Santa Clarita Valley Entrepreneurial Stories

The Mailman team is led by senior environmental consultant, Chris Chapleau. Chris entered the environmental industry as a business development consultant; excited to help others by improving the reach of the inspection firm he worked for. A series of events found him under a house one day with a respirator, assisting an inspector, and what he discovered lit the passion of what would eventually become Mailman Environmental. Mushrooms! Signs of a long term leak that had caused substantial mold growth within the walls were observed within the crawl space. After sharing the findings with the client Chris assisted them in working through the process of remediation. Chris could see the beneficial impact one could have by providing clients with accurate information and proper guidance on solving their environmental concerns. As an environmental consultant it is Chris’ responsibility to be properly informed of the everchanging regulations and industry standards. He maintains certfications from a variety of organizations (DOSH, CDPH, ACAC, NACHI) in a variety of areas allowing him to perform Asbestos and Lead Inspections, Mold and Bacteria Investigations, and Indoor Air Quality investigations. Mailman Environmental is committed to serving our community and supports numerous local organizations including the Valley Industry Association and equitable housing initiatives. He has been married for over 20 years to his beautiful wife Desiree, a nurse at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and is father to three boys, a little princess, and a number of animals. When not in a crawl space, inspecting an attic, or scraping popcorn ceilings Chris spends most of his free time carting kids between practices and fitting in a couple camping trips a year. The Mailman Environmental team provides Asbestos Surveys, Lead Paint Testing, and Mold Investigations covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Castaic, Acton, Agua Dulce, Palmdale, Lancaster, Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, Ventura County and the Greater Los Angeles area. For more information about our services visit our main page.

Fred Arnold is an industry leader and seasoned veteran in the areas of mortgage lending and public speaking. Fred began his career in 1991 after graduating from California State University Northridge. Fred is a mortgage professional with American Family Funding and his business is 100% referral based and he has helped his clients obtain over a billion dollars in mortgage loans over the past two decades. His belief is that if you help enough people get what they want out of life, then you will always achieve your goals and dreams.

Raquel is a mom with 3 kids - 19 year old girl, 18 & 16 year old boys. She has lived here in the SCV since 1986 and has been buying and selling Real Estate since 1991. Raquel is heavily involved in the community, owns her own businesses in the SCV, and loves helping people achieve their Real Estate goals. Sarah Nisenoff is a proud wife to an amazing husband and the mother of three beautiful children. She has called Santa Clarita home for over 25 years and truly loves the valley she’s fortunate to call home. Growing up in SCV has given her deep roots and a strong understanding of everything the community has to offer. With a passion for helping others, Sarah Nisenoff is dedicated to guiding her clients through their real estate journeys with care and expertise. Whether buying, selling, or investing, she is grateful for every opportunity to help clients achieve their goals and is committed to delivering a personalized, knowledgeable, and positive experience.

Abnish Rajbanshi is a passionate wealth business coach and a co-founder of a financial firm dedicated to transforming lives through financial education and empowerment. Originally from Nepal and with a professional background in civil engineering, Abnish brings a unique, practical perspective to wealth-building and entrepreneurship. He is deeply committed to helping individuals understand how money works, guiding them in building solid financial foundations and successful businesses. Beyond financial education, he mentors and trains aspiring entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools and mindset needed to create lasting wealth and independence. Driven by a genuine passion for serving others, Abnish has inspired many to take control of their financial future with confidence, purpose, and clarity.

Helena Selkirk is dedicated to helping clients look and feel their absolute best through a natural, non-invasive approach to body transformation. Combining the power of Cryoskin Slimming and Toning with customized personal training, she offers tailored solutions designed to meet each individual’s unique goals.

Shelly has been in the health and wellness profession for over 35 years. She is an educator, speaker, and mentor. In addition to recently retiring from being a college professor for over 30 years, she is partnered with a global health & wellness company,y and her passion lies in impacting the lives of others and mentoring them to feel and live their best lives. She educates on healthy, clean living through reducing toxic exposure.

Selina Thomas is SCV's HR Guru and an advocate for the business community, employers and their employees. She provides the latest information and the stories of the people behind the businesses of SCV.

Nestled in the bustling heart of Santa Clarita, our premier location boasts exquisite private suites complete with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, ideal for collaborations and trainings. In addition to the ample space for productivity, our facility features a spacious kitchenette and break room, providing the perfect ambiance for peaceful respites. Moreover, our stunningly renovated restrooms with showers allow you to refresh and rejuvenate yourself after an invigorating workout in our fully-equipped fitness room.

Fred Arnold is an industry leader and seasoned veteran in the areas of mortgage lending and public speaking. Fred began his career in 1991 after graduating from California State University Northridge. Fred is a mortgage professional with American Family Funding and his business is 100% referral based and he has helped his clients obtain over a billion dollars in mortgage loans over the past two decades. His belief is that if you help enough people get what they want out of life, then you will always achieve your goals and dreams.

Felicia Jurado Insurance Agency is a locally owned and operated, full-service insurance agency. We can handle your home, auto, life, business, and even pet insurance. I value what complete customer service means to my clients. At the Felicia Jurado Insurance Agency, we go out of our way to make sure our clients are well taken care of. We live in a world of 800 numbers and call centers that get you nowhere when you really need to talk to someone. I give my personal cell phone to my clients so they know we are not just another call center.

Alex Gelfand is a dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience in Medical Sonography. With a solid background in diagnosing abdominal and cardiovascular conditions, small parts studies, and Transcranial Doppler (TCD), he has consistently demonstrated precision and expertise in ultrasound technology.As a leader and educator, Gelfand excels in motivating and training students, ensuring they receive top-quality education. With over 15 years as a program director and instructor in a CAAHEP-accredited program and six years as a Clinical Coordinator, he possesses the knowledge and experience to mentor the next generation of Medical Sonographers. He has helped thousands of students secure jobs and pass the ARDMS exams, providing personalized guidance and support throughout their journey.Before his role as a Program Director, Gelfand worked as a Sonographer at Mediscan/Cross Country Staffing in Woodland Hills, CA, where he supervised, trained, and evaluated staff sonographers, collaborated on ultrasound equipment training, and contributed to staff recruitment. He performed diagnostic imaging of abdominal, venous, arterial, and cardiovascular systems and small parts, drafting reports for diagnostic purposes.Earlier in his career, he held sonography positions at Northridge Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center, conducting various ultrasound diagnoses and Doppler color studies. In 2019, he became a certified Transcranial Doppler (TCD) Ultrasound Specialist, further enhancing his expertise.Whether guiding newcomers to the field or supporting advanced students, Gelfand is committed to helping individuals achieve their goals and excel in the rewarding field of sonography. Through his mentorship, students gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their careers.

Solarverse.com has experienced tremendous growth and success since its founding by Tim Pluma in 2017. Prior to that, Tim was VP of Sales for a So. California mid-size commercial & residential solar company for 6 years. Solarverse.com brings multiple quotes for residential & commercial customers throughout California who are looking for the best equipment at the best prices. We take the time to learn their current & future needs to make sure they get the right system. Our expertise and capabilities include Commercial, Residential and Custom Solar projects throughout California. We work with most every type of mounting surface including rooftop, carport, canopies, ground mounts and custom designs. We specialize in helping residential solar customers go solar for the best price on the best quality equipment. Commercial projects have included shopping centers, churches, schools, commercial buildings, homes, warehouses, storage units, carports, canopies, ground mounts and much more. We have extensive experience in SCE, SDG&E, LADWP, PG&E, GWP, PWP, BWP, Anaheim and Riverside utility districts but we service ALL of California. We are authorized dealers, partners & manufacturer reps for many of the top solar & battery equipment manufacturers in the world as well as niche product developers. We pride ourselves on offering high quality solar sales services on every project and would enjoy putting our expertise to work for you.

Logan Allec is a CPA and the founder of Choice Tax Relief, which specializes in helping people with their IRS and state tax debt.

Ruben Dua is the founder and CEO of Dubb, a video communications platform that lets you create and share trackable screen and camera videos to help you streamline your communication and grow your business.Along with leading Dubb, Ruben is the host of Connection Loop, which focuses on the stories of leaders, innovators, and friends — all in a conversational format. He is also the author of Just Dubb It, which was an Amazon Best New Release Book.

For over 30 years, The Chip has been headquartered in Santa Clarita, keeping small business owners up and safely running, with affordable solutions for Backups, Networks, Cloud Solutions, Security and Virus protection. The Chip’s highly qualified staff includes Microsoft Certified Engineers and other industry experts, with qualifications directing network operations at companies large and small.

Raquel is a mom with 3 kids - 19 year old girl, 18 & 16 year old boys. She has lived here in the SCV since 1986 and has been buying and selling Real Estate since 1991. Raquel is heavily involved in the community, owns her own businesses in the SCV, and loves helping people achieve their Real Estate goals.

Here we have Fred Arnold, founder of 360 Executive Suites and American Family Funding, walking us through the current state of the economy regarding the real estate market and mortgage lending.