for healthy adults, 

there is always the risk that you are unable 

to make decisions, even for a short 

time. The POA is a wise planning tool 

for those who want to decide who will 

step in to make financial and health care 

decisions, especially for significant 

financial or business interests, young 

children or other responsibilities. 

What are the Different Types of 

POAs? 

There are different types of POAs 

that can be used depending on your 

circumstances and how long it could 

be in effect, and your estate planning 

attorney can tell you which might be 

most suitable. 

General POA - General POAs can 

cover the full range of personal or legal 

responsibilities, and can include buying 

and selling property, filing tax returns or 

handling banking transactions. 

Limited POA - A limited POA is 

just that, restricted to a specific area or 

decision, such as a single financial transaction 

or to manage business interests 

for a short period of time. 

Healthcare POA - This may be 

most well-known POA. The POA 

gives the agent the duty to make medical 

decisions on your behalf if you are 

unable or unconscious, according to the 

specific medical care directives of your 

living will. 

Durable POA - Durable POAs 

are still in effect if you are incapacitated. 

The ‘durable’ aspect of this POA 

means that if you are unable to act on 

your own behalf, your agent can make 

decisions regarding your medical care 

or other personal and financial matters, 

depending on how you drafted the POA. 

If you have questions about how a POA 

can be used in your estate and life planning, 

please contact Attorney, Andrea 

Shoup at 951-445-4114. 

Temecula Passes Measure S 

On December 6th, the Riverside 

County Registrar of Voters certified the 

passage of Measure S, the City of Temecula’s 

9-1-1 Emergency Response, Public 

Safety, and Vital Services Measure. 

“Residents gave us our direction. 

It was an important decision for the 

community to make. We look forward 

to continuing to work with the community 

to maintain essential services and 

fiscal stability, despite ongoing State 

takeaways,” said Mayor Mike Naggar. 

“Measure S helps ensure Temecula remains 

a desirable place to live, work and 

do business,” continued Naggar. 

Measure S establishes a one-cent 

sales tax to maintain essential city services 

including police and fire protection, 

school safety patrols, traffic mitigation, 

and youth, senior and disabled services, 

amidst $31 million in State takeaways 

over the last 5 years. 

Measure S includes strict accountability 

provisions, including annual independent 

financial audits, public review of 

expenditures, and ensures that all funds 

remain in Temecula and cannot be taken 

by Sacramento. These fiscal safeguards 

ensure local funds continue to be used 

efficiently and effectively for local needs. 

For more information about Measure 

S, please visit www.cityoftemecula.org/ 

MeasureS.htm 

www.cityoftemecula.org/MeasureS.htm 

“ 

“Residents gave us our direction. 

It was an important decision 

for the community to make. 

We look forward to continuing 

to work with the community to 

maintain essential services and 

fiscal stability, despite ongoing 

State takeaways,” said Mayor 

Mike Naggar. 

“Measure S helps ensure Temecula 

remains a desirable place 

to live, work and do business,” 

continued Naggar.




15 

A New Year Resolution 

by Amy Fisther 

Five, Four, Three, Two, One – Happy 

New Year! 

Every year we gather for fun and festivities 

on the turning of the calendar to the 

New Year. Many of us decide that along 

with the new date, we wish to turn over a 

new leaf. The New Year’s Resolution is 

a tradition that some people embrace and 

others of us dread. All your family and 

friends keep asking “What are you going 

to do for your resolution?” You think, let’s 

see, what is the list of my shortcomings 

and what plan do I have to fix one of them 

that will probably never make it to February? 

You start mentally thumbing through 

the index cards in your head, considering 

and discarding them one by one: 

1. Start working out – Ok, this one 

seems achievable. Just go into the spare 

room and unbury the treadmill. Move the 

Christmas wrapping paper and ribbons. 

Find a chair to hold the pile of ironing 

that needs to be done. Uncover the big 

bag of dog kibble that never made it to 

the kitchen. Hmmm… here is my Trust 

and Will documents that are dusty and out 

of date. Is this a sign? I’ll move it to the 

dining room table for now. 

2. Start a diet – I will begin by 

pulling out all those recipe books I have 

gathered with healthy in the titles. Also, 

I’ve been reading that if you take the time 

to sit down at the table to eat your meal, it 

makes you more aware of how much you 

are eating. Let me clear off the cluttered 

table so we all have a place to sit. Curious 

– here is that pile of papers again with 

my Advanced Health Care Directive on 

the top. Another sign? I will move this 

to the kitchen desk for now. 

2. Clean out the hall closet - Well, 

once I recover from the cascade of Barney 

video tapes that we stored on the 

shelf for no good reason, I start to browse 

through the other boxes. At the bottom, 

in the very back of the closet is a box of 

baseball cards that my dad collected as 

a child. Sadly, I only have part of the 

collection. My efficient sister had started 

selling them before checking in with me 

to see if I wanted them. That was a very 

hard year. I would give anything to make 

settling my affairs more simple for my 

own kids. 

Someone seems to be trying to tell 

me something. I think my resolution 

this year is going to be really simple. I 

will call my estate planning attorney and 

get my documents updated. They are 

right by the phone in the kitchen, which 

makes it easy to take them with me for 

a quick review at my appointment. And 

by starting now, I can get it all done by 

February. Maybe New Year’s resolutions 

aren’t so bad after all. 

Amy Fisther is an Estate Planning Attorney 

with the Law Office of Jeffrey C. 

Nickerson 

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber Congratulates 

the 2016 Nominees for Business of The Year 

Non-Profit Nominees 

Assistance League of Temecula, Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Riverside 

County, Dream Center Lake Elsinore, Elsinore Valley Cemetery, Elsinore Valley 

Pregnancy Resource Center, Elsinore Woman’s Club, Jennifer Smart Foundation 

Lake Elsinore Historical Society, Rotary Club of Lake Elsinore, Studio 395, Susan 

G. Komen Inland Empire 

Small Business Nominees 

A & M Automotive, DreamZone Comics and Cards, Impact Promotional Products, 

Mason’s Mobile Notary, On The Go Video.biz, Storm Catering, The Lake House, 

Medium Business Nominees 

CJ’s Sports Grill & Turf Club, Glass Doctor of SWRC, Mission Optometry, Navy 

Federal Credit Union, 

Planet Fitness 

Large Business Nominees 

Bank of America, Lake Elsinore Casino & Econo Lodge, Lake Elsinore Chrysler 

Dodge Jeep Ram, Lowe’s, Outlets at Lake Elsinore, Pin ‘N Pockets, Southwest 

Healthcare System, Stater Brothers, Summerly Homes, Tractor Supply Company 

Thank you for supporting the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce! If you 

have any questions please contact us at (951) 245-8848, or visit our website at 

www.lakeelsinorechamber.com 

Visit us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/lakeelsinorechamber. 

connect: www.facebook.com/lakeelsinorechamber




San Jacinto Teacher Nicole McManaman 

Presented With November 

‘Teachers are Heroes’ Award 

Celebrating educators, who go 

far above and beyond the call of duty, 

Teachers are Heroes shines a spotlight 

on one of the most important professions…teaching! 

On Tuesday, December 

6th, Azusa Pacific University (APU) 

and KATY 101.3 The Mix (KATY) 

recognized Nicole McManaman as the 

November Teachers are Heroes winner 

for her efforts in making a difference in 

the lives of so many people. 

Mrs. McManaman has been teaching 

over 10 years in Kindergarten at 

Estudillo STEAM Elementary School 

in San Jacinto. She is excited about her 

students and enjoys seeing their growth 

during the school year. Elizabeth Nicolas, 

parent of a former Estudillo student, 

nominated McManaman and said, “Mrs. 

McManaman goes above and beyond 

for each one of her students no matter 

what time or day. She has been a mentor 

for so many new teachers as well. Her 

positive attitude towards life is amazing”. 

Nicolas did her student teaching in 

McManaman’s class so she has learned 

first-hand how to be an effective teacher. 

Nicolas has had 3 children go through 

McManaman’s class as well. 

Dr. Sonya Scott, Principal of Estudillo 

states, “Mrs. McManaman is truly an 

exceptional teacher and an asset to our 

students and the SJUSD Community”. 

Estudillo STEAM Elementary School 

office manager, Shelley Petrosino also 

said, “McManaman goes above and beyond 

and is a tremendous contributor to 

staff and school. She is very respected 

amongst her colleagues”. 

McManaman was presented with 

the Teachers are Heroes award and some 

special prizes from The Mix Prize Closet. 

Following the presentation, McManaman 

and her class were treated to a pizza party 

provided by the Temecula Pizza Factory. 

The Teachers are Heroes program 

will run through April 2017. Teachers 

may be nominated by students, parents, 

and even other school administrators. All 

selected teachers and their classes will attend 

a private celebration at the end of the 

year at the Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium. 

For more information go to www.1013themix.com, 

keyword: Teachers 

or go to http://www.apu.edu/murrieta/ 

teachers/ 

connect: www.apu.edu/murrieta/teachers/ 

“Mrs. McManaman goes above and beyond for each one of her students 

no matter what time or day. She has been a mentor for so many new 

teachers as well. Her positive attitude towards life is amazing.”




17 

Business Seminars and Workshops 

The City of Temecula’s Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs 

Exchange (TVE2) is pleased to announce the following events 

scheduled for January 2017. 

January 10th: Restaurant, Food and Alcohol Businesses - Tips from CA 

BOE and CA ABC Teams 

8:30am - 10:00am. 

The Restaurant, Food and Alcohol Workshop is a must for those running a 

restaurant, food truck, catering business, or any type of food vending. Get 

up to speed about what foods are taxable and non-taxable, the “80/80 Rule,” 

and tax ability of combo meals. Then the California Department of Alcoholic 

Beverage Control will provide valuable information to anyone selling, or 

considering selling alcohol. How to get a license and which type to get, plus 

what you need to know to avoid losing that license or costly fines. Register 

online at https://goo.gl/kP6dwz 

January 11th: TVE2 Pitch Practice 

11:30am-1:00pm 

Calling all entrepreneurs. Come and practice your business or investor pitch 

in a fun and friendly environment. Entrepreneurs that pitch will receive feedback 

from a panel of experts. If you would like to pitch please email Cheryl 

Kitzerow at cheryl.kitzerow@tve2.org to sign up and receive more info. No 

cost to attend. Register online at https://goo.gl/Iadm87 

January 12th: Optimize Your Business Website 

9:00am - 11:00am 

In this hands on (yes, bring your laptops) workshop Charles and Linda 

Musselwhite of Musselwhite Consulting will be conducting live reviews 

and discussing simple ways to optimize, promote and measure your website 

success using WooRank, a Digital Marketing Software providing real-time 

reports, consisting of over 70 criteria that will help you to instantly spot 

critical issues that impact traffic, usability and conversions on your website. 

Register at https://goo.gl/6DmxDr 

January 13th: Cybersecurity for Your Business & Home 

9:00am – 11:00am 

In this workshop you will learn about Anti-virus Basics, Computer Back-ups, 

Simple Mobile Wi-Fi Security, and Cyber Security Common Sense presented 

by Dan Stafford, President, Temecool Computer Repair. Reservations 

are complimentary for TVCC Members and $20 for Non-TVCC Members. 

RSVP to Brooke Nunn at (951) 676-5090 or brooke@temecula.org 

January 19th: How to Start a Small Business - Basic Overview 

9:00am-11:00am 

If you are a new or aspiring business owner, this workshop is a must! This 

introductory course will discuss informational topics such as: Being an Entrepreneur; 

Business Planning; Small Business Financing; Legal Forms of 

Organization; Licensing and Permits. Register by phone at (951) 781-2345 

or online at https://goo.gl/ZwEKiC 

January 24th: Get Your Business Online with Google 

9:00am - 11:00am 

Learn how you can be found by local customers, be found everywhere on 

all devices, be found with online advertising, and how to use bonus tools 

including Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Trends, Google 

Alerts, and YouTube presented by a Google certified instructor. Register at 

https://goo.gl/GpTJXv 

All classes are typically from 9:00am-10:30am, FREE for Murrieta 

Chamber Members/ $25 non-members. For more information, call 

(951) 677-7916. 

January 5th - 12:00pm - Local Success Stories 

Presented by: Stephen Espinosa 

Find out how Murrieta Local Stephen Espinosa built 4 Tech Start-ups and is 

now working at The White House! 

January 10th - 9:00 – 10:30am - Electrify Your Sales & 

Marketing Now 

Presented by: Helene Berren from AmpUrBiz 

Come learn how ‘What can you do now to get immediate results’ 

February 14th - 9:00 – 10:30am - The Wisdom of Walt: Leadership 

Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth 

Presented by: Guest speaker & author Jeffrey A. Barnes 

Mr. Barnes is an author, professional keynote speaker, higher education administrator, 

university professor and leadership/success coach. He attributes 

his passion for Disneyland to his love of history, story and success. He 

believes the Park teaches us some of life’s greatest lessons. 

Space is limited. Please call to reserve your seat as soon as possible. You 

will have the opportunity at the end of his School of Business presentation 

to purchase his book titled “The Wisdom of Walt.”






Health 


19 

Loma Linda University Surgical Hospital Earns ‘Coveted 2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award’ 

Of the approximately 400 academic 

hospitals in the nation, Loma Linda 

University Surgical Hospital is one of 29 

named a Top Teaching Hospital by The 

Leapfrog Group. 

On Dec. 5, Leapfrog revealed its 

2016 Top Hospitals lists, recognizing 

facilities that meet the group’s patient 

safety, care quality and efficiency standards. 

This year 115 hospitals were 

named Top Hospitals. 

“This is a recognition of the worldclass 

patient care Surgical Hospital 

provides, and we are grateful for the 

recognition,” says Kerry Heinrich, CEO, 

Loma Linda University Medical Center. 

Lyndon Edwards, MBA, MHS, 

senior vice president of adult hospital 

services, and Marie Hodgkins, MBA, executive 

director, supplemental staffing network, 

accepted the award from Leapfrog 

executives Dec. 6 in Washington, DC. “I 

think it is a testament to the teamwork that 

has always existed at the Surgical Hospital 

between our physicians, nurses and all of 

our clinicians,” said Edwards. “They are 

so focused on doing the best job for every 

patient who comes through the door. This 

is a symbol of that great work.” 

Hodgkins stated, “This award is a 

validation of the hard work that the patient 

care team has done at Surgical Hospital. 

When Loma Linda purchased it in 2008, 

one of the goals was to set the bar for excellence 

in patient care, and this is a validation 

that our health care team has done that.” 

The designation of Top Hospital is 

based on the results of the 2016 Leapfrog 

Hospital Survey. Performance across many 

areas of hospital care is considered in establishing 

the qualifications for the award, 

including infection rates and a hospital’s 

ability to prevent medication errors. This 

outstanding achievement was the result 

of extraordinary teamwork. LLU Surgical 

Hospital provides more than 20,000 outpatient 

visits each year. 

This recognition showcases LLU 

Surgical Hospital’s commitment to patient 

safety and quality, as Leapfrog Top Hospital 

Awards are widely acknowledged as 

one of the most prestigious distinctions a 

hospital can receive. 

“Being acknowledged as a Top Hospital 

is an incredible feat achieved by less 

than 3 percent of hospitals nationwide,” 

says Leah Binder, president and CEO of 

The Leapfrog Group. “With this honor, 

Loma Linda University Surgical Hospital 

has established its commitment to safer 

and higher quality care. Providing this 

level of care to patients in Loma Linda 

requires motivation and drive from every 

team member. I congratulate the board, 

staff and clinicians whose efforts made 

this honor possible.” 

Widely acknowledged as one of the 

most prestigious distinctions a hospital 

can receive in the U.S., the recognition 

showcases LLU Surgical Hospital’s 

commitment to patient safety and quality. 

“This recognition from Leapfrog is 

a true testament to our everyday efforts 

to provide the best care to the patients we 

serve,” said Jonathan Jean-Marie, vice 

president/administrator, LLU Surgical 

Hospital. “This would not be attainable 

without the men and women dedicated 

to serving our mission ‘to continue 

the teaching healing ministry of Jesus 

Christ’ every day at Surgical Hospital including 

clinical and administrative staff 

and volunteers. Thank you for making 

this the very place it is today.” 

LLU Surgical Hospital is a 28-bed 

facility focusing on inpatient and outpatient 

services within select specialties. 

Top-of-the-line technology including 

robotic surgery technology and laparascopic 

capabilities are provided in six 

operating rooms that support the focus 

on state-of-the-art care in the following 

specialty areas: 

Heart and vascular, Women’s health, 

General surgery, Head and neck, Urology, 

Minimally invasive surgery, Radiology, 

Bariatric surgery and Plastic surgery. 

“Bro”tox and Men’s Skin Care 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

Tina Monique M. Gottlieb, deGroot D.C. 

Caring for your skin and reducing 

the signs of aging has long been seen as 

something mostly women tend to worry 

about. Women have been held to a higher 

standard when it comes to a youthful 

appearance, but times are changing. Men 

are starting to see the benefits of caring 

for their skin and even venturing into 

cosmetic injections like Juvederm (a 

filler) and Botox, or as some like to call 

it, “Bro”tox. 

It’s important that men take good 

care of their skin is because they tend 

to produce more oil. A higher level of 

testosterone is the cause. Because they 

will produce more oil and thus have 

more clogged pores which could lead to 

blackheads and then lead to pimples. An 

esthetician can thoroughly and properly 

extract dirt and oil from pores refreshing 

the skin and giving it a natural glow. They 

will also stimulate collagen production 

through pressure point massage. Men 

won’t usually conceal their blemishes 

or age spots with cosmetics like women 

so it’s even more imperative that they 

properly care for their skin. 

Fillers and Botox are now trending 

among men, but really men have been 

doing it for years. It softens wrinkles 

around the forehead and eyes and can 

take off 5 to 10 years. Maintaining a 

younger and more attractive appearance 

has given men a more competitive 

edge in the job market and dating scene 

as well. Many men will go to the gym 

for hours working on their physical 

physique so why not take other measures 

to look and feel your best? With 

a procedure so quick you can easily do 

it on a lunch break. 

It’s a no brainer that men and women 

want to look younger. I’m excited that 

men are finally able to embrace treatments 

and services that seemed only to 

be reserved for women. As a spa owner, 

I am happy to have so many male spa 

members who regularly take care of 

themselves. I encourage more men to 

change up their routine for the New Year 

and get a man’s facial or give cosmetic 

injectables a try! 

Monique deGroot is the owner of Murrieta 

Day Spa which is located at 41885 

Ivy St. in Murrieta. 

Maintaining a younger and more 

attractive appearance has given men 

a more competitive edge in the job 

market and dating scene as well




Thomas L. Lemon, MDiv Appointed 

Chairman of Loma Linda University Health 

Board of Trustees 

Loma Linda University Health today 

announced that Lowell C. Cooper, MDiv, 

MPH has retired from his position as 

chairman of the Board of Trustees after 

15 years of service, and that Thomas L. 

Lemon, MDiv, who has served on the 

Board of Trustees since 2010 has been 

elected chairman. The transition occurred 

during the December Board of Trustees’ 

meeting. Lemon was elected as a General 

Vice President of the General Conference 

of Seventh-day Adventists at the General 

Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, 

held in July 2015. 

Previous to this, Lemon was the 

president of the Seventh-day Adventist 

Church in Mid-America headquartered 

in Lincoln, Nebraska and began serving 

in that role in November of 2010. The 

Mid-America region covers nine states 

plus a corner of New Mexico. It is home 

to 68,000 Adventists in six conferences. 

Lemon also served as president of the 

Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day 

Adventists. 

Lemon received his BA degree from 

Southwestern Adventist University and a 

master of divinity from the Seventh-day 

Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews 

University. Lemon’s wife, Jan, is a 

career educator. The couple has two adult 

children and four grandchildren. 

Dr. Richard Hart, MD, MPH, president 

of Loma Linda University Health 

said, “Elder Lemon served on boards 

of directors for a number of higher education 

and health care institutions, as 

well as media and outreach ministries. 

His leadership experience and dedication 

to mission is coming at a critical 

time in Loma Linda’s history when we 

are expanding our outreach to our local 

community, our region, and the world.” 

Lemon said, “During my tenure 

as president of the Adventist Church in 

Mid-America, my areas of focus were 

Family Owned & Operated 

100% Background Checked Team 

24/7/365 Emergency Service 

Fully Licensed, Bonded and Certified 

Insurance Approved and Preferred 

evangelism, education, and health care. 

I am both excited and grateful that I will 

have the opportunity to continue to focus 

on these areas of ministry that mean so 

much to me personally, at Loma Linda.” 

Hart also said, “We want to express 

our appreciation to Elder Cooper who has 

served as Chair of our Board of Trustees 

for 15 years, the longest serving Chair 

of our Board. Elder Cooper’s leadership 

has been invaluable to us, and we have 

flourished under his guidance. We are 

truly indebted to him for his service to 

the church and to this institution.” 

There were many milestones reached 

at Loma Linda during Lowell Cooper’s 

15-year tenure as Board Chairman. Loma 

Linda University School of Pharmacy 

was established, as were the Schools of 

Religion and Behavioral Health. Loma 

Linda University Health also celebrated 

its 100th Anniversary. 

Under Cooper’s leadership, Loma 

Linda saw the openings of the Surgical 

hospital, Murrieta hospital, Highland 

Springs Medical Plaza, the Tom & Vi 

Zapara Rehabilitation Pavilion, the Behavioral 

Health Institute, the Centennial 

Complex and the San Bernardino Campus. 

Water, Flood, Fire, Smoke, Mold Damage? 

With Pulido you are family. 

We will get you through this. 

The most trusted Restoration company in 

the Temecula valley since 1989 

951-296-9090 

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Tomas L. Lemon, MDiv 

Lic# 710901 

Loma Linda University 

Medical Center Advances 

Cardiology Services by 

Offering First-of-its-Kind 

Fully Dissolving Heart 

Stent 

Dr. Steve Jin 

First-of-its-kind medical device, Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold 

opens clogged arteries to restore blood flow, then gradually dissolves in 

the body. 

Loma Linda University Medical 

Center – Murrieta (LLUMC-Murrieta) 

announced that it is among the first 

hospitals in Southern California to 

begin using fully dissolving stents, a 

technology designed to restore blood 

vessels without leaving residual metal 

behind, as has been the case with conventional 

metal stents. 

The Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular 

Scaffold stent is a technology 

manufactured by Abbott Vascular, a 

division of Abbott Laboratories located 

in Temecula, CA, just a few miles 

away from the hospital. 

“This is a major milestone for the 

Cardiac Services program at Loma 

Linda University Medical Center- 

Murrieta,” said Dr. Niraj V. Parekh, 

Cath Lab Medical Director. “We are 

now able to offer patients with coronary 

artery disease a new treatment 

option that literally disappears over 

time.” 

Dr. Steve Jin, an Interventional 

Cardiologist at LLUMC-Murrieta, 

implanted a patient with the world’s 

first FDA-approved dissolving heart 

stent, on December 9. “We are very 

excited to be the first hospital in the 

Inland Empire to use the dissolving 

stent technology. We were able to 

implant the device via the radial artery, 

utilizing a process that is more 

procedural and precise in nature, but 

with greater, lifelong benefits for the 

patient,” said Dr. Jin. 

The Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular 

Scaffold is a major advance in the 

treatment of coronary artery disease, 

which affects 15 million people in the 

United States and remains a leading 

cause of death worldwide despite decades 

of therapeutic advances. 

While stents are traditionally 

made of metal, Abbott’s Absorb stent 

is made of a naturally dissolving material, 

similar to dissolving sutures. 

Absorb disappears completely in 

about 3 years, after it has done its job 

of keeping a clogged artery open and 

promoting healing of the treated artery 

segment. By contrast, metal stents are 

permanent implants. 

Located in Southern California’s 

Southwest Riverside County, 

LLUMC–Murrieta is a 106-bed hospital 

that serves the communities of 

Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Canyon 

Lake, Wildomar, and Lake Elsinore. 

LLUMC–Murrieta is a part of Loma 

Linda University Health — the umbrella 

organization encompassing 

Loma Linda University’s eight professional 

schools, Loma Linda University 

Medical Center’s six hospitals 

and more than 900 faculty physicians 

located across the Inland Empire in 

Southern California. A Seventh-day 

Adventist organization, Loma Linda 

University Health is a faith-based 

health system with a mission “to continue 

the teaching and healing ministry 

of Jesus Christ.” 

About Loma Linda University Health 

- Loma Linda University Health includes 

Loma Linda University’s eight 

professional schools, Loma Linda 

University Medical Center’s six hospitals 

and over 900 faculty physicians 

located in the Inland Empire of Southern 

California. Established in 1905, 

Loma Linda University Health is a 

global leader in education, research 

and clinical care. It offers over 100 

academic programs and provides 

quality health care to 40,000 inpatients 

and 1.5 million outpatients each year. 

A Seventh-day Adventist organization, 

Loma Linda University Health 

is a faith-based health system with a 

mission “to continue the teaching and 

healing ministry of Jesus Christ.” 

“ 

We are very excited to be the first hospital in the Inland 

Empire to use the dissolving stent technology. 

~Dr. Steve Lin




One Simple Way to Live a Longer, Healthier Life 

21 

1 SIMPLE WAY 

This simple habit can add three to seven years to your life 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

At the European Society of Cardiology 

Congress, researchers presented 

evidence supporting the idea that a brisk, 

25-minute daily walk can dramatically 

improve health. 

In fact, this simple habit can add 

three to seven years to your life! 

But between work, family duties, 

and social obligations, it can be difficult 

to find time for exercise. Try these five 

methods to fit at least 25 minutes of 

walking into your daily schedule. 

Break it up. If you can’t access a 

half-hour block of time, break up your 

walk into two or three sessions. Take 

the dog for a walk in the morning, do 

laps around the building or parking lot 

on your lunch break, and take a hike 

after dinner. 

Be prepared at all times. Free moments 

come up throughout the day, but 

you probably spend them staring at your 

phone screen because there’s nothing 

else to do. Keep your walking shoes in 

your car, and consider stashing a spare 

pair under your desk at work. When free 

time pops up, you’ll be ready to spring 

into action. 

Opt for inconvenience over convenience. 

We often focus on the fastest 

and easiest ways to get things done. But 

instead, park at the back of the parking 

lot when you go to the mall. Walk to 

the restaurant down the street instead 

of driving. Don’t sit on the bench while 

your kids are at soccer practice; walk 

laps around the park instead. 

Get a buddy. Enlist a walking partner, 

and the social commitment will motivate 

you to show up. Walking will also 

be more fun since you’ll have company! 

Multitask. Need to make a phone 

call, meet with your boss, or offer 

support to a friend during a personal 

crisis? Rather than scheduling coffee 

dates and sit-down meetings, suggest a 

walking appointment. Exercise boosts 

brain function, too, so your meetings 

and chats might actually become more 

productive. 

Steve Amante is the owner of Amante & 

Associates Insurance Solutions, Inc. He 

can be reached at 951-676-8800 - www. 

amanteandassociates.com 

Healthy 

Living 

by presented by 

Tina Steve M. Amante Gottlieb, D.C. 

connect: www.amanteandassociates.com




Temecula Valley Unveils New Helipad 

Temecula Valley Hospital has unveiled 

its new helipad, which is fully-operational 

after passing all required inspections. The 

helipad is available for use by emergency 

air-transport for both incoming patients 

and patient transfers. While Temecula 

Valley Hospital has received air ambulance 

services in the past, the location of the new 

helipad will provide better access to the 

Emergency Department. 

“We are excited to begin use of the 

new helipad as it will positively impact 

the emergency services offered at Temecula 

Valley hospital,” said Darlene Wetton, 

Chief Executive Officer, Temecula Valley 

Hospital. “With a more direct route to 

the Emergency Department, we will be 

able to streamline patient transfers and 

provide better patient care.” 

Bill Richardson, a former Temecula 

Valley Hospital patient, can attest to the 

importance of offering air ambulance 

services at the hospital. Bill suffered a 

heart attack while hiking with his wife, 

and due to being in a remote location, 

emergency transport via helicopter was 

his best option. “Time is of the essence 

and I firmly believe that if I had been 

relegated to an over-the-road ambulance, 

it would have taken too long to get to me 

and too long to get me to the hospital,” 

said Richardson. 

The opening of the helipad included 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

and Caltrans Aeronautics Division regulations, 

as well consideration of safety 

factors and residential areas adjacent to 

the hospital. Numerous hearings with 

City Council and local residents were 

also held to discuss the new helipad and 

related flight paths. 

“It was a long process but we wanted 

to ensure that we were doing what was 

best for the community and for our patients,” 

said Dr. Pranav Kachhi, Medical 

Director of Emergency Services. “The 

new helipad will allow us to transport 

patients quicker, which means that we 

can provide life-saving treatment even 

sooner.” 

Temecula Valley Hospital is located at 

31700 Temecula Parkway, and brings advanced 

technology, innovative programs, 

patient-centered and family sensitive 

care to area residents. The hospital 

features 140 private patient rooms, 24 

hour a day emergency care, advanced 

cardiac and stroke care, orthopedics and 

general medical care and surgical specialties. 

More information on Temecula 

Valley Hospital can be found at www. 

temeculavalleyhospital.com.




Dive into the New Year with More Energy, 

Less Stress and Better Health 

23 

I am hoping that many of you took 

to heart a few of the principles we talked 

about in the last article, and are ready to 

dive into the New Year with more energy, 

less stress and better health. By now, most 

of you know that our primary goal at OsteoStrong 

is the prevention and elimination 

of osteoporosis and its horrific effects on 

your life. We also know that the process 

of “osteogenic loading” (that’s what we do 

here) is exponentially more effective than 

any other treatment source, including bone 

altering medications and their side effects. 

But now, after almost a year of study, research 

and trial and error, we are proud to 

offer yet another “arrow in our quiver” in 

the quest to conquer osteoporosis. 

What is this new and exciting advancement? 

Actually, it has been used 

effectively here and abroad for many decades. 

It is pulsed electro-magnetic field 

therapy, or PEMF for short. PEMF has 

been utilized since the early 1900’s, although 

the first commercial units weren’t 

seen until about 1975, with the treatments 

focusing more on muscle, nerve and tendon 

structures. It wasn’t until 1979 that 

the FDA recognized PEMF as an effective 

means of stimulating bone growth, and 

thus became one of the most commonly 

utilized therapies for healing non-union 

bone fractures. Almost 20 years later, 

PEMF therapy was recognized as an effective 

treatment for urinary incontinence 

as well as many female related reproductive 

disorders. And in 2006 PEMF was 

expanding its treatment spectrum into the 

realm of anxiety and depression with some 

very encouraging results. 

In today’s world, PEMF continues to 

be used for the issues listed above, but is 

more commonly utilized for bone stimulation, 

healing from traumatic injuries, 

degenerative conditions as well as pain 

control. There are multiple varieties of 

PEMF devices in use today, but for time’s 

sake, let’s simplify it a bit. Low level 

PEMF devices utilize an energy range 

which mimics the earth’s magnetic field to 

slightly higher. These devices are highly 

effective at increasing cellular health, 

bone stimulation as well as reduction of 

pain, regardless of the source. High level 

PEMF machines, which can be 10,000 

times the level of the earth’s magnetic field, 

are primarily seen in sports injury clinics, 

for treating degenerative conditions as 

well as pain control. There are literally 

thousands of studies documenting the effectiveness 

of PEMF devices, but I thought 

it would be useful to mention a few of the 

conditions we see on a daily basis. 

A Madigan Anny Medical Center 

study demonstrated over a 50% reduction 

in pain from Migraine Headaches in as 

little as 3 weeks. A Loma University study 

showed that 76% of patients suffering from 

Diabetic Neuropathy had a substantial decrease 

in numbness and tingling within 6 

weeks of PEMF treatment. PEMF devices 

affect the body in multiple ways: mechanically, 

chemically, electrically as well as 

“ 

A Loma University study showed 

that 76% of patients suffering 

from Diabetic Neuropathy 

had a substantial decrease in 

numbness and tingling within 6 

weeks of PEMF treatment. 

magnetically. Each has its own unique 

healing attribute, although if we break it 

down, we can think of it as increasing the 

body’s micro-circulation by altering the 

cells Trans-Membrane-Potential. 

By altering the TMP, “cell flexibility” 

is enhanced, thereby increasing circulation 

on a microscopic level, decreasing inflammation 

and substantially decreasing noxious 

stimuli to the pain receptors. After 25 

years in practice, I have been introduced 

to countless therapies, most of which are 

a waste of time and money. This time 

however, I believe we have stumbled upon 

a solid contender with regards to bone 

health, pain relief as well cellular integrity. 

So, whether its bone health issues, 

back and/or joint pain, balance or maybe 

just “feeling the years”, come visit us at 

OsteoStrong and start your year off right. 

Yours For Better Health, 

Dr. Derek K. Albrecht D.C. 

Dr. Derek K. Albrecht D.C. is a partner 

at OsteoStrong in Murrieta as well as 

continuing in his private practice. For 

more information, call (951) 461-9584. 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

by 

Dr. Derek Albrecht, 

Tina 

B.S., 

M. 

D.C. 

Gottlieb, D.C.




AB 2883: New California Workers’ Comp 

Law Effective January 1st 

INSURANCE 

by 

Craig Davis 

Effective January 1, 2017, California 

has amended the definition of an employee 

under Workers’ Compensation law 

and who can elect to be excluded from 

having workers’ compensation coverage. 

Specifically, an officer or member of the 

board of directors of a corporation must 

own at least 15 percent of the issued and 

outstanding stock of the corporation to 

be eligible to elect to be excluded from 

having workers’ compensation coverage. 

Any corporate officer owning less 

than 15 percent of the issued and outstanding 

stock of the corporation will not 

be eligible to elect exclusion. Individuals 

who are general partners of partnerships or 

managing members limited liability companies 

(LLC’s) can elect to be excluded 

irrespective of ownership percentage, but 

must sign a written waiver under penalty 

of perjury making the election. Any 

corporate officer, member of the board of 

directors, general partner, or managing 

member of an LLC electing to exclude 

themselves must execute a waiver stating, 

under penalty of perjury, that they are 

a qualifying officer or director, general 

partner, or managing member of an LLC. 

The signed waiver must be on a form 

approved by the California Department 

of Insurance. 

“AB 2883 is going to cause significant 

disruption for workers’ compensation 

insurers and employers,” said California 

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones 

back in mid-October. “We have issued 

a notice today to workers’ compensation 

insurers so that they know what the new 

law requires of them and we directed insurers 

to provide notice to employers so 

that they are made aware of the new law. 

Unfortunately, AB 2883 did not include 

any language exempting in-force policies 

or delaying its effective date so as not to 

impact in-force policies.” 

Prior to the passage of AB 2883, officers, 

directors and working partners were 

not required to be covered under the business’s 

workers’ comp policy unless they 

opted to be covered and were not listed 

on a limiting and restricting endorsement. 

Contact your local insurance agent/ 

broker for further details. 

Craig Davis is an agent for Farmers 

Insurance and the owner of Craig Davis 

Family Insurance located at 27645 Jefferson, 

Suite 113, in Temecula. He may 

be reached at (951) 699-1776. cdavis@ 

farmersagent.com. 

A New Perspective! 

MARKETING 

by Tracey Papke 

The New Year is a time for fresh 

beginnings and a great time to consider 

revamping your marketing materials. 

It’s time to get a fresh perspective on 

your marketing and determine 

when it’s time to update your 

message, take your business 

to the next level, and remind 

your clients (both current 

and potential) that you are 

available for them. 

To get a new perspective 

on your marketing message, 

ask yourself “are we 

currently telling the story that 

best represents where we are now?” 

If you need updating, then focus on what 

message currently reflects your business’ 

ideals. Sometimes it helps to gain perspective 

by talking with others, whether it 

is a fellow business member or a mentor. 

When conveying your new message, it 

is very important that it is done right. 

Get to the point and keep it simple. For 

printed materials, design is everything, so 

seek the help of a professional designer to 

maximize your results. 

Often, there comes a point when it is 

time to think about taking your business to 

the next level. Perhaps you are going in a 

new direction, adding on a new product, or 

expanding and moving to a new location. 

This is a great opportunity to create new 

collateral materials that focus on what is 

new and exciting about your business. It 

can’t be said enough; seek professional 

help when creating new marketing materials. 

Graphic designers and printers 

will become part of your team to insure 

that the right message is getting through. 

Your new materials and marketing 

campaign should remind your clients why 

they do business with you. It should also 

set you apart from your competition 

by highlighting your attributes 

and distinguishing you as an 

authority in your field. Refreshing 

your message and 

implementing a consistent 

marketing plan will deepen 

your relationship with your 

clients. They will benefit 

from a deeper understanding 

of what your business offers 

and will remember you when 

they need you. 

At the beginning of this fresh New 

Year, take the time to update your marketing 

materials. For the best results team 

up with a graphic designer and local print 

shop, then sit back and enjoy the benefits 

of your efforts! 

Tracey Papke is the owner of Potamus 

Press, a commercial print shop that specializes 

in offset and digital printing. For 

more information please visit www.potamuspress.com 

or call (951) 693-2136. 

connect: www.potamuspress.com




25 

Technology Trends to Consider in the Coming Year 

TECHNOLOGY 

by 

by 

Tristan 


Collopy 

Savvy investors understand the 

tremendous value that emerging technology 

can provide. Positioning your 

business to take advantage of emerging 

technologies places you in a sector 

with immense growth opportunities 

available. Below, I will outline five key 

areas of emergent technology that can 

be both a financial boon, as well as produce 

increased efficiency and agility. 

Intelligent Systems Technology— 

although you may not be familiar with 

the phrase, there is another which I’m 

sure will ring a bell—Artificial Intelligence 

or AI. Artificial intelligence 

systems have grown in leaps and 

bounds within the past decade. Perhaps 

the most famous face on the current 

cutting edge of the field is IBM’s 

Watson, the super-computer originally 

built to play Jeopardy. IBM initially 

conceived of Watson as a so-called 

“Proof of Concept.” Essentially, they 

built it to show that they could. As time 

went on however, Watson transitioned 

its inductive and deductive reasoning 

capabilities into something beneficial 

to all mankind—interpreting MRI 

scans and looking for patterns from the 

data that indicate malignancies. This task 

could previously only be accomplished 

by trained professionals, professionals 

that become fatigued, or make mistakes. 

Watson is able to use machine learning to 

interpret fMRI data and recognize disease 

patterns previously missed by highly 

trained human professionals. This is but 

one of the many exciting new potential 

applications of AI technology. 

Interaction Technology is something 

that you may probably use every day. 

You can think of interaction technology 

in terms of Siri or Alexa, software applications 

that you’re able to interact with by 

speaking commands or asking questions. 

Interaction technology has revolutionized 

the ways in which users interact with their 

devices. With their increasing prevalence, 

corporations are able to leverage increased 

efficiency through the variety of tasks that 

these capable algorithms can perform. 

When couple with Intelligent Systems 

Technology, interactive systems become 

even more powerful. Could you have 

imagined being able to simply ask your 

phone to create a calendar reminder for 

you ten years ago? It’s easy to imagine the 

undiscovered possibilities of this emerging 

technology. 

Small Software Technology is another 

emerging technology that can be 

used to increase the efficiency of your 

business in the here and now. You can 

think of Small Software Technology as 

the “app-ification” of larger software 

applications. Gone are the days of enormous, 

unwieldy, multi-module enterprise 

resource planning (ERP) solutions—with 

the increased availability and minimal cost 

of the cloud, these applications are able to 

be broken into bite sized chunks. These 

“Lego bricks” of software are able to be 

purchased or licensed a la carte, enabling 

the savvy SMB to leverage only those applications 

they have need for, rather than 

purchasing the entire solution and utilizing 

only a tiny fraction. This industry trend 

will only increase the ability of the SMB to 

scale as its needs grow and change, while 

maintaining low overhead cost. 

Sensor Analytics Technology is often 

paired with another technology buzzword—the 

Internet of Things (IoT). With 

the increased prevalence of wireless Internet 

connections and the ability to pack 

more and more compute power into even 

smaller spaces, the appliances around us 

are getting smarter and more capable. 

Refrigerators, toaster ovens, thermostats 

and smart watches, the applications of the 

IoT are almost limitless. Sensor Analytics 

Technology is paired with the IoT to be 

able to track and analyze real-time data, 

enabling devices to react to the demands 

of their users automatically. One real-world 

application of sensor technology 

are NFC tags available for smart phones. 

Users are able to automatically launch specific 

applications based on their location. 

Your phone would, for example, know 

that you were at work and automatically 

begin checking for new emails and instant 

messages, while simultaneously ceasing 

distraction causing processes. 

All of these areas of emerging technology 

underscore the importance of the 

final area, Cyber-Security Technology. 

All security architectures are forced to 

constantly adapt. Recently a huge number 

of devices falling under the umbrella of 

the Internet of Things were compromised 

by malware and used in a large scale 

DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service—flooding 

a specific location with a 

huge amount of internet traffic effectively 

shutting it down, often targeted at specific 

corporations or websites). Cyber-Security 

appliances have been forced to evolve 

along with development in all other areas 

of emerging technologies. Firewalls and 

antivirus now utilize sophisticated algorithms 

and heuristics technologies to determine 

the difference between malicious 

and allowed traffic. 

It is vitally important that SMB 

owners and corporate officers understand 

evolving technology. With each iteraction 

comes the potential for greater and greater 

efficiency. The downside is that these 

greater efficiencies can induce liability 

without up-to-date security methodology. 

As always, please contact Mythos Technology 

for assistance in navigating new 

and emerging technologies. 

Mythos Technology is an IT consulting 

and management firm. For more information, 

please visit www.mythostech.com or 

call (951) 813-2672. 

connect: www.mythostech.com 

Southwest Healthcare System Winner 


Southwest Healthcare System, which 

operates Rancho Springs Medical Center 

in Murrieta and Inland Valley Medical 

Center in Wildomar, has been awarded 

a 2016 Top Workplaces honor by The 

Press-Enterprise. The Top Workplaces 

lists are based solely on the results of an 

employee feedback survey administered 

by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading 

independent research firm that specializes 

in organizational health and workplace 

improvement. Several aspects of workplace 

culture were measured, including 

Alignment, Execution, and Connection, 

just to name a few. 

“The Top Workplaces award is not 

a popularity contest. And oftentimes, 

people assume it’s all about fancy perks 

and benefits.” says Doug Claffey, CEO 

of WorkplaceDynamics. “But to be a Top 

Workplace, organizations 

must meet 

our strict standards 

for organizational 

health. And who 

better to ask about 

work life than the 

people who live the 

culture every day— 

the employees. Time 

and time again, our 

research has proven 

that what’s most 

important to them 

is a strong belief in 

where the organization 

is headed, 

how it’s going to get 

there, and the feeling 

that everyone is in 

it together. Claffey 

adds, “Without this 

sense of connection, an organization 

doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top 

Workplace.” 

Brad Neet, CEO of Southwest Healthcare 

System, stated our Vision of “Building 

Relationships that Touch the Heart” drives 

everything we do for our patients and 

community. We have an amazing group 

of individuals who are passionate about the 

quality of care and service given to each 

patient and family member that we have 

the privilege of serving. 

About Southwest Healthcare System - Inland 

Valley Medical Center features the 

areas only hospital designated a Level II 

Trauma Center by the county’s Emergency 

Services Agency, a comprehensive total 

joint center, and the region’s Bariatric 

Weight-loss Surgery Center of Excellence. 

Rancho Springs Medical Center features 

the region’s largest birthing center and the 

only NICU and OB Hospitalists program 

in the area along with the first emergency 

department in SW Riverside County to 

offer pediatric emergency care with board 

certified Rady Children’s Physicians for 

children 14 and younger. 

About WorkplaceDynamics, LLC - Headquartered 

in Exton, PA, WorkplaceDynamics 

specializes in employee feedback 

surveys and workplace improvement. 

This year alone, more than two million 

employees in over 6,000 organizations will 

participate in the Top Workplaces campaign—a 

program it conducts in partnership 

with more than 40 prestigious media 

partners across the United States. Workplace 

Dynamics also provides consulting 

services to improve employee engagement 

and organizational health. Workplace- 

Dynamics is a founding B Corporation 

member, a coalition of organizations that 

are leading a global movement to redefine 

success in business by offering a positive 

vision of a better way to do business.




Are You Prepared for Tax Filing Season? 

Why, What, When, Where and How 

to Prepare: 

Why? Well-organized tax records 

make it easier to prepare a tax return 

and they help provide answers if your 

tax return is selected for a tax examination, 

or to prepare a response if you 

receive an IRS or State notice. Devoting 

time to organize your tax-related 

documents makes it easier for you to 

prepare your tax return. 

What? Individuals, keep records 

that support items of income or a deduction 

or a credit appearing on your 

tax return, such as receipts, canceled 

checks, mileage logs and other documents 

(W2s, Form 1099s), until the 

period of limitation expires for that 

tax return. 

What? Small Business Owners, 

keep all your employment tax records, 

any records documenting gross receipts, 

proof of purchases, expenses 

and assets. Examples include cash 

register tapes, bank deposit slips, 

receipt books, purchase and sales invoices, 

credit card charges and sales 

slips, Forms 1099s, canceled checks, 

account statements, petty cash slips 

and real estate closing statements. 

Electronic records can include databases, 

saved files, e-mails, instant 

messages, faxes and voice messages. 

When? Throughout the year, not 

just at tax filing time. 

Where? You can have a manual 

system where you use folders kept in 

your home or office, or electronically 

if you are moving to a less paper 

system. 

How? As you receive your tax related 

documents, such as W2s or Form 

1099s, have a designated place for all 

of them. This will make preparing 

your tax return easier, and it may also 

remind you of relevant transactions. 

You are now ready to file your tax 

return before or by March 15, 2017 for 

calendar year S Corporations. 

Partnerships: (Note the new tax 

deadline for partnerships) or April 18, 

2017 (Regular Tax day is April 15th. 

However, due to April 15 being on 

a Saturday and the Washington D.C. 

Emancipation Day holiday being 

observed on April 17 instead of April 

16, 2017, Tax Day is on the following 

Tuesday. But don’t wait until April 

18th) for Individuals and calendar 

year C corporations (Note the new tax 

deadline for C corporations). 

Some Changes to Prepare for: 

Beginning in 2017, if you claim the 

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or 

Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) 

on your tax return, the IRS will hold 

your refund until at least February 15. 

Even the portion not associated with 

Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional 

Child Tax Credit. This allows 

additional time to help prevent revenue 

lost due to identity theft and refund 

fraud related to fabricated wages and 

withholdings. If you are due a refund, 

what are you going to use it for? Are 

you Prepared to save it for your retirement 

or child’s college education? Or 

was it a “savings” for more shopping? 

If you receive a big refund every year 

it’s time to review your W-4 withholdings, 

because a big refund is not a savings 

account. You are missing out on 

some investments. You can also file an 

Extension should you not have all the 

required documents or if you are not 

Prepared by the due date. Remember, 

an Extension to file is not an extension 

to pay, if you owe. 

Esther Phahla is a Certified Public 

Accountant and Certified Tax 

Coach in Temecula. She also holds 

a Masters of Science in Taxation. 

She is the Best Selling Co-Author of 

a Tax Planning book “Why Didn’t 

My CPA Tell Me That”. She can be 

reached at (951) 514-2652 or visit 

www.estherphahlacpa.com. 

connect: www.estherphahlacpa.com 

Beginning in 2017, if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or 

Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) on your tax return, the IRS will hold 

your refund until at least February 15.




National Merchants Association team members, from left to right: recruiters Erika Mendoza 

and Peter Torres; sales representative Michelle Casillas; account analyst Paige Schultz; and 

director of Member Support Tim Reynolds 

NMA Recognized on ‘2016 Inland 

Empire Top Workplaces Award’ List from 

the Press-Enterprise. 

Awards solely based on employee 

surveys. 

National Merchants Association, a 

global merchant advocacy group and a 

leader in merchant services, has been 

ranked in the Top 10 of the 2016 Inland 

Empire Top Workplaces list from 

the Press-Enterprise newspaper. This 

award is based solely on the results of 

an employee feedback survey administered 

by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, 

a leading research firm that specializes 

in organizational health and workplace 

improvement. 

“We are delighted to announce 

that National Merchants Association 

has been honored on the 2016 Inland 

Empire Top Workplaces list. This 

award recognizes companies that 

have a great working environment 

that allows them to outperform their 

peers,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of 

WorkplaceDynamics. 

“The Top Workplaces award is 

not a popularity contest. Oftentimes, 

people assume it’s all about fancy 

perks and benefits, but to be a Top 

Workplace, organizations must meet 

our strict standards for organizational 

health,” Claffey explained. “And who 

better to ask about work life than the 

people who live the culture every 

day — the employees. Time and time 

again, our research has proven that 

what’s most important to them is a 

strong belief in where the organization 

is headed, how it’s going to get 

there, and the feeling that everyone 

is in it together. Without this sense of 

connection, an organization doesn’t 

have a shot at being named a Top 

Workplace.” 

“We are honored to be named as 

one of the top companies on the 2016 

Top Workplaces list,” said Heather 

Petersen, CEO, National Merchants 

Association. “At NMA, we try to foster 

a highly collaborative environment that 

enriches our employees with a team 

environment where their voices are 

heard and they have the ability to grow 

their careers in a thriving, dynamic 

industry.” 

About WorkplaceDynamics, LLC - 

Headquartered in Exton, Pa., WorkplaceDynamics 

specializes in employee 

feedback surveys and workplace 

improvement. This year alone, more 

than two million employees in over 

6,000 organizations will participate in 

the Top Workplaces campaign — a 

program it conducts in partnership 

with more than 40 prestigious media 

partners across the United States. 

Workplace Dynamics also provides 

consulting services to improve employee 

engagement and organizational 

health. WorkplaceDynamics is a founding 

B Corporation member, a coalition 

of organizations that are leading a 

global movement to redefine success in 

business by offering a positive vision 

of a better way to do business. 

About National Merchants Association 

- National Merchants Association is a 


leader in merchant services dedicated 

to helping merchants and agent partners 

grow their businesses by generating 

sales opportunities and maximizing 

profits. National Merchants Association 

works on behalf of businesses to 

eliminate the unnecessary and unreasonable 

fees associated with accepting 

electronic transactions as well as provide 

the products and services to help 

them continue to be successful. Visit 

www.NationalMerchants.com or call 

866-509-7199. 

“At NMA, we try to foster a highly collaborative environment that enriches 

our employees with a team environment where their voices are heard and 

they have the ability to grow their careers in a thriving, dynamic industry.” 

27 

NMA’s CEO Heather Petersen to Speak on 

“The Current State of Digital Transactions” 

at the CES Digital Money Forum 

National Merchants Association, a 

bankcard leader and merchant advocacy 

group, today announced that its CEO 

Heather Petersen will speak on “The Current 

State of Digital Transactions” panel at 

the CES Digital Money Forum. The panel 

is being held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, 

Jan. 5, 2017, at the Las Vegas Convention 

Center North Hall, Room N259. 

Petersen will share her extensive 

knowledge on how money is moved digitally 

in the millions of daily transactions 

made by individuals and global companies 

and the vast diversity in consumer 

payment preference. She is joined by 

moderator Alistair Croll, entrepreneur, 

author and visiting executive at Harvard 

Business School, as well as panelists 

Michael Lawlor, chief services officer at 

USA Technologies; Michael Ward, CEO 

at World First USA; and Matt Schultz, senior 

industry analyst at CreditCards.com. 

“At CES Digital Money Forum, we 

will educate the audience on the changing 

landscape of digital transactions, from 

mobile pay and Card Not Present transactions 

to the current state of EMV chip 

HIGHEST JOB COUNT IN CITY HISTORY 


With 52,999 jobs and a growing 

diverse economic base, Temecula’s job 

numbers are creating a positive impact 

for Southwest Riverside County. State of 

California’s Employment Development 

Department has released the fourth quarter 

job numbers for 2015, their most current 

data. The City of Temecula is pleased 

to announce strong local job growth with 

an additional 2,506 new jobs added from 

first quarter 2015. Temecula’s current job 

number of 52,999 is its highest peak ever 

in the City’s history. 

Mayor Mike Naggar is honored that 

businesses have chosen to expand or relocate 

to Temecula. “We are thankful for 

those businesses that made the decision 

to relocate and expand in Temecula. 

card adoption,” said Heather Petersen, 

CEO, National Merchants Association. 

“Attendees will gain insights on how the 

evolution in digital transactions affects 

their businesses and how to take advantage 

of the changing environment.” 

Heather Petersen is the CEO and 

founder of National Merchants Association. 

Founded in 2004, Ms. Petersen’s 

efforts have led National Merchants 

Association to become a recognized 

leader in payment processing services 

for all risk levels. Under her direction, 

National Merchants Association also 

serves as an advocacy group for credit 

card processing, working on behalf of 

businesses to eliminate the unnecessary 

and unreasonable fees associated with 

accepting electronic transactions. 

About CES Digital Money Forum 

- The Digital Money Forum highlights 

the financial companies and high-tech 

developers offering a dizzying array of 

financial tools and solutions at the heart 

of digital commerce. From e-wallets to 

mobile payment systems, virtual currency 

to cryptographic solutions, the Forum is 

designed to educate the industry on the digitization 

of money. For more information, 

visit http://thedigitalmoneyforum.com/. 

About National Merchants Association 

- National Merchants Association is a 


leader in merchant services dedicated to 

helping merchants and agent partners 

grow their businesses by generating 

sales opportunities and maximizing 

profits. National Merchants Association 

works on behalf of businesses to 

eliminate the unnecessary and unreasonable 

fees associated with accepting 

electronic transactions as well as provide 

the products and services to help 

them continue to be successful. Visit 

www.NationalMerchants.com or call 

866-509-7199. 

connect: www.NationalMerchants.com 

The City of Temecula continues to 

be focused on retaining, attracting and 

creating jobs here in town” he said. The 

City’s Office of Economic Development 

leads the charge when it comes to job 

creation, business expansion, attraction 

and formation assistance. “On a daily 

basis, we work with companies at various 

stages and provide them educational 

opportunities for growth, align them with 

key contacts, assist with permitting and 

research viable expansion and relocation 

locations.” says Christine Damko, with 

the Office of Economic Development. 

According to the 2016 Nielson Demographic 

Report, the City’s largest job 

sectors include: Education, Healthcare, 

Manufacturing, Retail, and Real Estate.




Coasting into Year-End 

Your Local Chambers 

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.temecula.org 

Murrieta Chamber of Commerce 

www.murrietachamber.org 

Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.menifeevalleychamber.com 

Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber 

www.lakeelsinorechamber.com 

Hemet/San Jacinto Valley 

Chamber of Commerce 

www.hsjvc.com 

See how the chambers can help your business. 

REAL ESTATE 

by 

Gene Wunderlich 

There’s a great quote from Martin 

Luther that more folks should heed. 

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the 

world would go to pieces, I would 

still plant my apple tree.” 

This nation has survived for 

240 years through a progression of 

leaders, some great, others not so 

much. A look back at our history 

shows us many times that have been 

as tumultuous as these, some even 

more so, truly challenging times 

even within reaches of my memory. 

Yet to hear the hue and cry of some 

citizens, especially many of the 

younger ones, it’s apparent we do not 

have many students of history among 

us today. 

OK. That’s my rant on politics 

- let’s talk about housing. Last week 

we had the opportunity to sit down 

with National Association of Realtors 

Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun 

and Fed Atlanta President Dennis 

Lockhart in Orlando to talk housing. 

The good news is – there’s no 

recession on the horizon! 

Some prognosticators are positing 

that we are due for another cyclical 

recession in the next year or two. 

Lockhart made light of the cyclical 

nature of recessions pointing out that 

there have to be underlying root causes 

to a recession, they don’t just happen 

for the hell of it every X number of 

years. And there are no underlying 

issues currently, no alarm bells. He 

sees continued moderate growth, 

somewhere in the 2% range, for the 

foreseeable future with modestly 

increasing interest rates combined 

with wider credit availability. 

Dr. Yun pointed out that the 

recovery has been so slow that there 

is still much room to grow without 

reaching a peak, and enough pent-up 

demand to fuel that growth. Demographic 

trends portend well for the 

long term. True, homeownership is at a 

50 year low, mortgage applications are 

down, there is weaker buyer traffic than 

6, 12, 18 months ago, and the volatility 

of health care costs has had an impact 

on some buyers, but his forecast is 

also for continued slow growth both 

in sales and median prices across the 

country thanks to ongoing job growth 

fueling pent-up demand. 

Our own market is echoing what 

other markets across the country 

are doing. While sales were down 

month-to-month, they remain 4% 

ahead of last year and we should finish 

the year up about that amount to 

around 11,400 units. After hitting 

a peak month with 206 sales in 

June, Temecula dropped another 30 

homes from September to 143, their 

worst month since February. Murrieta 

sold nearly 30 more homes in October 

than September, but they too were 

well off their peak month of 243 

sales in June. Menifee, Hemet and 

most other cities have experienced 

similar declines from a mid-year peak 

but should hold on to show a moderate 

increase over previous year sales. 

Median prices continue to ratchet 

upward but at a slower pace than 

mid-year. Median prices are up 4% 

year-to-date ($314,518 - $326,164) 

and should also end the year about 

that far ahead of last year. Temecula 

posted a slight drop in median 

price to $425,000 but thanks to a 

few well priced sales, their average 

price jumped to $499,368, their 

highest reach since December 2007 

($521,013). Median prices deviate from 

average prices by a small amount either 

positive or negative in most cities but 

drop a few $million+ homes into the mix 

and the average shoots right off the chart. 

In what is shaping up to be a major 

issue across the country, our inventory of 

homes continues to decline dropping 5% 

month-to-month and 10% year-over-year. 

And even though sales are slow, listings 

are even slower as absorption rates in 

most cities consumed 1.25 to 1.5 homes 

for every new one listed. Oh well, let’s 

see what affect a Trump presidency has 

on the market. 

Gene Wunderlich is Vice President 

of Government Affairs, Southwest 

Riverside County Association of 

Realtors®. 

“ 

He sees continued moderate 

growth, somewhere in the 

2% range, for the foreseeable 

future with modestly increasing 

interest rates combined 

with wider credit availability




29 

PRICES Too High or Too Low? 


How the final price was determined is 

still a mystery. 

If the price strategy is too complex 

and customers are getting confused 

with all the offerings, they will likely 

look elsewhere in the future. Consumers 

want to feel they have power over 

of their purchasing and have received 

the best price possible. 

This is a large part of this control. 

Too many choices littered with addons, 

makes it difficult to arrive at a decision 

in a reasonable amount of time. 

Experts say that three or less options 

are best for consumer selection. 

Here are a few other hints for successful 

pricing. 

• Matching a competitor’s price point 

is important but customers need 

to understand how your company 

offers a higher value the purchase 

price. This can be accomplished by 

providing the right combination of 

items, availability and cost. 

• Advertise a “clean” promotion with 

no hidden fees or dependencies. 

Nothing feels more out of control 

than to see an advertised price and 

miss the fine print which states a 

purchase of a minimum quantity 

is required. Make sure the cost is 

clearly displayed whether at your 

store or online. 

• Consider more creative pricing 

promotions. For example, can you 

sell by service rather than by hour? 

When customers know the end cost 

of doing business they will tend to 

feel in more control. 

There is not perfect pricing model 

to follow. It’s a process and requires 

continuous optimization. But whenever 

possible, keep it simple and clearly 

defined. 

Ted Saul is a business coach that assists 

with Business Plans and Project 

Management. He holds a master certificate 

in project management and has 

earned his MBA from Regis University. 

Ted can be reached on LinkedIn, 

TedS787 on Twitter or emailing Ted@ 

tsaul.com. 

“ 

Too many choices littered with add-ons, makes it difficult to 

arrive at a decision in a reasonable amount of time. Experts 

say that three or less options are best for consumer selection 

Jeff Comerchero as New Chief of Staff 


Comerchero replaces Verne Lauritzen 

who is retiring after serving Washington, 

and previous Supervisor and now Senator 

Jeff Stone. 

Washington was appointed to Supervisor 

by Governor Jerry Brown in March, 

2015. He easily defeated his opponent 

Shellie Milne, by 17.2% and over 25,000 

votes. Washington and Comerchero 

served together on the Temecula City 

Council for over a decade. Comerchero 

will continue to serve on the Temecula 

City Council. 

“It’s important to note that a position 

on the city council is meant to be a part 

time, essentially volunteer, position. We 

do get a small stipend, designed to be 

sufficient to cover our out-of-pocket expenses,” 

Comerchero said about his role 

on Temecula City Council, adding, “I am 

in my 20th year as a Temecula council 

member and mayor. During that time, as 

with most city council members in most 

cities, I have maintained a full-time job.” 

“Jeff brings a wealth of experience and 

knowledge to the Third District Staff,” 

stated Washington about the appointment. 

Comerchero served as Temecula’s 

Mayor in 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2015, and 

Mayor Pro Tem in 2000, 2004, 2009, and 

2014. A city council member since 1997, 

Comerchero also served on the Board of 

Directors of the Riverside Transit Agency 

from 2000 to 2005. He served as chairman 

and vice chairman of the city of Temecula’s 

Budget and Finance Committee. 

Comerchero’s responsibilities include 

working with the Third District staff to 

implement the policies and vision of 

Washington. “The Third District is the 

most beautiful region in Riverside County 

with open spaces, Idyllwild Mountain 

Communities, riding trails of Anza and 

beautiful wine country. In meeting with 

area leaders and local citizens it is clear 

that we all have common goals; to live in 

a safe neighborhood with good schools 

where our families can live, grow and 

learn; and to have good jobs that provide 

for our families. I am committed to protecting 

this dream, growing the economy, 

and making this the Thriving Third,” 

Supervisor Washington said. 

“During our 12 years together on 

the Temecula Council, I found Chuck to 

be totally dedicated to our constituents 

and effective in identifying needs. He’s 

carried those same qualities over to the 

Third District as the Supervisor. Having 

this opportunity to work side-by-side with 

him to improve the quality of life for the 

Third District residents and to bring economic 

development in all regions, is a 

rare opportunity for which I am grateful,” 

Comerchero added. 

The Third District encompasses four 

incorporated cities: Hemet, Murrieta, 

San Jacinto and Temecula, as well as the 

communities of Anza, Aguanga, Cahuilla, 

Idyllwild, French Valley, Mountain Center, 

the Pinyon Communities, Valle Vista, Sage, 

Soboba Hot Springs, and Winchester. 

Special events? Great sales? 

Exciting new products? 

Send us your business news 

via our Facebook page 

facebook/thevalleybusinessjournal




John Quint Wins International 

Songwriting Competition 

by Tom Plant 

“I’m humbled by it.” Temecula 

singer/songwriter John Quint wasn’t 

even sure he wanted to enter the ‘Your 

Music Out Loud’ songwriting contest. 

“I never really cared for competition 

between artists. It’s purely subjective.” 

After some gentle arm-twisting 

from Los Angeles music promoter 

Toni Koch and Kat Ellis, co-host 

of the Temecula based radio show 

Chords and Vines, Quint reluctantly 

agreed to enter Man in the Shadows. 

His song was one of more than 

90 submitted from around the world, 

with entries coming from Australia, 

South Africa, Italy, Norway and across 

the US. John performed his song at 

the finals December 9th at Kulak’s 

Woodshed in Los Angeles. When he 

learned at the end of the evening he 

had won, he couldn’t believe it. “I’m 

still in shock and I’m humbled by it.” 

When he wrote the song, he 

played it for his girlfriend of 23 years 

who made him promise to perform 

it in public. He didn’t think it was 

a very good song and felt it was too 

sentimental. After learning he had 

won he said “it hasn’t sunk in that 

I could write a song that speaks to 

people. That’s quite an honor.” 

For winning the competition, 

John will fly to New York where he 

will spend a week in the studio with 

Grammy-award nominated producer 

and musician Steve Addabo who has 

worked with Bob Dylan and Suzanne 

Vega to name just a few. He will also 

perform in New York City for an audience 

that will include industry VIPs. 

“It hasn’t sunk in 

that I could write 

a song that speaks 

to people. That’s 

quite an honor.”

V 

Virgil Gibson 


by Tom Plant 



Virgil Gibson of the Platters offers a 

Special Valentine’s Concert on February 

15th at the Temecula Community Theatre 

31 

One of Temecula’s more celebrated residents 

is Virgil Gibson, former lead singer of Paul Robi’s 

Platters. Virgil has also shared the stage with the 

Coasters, The Drifters and has appeared with Bobby 

Day, Dee Clark and Al Wilson to name just a few. He 

also sang with The Rivingtons for 18 years, perhaps 

best known for the hit “Papa Oom Mow Mow.” 

As of press time, plans are underway for Virgil to 

headline a show at The Old Town Temecula Community 

Theater on February 15 in a benefit concert for 

Our Nicholas Foundation, whose mission is to bring 

attention to our community about autism. Through 

his music, he wants to help autistic kids. Kathy and 

Mark Anselmo created the foundation in the name of 

their son Nicholas, now 15. “We’ve all got problems” 

he said. His hope is to make music a thing of history 

and teaching. He firmly believes diet and nutrition 

are critical, saying we need to eat to live instead of 

living to eat. 

His other wish is to get senior citizens together 

and get them off the sidelines. “People are taking 

eight to ten meds a day, and that’s way too many.” 

He told me when he was young “there was nothing” 

to help get rid of fear or anxiety. With that in mind 

he has created Virgil’s Kids, with his wish being 

to develop character and teach leadership skills in 

special needs children with the hope of having them 

join him onstage to perform live with him. 

Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar met with Virgil 

and is an enthusiastic supporter of the cause and the 

concert, scheduled to start at 7:30 with some special 

musical guests to be announced. For ticket information, 

call The Old Town Theatre at 1.866.OLD. 

TOWN - 1.866.653.8696 www.TemeculaTheater.org. 

www.virgilgibson.com • www.ournicholasfoundation.org 

Plans are underway for Virgil 

to headline a show at The 

Old Town Temecula Community 

Theater on February 15 

in a benefit concert for Our 

Nicholas Foundation,

January 2017

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