News

Something SWEET has arrived in Ladera Ranch… just in time for Spring! 

Ricco Gelato opened in the Mercantile West Shopping Center right before New Years’ and the young entrepreneurs who pulled it off couldn’t be happier with their Ladera surroundings. “We were close to signing a lease in Quail Hill (Irvine) but found this location at the last minute,” said Jay, who runs the front-of-house operations. It didn’t hurt that the space was a better value and serving an Italian desert next to Joe’s seemed like the perfect après to Italian food.

Johnny is the man behind all of that rich goodness – each flavor is his own creation with more than 32 and plans to double the offering. “I have recipes for over 64 and am working on perfecting several vegan ones as well.” he said, adding that they plan to add alcohol-infused ones in the future too. 

Unlimited tastes may help you decide but you can combine up to four flavors per cup if you can’t. Best sellers include Tiramisu, Wildberry Yogurt, Brown Butter English Toffee and Caramel Salted Peanut Butter. Ricco has a great selection of sorbets (Mango Passionfruit, Peach, Rose Lychee, Lemon, Guava), an Asian-infused palette (Matcha, Jasmine Tea, Black Sesame, Red Bean) and a few surprises like Parmesan Cheese and Tomato Apple Kombucha.

Not only are the flavors divine, but Ricco’s ingredients are next to Godly too. “We use only the best ingredients,” said Jay. Organic milk is one example. Others ingredients come all the way from Italy.

Faith is a theme with these two who are not only partners, but also brothers! Be sure to look on the bottom of each cup for a hidden message of inspiration. Jay and Johnny our also only our youngest entrepreneurs at age 25 and 29.

Ice cream and gelato are both delicious but the two are decidedly different. Ice cream is made with more cream while gelato is made with more milk. Ice cream is whipped and has more air (and fat) while gelato is smoother and denser. That’s why small amounts of gelato are as just satisfying as a double scoop of ice cream. We wouldn’t go so far as to call gelato healthy but each small cup is only around 100 calories and many flavors are gluten-free. Check out the macros on the wall for full details.

You’re going to like this place!

Santa Margarita Water District is pleased to welcome Jorianne Jernberg as our new Deputy General Manager, who will join the executive team, along with General Manager Robert Grantham and Assistant General Manager Kristine Day, in supporting the teams that deliver SMWD’s essential services every day. Jorianne has recently been focused on legislative and public affairs, where she is helping advance proposed legislation to help SMWD operate more efficiently.

Jorianne brings more than a decade of leadership in water and infrastructure finance, most recently from Washington, D.C., where she helped build the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WIFIA Program from the ground up. Under her leadership, WIFIA grew into a nationally recognized government bank that delivered more than $22 billion in loans supporting nearly $50 billion in critical water infrastructure projects—including many right here in California. 

Jorianne’s work spans water reuse, desalination, stormwater, and wastewater improvements. Her experience will help guide SMWD’s future investments.

Prior to her role with the EPA, Jorianne spent a decade in the transportation sector, focusing on infrastructure finance. She also worked in local government for a County Commissioner in her home state of Ohio. 

What excites Jorianne most about joining SMWD? Helping the organization (SMWD) get results. She’s energized by collaborating with talented people and doing meaningful work—and she’s here to support the organization, strengthen partnerships, and help ensure SMWD continues delivering reliable, high-quality service to our 220,000 customers.

Outside the office, you might find her walking her dog along the beach, cooking with her husband, attending the orchestra, or learning to sail.

With her blend of water industry expertise, focus on collaboration, and approachable leadership style, Jorianne is a strong addition to the SMWD team—and another reason customers can feel confident that the industry’s best professionals are working on their behalf.

There's nothing better than starting off the morning with some Coffee, Connections and Community!  Members joined a full house Thursday, November 20th at Selma's to hear Brandon Fieldsted explain how members can mitigate risk, particularly relating to ADA lawsuits. Big thanks to Brandon and Mike Phillips, owner of Selma's, whose restaurant was absolutely decorated to the nines for the upcoming holiday!

Santa Margarita Water District’s 2025 Water Festival made a big splash on Saturday, June 7, drawing more than 2,700 customers, families, and community partners to a fun-filled, educational celebration of our most precious resource—water. 

From hands-on activities to behind-the-scenes infrastructure tours, the event brought neighbors and friends together to learn, explore, and connect with community organizations and SMWD, their water provider. 

Rod, who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, attended the Water Festival for the first time along with his grandchildren. “What a fun experience! It was great to learn about what SMWD does behind the scenes,” he said.

Rod signed up for two infrastructure bus tours led by SMWD’s chief engineer and a senior operations leader. He was also thrilled to speak with the technicians and see the pumps and equipment that keep water flowing up close and personal. “I may have had more fun than the kids,” he said.

From holding reptiles to touring the WaterWorks Garden, a Monarch butterfly habitat featuring five blooming landscape styles, and enjoying complimentary pizza and shaved ice, the event was bustling with activity and life.

Throughout the event, the video The Journey of Water: From River to Tap played on large-screen monitors. The award-winning video tells the story of how water travels from hundreds of miles away and how SMWD delivers local, sustainable, and reliable drinking water and wastewater services to over 210,000 customers in southern Orange County. 

For those who attended the Water Festival, it was a memorable day full of discovery.

“Water is something we all depend on but rarely think about. When neighbors come together to learn, ask questions, and explore what we do—it’s powerful. That connection is what this event is all about,” said Nicole Stanfield, SMWD Director of Communications and Customer Engagement, who organizes the annual event. 

Save the Date: 2026 Water Festival Saturday May 16, 2026

Water Festival

Saturday, June 7
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Santa Margarita Water Festival Headquarters
26111 Antonio Parkway, RSM, CA 92688

Enjoy a fun day learning about H2O and getting to know your water provider. Enjoy food and children’s activities, experience a living tide pool, explore the WaterWorks Garden, and speak with garden pros and water district experts. Be sure to plan on viewing the movie, The Journey of Water, and signing up for an Infrastructure Tour.

Family Activities

- Infrastructure Tours: Sign-ups will be available on the day of the event
- Live caterpillars/butterflies, ladybugs, or praying mantis
- Water testing experiment
- Build a worm composting box
- Inflatable zipline and bee maze
- Live reptiles
- Water education
- Aquarium experience: Birds of prey: owls and hawks by OC Bird of Prey Center
- Observe pollinators: Bats and moths; take a quiz, and ask questions
- Puppet show
- Read books with the RSM Library
- Touch Rosie the snake with Rancho Mission Viejo Reserve
- Stroll through the WaterWorks Garden and converse with garden experts, amidst beautiful California-friendly plants.

Visit SMWD.com/Festival

See our link on the homepage to download

Margaret Novak was elected to the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Board of Directors in 2024 and represents Division 5, which includes Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, and a portion of San Clemente.

Ms. Novak is a long-time resident of south Orange County and has over 25 years of experience in the community development and infrastructure realm. Her strong understanding of Division 5 – including the unincorporated areas – comes from serving on the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Ratepayer Advisory Committee, Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) Board, Ladera Ranch Civic Council (LRCC), and South Orange County Economic Coalition (SOCEC). She also has served on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee and Women’s Transportation Seminar of Orange County (WTS-OC) Board, in addition to participating in the Orange County Business Council’s (OCBC) Governmental Affairs and Infrastructure Action Committees.

As a results-oriented leader, Ms. Novak is committed to maintaining SMWD’s high standard of service and delivery of clean, reliable, and cost-effective water to ratepayers. She will continue safeguarding our District through sound policies and fiscal responsibility in support of expanded local water supply options and reduced energy-related costs.

Ms. Novak has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona and is passionate about making a meaningful difference in her community.

Sign up for updates from Santa Margarita Water District at SMWD.com/News.

Job description

About us

HOTWORX - 24-Hour Infrared Fitness Studio is the first ever implementation of 3-dimensional training. We combine Heat (dimension 1), Infrared Energy (dimension 2) and Exercise (dimension 3) to help members flush toxins, tone up, and torch calories. Our studio offers 24-hour unlimited access to sessions ranging from HOT Yoga, to Hot Cycle, Hot Buns and more. Our exclusive workouts are led by a virtual instructor in a semi-private environment, suitable for all fitness levels to give members MORE WORKOUT IN LESS TIME!

Join our team for an exciting opportunity to drive membership growth and to deliver exceptional customer service in the fitness/health and wellness industry!

We are currently looking to build a team of self-motivated, dependable fitness minded individuals. If you are looking for a career opportunity with this cutting-edge concept where you can become a part of an organization focused on helping the community feel and look their very best then look at HOTWORX. We have one position open for a Full-time Assistant General Manager who has previous experience in customer service, membership sales and marketing.

Candidates interested in joining our team should expect to be successful in the following:

• Be the face of HOTWORX.
• Meeting and exceeding membership sales goals. Must be strong in sales and outreach!
• Showing up daily, on time, and with the mindset to execute every job duty and function with absolute integrity and enthusiasm.
• Always providing superior customer service to members by creating a positive and motivating environment.
• Meeting with and reporting on sales trends and prospecting efforts to owner on a regular basis.
• Willing to network in the community, online and B2B to promote HOTWORX.
• Demonstrated Pre-sales experience.
• Utilizing social media and all other marketing and advertising media to engage members and the community and to help grow the member base and brand awareness, on a regular basis.
• Using online platforms and software for customer relations management process, POS systems for membership sales, billing and collections as well as for email and texting campaigns. Training will be provided!
• Management candidates should be able to successfully motivate and lead the membership sales team by achieving personal sales goals and providing coaching to the sales staff to meet their personal sales goals.
• Completing all required training's both online and in person as required by owner, to ensure you have all the tools needed to be successful.

Basic Duties & Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Complete a minimum 30-40 hours per week, using the provided time clock.
• Assist with all weekly and/or monthly staff meetings & training sessions.
• Always maintain HOTWORX®® customer service standards. (5 Star Rating)
• Create social media content posting and marketing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
• Maintain a professional appearance adhering to the HOTWORX® Uniform Policy & Code of Conduct.
• Follow general cleaning and maintenance checklists as assigned by management.
• Complete daily open/closing procedures and checklists.
• Provide an excellent customer service experience.
• Must be able to confidently answer phones and greet customers.
• Ensure members understand how to use the Burn Off App.
• Promote participation in the Burn Off Challenge and use of the HOTWORX® App.
• Maintain accurate member and employee records.
• Ad Hoc duties as needed

Employee Management Responsibilities:

• Actively recruit & interview staff.
• Ensure all daily operational checklists are prepared weekly/daily for monitoring.
• Train all Fitness Sales Associates according to HOTWORX® training material and programs. Ensure all employees are fulfilling the required training and certifications.
• Ensure all new and existing employees’ training is up to date.
• Monitor the closing percentage and percentage to goal of all employees and discuss action plans.
• Ensure all related equipment maintenance and cleanliness tasks are completed and or delegated as defined in full Job Description.

Register Functions & Membership Billing Responsibilities:

• Ensure all employees are practicing proper data entry for all guests, members and clients at all times.
• Perform monthly EFT billing (pre-draft, processing and post-draft) duties to ensure maximum collection rates.
• Update member Brivo access credentials as accounts become delinquent.
• Exercise proper collections methods.

Sales Management Responsibilities & Minimum Performance Expectations:

• Ensure that minimum requirements for prospecting are met monthly.
• Monitor, track and analyze and communicate daily, weekly and monthly lead flow.
• Work with staff to ensure daily and weekly organic posts are set up and increase engagement.
• Communicating with GM or Franchisee/Owner on changes in social media lead quality or feedback.
• Formally meet with GM or Franchisee/Owner regularly to monitor and communicate clearly regarding return on ad budget/spend as well as cost per lead metrics.
• Ensure Daily Duties Checklist is completed daily.
• Submit required close of business reports to franchisee nightly and a brief email to franchisee at the end of the staffed hours everyday M-F.
• Review Studio Prospecting/Client tracking logs daily to ensure proper exercise of prospecting duties.

This opportunity has your name on it if you are:

• Autonomous/Independent -- enjoys working with little direction.
• Goal-oriented -- enjoys taking on challenges, even if they might fail.
• Detail-oriented -- would rather focus on the details of work than the bigger picture.
• Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous

Our ideal candidates have 2+ years previous sales experience, strong interest in helping others feel and look their very best while benefiting from rewarding.

Candidates should personally lead a healthy lifestyle and have a personal passion for fitness.

We provide substantial paid training, certifications and support to ensure your success. Compensation includes base pay, commissions, bonuses, a free studio membership and product discounts.

If you are a high energy, positive, self-motivated individual looking to continually grow, join our team and help us deliver exceptional fitness experiences to our members while driving growth for our studio! Apply now to become a part of the HOTWORX® family.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Sharon Mueller

Franchise Owner, Ladera Ranch

25612 Crown Valley Parkway, #L-8

(559) 696-0500

Sharon.Mueller@hotworx.net