Welcome to the Voices of Business: SCV, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce podcast. Hosted by Corey Nathan (while Joshua Maddux is aboard the 1st mission to Mars - allegedly), this episode features an engaging conversation with Dennis Verner, the General Manager of Burrtec Waste Industries and co-owner and broker at SCV Commercial Real Estate. Known for his multifaceted career and deep community involvement in the community, Dennis shares his journey from being a third-generation "trash man" to a prominent figure in commercial real estate.

What You Will Learn:

• The evolution of Dennis Verner's career from engineering and trash truck repairs to commercial real estate.
• Insights into the unique leadership style Dennis employs, emphasizing servant leadership and community involvement.
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various industries, particularly waste management and commercial real estate.
• Dennis’s thoughts on the importance of finding personal happiness and defining individual success.
• The role of community service and charity in Dennis's life and career.

Episode Highlights:

1. [00:00:00] - Introduction: Corey introduces the show and guest, Dennis Verner, highlighting Dennis's roles and playful banter about their friendship.
2. [00:02:00] - Dennis's Background: Dennis discusses his early life, moving to Santa Clarita in 1989, and his initial career in trash truck manufacturing and repair.
3. [00:05:00] - Transition to Commercial Real Estate: Dennis explains how he transitioned from waste management to commercial real estate and how his wife, Pamela, became a key player in their real estate business.
4. [00:10:00] - Community Involvement: Dennis talks about the importance of community involvement, influenced by his former boss, and how it has benefited his personal and professional life.
5. [00:18:00] - Leadership Style: Corey and Dennis discuss leadership philosophies, including the concept of servant leadership and the importance of understanding and supporting team members.
6. [00:25:00] - Navigating Industry Challenges: Dennis shares how Burrtec Waste and his real estate business navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. [00:34:00] - Missed Opportunities and Successes: Reflections on missed opportunities and Dennis's advice on defining and pursuing personal success.
8. [00:38:00] - Secrets to Success: Dennis offers advice for young professionals, emphasizing the importance of happiness and defining personal success.

Featured Quotes:

1. **Corey Nathan:** "The greatest leaders are the greatest servers. The first among you shall be last, and the last shall be first."
2. **Dennis Verner:** "You have to find your definition of success first. For me, money has always been a means to do the things I want to do, not an end goal."
3. **Dennis Verner:** "You can teach anyone a technical skill, but you can't teach them how to be a good human."

Resources Mentioned:

• Burrtec Waste: [Burrtec.com/SCV](https://www.burrtec.com/SCV)
• SCV Commercial Real Estate: Follow on Facebook: [SCV Commercial](https://www.facebook.com/SCVCommercial)
• Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley: [Boys and Girls Club](https://www.scvbgc.org/)
• Circle of Hope: [Circle of Hope](https://www.circleofhopeinc.org/)

**Call to Action:**
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Social Media Links:

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Join us next time for another insightful episode of Voices of Business!

In this inspiring episode of The Voices of Business, host Corey Nathan sits down with Jaime Annett, founder of Thermal Horizons, and Ben Benedetti, a founder and the chief enthusiast of the wellness center. They share their journey of creating a community-focused wellness space in Santa Clarita Valley. With heartfelt stories and profound insights, Jaime and Ben discuss their motivations, challenges, and the importance of community and wellness.

• The personal and transformative journey of Jaime Annett and Ben Benedetti.
• The impact of COVID-19 on their decision to start Thermal Horizons.
• Insights into the importance of community, wellness, and holistic healing.
• The challenges faced while establishing a wellness center during a global pandemic.
• The concept of manifesting and its role in their business and personal lives.

1. [00:00:00] Introduction
   Corey Nathan introduces the episode and guests, Jaime Annett and Ben Benedetti, founders of Thermal Horizons.

2. [00:02:00] The Birth of Thermal Horizons
   Jaime shares the emotional journey of starting Thermal Horizons inspired by her mother’s battle with cancer and the onset of COVID-19.
3. [00:05:00] From Grief to Manifestation
   Jaime discusses how sound healing and meditation with her mother led to the idea of creating a wellness center.
4. [00:17:00] Overcoming Fear
   Jaime and Ben talk about the fears they faced and the importance of choosing faith over fear in their entrepreneurial journey.
5. [00:23:00] Building a Community
   Ben emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive space for their clientele and how their past experiences prepared them for this venture.
6. [00:34:00] Embracing Challenges
   The duo reflects on their past challenges, the concept of the second mountain, and how previous experiences shaped their current success.
7. [00:45:00] Finding Purpose
   Jaime shares a poignant moment about the reassurance she felt after her mother’s passing, confirming the purpose and success of Thermal Horizons.
8. [00:50:00] Final Thoughts
   Ben and Jaime reflect on the importance of honesty, authenticity, and continued growth both personally and professionally.

1. "Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual growth. You can either grow or stay stagnant." - Jaime Annett
2. "Choosing faith over fear has been the cornerstone of our journey." - Jaime Annett
3. "Every person that comes in has their own personal journey. It’s an honor to provide a space for that." - Ben Benedetti
4. "The darkest chapters of our lives can turn out to be the brightest spots." - Ben Benedetti

• Thermal Horizons Website: thermalhorizons.com
• Instagram: @thermalhorizons
• App Store: Thermal Horizons App
• Google Play: Thermal Horizons App

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Share this episode with friends and family who might find inspiration in Jaime and Ben’s journey. Your reviews help us reach more people and share more incredible stories.

• Follow us on Twitter: @TheVoicesOfBiz
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• Connect with us on LinkedIn: Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Voices of Business. Join us next time for more insights and stories from business leaders in our community.

Welcome to another episode of SCV's Voices of Business, a Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce podcast. In this episode, host Corey Nathan and co-host Joshua Maddux sit down with Selina Thomas, the founder of 6 Degrees HR Consulting. Selina is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her company, and she brings a wealth of experience in human resources, compliance, and small business development. Join us as we delve into Selina's inspiring journey, her insights on leadership, and her commitment to community building.

• The origin and growth of 6 Degrees HR Consulting.

• The impact of Selina's father on her personal and professional life.

• The evolution of work-life balance and remote work post-COVID.

• How humility and continuous learning are key to business success.

• The importance of human connection and community in business.

• [00:01:00] – Corey introduces Selina Thomas, celebrating the 10th anniversary of 6 Degrees HR Consulting, and discusses her background in HR and community involvement.

• [00:02:00] – Selina shares the influence of her father, Dr. Thomas, on her life and career, highlighting his role as 6 Degrees' first employee.

• [00:04:00] – Corey and Selina discuss her daughters' accomplishments and how her father's legacy continues through her family.

• [00:09:00] – Selina talks about starting her business in a Starbucks, the importance of networking, and thinking big even when starting small.

• [00:17:00] – The conversation shifts to how Selina helped businesses navigate the challenges of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and innovation.

• [00:25:00] – Selina discusses the significance of her biracial identity in relating to diverse clients and creating inclusive workplace cultures.

• [00:29:00] – Joshua and Selina reflect on the value of humility and the willingness to learn from mistakes in business.

• [00:32:00] – Corey and Joshua share their passion for podcasting as a medium to connect communities and tell compelling stories.

1. "Your passion becomes your purpose and then you're paid for it." – Selina Thomas

2. "Think big even when you're small." – Selina Thomas

3. "Humility is a secret to success. The ability to realize that you're always growing and never feeling like you have all the answers." – Selina Thomas

4. "The human is first in HR. Culture creates community." – Selina Thomas

- 6 Degrees HR Consulting https://6degreeshrconsulting.com/

- Linktree - Selina Thomas https://linktr.ee/selinathomas

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Thank you for tuning in! We'll see you next time on SCV's Voice of Business.