Business
Los Angeles Start-up Finding Success in San Bernardino County
Q&A with Sanjay Poojary, President & CEO at Saya Life — A Smart Water Management Company
What is SAYA Smart Water Management?
The SAYA system come packaged with water detecting flood sensors, a smart meter fitted with ultrasonic flow sensors, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and remote shutoff valve. The system sends sensor data to the SAYAOne cloud and based on analytics data water alerts like leak events etc are reported on a dashboard or a mobile app. For flood sensor leaks, the valve is automatically shut off. The system can be easily installed at residential, commercial and industrial locations.
What inspired you to start this firm?
I have been working in the IOT and technology field for more than 20 years in large corporations such as Cisco. It was always my dream to apply these technologies to things that matter most to our lives such as water, air and energy. Because California is earthquake prone, having control of water, gas and energy at a location and ability to remotely shut off could save lives. I quit my job and started SAYA Life in 2016 to realize this dream and started with water management. Having the knowledge of water can have a huge impact not only in terms of water conservation but also preventing major damage caused due to water leaks. Saya provided this knowledge with our NTEP certified smart submetering device which also helps detect anomalies.
How do you benefit consumers?
Water is the cause of trillions in loss each year to residential and commercial property owners, insurance companies and utilities. But there is only one submetering AI platform that prevents catastrophic loss and measures water performance. Saya delivers the knowledge of water. Saya system helps prevent expensive insurance claims, reduces water risks and delivers peace of mind to consumers.
How do you benefit developers?
There is only one submetering Artificial Intelligence (submeteringAI) platform that prevents catastrophic loss and measures water performance. Saya delivers the knowledge of water so developers can provide the highest quality of service to their tenants.
Saya is a certified submetering platform. But Saya also has the most powerful data platform in the segment. The Saya Valet (sensors) gathers water data. After it’s installed, residential multi-dwelling or commercial building owners can use the SAYA Eagle SAAS platform to monitor their facilities. Fixture manufacturers, insurance companies and utilities can use the SAYA PAAS data to improve services for their customers.
Why has San Bernardino County turned out to be your first location?
There is a great deal of new multi-dwelling construction happening in San Bernardino County and the developers are looking at new technology that can really add value.
What are you growth plans as you look ahead?
We are committed to providing the best in class “knowledge of water” solution for multi-dwelling residential and commercial submetering IOT applications.
How has the support of LACI and San Bernardino County impacted your firm’s success?
The collaboration between LACI and progressive counties such as San Bernardino County has helped us identify opportunities and get to market with easy access to county certification requirements for our solution.
How do you think technology will continue to improve our lives – especially in housing and real estate industries?
California law requires manufacturers to meet plumbing fixture efficiency standards, and all new multi-dwelling construction to install water submetering. Los Angeles provides rebates to building owners after submetering, and the National Association of Apartment Owners says submetering can cut water bills virtually in half.
SAYA system help the environment by reducing emissions and saving water and energy, while delivering peace of mind, improved tenant satisfaction and reduction in risk and property damage to building owners.
Third party testing at “Pecan Labs” for Saya solution shows that deploying Saya solution just 1000 homes would contribute to 5.7 metric tons of CO2 reduction. 2.5 Million Gallons of water savings and 24k Kwh of energy savings for one year.
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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