Adapting and Overcoming with Koren Young

In a world as swiftly changing as ours, nothing is more important than learning to adapt and overcome, especially when we’ve had a year as tumultuous as 2020. As he can tell you himself, Koren Young is just one of the countless Santa Clarita residents who has had to learn to navigate the unfamiliar intersection of technology, adaptation, and forward thinking.
In the years since he picked up his first camera, Koren has made a name for himself in the world of video production — but he’s also worked hard to give back to the community that fostered this growth.
In addition to operating his own businesses that cater to the entertainment industry, he’s a professor at College of the Canyons, where he helps young filmmakers learn the basics of filmmaking and storytelling — right from the podcast studio in his home office.
He was also recently elected the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at JCI Santa Clarita, but his dedication doesn’t end there – throughout the last year alone, he’s partnered with many non-profits in the area, including Single Mothers Outreach, Circle of Hope, Zonta, The Valley Industry Association, Child and Family Center, and The Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation.
He also produced the entirety of this year’s JCI 40 Under Forty Top 100, at which he was also awarded as one of the year’s honorees. Because of this he and his business have also become a finalist in the Rising Star Award category from the Chamber’s awards and installation.
Philanthropy and service go hand in hand with Koren’s passion for videography. Throughout the course of the pandemic, he’s had to continuously adapt his business practices to better serve the changing needs of the Santa Clarita community.

Endless all-nighters, meetings, and hours of editing are all worth it, though, when it comes down to the final result: a livestream, video, or interactive presentation that does its part in boosting whichever non-profit he’s dedicating his time to that month.
“It got challenging and overwhelming as we got closer to our deadlines,” he admits. “But the feedback we received made it all worth it in the end.”
In addition to his work with JCI and other local non-profit organizations, Koren is also the President of the Valencia Viking Alumni Association, a testament to his fondness of his own time in high school.
“Valencia High School was a big part of my life. It’s where I really got involved in video production,” he shares. Koren was one of the early pioneers of live television news production in the Hart District.
This translated into one of his more recent collaborations with another high school in the area, Golden Valley, where he produced videos for their first ever virtual Back to School Night.
In the end, it’s all about giving back to the community in ways that are meaningful and impactful to as many people as possible.
“There are a ton of non-profit organizations that serve every facet of our community,” Koren says. “If you’re passionate about helping people, there is an organization out there that needs your help.”
When he’s not out in the community, you can find him hard at work at Arcay Studios, where he provides post-production services to independent filmmakers and film distributors alike.Needless to say, Koren has planted roots right here in his hometown, and he’s ready to see where his passion and the community’s needs will take him.

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