Opinion
Luc Robitaille and Ontario Reign Executives Address the Business Community During Private Luncheon

Luc Robitaille & Ontario Reign Executives Address the Business Community During Private Luncheon
OPINION
By Diara Fowler, Guest Writer for Inland Empire Business Journal
As the city of Ontario made history with its first-ever AHL All-Star Classic presented by the Ontario International Airport — the future is nothing but bright for the league, it’s players, and the community altogether. With all the prospects joining the organization, it has made an opportunity for huge growth and development for the players interacting within the game on and off the ice. This milestone for the American Hockey League (AHL) would not have been possible without all of its help from the Ontario Reign And LA Kings organizations and its business personnel that keep the show running and thriving.
The consciousness of hockey here in Southern California is on the rise. Every day more and more individuals are getting more involved, showing interest in the All-American sport. Hockey originally started back in Montreal Canada back in 1917. During a private luncheon for members of the business community, we heard many enthusiastic comments and excitement surrounding milestone events. “First ever all-star weekend here on the West Coast. It is such an honor to host the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic — the economic impact this has on the local economy is felt strongly. Very proud to be partnered with the AHL and Ontario Reign on this first-ever event. This is a milestone for the Inland Empire Region”, said Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce President — Edward Ornelas.
“Our main thing before growing the brand is growing the game of hockey. Ultimately my job is to make the sport of hockey more popular. The game of hockey is growing fast here within Southern California especially with the LA Kings and Ontario Reign pushing a bunch of our youth programs”, said Ontario Reign Business Development Executive — Andreas Torres.
NHL hall of fame player Luc Robitaille was also in attendance for the weekends exciting moment in history. The passion these kids have and overall youth is the future of the Ontario Reign and the LA King’s. “when we talk about what has Ontario done for the organization well, 3 years ago we had around 2-3 different prospects interested in joining our team, This year nine of our kids are playing within the world junior championship league which Intel’s some of the best players before 20 years of age” referenced Robitaille.
Just five years ago the American Hockey League president David Andrews made the decision to move existing teams from the East Coast to the West Coast, with that being said, California is now home to five professional hockey teams. The American Hockey League acknowledges the Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign, Stockton heat, San Jose Barracuda, and new expansion team in Palm Springs.
“I think the decision made to bring more teams down here to the West Coast helps the pacific region teams as they have a better feel and better draw to pick from and now players are closer to areas the teams are in. This concept makes hockey more National vs. just an East Coast sport”, said Business Development Manager at Securitas Security Christopher Blair.
“The American Hockey League is a developmental league, and the LA Kings have done a good job at installing winning as part of the developmental process. They want to teach players to win at this level and in a few years they’ll be ready for the NHL”, said Ontario Reign play-by-play broadcaster Cameron Close.
As the process is more than just hockey but building character along with the ways of positive influence and impact. “We don’t just teach our guys to be great hockey players, but at the same time, we want them to be good people. We know if you want to have a great organization you have to do things right on and off the ice, you have to be apart of the community. To be successful in the sports industry you must be a good teammate you cannot be an individual”, said Luc Robitaille.
Toyota Arena is home to the Ontario Reign and 2020’s AHL All-Star Classic. The games will take place in one of the best arenas in the country. “Back in 2016, the goal was to do a brand and name change, along with needing to improve food and beverages and guest experience here at the Toyota Arena.” So what are these improvements representing for the city of Ontario “the Reign has brought in over 1.2 million people through the door; food and beverage jumped from two million in revenue to eight million in revenue. We have more than 300 event dates on calendar here at our arena varying from sports to concerts — that would be impossible without partnerships and community involvement, along with our tentative partners which is a prime example of what we have here with the Ontario Reign”, said Michael Krouse, President & CEO of the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Bizz Buzz
Colton Resident Receives Free College Tuition and Books Through Walmart’s Education Program

By Saul Martinez, Contributing Writer for IEBJ
#bizzbuzz
This year marks the five-year anniversary of Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) education program. Over the past five years, the company has saved associates across the country nearly half a billion in education costs, reflecting the company’s commitment to creating a path for everyone to learn and grow. In California, we’ve seen 5,620 Walmart and Sam’s Club associates participate in Live Better U over the past five years.
One such success story is Robert Gay, who lives in Colton, CA, and earned his college degree – fully paid for by Walmart. Robert was stuck in a stagnant position at his previous company, hindered by the absence of a degree that prevented him from advancing further. However, upon discovering the Live Better U benefits offered by Walmart, he decided to take a leap of faith and join their team with the intention of completing his degree. After successfully graduating with a bachelor’s degree in October 2020, he now takes immense pride in his accomplishment of accepting a promotion to associate general manager. Throughout his journey, Robert received overwhelming support from his local team, who not only empathized with his workload challenges but also aided when needed.
Most individuals typically encounter Walmart through its retail outlets. The Inland Empire Business Journal had the opportunity to explore a consolidation center of Walmart situated in Colton, California. Our visit left us deeply impressed by the remarkable cleanliness and impeccable condition of the facility, almost reminiscent of a high-end showroom.
While on the tour, we observed the diligent measures taken by the leadership to maintain employee motivation and awareness regarding the daily, weekly, and monthly performance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the facility. These KPIs were prominently displayed on digital monitors throughout the premises. The Colton leadership created a mascot and call their team the Colton Eagles.
We found ourselves deeply impressed by this aspect of Walmart, which is often hidden from public view. Walmart unquestionably stands out as a company that not only offers excellent career opportunities but also boasts a remarkable 100% tuition reimbursement program. If you are seeking a career in the Inland Empire, this proves to be an exceptional workplace choice.
Whether someone is chasing their first job or the opportunity that will define their career, Walmart is committed to creating pathways of opportunity for everyone.
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Business
Thriving Without the Status: Local Small Business Owner Shares his Journey as an Undocumented Entrepreneur

By Jessica Anguiano, Southern California Outreach Manager at Small Business Majority and Content Contributor at IEBJ
Alfonso Garcia De Alba Rubio is a proud Mexican national and mechanic business owner in Fontana. His undocu-hustle journey began after he moved to the United States in 2006, with nothing more than a dream, skills in the auto mechanic industry, and a strong work ethic.
His story of perseverance, hard work, dedication, and determination is worthy of admiration. Alfonso is one of California’s estimated 1.1 million undocumented individuals who participates in the workforce. He carved out his career in mechanics and car transmissions and started from the bottom up–literally and figuratively. His business started out of a restroom, but he quickly recognized a gap in the market for his services. His customers encouraged him to start his undocu-hustle, a practice that motivates and inspires new entrepreneurs to launch their businesses despite not having legal immigration status.
He shares, “Eventually, I was able to rent a garage space that catapulted my budding business, even if it came at a high cost.” In fact, half of his revenue went toward covering rent expenses at the garage. But just three years later, Alfonso managed to save enough money to start his own shop, where he felt a new sense of economic independence that allowed him to expand his business. Although he encountered challenges in obtaining the necessary paperwork to launch a legitimate business, he persevered and continued on his entrepreneurial path.
Like many other entrepreneurs, Alfonso operated his business through sheer determination and hard work. Despite not being able to qualify for emergency funding or state and government assistance at the height of the pandemic, he has managed to keep his business afloat and continue employing people in his community.
He says, “Regardless of what some might say, I am here to create opportunities and not take jobs.” Immigrant entrepreneurs have continued to encounter myriad challenges in their journey to business ownership, and access to capital is one of their top challenges. But their contributions to our nation and our economy are what keep us thriving and innovating, and we are better for it.
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