June 2014
Join us on Friday, June 13! Building a Strong Economy CEO’s Message............................................ 2 Youth Leadership Bakersfield...................... 5 Business Expo 2014................................... 11 Providing Business Education & Networking Opportunities Small Business Networking Breakfast......... 1 State of the City 2014.................................. 3 “My Take” on Transportation ..................... 4 Committee Reports.................................... 13 Promoting Our Community Chairman’s Circle Focus.............................. 2 New Members.............................................. 8 Renewing Members..................................... 9 Ribbon Cuttings......................................... 10 Member News............................................ 11 Representing the Interests of Business with Government Chamber PAC Endorsements....................... 1 The 2014 Legislative Guide......................... 3 Where We Stand........................................... 6
The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to: • Building a Strong Economy • Providing Business Education & Networking Opportunities • Promoting Our Community • Representing the Interests of Business with Government
Providing leadership for a healthy business community
Chamber PAC Urges Vote for Vidak and Salas Commending both men for their
ability to work across party lines and their records on issues important to business, the Bakersfield Chamber PAC (BCCPAC) has voted to endorse Senator Andy Vidak and Assemblymember Rudy Salas, Jr. in their bids for re-election. The endorsements come following interviews with all candidates for both seats, where Vidak and Salas each outlined their legislative priorities and positions on water, hydraulic fracturing and job creation in the central valley. “Senator Andy Vidak and Assemblymember Rudy Salas have proven track records of standing with business, as evidenced by their voting records,” said Keith Brice, BCCPAC chair and president of Mid-
State Development Corporation. “It is important that we have representatives locally, at the state, and federally who understand and support free enterprise and will work to help unravel the red tape that often makes it difficult to do business in California. Andy and Rudy are doing that.” With California’s open primary, the top two vote-getters in each race will square off in November. Vidak is facing Fresno School Board member Luis Chavez in both the June 3 primary and the general election in November. Salas is expected to face one of two Republican challengers—Pedro Rios or Romeo Agbalog—in the general election.
Assemblymember Rudy Salas, Jr.
Senator Andy Vidak
Union Cemetery and Price Disposal to Share Tips for Contracting With Them The Small Business Networking breakfast opens the door for small business to find out about opportunities to do business with large companies.
Dave Hepburn, Historic Union Cemetery, will
talk about what it takes to do business with the cemetery and which services are needed to run the 80 acre, nearly 150 year-old cemetery. Ray Scott, Price Disposal, will tell you all you need to know about how to become a vendor with one of Kern County’s largest private waste management companies. (story continued on page 8)
2014 Chairman’s Circle
Business Supporting Business
Advance Beverage Company Aera Energy LLC Barbich Hooper King Dill Hoffman Braun Electric Company, Inc. Bright House Networks Brown Armstrong Accountants California State University, Bakersfield Carney’s Business Technology Center Castle & Cooke California, Inc. Chevron Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Citizens Business Bank Daniells, Phillips, Vaughan & Bock Dignity Health- Mercy & Memorial Hospitals Dollar General Dowling Aaron Incorporated Ensign U.S. Drilling, CA Golden Empire Transit District Gregory D. Bynum & Associates, Inc. Hall Ambulance Service Jim Burke Ford Lincoln Kaiser Permanente Kern County Kern Community College District Kern Community Foundation Kern Schools Federal Credit Union KGET-TV 17 Klein, DeNatale, Goldner et al Law Offices of Young Wooldridge LLP McKee Electric Company Mid State Development Corporation Motor City Auto Center Occidental of Elk Hills, Inc. Ordiz-Melby Architects, Inc. Pacific Gas and Electric Company Rabobank, N.A. San Joaquin Community Hospital Southern California Gas Company State Farm Insurance Companies Stinsons Stria Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino Taft College Foundation Tejon Ranch Company TelePacific Communications Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc. The Bakersfield Californian Valley Republic Bank Wells Fargo Bank METRO 2
Thankfully, Our Reps Get it! A delegation of Chamber and local business leaders have just
returned from Sacramento where we met with State legislators about issues important to our local economy—water, hydraulic fracturing and the oil severance tax. Assemblymembers Rudy Salas and Shannon Grove and State Senators Andy Vidak and Jean Fuller get it! We can be confident that they’re banging their heads against the wall each and every day and taking their lumps from representatives to the north and south, as they go to bat on behalf of the folks in the districts who sent them to Sacramento. We had a good meeting with the new Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, from the San Diego, and were appreciative of her openness to learn more about hydraulic fracturing and her commitment to travel to Kern to learn more about the technology and our oil-based economy. A special thank you to Assemblymember Salas for helping us set up that meeting. Conversely, we ran into the polar opposite. A political buzz saw of sorts that made it perfectly clear that some are only interested in their own truths—which is pretty scary when their truth is filtered through unrealistic absolutes and a singular focus making it clear that they have no desire to look for common ground. It is easy to see how and why we end up with political gridlock and why operating a business in California isn’t easy. It is easy to see that we have a lot of work to do! As a matter of fact, we even ran into one Sacramento “expert” who was adamant that the Monterey Shale had absolutely nothing to do with Kern County. Can you believe the absurdity? Uphill battles like this are why it’s important that every business adds its voice to the Chamber’s advocacy efforts. At the Bakersfield Chamber, they can do it through our Governmental Review Council (GRC) or by making a contribution to the BCCPAC (Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee). We promise to continue to represent the interests of business here at home, in Sacramento and in Washington, DC. Won’t you join us?
Chairman's Circle Focus Wells Fargo, through its Commercial Banking group, is the number one financial services provider to middle market businesses in the western U.S., according to a leading independent research firm. Headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo is the largest lender to US agriculture among commercial banks, among the largest lenders to companies in the energy and gaming industries, and is one of the United States’ top-40 largest private employers.
www.wellsfargo.com
METRO Business Journal is the official publication of the
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
1725 Eye Street • PO Box 1947 •Bakersfield, CA 93303 Phone (661)-327-4421 • Fax (661) 327-8751 www.bakersfieldchamber.org • www.bakersfieldadvocacy.org The Chamber of Commerce President/CEO has the sole right to refuse any advertisement in any Chamber publication.
Providing Business Education and Networking Opportunities
The 2014 Legislative Guide and Public Policy Platform is Now Available The Legislative Guide & Public
Policy Platform is a tool to help educate you, as our members, about the issues important to business and the economy, and to help you take part in the legislative process. This publication incorporates the Chamber’s Public Policy Platform, which is the foundation from which the Chamber engages on issues on our members’ behalf, and a Business Advocacy Toolkit for our members to use to let their voices be heard. Stop by the Chamber and pick up your copy today.
SPONS
ORSHIP
State of the City 2014 Set for July 15
S AVAI
LABLE!
T
he annual State of the City luncheon is one of the Chamber’s leading business information forums. The July event features Bakersfield Mayor Harvey L. Hall and designated City department heads reporting on the accomplishments of the past year and providing a look ahead to the City’s future plans. State of the City will take place on Tuesday, July 15 at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center. Registration and check in begins at 11:30a.m.; program 12:00-1:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Sponsorship levels include: • Presenting $5,000 • Silver $2,500 • Bronze $1,000 Contact Tonya Sterling (661) 327-4421 tsterling@bakersfieldchamber.org
To advertise, contact: Mira Patel (661) 395-7586 mpatel@bakersfield.com To subscribe, contact: Circulation (661) 392-5777 Bakersfield.com/subscribe METRO 3
Providing Business Education and Networking Opportunities
New Transportation Plan Balances Economic Growth with Environmental Realities By Ahron Hakimi | Kern COG Executive Director
ln developing the Kern region’s 26-year master
plan for transportation, Kern Council of Governments has received input from more than 8,000 of our residents and their message has been crystal clear: We need to fix, finish and maintain what we have. Kern COG’s 2014 Regional Transportation Plan considers all the different modes of travel at our disposal – from roads and highways to freight and passenger rail, bicycles, walking and aviation – offering a proposal for how best to spend the $11.2 billion we expect to receive through federal, state and local funding sources through 2040. State and federal agencies have been vocal in providing guidelines for building a transportation network that both accommodates our increasing population while simultaneously reducing our environmental impacts. Meanwhile, Kern residents have been abundantly clear about what they expect going forward: Maintenance as the top priority. With that input, Kern COG has crafted a plan carefully designed to balance economic interests with environmental realities. The RTP acknowledges the close connection that transportation and land use planning share, along with the need to use our resources differently. Among other priorities, that input has translated into a 700 percent increase in spending -- $424 million – on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure like sidewalks, bike lanes and bike paths. Housing within walking distance to public transportation that circulates every 15 minutes is anticipated to grow more than three-and-a-half times. Approximately $2.2 billion is proposed for public transportation improvements, including the funding that state officials hope to have for high-speed rail. Together, that represents $2.6 billion dollars, compared to approximately $2.8 billion through METRO 4
the 2040 planning horizon for new capacity and maintenance on roads and freeways. Our modeling shows that this balanced approach to growing our transportation network, if enacted, will provide for:
a 32 percent decrease in farmland converted to housing outside of cities’ spheres of influence; at least a 5 percent reduction in health expenditures because of improved air quality and; at least a 10 percent decrease in house- hold water use.
At the same time, Kern COG is fully aware of the need to do what it can to assist in our region’s economic recovery and maturity. As a growing logistics hub, home to more than 30 different distribution centers, Kern has an obligation to maintain its roadways to ensure that commerce flows smoothly. Construction in the region is at an alltime high with one-time funding sources either reaching their crescendo, such as the Thomas Roads Improvement Program with the upcoming Centennial Corridor project, or, in the case of Proposition 1B funds, winding down with the widening of Highway 99 in Bakersfield. These important improvements and many others will help guarantee that our network welcomes growing economic opportunities and the new jobs that will accompany them. Most importantly, the ambitious program the Regional Transportation Plan sets forth reminds all of us that we can’t afford to lose transportation amid the shuffle of everchanging social and policy priorities. There’s simply too much at stake.
You can make your business stand out in the online business directory by enhancing your listing? ONLINE DIRECTORY ENHANCEMENTS Enhanced Listing $150/year (Basic Plus - Color Background, 25-Word Description) Featured Listing $350/year (Enhanced Plus - Company Logo/Photo) Exclusive Category Sponsor $1,000/year (Enhanced Plus – Full Color Category Ad) Additional Category Sponsorships $600/year Additional Business Categories $100/yr Give Lauren a call today to boost your business: 661.327.4421
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Promoting Our Community
Chamber Salutes Youth Leadership Bakersfield Scholarship Winners A
s part of its commitment to education, workforce preparation and leadership development, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce offers three $500 scholarships to graduates of the Youth Leadership Bakersfield program who are seeking to continue their education in a four-year college or university. The Business Partners Scholarships are awarded to students whose achievements, both in school and the community, reflect the capabilities and attitudes nec-
essary for success in academic, business and life settings. This year’s recipients are Elizabeth Vazquez and Raquel Vega, both from Bakersfield High School. Each year, the Bakersfield College Foundation awards a $1,000 scholarship to a Youth Leadership Bakersfield graduate planning to attend Bakersfield College. This year’s recipient is Sara McComas from East High School.
Youth Leadership Bakersfield Presented to Kern County Board of Supervisors and Bakersfield City Council Sydney Maiden, of Bakersfield
High School and a 2014 YLB graduate, joined Cindy Pollard, Chamber president and CEO; and Rob Duchow, Southern California Gas Company and YLB Graduation Sponsor to present the 2014 YLB Program to the Kern County Board of Supervisors. The group shared the program’s goals to identify potential leaders within the high school youth community, develop their leadership skills and create community spirit. Maiden
shared how much she learned about Bakersfield and how the program made her realize she can be a leader. Michele Newell, Aera Energy LLC and YLB advisory chair; and graduates John Cruz and Angela Tante, Liberty High School; Haley Garrison, Garces Memorial High School; and Samuel Lang, Valley Oaks Charter School and graduation speaker, joined Pollard to present the program to the Bakersfield City Council.
Aaron Perlman, weathercaster, KBAK & KBFX Eyewitness News and YLB graduates take a “selfie” at the graduation celebration.
Youth Leadership Bakersfield
graduated 32 high school students from 17 different high schools in Bakersfield on Friday, May 2. This year’s graduation featured Lyle Martin, assistant police chief of the Bakersfield Police Department, as he discussed the importance of leadership and how students can take what the students have learned from the program and apply it in their future. Over the course of the program, these students have experienced Bakersfield’s wide range of community issues and career opportunities in the areas of agriculture, arts and culture, criminal justice, education, health and human services, leadership, media, energy and government.
Graduates of the 2014 Youth Leadership Bakersfield Program Dammy Adeoye Bakersfield Christian
Manuel Gomez Mira Monte
Raylon Allen Heide Gutierrez South East Bakersfield Omar Aragon Natalie Hernandez Independence East Bakersfield Charenee Brown Samuel Lang South Valley Oaks Charter Tatum Collatz Roman Lara Stockdale Centennial Joseph Constantine Sydney Maiden Frontier Bakersfield Stephen John Cruz Nicholas Martinez Liberty Ridgeview Zhanelle Davis Carmen Meza Independence Ridgeview Michael Earnest Sarai Meza Stockdale Centennial Christopher Ellis Irma Narvaez Independence Foothill Haley Garrison Dylan Newell Garces Memorial Stockdale
Rebecca Oberg West Jacob Pesina West Genaro Rodriguez Highland Esmeralda Rojas Golden Valley David Roman East Bakersfield Scott Rush Frontier Oliver Shevchenko Bakersfield Christian Special Smith Highland Angela Tante Liberty Sebastian Valderrama Golden Valley
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The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is constantly working to improve the business climate locally, in our region, throughout the State of California and nationally. A better business climate means a healthy economy and better quality of life for us all. To that end, here’s a list of Bills on which we’ve weighed in, as of May 10. To add your voice to our advocacy efforts, join us at GRC, Friday mornings 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., at the Chamber.
Chamber Monthly Planner- June 2014
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Chamber Meetings and Events Date
Committee/Event
Time
Place
Tune in to Strictly Business every Monday, 10 a.m. at www.bakersfield.com June 4
Beautiful Bakersfield Committee 11:45 a.m.
Chamber
June 4
Executive Committee 12:00 p.m.
Chamber
June 5
LB Advisory Council 7:30 a.m.
Chamber
June 7
Nut Festival All Day
KC Museum
June 6
Governmental Review Council 7:30 a.m.
Chamber
June 9
YLB Advisory Council DARK
June 12
Small Business Networking Bkfst. 7:30 a.m.
Chamber
June 13
Chamber Palooza 6:00 p.m.
KC Museum
June 13
Governmental Review Council DARK
June 18
Energy Committee 8:00 a.m.
Chamber
June 18
Board Meeting 11:45 a.m.
Chamber
June 20
Governmental Review Council 7:30 a.m.
Chamber
June 20
Leadership Bakersfield Class Day 7:30 a.m.
Offsite
June 20
Leadership Bakersfield Graduation 6:30 p.m.
Stockdale CC
June 23
Bus. Ed. & Enhancement Committee 11:45 a.m.
Chamber
June 24
Ambassador Meeting 11:45 a.m.
Chamber
June 27
Governmental Review Council 7:30 a.m.
Chamber
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Promoting Our Members
Welcome to Our New Chamber Members Benchmark Communities LLC 5113 Phisto Place Bakersfield, CA 93313 www.benchmarkcommunities.com “At Benchmark Communities we believe it matters who builds your home. We are a pioneering homebuilder with footprints across California and a growing presence in Washington State. Designing and building homes is our passion – exceeded only by our desire to have every one of our homeowners be a raving fan of their Benchmark home.” Employers Depot, Inc. 5701 Truxtun Ave. Ste. 220 Bakersfield, CA 93309 | 661-325-0200 www.employersdepot.com “Established in 1985, Employers Depot, Inc. (EDI) is a woman-owned staffing firm, offering temporary, temporary to regular, direct placement and payroll programs.”
March 15 - April 14, 2014
Fresno First Bank 1430 Truxtun Ave., 5th Floor Bakersfield, CA 93301 | 661-616-1301 www.fresnofirstbank.com “Full service independent bank specializing in commercial banking and small business loans.”
Mauricio’s Grill & Cantina 5701 Dennis McCarthy Dr. Lebec, CA 93243 | 661-589-5292 www.mauriciosgrill.com “Mauricio’s Grill & Cantina is a full service restaurant with a family atmosphere offering great service and quality food.”
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers 9000 Ming Ave., Ste. I-4 Bakersfield, CA 93311 | 661-654-8963 www.josbank.com “Jos. A. Bank Clothiers provides an extensive selection of beautifully made, classically styled tailored and casual clothing with superior quality and workmanship at excellent prices.”
PostNet CA 135 13061 Rosedale Hwy., Ste. G Bakersfield, CA 93314 | 661-587-7678 www.postnet.com/ca135 “PostNet CA 135 is your neighborhood business center. We pride ourselves to be friendly, convenient and local. We design your marketing collateral, print your presentations, and handle your packing and shipping.”
Lightwave Education 333 Palmer Dr., Ste. 220 Bakersfield, CA 93309 | 661-381-7644 www.lightwaveeducation.org “Our non-profit corporation started in September 2010 dedicated to a mission to create tools for individuals to thrive, prosper and succeed through education, mentoring and community outreach.”
SANplicity 200 Sonora St., 2nd Floor Bakersfield, CA 93305 | 661-616-3333 www.SANplicity.com “Bakersfield based technology firm bringing Enterprise technology to midsized companies. The best local source for
Networking Breakfast (story continued from page 1)
The Chamber has conference rooms for rent! And room rental rates are dirt cheap. We have rooms that seat 8, 20 or 80. Call Janet today to reserve your room 661.327.4421 METRO 8
Bring plenty of business cards and come prepared to promote your products and services to a variety of potential clients. Cost is $25 for Chamber members, $50 for nonmembers. Continental breakfast will be provided. To register, call (661) 327-4421 or visit www.bakersfieldchamber.org. Please park in the Eye Street parking structure located on the northwest corner of 18th and Eye streets. Small Business Networking Breakfast sponsored by:
Promoting Our Members
Renewing Members Support Chamber The following members renewed their commitment to the Chamber and local business community during the period of April 15, 2014 - May 14, 2014 Member Since
American Business Machines.................................. 1999 American Safety Services, Inc................................... 2007 Bakersfield Blaze..................................................... 2004 Belfor Property Restoration..................................... 2010 Bolthouse Farms, Inc............................................... 1995 Clear Channel Radio................................................ 2001 Community Action Partnership of Kern.................... 1995 Dewar’s Candy Shop, Inc......................................... 1994 EnviroTech Consultants............................................ 2004 Frank Cantelmi Engineering..................................... 2009 Galbraith Van & Storage Company........................... 1972 The Garlic Company................................................ 2002 Gazelle Transportation, Inc...................................... 2013 Granite Construction............................................... 1977
Member Since
Grapevine MSP, LLC................................................ 2013 Guild House............................................................ 1993 His Rosedale Auto Sales.......................................... 2004 Hodel’s Country Dining............................................ 1986 Home Instead Senior Care....................................... 2008 Homewood Suites by Hilton.................................... 2004 Jersey Mike’s Subs – Stockdale................................ 2011 Junior League of Bakersfield.................................... 2003 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation................... 1999 Kelly Services........................................................... 2013 Kwik Signs Inc.......................................................... 2001 Lamar Advertising.................................................... 2011 Links for Life............................................................ 2003 Matthew Trimble..................................................... 2011
Member Since
McKittrick Waste Treatment Site.............................. 2006 Miramar International Real Estate........................... 2007 Mish Funeral Home................................................. 2009 Paramount Farming Company................................. 1994 Proforma Progressive Marketing............................. 2004 Que Pasa Mexican Café........................................... 2003 Dr. Stephen Ratty, Optometrist................................ 1994 Santa Barbara Business College.............................. 1983 Sizzler Restaurant – Real Road................................ 1997 Star Furniture.......................................................... 2010 Union Bank – Stockdale Village Branch................... 1993 Uricchio’s Trattoria................................................... 1995 Walmart Stores, Inc. – Fashion Place...................... 1997 Wiki’s Wine Dive & Grill........................................... 2013 Worklogic HR........................................................... 2000
Promoting Our Community
Ribbon Cutti Omni Family Health, Grand Opening 4131 Ming Avenue 661-459-1900 Ambassadors Bob Meadows, Mission Bank; Jacob Henry and Alan Rollolazo, Diamond Technologies; Steve Bohn, Principle Financial Group; Samantha Ens, ServiceMaster; Carla Hutcherson, Manpower; Amber Boatwright, Mendez Media; and Marcella Ives, American Cancer Society were on hand for the grand opening.
Robert Heely Construction, New Corporate Office 5401 Woodmere Drive 661-617-1400 Chamber Ambassadors Casey Knaak, United Way; Leslie Elliott, ARCpoint Labs; Marcella Ives, American Cancer Society; David Taylor, Hall Ambulance; Julian Herrera and Gloria Hernandez, Continental Labor & Staffing; Derron Juarez, Aerotek; Ruben Gonzales, AmeriPride Uniforms; and Matthew Hughes, Holiday Inn Express attended the celebration.
Whitestone Painters, New Location 4100 Easton Drive, Suite #17 888-567-2234Â Ambassadors Marcella Ives, American Cancer Society; Matt Hughes, Holiday Inn Express; Alan Rollolazo, Diamond Technologies; Marilyn Henderson, SendOut Cards; and Casey Knaak, United Way represented the Chamber at the ribbon cutting.
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Promoting Our Members
Member News
From and About Your Fellow Chamber Members California State University, Bakersfield is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the 100 universities (#39) listed in TIME Magazine’s top colleges and universities based on a new criteria proposed by the White House that emphasizes accessibility, affordability, and completion. To view the full ranking by TIME, visit http:// time.com/71782/make-your-own-collegeranking/. For more information on CSU Facts including financial aid, visit http://www. calstate.edu/PA/2014Facts/. Kern County Animal Shelter Foundation invites you to Applause for Paws, Saturday, June 14, doors open at 6 p.m., Masonic Temple, 1920 18th St. Tickets are $30 for one, $50 for two, $250 for a table of eight. For tickets by mail, contact Friends Foundation, PO Box 11494, Bakersfield, CA 93389, please include the number of tickets you are ordering. You can also get tickets via PayPal (fkcas@gmail.com) and be sure to include your mailing address and the number of tickets you are purchasing.
Optimal Hospice Care invites you to attend a New Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., 17th and Chester Ave. (downtown) in the Chase Building. Caring individuals from the Kern County area communities are encouraged to call (661) 7164000 or email rfrankhouser@optimalcares.org to reserve a seat. Lightwave Education Freedom School Program provides summer enrichment through research based and multicultural curriculum during a 6-week summer program, June 23 to August 1, 2014. This program is geared towards ages 6-14. Registration is open and for more information call (661) 381-7644 or visit www.lightwaveeducation.org . Bakersfield Art Association announces classes are available in Drawing, Watercolor, Oil, Acrylic, Pen and Ink & Color Theory for beginners and advanced, adults and children at the Art Center, 1817 Eye St. For information and to sign up call (661) 869-2320
Like us, join us, follow us... The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is now accepting sponsors for:
October 23, 2014
Get qualified leads and make quality connections while marketing your business to thousands of consumers. This is the largest annual business-tobusiness showcase in the area. As a sponsor you will be premiered amongst 145 booths and 2,000 attendees. This sponsorship includes an extra large booth space, prime booth location, recognition in event materials and much more! This opportunity is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Booth space is limited and sold out last year. For more information contact Jean Scheiber at jscheiber@bakersfieldchamber.org or call (661) 327-4421.
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Providing Business Education and Networking Opportunities
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Providing Business Education and Networking Opportunities
Committee Reports Ambassador Committee Bob Meadows, Mission Bank – Chair Susanne Campbell, Rideshare coordinator at Kern Council of Governments, presented at the May meeting and shared information on the website for rideshare coordination, commutekern.org. Campbell was able to walk the group through many of the features of the site. Kelly Clanton, Charpentier Wealth Strategies, presented the 5 minute commercial. The Ambassador Committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. We are looking for enthusiastic people who would like to represent the Chamber and their own business in the community to join the committee. If this is you, please contact Heather. Staff contact: Heather Pennella Beautiful Bakersfield Committee Casey Knaak, United Way of Kern County - Chair Thirty six members of the community judged award nominations and invitations to the gala event were mailed. The committee planned the final details for the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards Reception and Banquet. Award recipients were announced at the awards banquet on Saturday, May 31 and the event was streamed live on www. bakersfield.com. Staff contact: Jean Scheiber Business Education & Enhancement Committee Kelly Macy, San Joaquin Valley College – Chair Michael Russo, Kern High School District Regional Occupational Center (ROC), presented on the services offered at the center. ROC offers career technical education to high school juniors. The Business Education & Enhancement Committee meets on the fourth Monday of the month and plans and facilitates the Chamber’s Small Business Networking Breakfasts, seminar series and Labor and Employment Law forums. If you are interested in helping drive the business education programs at the Chamber, contact Heather. Staff contact: Heather Pennella
Chamber Palooza Committee Holly Arnold, Occidental Petroleum – Chair The committee is in the home stretch of planning Chamber Palooza, and tickets are on sale now! Chamber Palooza will be held on Friday, June 13 from 6:00-10:00 p.m., at the Kern County Museum. Chamber Palooza will have lots of fun elements this year, and will be THE networking event of the year. Please make plans to attend and support the Chamber. Staff contact: Heather Pennella Energy Committee Les Clark, Independent Oil Producers Agency— Chair The Energy Committee is open to Chamber members that work in the energy field, or to members that have jobs related to energy. The next Energy Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please call Heather. Staff contact: Heather Pennella Governmental Review Council Leslie Golich, Kaiser Permanente—Chair Beatris Espericueta Sander, the new executive director for the Kern County Farm Bureau conveyed the message that the Farm Bureau wants to give farmers a voice who often go unheard and would like to engage farmers more in political discussions. She noted, Kern County is the second highest Ag producing county in the U.S. with 5.2 million acres and 2.3 million are used for Ag. According to the Employment Development Department, for every 38 acres of agriculture, one job is created. Acknowledging the drought issues, the Farm Bureau would like to raise awareness of the importance of conserving water. Sanders reported that 95% of Kern County Farmers have switched from flood irrigating to drip-irrigation, increasing their water efficiency. The estimated figure for fallowed acreage due to the drought is roughly 800,000 acres state-wide with an estimated crop loss of $3.5 billion state-wide. Staff contact: Cindy Pollard
Leadership Bakersfield Advisory Council Kathy Miller, Aera Energy LLC – Chair The May Leadership Bakersfield Class Day focused its attention on agriculture in Kern County. The class spent the day behind the scenes at Western Sky Dairy, Grimmway Farms, Murray Family Farms and Sunridge Nurseries. Serving as Advisory Council Chairs were Nikki Cross, O’Dell Cross, A Professional Corporation and Bob Meadows, Mission Bank. Special thanks to local farmer Steve Murray, Murray Family Farms for sharing a history of central valley agriculture. This session was made possible by the generous support of Grimmway Farms, Murray Family Farms, Paramount Farming Company and Mission Bank. Staff Contact: Tonya Sterling Youth Leadership Bakersfield Advisory Council Michele Newell, Aera Energy LLC- Chair The final session for the 2014 YLB class focused on agriculture and water in Kern County, providing students with an opportunity to tour Bolthouse Farms, Inc., a local ranch and dairy to learn about the issues and challenges within the industry. Thanks to Advisory Council Chairs Colin Giboney, Bolthouse Farms Inc.; Denise Newton, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; and Debra Plank, Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Thanks are also extended to day sponsors ASP Farm Services and Bolthouse Farms Inc. and program underwriters Aera Energy LLC and San Joaquin Community Hospital for helping to ensure the continuing success of this program. Staff contact: Jean Scheiber
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Building a Strong Economy
Rotary Awards Waterman Grant to Bakersfield Vision 2020, Inc.
The Rotary Club of Bakersfield has
awarded Bakersfield Vision 2020, Inc., the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce’s new 501c3, a Waterman Foundation Grant in the amount of $5,732. The grant will be used to purchase video equipment to help expand the Chamber’s business education programs and is one of ten grants totaling more than $40,000 the Downtown Rotary Club awarded to local nonprofits. “We are in desperate need of video equipment to expand the training and education programming we provide our members,” said Lauren Smoot, manager of marketing and communications for the Chamber. “We’ve used our old camera on a weekly basis and we were limited in what we could accomplish. This new equipment will allow us to produce high quality videos and images and we look forward to using the equipment in new and exciting ways.”
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The Waterman Grants will fund capital projects that address community needs across several areas including programs and services for youth and seniors; education, transportation; childhood obesity; jobs and training; health and human services for the uninsured or underinsured; availability of health and related services; homelessness and mental health services. “We are pleased to provide funding to help address some of our community’s most pressing needs and toughest challenges,” said Steve Sanders, president of the Club. “The impact that we can have on the community begins with our members, who have committed to service above self, and this is one important way that we can provide service to improve the lives of others in our community.”
About the Waterman Foundation:
The purpose of the Waterman Foundation is to provide scholarships to local students as well as fund capital projects proposed by local non-profit organizations. The Waterman Foundation was established by the Bakersfield Downtown Rotary Club in 1984. Thirteen members of this Club comprise the Board of Trustees and govern the activities of the foundation.
About the Rotary: The 1.2 million-member
organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on February 23, 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member. Since 1905, under the motto of “Service Above Self,” Rotary has taken on some of the world’s toughest challenges and helped a wide range of international and service organizations.
d By nte e s Pre
Friday, June 13, 2014 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Kern County Museum 3801 Chester Avenue
L
Feat IVE A U urin g Jo CTIO N fea han A&E tured Graha ’s hi on m t sh ow
catered by Hodel’s Be there for networking, prizes, auctions, drinks, dancing and fun!!!! $45 Advanced Tickets $55 At the Door
Entertainment Sponsors:
Silver Sponsor: PG&E
Bronze Sponsors: Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock GEM Care Braun Electric
Dignity Health McKee Electric BFMC/HPN Dollar General PCL
Imbibe Limousine Scene Kern Federal Credit Union Pepsi Beverage Company
Board Members Paul Anderson Moneywise Wealth Management Brooke Antonioni Trans West Security Service, Inc. Susan M. Benham Dignity Health Memorial Hospital Greg Chamberlain Bakersfield College David Dobbs Imbibe Wine & Spirits Merchant Karen Goh Garden Pathways, Inc. Scott Guseman Paramount Farming Company Ronald Johns RA Johnsfam dba McDonald’s Duane Keathley Cushman & Wakefield/Pacific Kathy Miller Aera Energy LLC Darlene Mohlke Castle & Cooke California, Inc. Bill Murray DoubleTree by Hilton Carla Musser Chevron Pritesh Patel Valley Republic Bank Tom Saba Creative Concepts/Saba Agency Rick Stevens Stevens Transportation, Inc. DeAnn Straub Kern Federal Credit Union
Chamber Staff President/CEO Director of Operations Project Manager Operations Assistant Information Specialist Government Affairs Manager Communications Manager Director of Membership
Cynthia D. Pollard Tonya Sterling Heather Pennella Jean Scheiber Janet Ursery Open Lauren Smoot Joy Davis
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce 1725 Eye Street • PO Box 1947 Bakersfield, CA 93303 661-327-4421 • FAX: 661-327-8751 http://www.bakersfieldchamber.org
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Please post this newsletter on your company bulletin board. All employees of member businesses are invited to Chamber functions.
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce 1725 Eye Street • PO Box 1947 Bakersfield, CA 93303
Chairman of the Board Danny Ordiz Ordiz-Melby Architects, Inc. Chairman of the Board Elect Danielle Wade Bright House Networks Vice Chair Administration Shaun Kelly Tolman and Wiker Insurance Services, LLC Vice Chair Networking Division Karen King Golden Empire Transit District Vice Chair Business Advocacy Derek Abbott Tejon Ranch Company Vice Chair Member Education Christine Frazier Kern County Superintendent of Schools Vice Chair Community Outreach John F. Stovall Law Offices of John F. Stovall Treasurer Andy Paulden Brown Armstrong Accountants Immediate Past Chair Garrett Ming KABI LLC Director-at-Large Steve Murray Murray Family Farms
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2014 Board of Directors