The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the honorees for its 16th annual Salute to Patriots, an event that recognizes local military veterans for the roles they’ve gone on to play in the area’s business community. This year’s class of eight will be celebrated at a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. at the SCV Senior Center at Bella Vida.
The 2026 honorees are Camille Applin-Jones (U.S. Army), Thomas Cadman (U.S. Army), Enrique Conchas (U.S. Marine Corps), Nick Cottrill (U.S. Army), Frank Gilhuys (U.S. Air Force), Gerald Albert Rhodes (U.S. Army), Harold Schrage (U.S. Navy), and Leslie G. Wiggins, who served in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force.
“Behind every honoree is a story of service that deserves to be heard,” said Di Thompson, chair of the SCV Chamber board, in the chamber’s announcement. Chamber president and CEO Ivan Volschenk added that the honorees “represent the very best of who we are as a community,” noting that many continue leading, mentoring and building businesses long after their time in uniform ends.
For Los Angeles-area business owners, the event is a reminder of how much of the region’s small-business fabric is held together by veterans who’ve transitioned from military service into entrepreneurship, management and civic leadership. Veteran-owned businesses often bring a distinct mix of discipline, operational know-how and community commitment, and local chambers of commerce — in Santa Clarita and across the greater LA area — play a key role in spotlighting that contribution and connecting veteran business owners with mentors, resources and each other.
Tickets to the Nov. 4 Salute to Patriots ceremony are $50 for SCV Chamber members and $60 for non-members, and are available at scvchamber.com/events. The event is open to the public and typically draws elected officials, fellow business owners and family members of the honorees.
Whether you’re a veteran-owned business in the San Fernando Valley, a Santa Clarita Valley shop owner, or simply looking for ways to support those who’ve served, events like this one are a good opportunity to connect with your local chamber of commerce and the broader veteran business community.
Source: The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
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