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The Time is Now To See Highgate at Seven Oaks
HIGHGATE SQUARE Designed for first-time buyers and young professionals. Six Castle & Cooke floor plans priced from the low $300,000’s.
HIGHGATE SWIM & FITNESS CLUBHOUSE
HIGHGATE PROPER Designed for growing families and move-up buyers. Six Castle & Cooke floor plans priced from the high $300,000’s.
HIGHGATE SHIRES Executive-level
living with enhanced privacy and larger lot sizes. Homes by Castle & Cooke, Dave Packer Custom Builder, Gaskill-Rose Luxury Home Builders and George Delfino Homes.
Breathtaking private clubhouse accessible to residents of Highgate Square, Proper, Shires and Estates. Sparkling swimming pool, spa, fitness center, gourmet kitchen, meeting rooms, children's water spray park, tot lot playground, expansive park, amphitheater and basketball courts.
HIGHGATE ESTATES A separately
gated, exclusive community within Highgate at Seven Oaks. 47 exclusive homesites from 15,000 to 32,000+ sq. ft. Luxury homes from six of Bakersfield's finest custom builders. Professionally Managed, Gated Community From the Original Creator of Seven Oaks
HIGHGATE REGENTS Stress-free, active adult living and low maintenance Castle & Cooke homes. Regency Club private swim and fitness center. Seven floor plans from the low $300,000's.
DRE# 01254164
Model Homes Open in Each Community 661-664-6039 • Ming Ave. and Allen Rd. Sunday-Monday 11-5, Tuesday-Saturday 10-5 HighgateSevenOaks.com
Seven Oaks Country Club Membership Incentives Available* * Requires financing through Castle & Cooke Mortgage. Seven Oaks Country Club memberships subject to application approval.
on the
INSIDE
4 CEO MESSAGE
See how the Chamber is working on behalf of you - our members.
5 STATE OF THE CITY
Coming soon! Keep up with what's happening in Bakersfield at this year's virtual State of the City event.
6 AT HOME HAPPY HOUR
5
Join the Chamber for a virtual at home happy hour and learn how to make a Moscow Mule!
7
STAYING IN COMPLIANCE Keep up-to-date on State and Federal laws that specifically address COVID-19 issues.
10 BYP VIRTUAL WINE TASTING
Join us for a virtual wine tasting event hosted by Tony Merz, owner of San Rucci Winery.
11
FIRESIDE CHAT You are invited to join Cameron Herold to learn how you can lead your company through today's uncertain times.
12 MEMBER NEWS
6 Cover Cover photography by City of Bakersfield
Contact us
Discover the latest news and happenings with other members.
1725 Eye St. • PO Box 1947 Bakersfield, CA 93303 661.327.4421 bakochamber.com
7 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 jscheiber@bakochamber.com. © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means of the entire contents portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited.
METRO | PAGE 3
MESSAGE FROM THE
The challenges presented so far this year seem to be growing by the minute. The pandemic, economic fallout from stay-at-home orders, protests around inclusion and equity combined with an election year. 2020 has been eventful, but I am confident in our community’s and local businesses’ ability Nick Ortiz to persevere. We’re all uncomfortable and adjusting to the fast-changing events, though I think we can be very proud of where we’re from and who we are. Just consider our assets - Californians could not have survived this pandemic without Kern County’s essential industries. We’ve kept electricity flowing, fuel stations pumping, grocery store shelves stocked and e-commerce alive through logistics. If there was ever a time that people need the Central Valley and Kern County - it is now. Consider how we‘ve responded - our community is giving and deep-hearted, and that has been on full display since the stay-at-home orders started in March. Businesses, facing uncertain financial futures, generously provided for frontline workers, those less fortunate and organizations serving our most vulnerable neighbors. Throughout this nationwide
METRO | PAGE 4
discussion on race, policing and equity, our community has been a model of peaceful, passionate and practical protest. While not minimizing some troubling incidents - the demonstrations we’ve seen haven’t convulsed into chaos or violence. Our leaders have been accessible to engage demonstrators, and I’ve seen first-hand a desire to have a constructive and sincere conversation on race, equity and what they mean for our community. Finally, while government at all levels seems to be hopelessly polarized - we’re working with elected and appointed officials who are laser focused on serving their communities. From COVID response and recovery, to planning for the future, to developing budget and investment plans that will improve Bakersfield and Kern County - our public sector leaders are prioritizing our local needs, not national debates. Bakersfield and Kern County are essential to our state and to our nation. I and the team at the Chamber are honored to work for local businesses, and this eventful year has only amplified our commitment to our members and this corner of California. We face continued and unprecedented challenges, but we will continue to meet them together. In that spirit, please reach out and let us know if you need anything. Thanks for your support and for all you do for your neighbors, your community and the economy.
Nick Ortiz President & CEO Greater Bakersfield Chamber
STATE OF THE CITY - COMING SOON!
T
he 2020 State of the City will be a virtual event, featuring Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh and City Manager Christian Clegg.
Sponsored by Dignity Health - Mercy & Memorial Hospitals and hosted by KGET TV-17, the 2020 State of the City will provide businesses with an update on the City's response to COVID-19, the City's budget and efforts to improve the economy, community development and public safety. Stay tuned for information on where to watch the 2020 State of the City - it will be streamed online and rebroadcast on KGET TV-17.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Presenting
Gold
Hosted By
Bronze
METRO | PAGE 5
VIRTUAL
At Home Happy Hour Date: Thursday, July 23 Time: 5 p.m. Location: Zoom Cost: Free to attend RSVP HERE
Hosted by Justin Leland, Ambassador Vice Chair
J
oin us Thursday, July 23 at 5 p.m. for our At Home Happy Hour that will be hosted by Ambassador Vice Chair Justin Leland, Moneywise Wealth Management. This is an opportunity to catch up on our personal and professional lives. This is a laid-back, light-hearted conversation between friends and colleagues -- Justin will be sharing his Moscow Mule recipe for you to make while we discuss our favorite outdoor activities, new hobbies, summer staycations and more! Space is limited, so please RSVP and you will be sent a link to the Zoom meeting the day before the happy hour. Feel free to invite a friend or coworker who may be interested in networking. Don't forget your favorite beverage of choice! If you want to create the famous Mule, you will need fresh ginger, vodka, ginger beer, ice and plenty of limes. To RSVP, please register HERE.
Save the Date
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE A NEW DATE FOR THE 30TH ANNUAL BEAUTIFUL BAKERSFIELD AWARDS! PRESENTED BY
METRO | PAGE 6
Friday, October 23
A PROGRAM OF
MID-YEAR LABOR LAW UPDATE WEBINAR
A
lthough the pandemic has consumed most of our attention in the past few months, the legislature has continued to propose new bills intended to change employment law in California. This presentation will provide an update on State and Federal laws that specifically address COVID-19 issues, as well as other pieces of legislation that are under consideration, including modifications to the California Family Rights Act and sick leave, modifications to AB 5 (regarding independent contractors), mandatory 10 days of bereavement leave and expansion of workers' compensation laws. California and Federal courts have also continued to publish new decisions that have a direct impact on business owners. These topics and many others will be addressed during the mid-year update. Join Employment Law Attorneys Jerry Pearson from Young Wooldridge, LLP; Daniel Klingenberger from LeBeau-Thelen LLP; and Jay Rosenlieb from Klein DeNatale Goldner for this two-hour interactive session and have your employment law questions answered. To RSVP, please register HERE. Please note, attendees will be emailed the Zoom link the day before the webinar.
Presenting sponsor LLP
Date: Friday, July 24 Time: 10 a.m. to Noon Location: Zoom Cost: Free to attend RSVP HERE Speakers
Jerry Pearson
Jay Rosenlieb
Co-Sponsors
Dan Klingenberger
Get the Equipment You Need to Grow Your Business.
METRO | PAGE 8
Equipment and Machinery Financing Valley Strong is here to help you secure equipment financing for your unique business needs. We look to understand your business and how you are moving forward, so we can structure a loan to meet your cash flow demands.
Contact one of our experienced business bankers to get started today!
Lucy Trancoso
Senior Business Banking Officer 4530 Ming Avenue I Phone: (661) 833-7415 Email: lucy.trancoso@valleystrong.com
Robert Martinez
Senior Business Banking Officer 4530 Ming Avenue I Phone: (661) 833-7417 Email: robert.martinez@valleystrong.com
Grow Your Possibilities Federally Insured by NCUA I Equal Opportunity Lender
VIRTUAL
BYP Wine Tasting J
oin us for a virtual wine tasting event hosted by Tony Merz, owner of San Rucci Winery.
Enjoy three delicious wines as Tony guides us through each tasting: • 2019 Benvenuta White Blend • 2019 California Rose • 2018 Cabernet Franc The tasting pack is available for purchase through the San Rucci Winery website. Included in the pack are three 50 ml bottles (one of each wine) and a fact sheet on the wine. Wine orders must be placed by Monday, July 20. San Rucci Winery will make deliveries the day before the event. Purchase of the Virtual Wine Tasting Package is not required to participate. Everyone is invited to join, hang out with other young professionals, and learn about San Rucci Winery (while drinking your own wine)!
To RSVP for this virtual event and receive a Zoom link, click HERE. To purchase your BYP virtual wine tasting trio, click HERE.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Advertising in Metro and email blasts – it’s an exclusivity that only Chamber members enjoy. Regardless of your budget or needs, the Chamber offers competitive pricing to help you determine which advertising option works best for your company.
MEMBER TO MEMBER EMAIL BLASTS Member to Member email blasts are paid advertisements that the Chamber sends out on behalf of our members. With a reach of more than 5,200 email contacts, it’s the perfect option to promote your brand.
METRO
A staple of news and informative for members, METRO is sent out monthly to our members. This digital publication features Chamber programming and events as well as regulatory changes that can impact our members' bottom lines. All advertisements will link back to a your company's website. For more information, contact Jean Scheiber at jscheiber@bakochamber.com
METRO | PAGE 10
YOU ARE INVITED TO A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH
Cameron Herold When: July 16th from 10-11 a.m. Cost: FREE to Central Valley Business Leaders Register at: go.lifestoneco.com/ch
"THE BUSINESS GROWTH GURU"
Cameron is a top business consultant, best-selling author and speaker. At age 21, he had 14 employees. By 35, he’d helped build his first two 100 million dollar companies. By the age of 42, Cameron had engineered 1-800-GOTJUNK?’s spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue in just six years.
You are invited to join Cameron and your fellow Central Valley Business Leaders to learn how you can lead your company through today's uncertain times. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions, connect with others, and have the chance to win FREE copies of Cameron's best-selling books.
METRO | PAGE 11
• Mercy and Memorial Hospitals Learning Center, in collaboration with Community Health Initiative, is hosting a Drive Thru-Back To School Event on Saturday, July 25, 2020 from 9-11 a.m. at Bessie E. Owens Primary School. They will be handing out 500 backpacks to students in kindergarden through 12th grades. • Bank of the Sierra is holding a food drive through the end of July to donate to Kern County nonprofits. The bank will accept donations of nonperishable food items at all 40 branches. Food received in Kern County will be donated to the Golden Empire Gleaners. The Bank of the Sierra Grant Program has also been changed to provide funding to nonprofits that have been impacted by the pandemic. • League of Dreams is excited to offer fencing as a summer program in partnership with Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation! The program will run on Saturday afternoons from August 1 to August 29. For more information, visit https://ourleagueofdreams.com/. • Offering a respite from the road, Cuyama Buckhorn rests between star-filled night skies and pastoral golden mountains. We provide thoughtfully crafted meals, a bar where conversation flows effortlessly, revitalized rooms with stylistic nods to the past, a glistening pool to dive into under the warm California sun, and plenty of event spaces to celebrate the beauty of this unmatched haven. Visit https://www.cuyamabuckhorn.com/ for booking and dining information as well as COVID-19 safety precautions being taken. • Anthony Garcia, Inc. has recently been accepted into Forbes Coaches Council as an executive coach. Anthony is an expert in sales training, recruiting, goal achievement and METRO | PAGE 12
motivating salespeople to peak performance. He is available to provide your team with Virtual Sales Training. https://anthonypgarcia.com/ https://markets.businessinsider. com/news/stocks/anthony-garciaaccepted-into-forbes-coachescouncil-1029085175 • Three months ago, as the state was beginning to implement severe restrictions on non-essential travel, Amtrak San Joaquins suspended large portions of our service. Although the suspensions currently remain, Amtrak San Joaquins has instituted a suite of health and safety practices at stations, aboard the trains and Thruway busses. To ensure the health and safety of employees and the public, Amtrak San Joaquins has closely monitored and followed the recommendations of federal, state and local public health officials. Additionally, Amtrak San Joaquins is working with local and regional transit partners to incorporate other measures as recommendations are provided. For more information, as well as information on the service reductions, visit our COVID-19 webpage: https://sjjpa.com/animportant-update-regarding-covid-19/. • Looking for a job or want to make a switch? USA Staffing has positions open and new openings are updated weekly. Visit www.UnitedWeStaff.com for more information. • For the month of July, Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli will be doing a barbecue special: Buy a BBQ sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and a drink for $10.99, add a slice of apple pie for $2. • California MENTOR is seeking loving families with an available bedroom in their home to share with an adult with special needs. You will receive ongoing support and a generous monthly payment.
Information sessions are held weekly. Call Yromiki Wiley at 661-203-9884 or Jose Tafoya at 661-472-5940. • Thank you to Adventist Health Bakersfield for your donation of 500 masks to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. If you are looking for a way to support the Bakersfield Homeless Center, a GoFundMe account has been created to raise money to purchase supplies to keep people at the center safe. https://www.gofundme.com/f/2 1m54cetg0?sharetype=teams&mem ber=4733584&utm_medium=copy_ link&utm_source=customer&utm_ campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=8b a5d7244b11442da55d46abf4f319b7 • CSU Bakersfield’s University Counselor Training Clinic is offering free telehealth counseling this summer. Call 661-654-3402 to schedule an appointment. • Purchase your VIP table for the Farm to Table(aux) today! This event benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County is scheduled for Oct. 8 from 6-9:30 p.m. at Highgate at Seven Oaks by Castle & Cooke. For more information and to purchase your table, visit https://bgclubsofkerncounty. ejoinme.org/ftt2020?fbclid=IwAR1L2 VJXWHJnezFPLh8xeq22eOShBvf41uFN_VpyTH3Pwm--7_1rVZknHA. • The Alzheimer's Association continues to provide care and support both locally and nationally in English & Spanish. As always, their 24/7 Helpline is available at 800-272-3900 and their website at http://alz.org/ offers virtual message boards, online education, information and resources.
NEW MEMBER We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the companies who have joined the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. Thank you for investing in our mission to provide a healthy business climate in Kern County. Amtrak San Joaquins 601 Truxtun Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93301 1-800-USA-RAIL www.amtraksanjoaquins.com
JUNE 2020
RENEWING MEMBERS Thank you to our members who have reinvested in the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. Your continued investment helps the Chamber continue its mission to ensure a healthy business climate for our community.
7.16.20
Fireside Chat with Cameron Herold 10 a.m. | Virtual Meeting
7.22.20
American Business Machines – 1999
BYP Wine Tasting 5:30 p.m. | Zoom
ARRC Technology – 1996 Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association – 1993 The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bakersfield – 1989 Central/Mother Lode Regional Consortium – 2017 Distinguished Young Women of California – 2018
7.23.20
Happy Hour with the Chamber 5 p.m. | Zoom
7.24.20
EnviroTech Consultants – 2004
Labor Law & HR Forum 10 a.m. | Zoom Webinar
GEI Consultants, Inc. – 2015 Health Net of California – 2019
7.28.20
Howard Financial & Wealth Management – 2009
Ambassador Committee Noon | Zoom
M.H. Wolfe & Associates Environmental Consulting, Inc. – 2005 Mendiburu Magic Foundation – 2019 Sizzler Restaurant - Mt Vernon – 1997 Sizzler Restaurant - Real Road – 1997 Sleep Inn and Suites – 2018 Wounded Heroes Fund – 2018
For more information about any of our events, committees or councils, visit bakochamber.com.
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Member News
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREE MEMBERS-ONLY BENEFIT AND SHARE ANY HIRING ANNOUNCEMENTS, OPERATIONAL CHANGES, EVENTS, EXCITING NEWS, ECT. IN OUR WEEKLY TRENDING NEWSLETTER. Send your news to info@bakochamber.com METRO | PAGE 13
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE FOCUS Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center is the largest free standing cancer center on the West Coast providing state-of-the-art cancer care to the Central Valley.
2020 EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board Derek Jeffery KGET-TV 17 Chairwoman Elect of the Board Kristen Beall Watson Kern Community Foundation Vice Chair Public Policy & Political Action Rob Duchow Southern California Gas Company Vice Chair Economic Vitality Andy Anderson Aera Energy LLC Vice Chair Member Engagement Tasha Clayton Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc. Vice Chair Leadership & Workforce Development Denise Newton Pacific Gas & Electric Company Treasurer Andy Paulden Brown Armstrong Accountants Member-at-Large Rick Jhaj Countryside Construction/ Countryside Markets General Counsel Mark Bateman Young Wooldridge LLP
MAJOR INVESTORS
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS
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