UPLAND, CA—R&B Machine, located in Upland in San Bernardino County, is a leading source for machining of mission-critical, complex and tight tolerance aerospace applications whose portfolio has included everything from the NASA Mars Rover to commercial aircrafts for Boeing and Airbus. (San Bernardino County is a GlobeSt.com Thought Leader.) It counts among its customers Boeing, JPL, Lockheed, Honeywell, Aerojet and Exelis.

With a hand in so many sensitive projects, GlobeSt.com met up with Mark Mahboubi, president at R&B Machine, to hear what's made his shop such a success, and how the economic environment in the County has contributed to it.

GlobeSt.com: What are your current growth plans?

Mahboubi: R&B expects to hire up to 20 additional workers this year. San Bernardino County's labor market is very large with close to one million workers. This gives us the ability to hire only the best of the best. We also rely on a variety of area institutions for equipping the company's workforce. Trained technicians and highly-skilled engineers can be sourced from local programs at The National Tooling and Machine Association Training Centers of Southern California in Ontario, California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, and Harvey Mudd College in Claremont.

GlobeSt.com: What makes the County a preferred choice for your business?

Mahboubi: Our workforce benefits from the County's lower cost of living along with an affordable quality lifestyle. These are key recruitments and retention tools for us to secure competent employees.

GlobeSt.com: How has the County and its workforce investment board supported your business?

Mahboubi: San Bernardino County's workforce investment board stays involved with our company and as well as other similar businesses. R&B Machine values this relationship and has benefited from their assistance and the various stimulus programs that they offer. For example, the County offers 50 percent of the salary of a new worker for up to three months of on-the-job training. It's one example of how they help our bottom line.

GlobeSt.com: What would you tell another CEO considering the region?

Mahboubi: My personal experience with maquiladora operations in Mexico and running companies in other low cost states provides a broader perspective in the value of the right location. That's why I believe that San Bernardino County is in a unique position at the heart of Southern California. It's the right fit for many operations considering its close proximity to a broad supply chain, its unparalleled customer base, availability of skilled employees, reasonable operating cost and an attractive area for employees given lower priced housing, great nature, and a nice life style with numerous activities to fill in the leisure time.