O'Brien: In Ontario we have a combination of skilled labor, craftsman, and technical people. There is a lot of R&D because we operate a large ballistics lab. All the body armor is developed in Ontario. We also make accessory parts for the automotive industry, but that's an auxiliary market. Basically we know how to mold, cut and sew. We can do that work. But law enforcement by far is the biggest customer, including all the “alphabet” agencies on a federal level. A key to success and growth in manufacturing today is to cross pollinate your workforce across different channels of distribution.

GlobeSt.com: How does a County location help to support your manufacturing?

O'Brien: I think that first of all it's the logistics. We're close to all major transportation corridors, and right next to Ontario International Airport which is convenient for bringing in suppliers and clients. Second it's the availability and low cost of labor. There is a good, healthy labor force for the technical, skilled positions we have at Safariland. Another major bonus is the work ethic of our workforce. What I predominantly see is a group of hard-working people supporting their families.

GlobeSt.com: Are there advantages to working with the local economic development officials?

O'Brien: When we built our building in Ontario, we built it with the State and City of Ontario through redevelopment bonds. The City has always been fantastic to work with. When we outgrew our parking lots, they worked with us on alternatives to create more spaces.

GlobeSt.com: How important are workforce training programs to your growth?

O'Brien: Training is key to keeping our people engaged. Chaffey College is one of many providers who help employers secure Employment Training Funds from the State. These funds are available for California employers, based on certain criteria, to provide skill training to improve competitiveness in the marketplace. What makes our relationship with Chaffey so beneficial is that they take a consulting approach to understanding our business and developing programs with us that create value.

We recently graduated almost 30 employees who participated in a Chaffey-led leadership training program. Through an internal needs analysis, we identified the need for training at an individual and group level, in areas such as leadership, computer skills, certified technician training, among other things. At Safariland, these workforce training programs are part of a deliberate strategy as it relates to employee lifecycle, retention and attraction.

GlobeSt.com: What is the impact on your workforce?

O'Brien: When we help our employees become better leaders, there is a trickle-down effect. The benefits of training become contagious. It's a positive inertia around learning, thinking, and doing things differently. Simply by talking, engaging, and teaching people, everyone becomes more focused on process improvement. Moreover, we've seen an increase in performance and reduced turnover.

GlobeSt.com: What does the future look like for your business?

O'Brien: We're starting to recover from the recession. We've been fortunate to have continued to grow about 10%, even over the last two years. Safariland is in an excellent position. Our business isn't just dependent on the local economy. Our biggest market is the US, but a lot of our future growth will be international business in Western and Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America and the Pacific Rim.