Metro December 2022

METR

A publication of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber | December 2022

Brought to you by

S'MORES ANYONE?

Nothing beats the taste of warm chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and crispy graham cracker! And there's no better place to enjoy an evening making S'mores with the family than the giant fire pit at the Parkshire Pool & Pavilion in Highgate at Seven Oaks.

Located within gated Highgate Park and Highgate Place, the lush green lawns, pickle ball courts, children's playground, giant fire pit, and BBQ facilities of the Parkshire Pool & Pavilion make it easy to live your best life ever! Ming Ave. and Allen Rd |

HighgateSevenOaks.com

Actual Highgate at Seven Oaks residents

Metro is the official publication of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. This publication is produced and digitally distributed to the Chamber’s membership at the beginning of each month. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is correct and accurate as of the publication date. Metro does not warrant the accuracy or claims of its advertisers. The Chamber President/CEO has the sole right to refuse any advertisement. Please send any comments, questions, article suggestions or advertising inquiries to info @bakochamber.com

Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means of the entire contents portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited.

Message from the CEO

As the year winds down, your Chamber team is busier than ever, wrapping up key projects and celebrating our local businesses and their achievements.

We started November with our Leadership Bakersfield Class of 2022 Graduation. Read more about the impactful 2022 Leadership Bakersfield Team Projects on pages 12 and 13. I’d like to thank Chevron, our program underwriter for Leadership Bakersfield and speakers Mayor Karen Goh and Traco Matthews from Community Action Partnership of Kern. Class speakers Wilfredo Cruz and Ashley Tennant did an amazing job. We’re excited to see the great things the class of 2022 will do to improve Bakersfield and Kern County.

The week of Thanksgiving we launched our 2022 Shop Local, Shop Now holiday campaign with a press conference at the Town & Country Village Shopping Center. This is a year-long media campaign to promote our retailers, restaurants and consumer-facing small businesses. The first week of our holiday Shop Local, Shop Now campaign has produced more than 66 million online impressions

through earned media, paid and organic social media. We’re proud to amplify the messages of our small businesses this holiday season! Read more about Shop Local, Shop Now and our press conference host Bella on pages 10 and 11.

On the first day of December, we held our annual Holiday Mixer at Lino’s Venue. We had a great turnout of members, thank you to gold sponsors Access Plus Capital and Bakersfield Hyundai as well as our silver sponsors Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County and Chosen Payments!

Finally, on page 14, you’ll find information on our 2023 Annual Board Installation & Awards Luncheon. We’ll be passing the torch from 2022 Chairman Rick Jhaj to 2023 Chairman Ken Keller.

I wish each of you a happy, healthy and festive holiday season. My sincere hope is that 2023 brings prosperity to our businesses and community!

Ortiz President & CEO Greater Bakersfield Chamber

Nick

2022 CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Humanitarian Group Award RecipientBakersfield Angels

Four years ago this December, I was listening to a podcast where the CEO of National Angels, Susan Ramirez, was citing the sobering statistics for youth that age out of foster care. It was then that God planted a dream in my heart. And that’s all it was – a wild dream. Until one day, a month later, I decided to have the audacity to act. I sent an email to National Angels inquiring about starting a local chapter of the foster care nonprofit organization right here in beautiful Bakersfield. When I learned about the hard and demanding road ahead of starting a nonprofit, I had second thoughts. As a mom of four and controller of our dairy farm, I wasn’t exactly bored. Ultimately, with the encouragement of close friends, I decided to eat this elephant one bite at a time. Never in my wildest, God-sized dreams could I imagine that less than two years after our official launch, I would be standing on the stage at Mechanics Bank Convention Center accepting the award for Humanitarian Group given to Bakersfield Angels.

Receiving this award is extra special to Bakersfield Angels because it is given to “a group whose personal volunteer efforts have made a significant impact in the community.” Our 243 volunteers are the true difference makers, and we were thrilled to highlight their radical, relational support of our foster care community. Being in a room filled with so many people passionate about our beloved town of Bakersfield and being able to amplify the voice of children and youth experiencing foster care was a gift.

The pipeline from foster care to homelessness, prison, trafficking and poverty is swift and sure, unless we stand in the gap and give them the resources, support and relationships they need to heal their trauma and build a better future for themselves. That is what our programs are designed to do: Give everyday, ordinary people (like you!) the opportunity to invest in these deserving kiddos’ lives.

We currently have 68 foster youth matched with mentors in our Dare to Dream program. These mentors are their advocates, guides, role models and trusted friends. They are helping their youth move into their first apartment, obtain their drivers’ licenses, sign up for classes and get their first jobs. We are always looking to partner with local businesses to give these kids a shot at their first job (could that be you?). We also have 45 foster families matched with volunteers in our Love Box program. Fifty percent of those who open their homes to foster care will close within the first year due to lack of support or feeling overwhelmed. Volunteers build relationships with their foster family by spending quality time with them: Going on a hike to Wind Wolves, grabbing an ice cream at Dewar’s, or cheering at a child’s sporting event. We tell our volunteers that their role is to help caregivers feel valued and to give them a soft place to land and to support kids with affirmation and much-needed love.

We are excited to celebrate the holidays with our families by renting out two theaters for a fun afternoon at Studio Movie Grill and gifting them their Christmas dinner from HoneyBaked Ham. We are also treating our mentors and youth to a night out at a Condors hockey game, complete with the VIP suite treatment. We value creating memories like these as they promote normalcy, something every child deserves to experience.

We are so grateful to the Chamber for giving us this platform to raise awareness for our foster care community. With more than 2,000 kiddos experiencing foster care in Kern County, it can feel overwhelming, but it’s doable! We already have 144 of these kiddos in our programs and we will not stop until every child is reached. We currently have 28 families waiting to be matched with volunteers in our Love Box program, and 14 youth waiting for a mentor in our Dare to Dream program. Our volunteers are our boots on the ground, and we can’t do this good work without your YES. Join the movement! You can find us on social media and our website www.bakersfieldangels.org /.

– Allison McClain Founder & Executive Director of Bakersfield Angels

“The difference between a dream and a vision is the audacity to act.” – Steven Furtick

CATEGORIES:

A Better Bakersfield

An annual event or project that enhances the quality of life in the community.

Architecture & Design

The completion of a brand new interior and/or exterior building design integrating the environment with space and materials.

Arts & Culture

Efforts by a group or individual to improve and/or enhance the arts and culture within our community.

Business Person of the Year

A local business owner/manager whose efforts truly impact and enhance the quality of life in the community.

Education

Efforts by an educator, project or school/college that promotes or benefits education in our city at all levels.

Harvey L. Hall Lifetime Achievement

A local long-time community leader, age 55 and over, who has made a lasting impact to Bakersfield and its residents.

Health

An individual, group or organization impacting healthy living - above and beyond their normal scope of activities - through education, prevention or medical services.

Humanitarian Group

A group whose personal volunteer efforts have made a significant impact in the community.

Humanitarian Individual

An individual whose personal volunteer efforts have made a significant impact in the community.

Large Business/Corporation of the Year

The recognition of a large business (26 employees or more) whose volunteer hours and/ or financial donations have made a meaningful difference.

Next Gen

An individual or group in grades K-12 that, through personal involvement and endeavors, has answered the challenge of good citizenship.

Nonprofit of the Year

Efforts of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that impacts the community.

Renovation & Tenant Improvement

The completion of a renovated design that upgrades an existing structure and/ or incorporates the use of landscaping to enhance the aesthetic value of the property.

Small Business of the Year

A small business (25 employees or less) whose contributions and/or products and services instill community pride.

Young Professional

An individual, age 18-40, whose efforts truly impact and enhance the quality of life in the community.

PLEASE NOTE:

Nominations must be for work completed in 2022 to be eligible for consideration. No more than two nominations per individual, business or organization will be considered.

Nomination Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2023

Presented by

Building A Better Bakersfield Inside And Out

Fashion boutique Bella, supports local infrastructure and empowers women

Businesses large and small join the Greater Bakersfield Chamber to tap into a network of deeply rooted relationships and access resources that help them grow. Owning a small business can be challenging. That’s why the Chamber is proud to support and advocate for the owners and operators working to build a better Bakersfield.

Business owners like Heather Abbott, owner of Bella, who has been a long-time Chamber member. She, like the Chamber, fosters a healthy community built on strong relationships.

Over the years, Bella has become a place to find brands that aren’t typically available in Bakersfield. Abbott prides herself in providing a better shopping experience for local women who are looking for selections you can't find at big box retailers. She curates and sells fashions based on her client's unique styles.

“I do all the buying for my store,” said Abbott. “Everything I have in stock is very catered to our customers and our demographic that shops in the store: Bakersfield people.”

Abbott, a Bakersfield native, is in tune with the local community and plans her inventory to meet the needs of her customers and the events that they attend. She carries clothing and accessories for women of all ages and, thanks to her and her staff's close relationships with clients and deep ties with the community, is able to

anticipate their client’s needs.

“From selecting clothing for holiday parties to ensuring I have red dresses in stock for Go Red For Women Month - everything I do is very specific,” said Abbott. “ I have an amazing staff that is incredibly good with the customers, and they’ve built relationships with individuals and keep an eye out for them.”

Every single member of the Bella staff agrees that the relationships they develop with their customers are precious and make all the difference in their work culture. The staff truly loves serving the community and working in the store.

“What I love most about working at Bella are the moments when I style customers and they come out of the dressing room, and they're glowing,” said Bella Employee and Fashionista Michele Clark. “They're so happy, and that makes my heart smile. It’s not just about selling clothes.”

The staff at Bella are connected to their clients and love to get to know the community that fuels and sustains their business.

“I feel that people really appreciate that personalized shopping experience, and they come into Bella to experience it,” said Abbott. “They can have things handpicked for them or even have items ordered for the store with them in mind.”

"...when people support us, we’re able to support our community and it becomes a full-circle."

Abbott and her staff aren’t just cultivating a healthy business. They’re also empowering and building confidence among women in our community.

“What you wear is not the most important thing in the world,” said Clark. “But, if somebody puts something on that they feel confident and happy about, I think that it allows them to blossom as a human being on the planet, and that's what really matters.”

Many customers at Bella become friends and return just to chat and say thank you to the staff.

“I think that says a lot about our customers and a lot about Bella, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to work with Heather,” said Clark. “She is a doll, the kind of person that makes you want to be a better person.”

When Abbott’s business is successful she is able to support the community and give back to local nonprofits.

“I try to support different organizations and charities as much as possible, and it’s easier for small businesses like mine to do that when people buy at my store,” said Abbott. “When people support us, we’re able to support our community and it becomes a full circle.”

If you’re into fun, fresh, and feminine styles, you’ll find something to love at Bella. Abbott continues to grow her inventory every season to meet the needs of an everchanging, fashion-forward community full of diverse women looking to upgrade their wardrobes.

“We have a very wide range of people that we cater to,” said Abbott. “From ladies in junior high and high

school who want a pair of jeans or a special dress for prom, to women in their 80s who are looking to keep their wardrobes fresh and fun.”

If you’re looking to update your wardrobe, find the perfect gift or even just become part of a fashion community, make sure to check out the collections this season at Bella, located in the Town & Country Center at the intersection of Coffee Road and Stockdale Highway. You can also find and follow Bella on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates from their shop.

Now more than ever, we encourage our community, friends and family to shop small, support local businesses, and ultimately, invest our money toward a better Bakersfield. To support and celebrate our member businesses, we’re encouraging everyone to shop local this season as a way to help bolster economic vitality and support our members. You can find Chamber member businesses by visiting the map and directory on our website www.shoplocalshopnow. com and support small businesses by visiting local events.

ShopLocalShopNow is sponsored by Kern Women’s Business Center

CLASS OF 2022

Tanya Alsheikh

David Brust

Matthew Gregory

Jennifer Lavers

Lizette Patterson

Ashley Tennant

Johnny Baklini

Wilfredo Cruz

Justin Hiebert

Everardo Marquez

Gina Pearl

Erin Tenter

Kevin Bartl

Crystal Diaz

Ed Jacobs

Molly Mier

Michelle Sharp

Amanda Waters

Denise Boshers

Erika Flores

Monica Jara Guerra

Rebecca Moreno

Amanda Steitz

Marcus Brown

Leslie Friend

Ted King Ilene Parra

Eugenia Stewart

Thanks to our program underwriter

Team 1 - Serve Big Kern

Fostering a sense of community through service. It establishes an annual county-wide “day of service” where volunteers complete designated general-labor and philanthropic projects for local organizations. This event enables and encourages all members of our community to become involved and contribute meaningfully to their immediate surroundings, those in need, and to the organizations that have committed to serving Kern County.

Team 2 - Garden of Hope & Mural

The Brundage Lane Navigation Center’s mural and garden demonstrates the power of art and community gardening to promote mental health and wellness for individuals across Kern County. The aim of this project is to beautify our city, create spaces for community connection and fresh produce to thrive, and create opportunities for unhoused individuals to see messages of hope and support.

Team 3 - Vocational Career Conference

Inspire students to pursue career paths in a variety of trades or sectors that do not necessarily require a college degree, as not all students are college bound. This event provided students with the opportunity to learn about various trades and practice soft skills in an effort to prepare them for post-graduation success, and to become contributing members of the community.

Team 4 - Financial Literacy for Bakersfield Youth

Develop and capture the population at youth to educate them before they start to make life-impacting financial decisions and promote “financial fitness.” Sustain economic benefits as a whole while having a generation better equipped to help themselves and others stay financially healthy. Finances have the potential to affect individuals throughout their entire life – mentally, physically and emotionally.

Photo courtesy by April & Co.

Celebrating 37 years in Business

Welcome New Chamber Members

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the companies that have joined the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. Thank you for investing in our mission to Build a Better Bakersfield.

502 Café LLC

1412 17th St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-889-2028 fiveotwocafe.com

“We specialize in fair-trade, high-quality Guatemalan coffee. We are a local, family-owned business that thrives to bring something new to Bakersfield, our motto is ‘It’s not just coffee, it’s a lifestyle.’ Our coffee drinks are made for real coffee lovers.”

Advance Auto Parts

2411 F St.

Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-912-0448 stores.advanceautoparts.com

“We’re a source for quality parts, advice and accessories. We offer online shopping as well!”

Coldwell Banker Preferred Realtor – Manny Brar 9100 Ming Ave., #100 Bakersfield, CA 93311 661-330-9533

morebakersfieldhomes.com

“I focus on commercial & residential land, agriculture & small businesses. My goal is to serve and assist my community. I’ve been a business owner for more than 15 years at a multi-unit franchise called PostNet.”

Heredia Cabling Solutions, Inc 5907 Woodmere Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93313 HerediaCablingSolutions.com

“We provide structured cabling installation services for computer networking, telecommunications, audio visual, public address and surveillance systems in Bakersfield and surrounding areas.”

Inland Architects

1401 19th St., Ste. 130 Bakersfield, CA 93301 “We are an architecture firm specializing in light commercial and custom residential.”

Media Solutions, Inc

4208 Rosedale Hwy., Ste. 302-362 Bakersfield, CA 93308 559-287-1755

msieventproductions.com

“We provide state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment for events throughout the Western United States. We are a full-service company.”

SOS Recycle Center 6823 Stine Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93313 661-858-7410

“We operate community recycling centers and processing facilities. We recycle aluminum, plastics, glass and carboard.”

TDH International LLC 1522 18th St., Ste. 314 Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-800-5069 tdhintl.net

“We provide project management and technical assistance for economic and community development projects. We focus on transportation systems and are specialists in GIS mapping.”

The Bone Store 8200 Stockdale Hwy., Ste. M-5 Bakersfield, CA 93311 661-846-1500 thebonestore.com

“We are a retail medical supply store focused on improving the way customers walk, move, sit and sleep.”

The Learning Experience, Bakersfield 2800 Calloway Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93314 661-679-6024 thelearningexperience.com

“From preschool through kindergarten, we make early education and daycare joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow.”

XQ8 Investment Group LLC (DBA) Teaspoon 5601 California Ave., Ste. 300 Bakersfield, CA 93309 661-374-4170 teaspoonlife.com

“We have hot and cold fresh boba, pastries and fresh fruit drinks.”

For more information about joining the Chamber or renewing your membership dues, please email cwillingham@bakochamber.com

Renewing Members Upcoming Events

Thank you to our members who have reinvested in the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. Your continued investment helps the Chamber continue its mission to Build a Better Bakersfield.

Bakersfield Hyundai - 2013

Bakersfield Jet Center by Loyds Aviation - 1991

Best Western Liberty Inn - 2002

Chain Cohn Clark - 2014

Colliers International - 2011

Covenant Community Services, Inc. - 2017

Crumbl of Bakersfield - 2021

Cushman & Wakefield/Pacific - Karen & Pat Thompson - 2017

Empire Eye and Laser Center - 2017

Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse - 2021

Hall Letter Shop Inc. - 1990

High Desert Medical College - 2020

Home2Suites - 2019

Hungry Howie's Pizza Store #371 - 2019

Independent Living Center of Kern County - 2017

J. Webb Consulting - 2021

Kern Dance Alliance - 2017

Kern Literacy Council - 2012

Klein, DeNatale, Goldner et al - 1987

Knight's Jewelers - 2019

Law Offices of Robert H. Brumfield, PC - 2010

McCormick Biological, Inc. - 2016 McDonald's - 2018

North of the River Recreation & Park District - 2013

O'Dell Cross, A Professional Corporation - 1991

Premier Pain Management - 2021

Prime Medical Disposal LLC - 2019

Residence Inn By Marriott - 1990

Reveal Medical Aesthetics, Inc. - 2019

Rio Tinto Borates U.S. Borax - 2008

San Rucci Winery - 2020

Service Master at Bakersfield - 2008

Strata Credit Union - 1997

TM Signs and Graphics - 2020

Victor's Mexican Grill - Mt. Vernon - 2019

December 2022

12.9.22

GRC Meeting 8 a.m. | Chamber 12.12.22 Board Meeting 11:30 a.m. | Chamber

12.13.22 Beautiful Bakersfield Committee Meeting 11:30 a.m. | Chamber 12.23.22 – 1.2.23 Holiday Season Chamber Closed 1.19.23

Annual Board Installation & Awards Luncheon 11 a.m. | Seven Oaks Country Club

Join us! Bristol Hospice will be hosting a Neon Jingle and Mingle Party on Thursday, Dec. 8. The Party will be from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Kern County Museum Neon Courtyard, 3801 Chester Ave. To RSVP, please email 714rsvp@bristolhospice.com, deadline to RSVP is Dec. 1.

North of the River Recreation and Park District (NOR) invites businesses and organizations to join the 49th Annual North of the River Christmas Parade, taking place on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. on N. Chester Ave. between China Grade Loop and E. Norris Road. This year’s parade celebrates a holiday classic as the Grinch has taken over! Entrants and their non-motorized floats, marching groups and walking units who join this time-honored tradition are encouraged to decorate in the spirit of the Grinch for a cohesive and exciting holiday parade. Registration is open at www.norfun.org for participation. There is no entry fee to participate. Click HERE to register for the NOR parade.

The Guild House Restaurant invites you to attend

An Evening with Mr. Dickens on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. Ed French returns as Charles Dickens with presentations of “The Child’s Story” and “What Christmas is a We Get Older.” Reservations are required by Dec. 12. The cost is $100 per person and the menu includes English beef broth with garlic crouton, Christmas greens with Jack’s dressing, deconstructed beef Wellington with spinach, mushrooms and artichoke hearts, Bluegrass sauce, roasted red potatoes, peas with pearl onions and bacon, rolls and butter and English sticky toffee with toffee sauce. For information and reservations, contact Bobby at 661-399-0344 as seating is very limited.

In September 2021, the City of Bakersfield was awarded $5.4 million in HOME-ARP funds, to be used to provide housing, services and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. A valuable aspect of this grant opportunity is community input. So, on Oct. 19, 2022, City staff opened a survey so the public could voice their opinion on how best to allocate those funds. Concurrently, City staff contacted and interviewed local stakeholders for their input as well. All consultations were conducted, and the public survey was closed on Nov. 18, and the City is ready to share the results! We will be hosting a community meeting on Dec. 12 at Noon at the

Bakersfield Community Center, 2020 R St., to provide guests with a summary of what we heard while conducting our consultations and public surveys and discussing next steps. There will also be a supplementary online Zoom meeting for those who missed on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. For updates, please visit HERE.

The City of Bakersfield’s annual Holiday Grease Collection event returns for the 2022-23 holiday season, offering a safe disposal option for cooking oil and grease for City residents. Disposing of used cooking oil and grease down residential drains can result in clogged pipes and other damage, causing backups. Instead, residents can stop by either of the City’s Holiday Grease Collection locations and dispose of used oil and grease in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Residents are asked to collect their used cooking oil and grease in sealed containers before dropping it off at the locations. There is no charge to dispose of used cooking oil and grease during the event. The 2022 Holiday Grease Collection event kicks off Monday, Nov. 28 and ends Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Cooking oil and grease drop-off locations: • City of Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 (6901 McCutchen Rd.) • North of the River Sanitary District main office (204 Universe Ave.) Residents may drop off their used cooking oil and grease at those locations from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday. The event is closed on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. For more information, residents should contact the Wastewater Division at 661-326-3249.

Santa Clause is coming to town! Teaspoon Bakersfield (5601 California Ave., Ste. 300) will be having a special. Buy two drinks & get a free picture with Santa while you wait! This event will be happening on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don’t miss out!

2022 EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman of the Board

Rick Jhaj

Countryside Corporation

Incoming Chairman Ken Keller

Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital

Immediate Past Chairman Derek Jeffery KGET-TV 17

Vice Chair Public Policy & Political Action

Rob Duchow Southern California Gas Company

Vice Chair Leadership & Workforce Development Denise Newton Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Treasurer Kristen Beall Watson California State University, Bakersfield General Counsel Mark Bateman Young Wooldridge LLP

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE FOCUS

Bynum, Inc.

Bynum, Inc., established by Gregory D. Bynum in 1981, is a full-service real estate company specializing in real estate development, consultation, architecture, property management and brokerage services in Bakersfield and surrounding areas. With more than 35 years of experience in the local real estate market, the dedicated staff at Bynum, Inc. will provide you with the highest level of professional service and expertise.

MAJOR INVESTORS

CHAMBER STAFF

Nick Ortiz

President/CEO

Hillary Haenes Vice President, Member Engagement

Concepcion "Cepi" Willingham Member & Business Development Manager

Kami Gonzalez

Director, Administration & Operations

Cynthia Gonzalez Operations Administrator

Get Social

Stay engaged and connected with what's happening at the Chamber by following us on these social media platforms.

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS

BYNUM INC.