Business
Citizens Business Bank Selected As 2020 Premiere Business Partner With San Bernardino County Medical Society
NEWS RELEASE — Inland Empire, CA. – The San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) has announced that Citizens Business Bank (the “Bank”) has been selected as a new premiere business partner for 2020, providing specialized financial services for physicians and medical groups.
Citizens Business Bank (the “Bank”), well known and respected throughout the Inland Empire, is a financial services company that provides personalized solutions for small to medium-sized businesses, including healthcare. The Bank’s relationship managers have been managing the needs of physicians, medical groups and healthcare organizations across San Bernardino County for more than 45 years. They possess the training and expertise required to work with the specialized field of medical practitioners at all levels, whether that be guidance on owning and financing a medical practice, wealth management and estate planning, charitable outreach or safety in investment and business development components of each practice.
Mark Bai, MD, SBCMS President, said, “It’s the goal of SBCMS to partner with organizations who are dedicated to offering highly tailored services or discounts to its members. In this instance, joining forces with the Bank is an ideal pairing, as Citizens Business Bank will enhance the functionality and profitability of physicians, providers and medical practices of varying modes and sizes.”
As a premiere business partner, the Citizens Business Bank team will work closely with physicians throughout San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire to ensure streamlined procedures and financial efficiency which, in turn, allow physicians to provide more comprehensive healthcare services to residents of our region. The Bank’s team shares the ethos that high performing and well-organized medical practices lead directly to healthy and productive families and communities who thrive.
The Bank will collaborate with SBCMS to fulfill the objective of simplifying the financial aspect of practicing medicine, removing barriers upon physician practices which otherwise limits their ability to treat patients and ensure access to care for all.
Efforts will include workshop and training sessions, individual outreach with member physicians, participation in SBCMS/CMA events, educational communications with physicians and guidance in practice management.
Six organizations currently serve as business partners with SBCMS. For more information on becoming a business partner with SBCMS, contact Jenise Solorio at 909-273-6000-work or jsolorio@sbcms.org.
ABOUT CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK
For over 45 years, Citizens Business Bank has thoughtfully emphasized and represented a focused approach on the customer and the many ways the bank can help them achieve more for their business, their employees and the customers and communities they serve.
Founded in 1974 as Chino Valley Bank, Citizens Business Bank provides banking solutions and wealth management across multiple industries and service sectors including industrial & manufacturing, medical, property management, title and escrow, nonprofit, agriculture and government. The Bank embraces five core values: financial strength, superior people, customer focus, cost-effective operation and having fun. They also encourage their employees to be active in community service and work with non-profit organizations.
For more information, visit cbbank.com or contact Nadine Berkey, Vice-President, Relationship Manager at nmberkey@cbbank.com or 909-888-6363; or Matthew Flynn, Vice-President, Center Manager at mkflynn@cbbank.com or 909-307-8117.
ABOUT SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY (SBCMS)
Established in 1878, SBCMS is the seventh largest medical society in California and the component society of the California Medical Association (CMA). SBCMS’ mission is to promote the science and art of medicine, the care and well-being of patients, the protection of the public health and to promote the betterment of the medical profession. SBCMS is a non-profit, 501 (c) (6) organization.
SBCMS and CMA combine to form the strongest physician membership organization in the state for medical doctors (M.D.s), doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s), resident and medical students. Together they represent a comprehensive program of legislative, legal, regulatory, economic and social advocacy. Programs provide members with necessary support to establish and maintain successful medical practices, which lead directly to a higher quality of medical care with greater access for California patients.
The SBCMS office is located at 1859 W. Redlands Blvd., Redlands, CA. 92373. More information is available by visiting www.sbcms.org, calling 909-273-6000-work or 760-413-5053-cell or emailing aelsner@sbcms.org.
Riverside’s Phenix Technology Leads with Inclusion, Empowering the Disabled Community Through Workforce Training and Employer Education
Written by Logan Rosselli, IEBJ Content Contributor
In the heart of Riverside, off of Chicago Avenue, a small, but mighty team has been quietly manufacturing life-saving equipment for firefighters across the world for over 50 years. Phenix Technology Inc. is an internationally recognized fire helmet manufacturer who builds their products from start to finish right here in the Inland Empire. For their great products, they’ve received numerous awards such as the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, a 2016 “E” for Exports award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, a finalist position in the “Coolest Thing Made in California” competition and more. However, their most recent accolade doesn’t involve their products at all.
In 2024, Phenix founded the ground breaking “Opportunity for All” program to provide disabled community members with the opportunity to access career education, hands-on experience and employment opportunities through an 11 week training cohort. In this program, neurodivergent individuals wanting to find stable employment learn about standard hiring practices, writing a resume, effective interviewing and professional attire while getting on-the-job training with a partnered employer in the community. It has helped dozens of disabled community members to find a new sense of independence and achieve their full potential while helping local employers find dependable employees who bring a unique perspective to the workplace.
It’s for this program that the National Association of Workforce Development Boards (NAWB), a representative of over 570 workforce development boards across the United States, honored Phenix with the prestigious W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award in late March.
“While we take tremendous pride in the products we make, we also believe we have a mission to create a better world through developing opportunities,” said Angel Sanchez, CEO of Phenix Technology in a statement released in early April. “Opportunity for All has helped prove that individuals who have historically been excluded from the workforce don’t just contribute — they elevate organizations. We are honored to receive this national award and grateful to the partners who have helped us make this vision a reality.”
CEO Angel Sanchez Jr. accepts the NAWB Award
Though “Opportunity for All” is certainly the cornerstone program for the company, Phenix’s leadership team was not satisfied to leave their mission there. Thus, in 2024, the company founded its nonprofit arm, Phenix Gateway to offer more programs and advocacy to the community. Through Phenix Gateway, the company offers workforce development workshops for individuals who don’t need the full scale of the “Opportunity for All” program, but want to improve a specific skill like resume writing or workplace social skills.
However, Phenix knows that preparing disabled people for the workforce is only one end of the equation; the workforce also has to be prepared to accept the unique skills, perspectives and challenges of the disabled community. For this reason, Phenix Gateway offers employer training workshops as well as educational materials available to businesses and the community. Training programs cover a lot of ground, ranging from assistance with optimizing interviews for people with neurodevelopmental disorders to creating sensory-friendly environments in the workplace.
In Riverside, these programs have had a huge impact on the local community. As of March 2025, Phenix’s Opportunity for All program has had over two dozen participants and 44% found stable employment through or after the program. Their one-off workforce development workshops have seen over 200 participants learn new skills and help them find employment and the nonprofit currently partners with close to 90 businesses to assist them in their endeavor to create a more inclusive workforce.
Phenix Gateway staff helps a program participant with his skills
For businesses or community members interested in learning how they can support or participate in these programs, Phenix encourages them to reach out by email to info@phenixgateway.org and to attend their First Annual Gala: Rising Together, A Phenix Gateway Celebration, on Thursday, May 15th. Tickets for this event are available at phenixgateway.org.
Empowering Economic Growth: CALED Conference Set to Unite Industry Leaders in Ontario
CALED’s ‘Growing Local Economies from the Ground Up’ Conference is being held in Ontario at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport on May 7-9. This event is co-hosted by the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County, with Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, CALED’s Chair of the Board and Derek Armstrong respectively representing their city and county as Co-Chairs of the event.
With over 950 members and 45 years of empowering economic developers, CALED is the largest economic development association in the country and the annual conference is the number one place to meet and connect with the boots-on-the -ground, decision makers in our communities.
The conference will include a pre-conference teaching tour, ‘Building & Paying for Development Projects’ on May 6th and then begin in full on May 7th, with a welcome session and breakouts. Overall, there will be four general assembly sessions and 18 breakout sessions, which will delve into local economic development practices and innovative tools.
In addition to compelling content, the conference will have numerous opportunities to connect with community leaders and valued peers through networking receptions, the culinary crawl, and new this year, the Tournament of Champions, where conference attendees will navigate a gauntlet of games to win the grand prize on the evening of Thursday, May 8th.
To learn more about the conference and register, visit the CALED website at www.caled.org.
Business
Strengthening Community Connections: Our Exciting New Partnership with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL
Contributed Content | By Chris Venhoff, Senior Vice President and Inland Empire Market Leader for Consumer and Business Banking at U.S. Bank
As the Inland Empire market leader for U.S. Bank, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: we are proud to be the Official Bank Partner of Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center. This partnership represents a reflection of our deep commitment to the Inland Empire and our dedication to fostering a vibrant, thriving community.
At U.S. Bank, we believe that strong partnerships drive meaningful progress. Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center are at the heart of the region’s culture and economy, bringing people together for world-class entertainment, business conventions, and community events. By joining forces, we’re not only expanding our presence but also creating opportunities to engage with residents, businesses, and organizations in ways that make a lasting impact.
Through our sponsorship, we’ll support concerts, sporting events, and conventions that showcase the diversity and energy of the Inland Empire. But this is only the beginning. As our partnership evolves, we’ll work closely with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL to introduce community-focused programs, including financial literacy workshops and charitable giving initiatives.
This partnership is designed to bring added value to the people we serve. For our customers, we’re introducing the U.S. Bank Fast Pass Lanes, providing priority access at Toyota Arena events. Special offers, exclusive event experiences, and tailored financial solutions for businesses operating in the region are just a few of the many perks we’re excited to roll out.
Our employees are at the core of our success, and this partnership allows us to recognize their dedication. Through exclusive access to events, corporate hospitality opportunities, and community volunteer programs, our team will have new ways to engage with and celebrate the community they serve.
The Inland Empire is a dynamic, fast-growing region, and we’re committed to supporting its continued success. By investing in Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center, we’re helping to create and sustain jobs while driving local business growth. These venues bring in visitors, revenue, and visibility, strengthening the region’s economy.
This collaboration is about more than just sponsorship—it’s about making a difference. By working together, we can elevate not just these venues but the entire Inland Empire. At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to being a partner in progress, supporting our customers, businesses, and communities every step of the way.
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