Mark Shramek A Vision for Growth, Connection, and Community Impact

As the newly appointed chairman of the Valley Industry Association, Mark Shramek brings a focused, collaborative approach to strengthening the business community across Santa Clarita and the surrounding region.
Mark did not originally set out to become chairman. After serving on the VIA board and seeing firsthand how deeply the organization supports both businesses and local nonprofits, he felt called to step into the role. VIA’s values, he says, closely reflect his own and the work being done aligns with what matters most to him, creating a natural fit for leadership.
His leadership philosophy is grounded in outcomes and teamwork. Mark believes in a clear process of collaborate, debate, decide, and execute. He places strong trust in the experience and institutional knowledge of the board, leaning on their perspective to determine what works and where improvements are needed. Once a path forward is selected, he believes in moving decisively and with purpose.
During his two-year term, Mark has identified three key priorities. The first is growth, specifically increasing overall membership, reengaging former members, and creating more opportunities for members to meaningfully grow their businesses through VIA. This includes refreshing existing events, introducing new venues, and piloting programs that better reflect how business is evolving in the Santa Clarita Valley.
His second priority is expanding engagement with young professionals. While VIA has traditionally attracted more seasoned business leaders, Mark sees tremendous value in strengthening ties with emerging professionals, particularly through its partnership with JCI Santa Clarita. He believes VIA’s established membership can play a powerful role in mentoring younger professionals and helping accelerate their careers, while also gaining insight into future workforce trends and innovation.
The third focus is expanding nonprofit partnerships. Although VIA already collaborates with many local organizations, Mark hopes to build relationships with additional nonprofits whose missions align with workforce development, community investment, and business engagement.
Looking ahead, Mark sees meaningful opportunity for local businesses in the next 12 to 18 months. One major driver is the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, which is expected to generate significant demand for hotels, restaurants, services, and infrastructure throughout the region. He also points to continued growth in advanced manufacturing and biotech, sectors where Santa Clarita already maintains a strong presence.
At the same time, businesses are facing rising operational costs, increasing compliance complexity, and ongoing talent shortages. Mark believes VIA can help address these challenges through advocacy with elected leaders, educational programming, and workforce development efforts, including its committees and annual Workforce Development Conference.
When measuring success, Mark hopes to see a 20 percent increase in membership, stronger young professional participation, and expanded nonprofit relationships. His long-term vision is for VIA to be recognized as a trusted organization that advocates, educates, and drives business growth. Ultimately, his message to the next generation of leaders is simple: show up, get involved, and reach out. When local businesses succeed, the Santa Clarita Valley succeeds with them.

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