On Thursday, Mayor Cameron Smyth hosted an event for the business community in Canyon Country to bring awareness of hiring more special needs people. 

On Thursday, the Mayor of Santa Clarita Cameron Smyth hosted a mayor’s breakfast for the business community where they discussed the numerous advantages of hiring people with special needs. 

“Ensuring that individuals with disabilities have ample employment opportunities is not just a matter of equity; it’s a cornerstone of building a resilient and inclusive community. When we open doors for every member of our society, we enrich our workforce with diverse perspectives and skills. This commitment to inclusivity strengthens our community, fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute to our collective progress and success,” said Smyth in a previous KHTS article. 

The five speakers that presented were:

• Greg Waugh – Pacific Lock
• Nikki Karlsson – Pet Supplies Plus
• Ruth Janka – North L.A. County Regional Center
• Selina Thomas – 6 Degrees HR Consulting
• Commy Sadra – Vons/Albertsons

The purpose of the five presentations was to learn and potentially open the door to acquiring committed long-term, higher retention rates, tax incentives, improved staff morale and overall better company culture.  

Ultimately, the goal is to get more people with disabilities hired in the Santa Clarita Valley by lowering recruiting barriers, according to officials.

“They have all been really wonderful, and the two years in a row we’ve done this, 90 percent of the kids from the program could have easily applied for a job at our store by the time they were done with the training,” said Nikki Karlsson from Pet Supplies Plus. 

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