How a Local Entrepreneur Launched a Successful Hearing Loss Clinic in the Victor Valley

Optimum Audiology

Like every entrepreneur, a leap of faith is what put Dr. Kristi Mendoza on her business journey. 

“I had the idea that I could actually do this, so I jumped off the cliff and started my own business,” she says. “I created my own S corporation and learned how to become an entrepreneur.” 

In 2015, Mendoza opened Optimum Audiology in Apple Valley, treating patients with hearing problems. Today, she operates four locations with 11 employees in Southern California. Two of the clinics are in the Victor Valley. 

Mendoza’s success is notable, especially when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more than 20% of private sector businesses fail in the first year. After five years, nearly 50% are gone, and in 10 years, 65% have closed. 

Optimum Audiology began strong and has kept the momentum going. One reason: Mendoza’s background. She already had more than 20 years of experience in audiology and hearing aid dispensing when she opened her clinic. 

And Mendoza also received help from a mentor, Dr. John Amar, a Victor Valley ear, nose and throat physician who encouraged her dream to take flight. 

“He would always say, ‘no wing walking,’ which means if you’re going to do something, then jump out of the plane and go,” Mendoza says. “It gave me permission to do this.” 

Putting Down Roots 

Mendoza also understood her community. She grew up in Colorado and graduated from high school in Mission Viejo, south of Los Angeles. She frequently visited the Victor Valley in those early years. 

“My grandma had a health food store here, and my grandpa built houses, so I had a lot of familiarity with the area,” she says. 

As an adult, her work in audiology brought her to the High Desert, where she saw a need for her skills. “I wanted to make a difference and bring quality health care here,” she says. “I’ve always been one to serve the underserved.” 

Amar taught her to build her business one person at a time, telling her that if she took care of one patient, she would get referrals in return. Over the years, she’s fine-tuned her approach. 

“What sets us apart is our five-star experience,” Mendoza says. “For many people, it’s hard to make the initial phone call, but when they do, they’re greeted with a friendly, knowledgeable voice.” 

Her staff is trained to explain services to patients and verify insurance benefits. 

“We know how to help,” she says. “We deal with every major manufacturer, so we can find the best product.” 

Mendoza works a lot with the military and retirees. She’s made her business visible and welcoming to other groups through social media, volunteering and giving donations, and even adopting a local highway. 

“It allows you to be a difference maker,” she says. “If you’re going to have a business, support the community.” 

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Networking & Partnerships 

For entrepreneurs who are just starting, Mendoza has a wealth of sage advice. Networking and getting involved through the chamber of commerce (Optimum Audiology is a member of the Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce) and other business and community groups is important. 

“It’s really helpful knowing that everyone wants you to succeed,” Mendoza says. 

Never stop looking for answers, she advises, and seek partners who can help with everything from payroll and accounting to loans. During the pandemic, a Small Business Administration loan helped the business expand and grow. 

Along with beautiful sunsets and remarkable desert scenery, the Victor Valley’s residents make living here worthwhile. 

“People are very friendly and easygoing,” Mendoza says. “They’re invested in one another. Businesses are approachable. It’s like the world was 20 years ago.” 

She says it’s a great place to have a company, particularly in her field. 

“We have a lot of quality health care here now,” she says, adding that there’s still so much need in many industries. “For companies that are invested in the community and in it to win it, it’s a great opportunity to come and shine. If you have the right skill set, you’re going to be able to make the world a better place, starting here in the Victor Valley.”