Testimonials
JCI provides a training ground for young professionals in the SCV and is a great springboard into for-profit and nonprofit leadership positions. Members learn structure and operations through real life event organization benefiting our local community. It’s a perfect combination of skill development and philanthropy, and creates what every community strives to have – the next generation of leaders ready to confidently, responsibly and reliably manage projects and people.
The leadership skills I learned in JCI gave me the tools I needed to excel in my career.
I am a raving fan of the SCV Jaycees and have been since first hearing about them in 2006! I wish I could wind back the clock and be a member! Its such a great platform to grow professionally and personally. They also seem to have a fantastic camaraderie and build life-long friendships (and networks to help each other). The SCV Jaycees are COOL KIDS in the SCV!
The Jaycees has something for everyone. I joined because I wanted to participate in my community, learn important professional skills and make new friends. The cool thing about the Jaycees was that I was able to do all of those things at once. Through participating, volunteering and eventually being the chairperson of events like Santa’s Helpers and the BMCF Fight It 5K, I got to learn and practice marketable professional skills and I met some of my closest friends all while making a positive impact on our community. Although I’m no longer an active member of the Jaycees, I know I can trace a lot of my success back to what I learned as a member. I have the connections and opportunities to help organizations that I’m passionate about, I have a professional leadership role that I love and I have built wonderful, supportive friendships. The Jaycees touched every part of my life and I would (and do) recommend joining this organization to anyone looking to build the relationships and skills needed to make a difference in our community and the world.
The Jaycees were a fun, positive, and professional group, well networked with community leaders. I really enjoyed my time with them and consider many folks I met there friends to this day.
“One spring day in the year 2000 I walked into the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce office. At that time I was a salesperson looking to get engaged with my local business community. I had a nice chat with the manager of the office, April Aston (now Price), who finished it with, “You should go to a meeting with me tonight”. And that was my introduction to JCI, a simple invitation.
Fast forward a couple of years and I was president of the chapter and co-founder of the Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (who joined our chapter the same day as me). Looking back now, being a part of the chapter has given me a solid background in planning an event, experience in running a team, introduction to various community stakeholders and an amazing relationship with my wife until her passing.
Today, I’m a financial advisor, working with individuals and families as they plan for their futures. What I’ve learned through my experience with JCI has extended today with my clients into effective planning, efficient organizing and continuous executing upon the holistic financial plan we’ve created.”
JCI takes the responsibility of building future leaders seriously! We are very fortunate to have an active group of forward-thinking young professionals in our community, prepared to tackle tough issues and initiate change. Committed to continuous development, they are well equipped with the right kind of skills to help the business community grow and prosper. These young leaders are invested in the Santa Clarita Valley and have taken on important roles within their own companies, the community and the many non-profits that contribute to the SCV’s strength and vitality. All of us at VIA are grateful to know our valley is in the good hands of these existing and emerging leaders as we move into the future.
I joined JCI SCV in 2006 as a way to become more involved in community service, make new friends, and socialize. While I did all of those things, the personal development, trainings, and leadership skills I gained were what changed my life. I learned how to become a better speaker, a better presenter, a leader, and a delegator. Having co-chaired both the SCV 40 Under Forty and Santa’s Helpers I learned the ins and outs of producing major events and how to delegate to a committee. This skill has continued to be important as I have chaired two successful Chef Auctions to benefit feedSCV. Being the Chapter President in 2016 helped me develop the leadership skills to be a successful manager in my career and to continue progressing in my profession. When you join JCI SCV, you will inevitably be told that “this group will change your life!” Take my word for it, it’s true!
Many Santa Clarita business and community leaders learned about service and giving back through their time with JCI and Santa Clarita is a better place because of it!
I joined the Jaycees when the chapter first started as an original member. I thought it was networking, though I didn’t know what networking was 20+ years ago. What I got out of it, and what I gave back was extreme changes in my life. Before I joined, I had never attended any type of work, or outside work, meeting. I started as a general member, and ended my time as a District Manager, managing 11 chapters! I learned not only how to attend meetings as a member, yet learned Robert’s Rule’s of order, how to run meetings, how to run projects, and how to be a board member. One of the biggest curves for this formally shy woman was learning to be a public speaker. Starting with our small meetings at the beginning of maybe 6-10 members to the biggest audience I spoke in front of (VIA) with about 300 business and community members. I traveled throughout the state of CA with SO many funny, great memories with wonderful people. I even went to a World Conference once (incredible). Through all that I gained a lot of business skills, yet I also gained a lot of amazing friendships, Jaycee peeps I’ve known and been friends with for 10/15/20 years now.
After graduate school I moved back to my hometown of Santa Clarita to raise my family. Like many I wanted to give back and pay it forward to the community that gave me so much opportunity while growing up. By becoming a member of the SCV Jaycees I was inspired to volunteer for various non-profits enroll in Leadership SCV and run for elected office for school board in 2005. The Jaycees build up communities celebrate diversity create leaders and positively impact lives and families.