KERN Journal Business
Vol. 7, No. 7
A MEMBER O F T HE
TB C ME DIA FAMILY
Winter 2019
STEM mentoring program for girls. Page 28
75¢
Cover story
SCORE expands in Bakersfield to help aspiring business owners By Noemi Chavez
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tarting a new business can be difficult and stressful for anyone. Knowing how, when or where to start can mean long time of researching, asking, coming and going in the search to have a successful experience. New businesses face lots of challenges, and patience and hard work are vital to succeed in the competitive business world. It’s no secret that for great business results, it is always better to count on people who have already walked the path to avoid problems or obstacles that experienced entrepreneurs and startups have already gone through and know how to overcome. Fortunately, entrepreneurs and startups at Bakersfield have been able to count on SCORE, an initiative that seeks to help, advise and support business beginners with their projects by offering them advice, information, assessment and much more. SCORE is a nonprofit initiative that offers free business advice to entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses to help them thrive into successful businesses. SCORE gives free and confidential Turn to SCORE on Page 31
Kern Business Journal 3700 Pegasus Bakersfield, CA 93302
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
Workers keep the equipment looking good at the Veda Farming exhibit at the 2018 World Ag Expo in Tulare. For the complete list of events, turn to Page 4.
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Bakersfield, CA Permit No. 838
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Adventist health Bakersfield named “Top Hospital” in California. Page 24
News and notes from the travel sector. Page 12
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KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
Winter 2019
VALLEY REPUBLIC BANK Welcomes
AYTOM SALOMON VP - Oil and Gas Group
alley Republic Bank is pleased to welcome Aytom Salomon to our team. In addition to being a seasoned manager, Aytom brings an extensive background in lending and relationship management in the Oil and Gas Industry. Aytom will serve as VP of the Bank’s Oil and Gas Group, a newly formed group which complements the substantial existing Oil and Gas expertise of Board Chairman Eugene Voiland (former CEO of AERA Energy LLC) and Director Warner Williams (former VP of Chevron). This new lending group will serve Kern County and the surrounding Oil and Gas basins of the state. Valley Republic Bank will now offer California Oil and Gas producers an alternative solution for banking services previously provided by banks in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
Give Aytom a call today!
Local. Responsive. Reliable. 5000 California Avenue, Suite 110 | 4300 Coffee Road, Suite A6 11330 Ming Avenue, Suite 400 510 Woollomes Avenue, Suite 106, Delano
www.valleyrepublicbank.com valleyrepublicbank.com | 661.371.2000 Valley Republic Bank (VLLX (VLLX)
Winter 2019
KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
KERN Journal Business
Kern County’s premier business publication Winter 2019 Vol. 7, No. 7 Kern Business Journal is a publication of TBC Media. Copies are available from The Bakersfield Californian, Kern Economic Development Corp., Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and by subscription. Associate Publisher Virginia Cowenhoven President/CEO Michelle Chantry Editor Jim Lawitz Assistant Managing Editor Mark Nessia Art Director Glenn Hammett Art & Marketing Manager Holly Bikakis To advertise Cliff Chandler cchandler@bakersfield.com 661-395-7521 To subscribe 661-392-5777 Contact us 3700 Pegasus Drive Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-395-7500 kbj@bakersfield.com
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Editor’s Note
Change is in the air for 2019
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e’re only a few weeks into 2019 and change is already in the air. As usual, new employment laws took effect at the start of the month, many revolving around sexual harassment; minimum continues its upward climb, rising to $11 per hour for employers with fewer than 25 employees and $12 for businesses staffing more than 25; publicly held domestic or foreign corporations with principal executive staffs in California must have at least one female director on their boards by the end of the year; lactation accommodation will require employers to provide a location other than a bathroom for women to express breast milk; and so much more. The transition from one year to the next also carries with it a changing of the guard, with organizations like Houchin CommuMark Nessia nity Blood Bank and Memorial Hospital introducing new CEOs to lead the charge in 2019, while other businesses closed up shop, opening the door for others to open up. The Kern Business Journal will continue to highlight the happenings in Kern County’s numerous industries while undergoing change of its own. This edition marks the start of the new quarterly publication schedule, with subsequent issues to publish in the spring, summer and fall. The winter edition of the Kern Business Journal also introduces a new format. There will be more emphasis on local industries rather than themes, with the themes from years prior becoming regular sections in the publication. Inside, you’ll see sections like legal and human resources (sponsored by Young Wooldridge), agriculture, banking and finance, health and technology. If those sound
Ken Keller is the new CEO for Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.
familiar, it’s because those were KBJ themes in previous years — now they are regular sections in the publication. As usual, the Kern Business Journal is supplemented by the biweekly Kern Business News section featured in the Sunday edition of The Bakersfield Californian. This provides local business leaders and organizations another avenue to highlight the big things taking place in Kern County. With this revised approach, we look to bring even more focus and attention to all things business. We’re only a few weeks into 2019 and change is already in the air. And change is good.
Get Involved To contribute to the Kern Business Journal or Kern Business News section inside The Bakersfield Californian, contact Mark Nessia at mnessia@bakersfield.com.
Business announcements or her professional career or schooling and known for giving back to our community in special ways. Winners will be honored in our July issue and at a special get-together.
20 Under 40 Open Nominations March 11 to April 14 for Bakersfield Life Magazine The 20 Under 40 contest selects 20 locals who are under the age of 40 and are considered trailblazers in his
To nominate: Visit bakersfieldlife.com and click on the 20 Under 40 button between March 11 and April 14. Submit a few comments about nominee and a photo. If you have any questions, contact Mark Nessia at mnessia@bakersfield.com.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California announces $6M in new grants Kaiser Permanente Southern California announced a
$6 million, five-year community mental health and wellness initiative with an immediate Local Partnership Grant, grant allocation of $1.28 million to combat and improve access to mental health services. The initial grant allocation is funding a group of two-year grants to support 16 nonprofit community partners working to improve mental health and wellness in under-resourced Southern California communities. In Kern County, Kaiser Permanente is providing an $80,000 grant over two years to the CSU Bakersfield Counselor Training Pathways Program. The program will recruit and support high school students in under resourced areas (Arvin,
Foothill, Golden Valley, Mira Monte and Shafter) to enter the profession of counselor/ therapist.
Red Cross executive director Barry Falke promoted to division leadership team The American Red Cross
of Kern County’s Executive Director Barry Falke has been promoted to chief operating officer of the Pacific Division
of the Red Cross. Falke will oversee the operations for Red Cross regions throughout the Pacific Coast of the United States, including California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and Saipan. “I am very proud of and happy for Barry to take on a larger leadership role within the American Red Cross,” said Hugh J. Quinn, interim central California region chief executive officer. “His commitment to the Red Cross is incredible and he has served the Kern County chapter and the Central Valley chapter at a very high level during his tenure.” As executive director, Falke was instrumental in leading Kern County’s ability to respond to and recover
from natural and man-made disasters as well as promote the growth, quality and constituency of Red Cross programs and services throughout the community. “During my time as executive director, it was most rewarding to see our volunteers provide comfort and hope for those who have been affected by disaster,” said Falke. “The Red Cross mission is empowering, and I look forward to serving staff and volunteers throughout the Pacific Division.” In his new role, Falke will be based out of the Central Valley Chapter headquarters in Fresno. In the coming weeks, an interim executive director will be named and a search for his replacement will begin.
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Winter 2019
Agriculture
World Ag Expo returns for 52nd annual display of cutting-edge ag technology, equipment for three day event Kern Business Journal
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he largest annual agricultural expo will hold its 52nd show, putting cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment front and center for a three-day event, Feb. 12-14, at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, 4500 S. Laspina St. Boasting more than 1,500 exhibitors and 2.6 million
square feet of exhibit space, the World Ag Expo is the premier marketplace and a celebration for all things ag, drawing thousands of attendees from all over the world. The World Ag Expo will once again feature daily equipment showcases, live demonstrations and seminars in categories such as dairy, irrigation, international trade, business and farm management, marketing and media, and more. The Top-10 New Products Competition also
returns. The last day will feature a Toyota Tundra giveaway benefitting Valley Children’s Healthcare. Attendees can stay up to date on the latest news by visiting www.worldagexpo.com, which has an exhibitor directory, map and other visitor resources. Turn to AG EXPO on Page 6
Winter 2019
KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Agriculture Your Career … Your Future! (Seminar Trailer 2)..............................1 p.m. Sheepdog Trial Demo (Demonstration Pavillion).....................2 p.m. Foreign Trade — Looking at U.S. Trade with China (Seminar Trailer 2).....................2 p.m. Don’t Miss the Target in Succession (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................2 p.m. Don’t Kill Your Golden Goose — Protect & Perpetuate Your Business (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................3 p.m. Sigma Alpha Sorority Networking Reception (Seminar Trailer 3)..............................3 p.m. Foreign Buyer Matchmaking (Seminar Trailer 2)..............................3 p.m.
Feb. 14 Ag Leadership Foundation Alumni Breakfast (VIP Tent).......................................6:30 a.m. Water Regulations: What Do You Need to Know Moving Forward About SGMA & WOTUS? (Seminar Trailer 3).........................9:30 a.m. Agriculture Activities of the Irrigation Association (Seminar Trailer 2)..........10 a.m.
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
A seed planter is displayed at the 2018 World Ag Expo in Tulare.
Ag Expo Continued from Page 4
AG TOURS
Dairy Tour: Elkhorn and Milky Way Diaries Feb. 12, 10:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14, 10:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $45 — Box lunch selection Kings River & Fresno State Vineyards and Wineries Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. $55 — Lunch provided by venue Yribarren Winery and Orchards Feb. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $55 — Lunch provided by venue Lake Kaweah/Terminus Dam and J&S Orchards Feb. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $45 — Box lunch selection Citrus Tour: University of California Lindcove Research & Extension Center, McKellar Family Farms and Monrovia Nursery Feb. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $45 — Box lunch selection Wonderful Citrus and J.D. Heiskell Mill Feb. 14, 10:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. $45 — Box lunch selection
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Feb. 12
Opening Ceremonies and Awards Ceremony (Heritage Complex and Banquet Hall) ...8 a.m. Regenerative Agriculture Using Holistic Management (Seminar Trailer 3) ....9:30 a.m. The Shift in Consumer Dynamics and What it Means for Promoting Dairy (Seminar Trailer 1) ...........................10 a.m.
Starting the Young Dog (Demonstration Pavillion) ..................10 a.m. What is Moo’ving at Fresno State (Seminar Trailer 2)............................10 a.m. What is Driving Producer Prices in a Post-CDFA World? (Seminar Trailer 1)............10:30 a.m. Reading the Trends, Opposition Research & Adjusting to the Political Landscape in California (Seminar Trailer 1)..............11 a.m. Water Management in Dairies (Seminar Trailer 2).......................11:30 a.m. My Job Depends on Ag (Seminar Trailer 3).......................11:30 a.m. Using Your Dog for Better Livestock Management (Demonstration Pavillion)... noon A Sustainable Milk Inventory Management System (Seminar Trailer 1)..................... noon Moo, Oink, Baa, AgDay365 and Drive — How Agriculture Advocacy Works in Real Life (Seminar Trailer 3).......................12:30 p.m. Improving Dairy Producer Milk Prices (Seminar Trailer 2).......................12:30 p.m. Getting it Right: Livestock’s Environmental Story (Seminar Trailer 1.......................1 p.m. Ag and Crisis Communications: When Things Go Wrong! (Seminar Trailer 3).........1:30 p.m. The Total Dairy Makeover (Seminar Trailer 2).........................1:30 p.m. Sheepdog Trial Demo (Demonstration Pavillion).....................2 p.m. Heat Stress Effects on Milk Production, Mammary Gland, Dry Cows and Calves (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................2 p.m. Precision Dairy or Compost Dairy Barns (Seminar Trailer 2).........................2:30 p.m. The Key to Producing High Component Cows (Seminar Trailer)..................................3 p.m. Ag Careers Roundtable Discussion and Networking (Seminar Trailer 3).............3 p.m. Harvest the Funding: How to Access AMMP Funding to Help Your Manure Headaches (Seminar Trailer 2).........................3:30 p.m.
Efficiently Improving Cow Care (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................4 p.m. Capital Ministries Dinner (VIP Tent)......4 p.m.
Feb. 13 Prayer Breakfast (VIP Tent)...................7 a.m. Grow by FarmHer (Heritage Complex Banquet Hall)..........7 a.m. Cultivating Resiliency for Women in Agriculture (Seminar Trailer 3).........9:30 a.m. Starting the Young Dog (Demonstration Pavillion)...................10 a.m. International Trade Toolkit: Think Big and Stay Focused on Exporting (Seminar Trailer 2.............................10 a.m. The Proposed Temperance Flat Reservoir Project and Future of Central Valley Farming (Seminar Trailer 1)............................10 a.m. State of Implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Seminar Trailer 1)............................11 a.m. Your Brand, Your Way: “Life Isn’t About Finding Yourself. Life Is About Creating Yourself.” (Seminar Trailer 3)............................11 a.m. “Trade Discussion” or “Trade War” — What Does It Really Mean? (Seminar Trailer 2)............................11 a.m. Using Your Dog for Better Livestock Management (Demonstration Pavillion)... noon Asian Citrus Psyllid and Huanglongbing — Regulatory Compliance Update and Treatment Protocols (Seminar Trailer 1).................. noon How Much is Too Much? Exploring Global Almond Demand Potential (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................1 p.m. The Changing Role of Women in Agriculture (Seminar Trailer 3)..............................1 p.m. Going Global Career Panel: Learn About Careers That Will Expand Your Horizons …
Starting the Young Dog (Demonstration Pavillion)...................10 a.m. Agriculture Machine Automation Opportunities Using Advanced Sensing and Perception Technology (Seminar Trailer 1)............................10 a.m. Specifying New Drip/Micro Irrigation Systems (Seminar Trailer 2).......................10:30 a.m. Difference Between a Pressure Regulator and a Pressure Regulating Limit Valve (Seminar Trailer 2)............................11 a.m. Automating Specialty Crops — Obstacles and Opportunities (Seminar Trailer 1)............................11 a.m. FSMA: Produce Safety Rule Update and What We Know From On-Farm Readiness Reviews (Seminar Trailer 3)............................11 a.m. Benefits of Smaller Media Filter Tanks for Improving Production Ag Irrigation Systems (Seminar Trailer 2).......................11:30 a.m. AirJection Increasing Yields While Protecting Air & Water Quality (Seminar Trailer 2).... noon Using Your Dog for Better Livestock Management (Demonstration Pavillion)... noon Valuing Your Equipment Fleet (Seminar Trailer 1)................................ noon Federal Policy Update Farm Bill, Trade, Food Safety (Seminar Trailer 3).............12:15 p.m. Dry Wheel Track Solution for Center Pivots and Linears (Seminar Trailer 2).....12:30 p.m. Combing Drip Irrigation Precision with Pivot System Mobility (Seminar Trailer 2)......1 p.m. Improve Your Hiring Game: Secrets to Finding and Attracting Top Talent (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................1 p.m. Best Practices for Field Monitoring (Seminar Trailer 2).........................1:30 p.m. Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture: A regional Solution for Local Water Needs (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................2 p.m. Sheepdog Trial Demo (Demonstration Pavillion).....................2 p.m. Cannabis — Is it the New Cash Crop? (Seminar Trailer 3)..............................2 p.m. Toyota Tundra Giveaway to Benefit Valley Children’s Hospital (Toyota Ride & Drive)...........................3 p.m. Practical Groundwater Table Monitoring (Seminar Trailer 1)..............................3 p.m.
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Agriculture
2019 brings new funds to Kern County farmers By Cassandra Melching
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he San Joaquin Valley is the top agricultural producing region in the nation. Kern County is home to thousands of acres used for farming and there are thousands of pieces of heavy equipment operated daily to maintain crops, fields, orchards and overall day-to-day business practices. Over the past 10 years, public and private investments in clean air projects through voluntary incentive grants have dramatically increased. This reflects the ongoing commitment of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control Cassandra Melching District, businesses, farmers and valley residents in making clean-air investments that improve the quality of life for all. Funding from the Valley Air District’s grant programs plays a critical role in the valley by helping to reduce emissions and health risk that can occur from daily agricultural operations. Kern County farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the robust grant programs offered by the Valley
Air District. The Valley Air District is currently accepting applications for three new incentive programs to benefit local businesses in agriculture. The following funding opportunities are available:
harvest information and other relevant activities throughout the program. The program will be limited initially to one piece of new equipment per participant.
Agricultural UTV Voucher Program
The Alternative to Agricultural Open Burning Incentive Pilot Programs supports efforts by the ag community to develop, demonstrate and evaluate the viability of new options for orchard removal. Only commercial agricultural operations are eligible to apply. Funding will be provided for chipping and on-farm reuse of the wood material, such as soil incorporation and land application. Incentive amounts will range from $300 to $600 per acre of agricultural material removed, depending upon alternative practice utilized, up to a maximum of $60,000 per applicant per year. The program includes pre- and post-project requirements by participants and inspections by district staff.
Provides incentives up to 75 percent of the eligible cost of new, zero-emission UTVs to replace existing diesel or gasoline-powered UTVs. Eligible costs may include base vehicle, roof, windshield, doors and an extended warranty, but not attachments, such as winches, storage bins, plows, cab heaters or additional batteries.
Low-Dust Nut Harvesting Equipment The Low-Dust Nut Harvesting Pilot Incentive Program will promote the deployment and evaluation of lowdust technology on a broad scale. Growers and custom harvesters are eligible to apply for low-dust harvesting equipment that has shown to achieve at least 40 percent reduction in particulate matter in available peer-reviewed information and/or district-approved methodology. Participants will receive an incentive amount of 50 percent of the eligible equipment cost, must commit to use the new equipment for a minimum of five years or harvest seasons, and are required to report on equipment usage,
Ag Burning Alternatives
For more information, please visit www.valleyair.org/ grants, or call 559-230-5800 to speak to a representative. Cassandra Melching is an outreach and communications representative with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
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Community Business Event planning Fairy Godmother makes dreams come true By Kelly Bearden
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hen Colleen Bauer started her Bakersfield event and wedding planning business, she had no idea that her fairy godmother would make her dreams come true. A regional bank officer who was climbing the corporate ladder, Bauer had been organizing her company’s events for years. It was a natural Kelly Bearden extension of growing up in a family of four girls and having a mother constantly planning parties. But it was in 2009, when Bauer served as the chairwoman of the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference, that she was inspired by fellow board members and event partners to start her own event planning company. She chose Fairy Godmother as the company’s name because it was what her niece, Elise, called her. When a co-worker announced she was getting married in 2010, Bauer offered to plan the event as a wedding gift. Weddings were the start of Fairy Godmother’s list of services that included such things as holiday and birthday parties. “When I started Fairy Godmother, it was going to be a hobby. I planned on doing one or two events/weddings a month,” Bauer recently recalled. “Our first year, without a website and very little on social media, we did 22 events. Our little company grew mainly by word of mouth.” As Bauer continued to work at the
PHOTO BY KELLI’S KEEPSAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Colleen Bauer, owner of Bakersfield-based Fairy Godmother Events, dresses as a 1920s flapper for the Padre Halloween Murder Mystery Party her company planned. Bauer is seeing more companies book murder mysteries for team building.
bank, rising to the level of senior vice president, her business grew. “I knew one day, I would have to pick between my banking career and owning my own business,” she said. “In October 2017, I gave my two weeks’ notice and never looked back!” Bauer has assembled a team that includes event producers, designers,
PHOTO BY KELLI’S KEEPSAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Clues and possible hidden murder weapons greet guests at the 1920s Padre Halloween Murder Mystery Party. The plot: Don and Meme Wannabe celebrate the grand opening of the Four Deuces, a glamorous new speakeasy complete with booze, music, gaming and a high-class brothel. Guests solve a murder committed by one of the other guests.
marketing specialists, office assistants and even officiants, when needed. Although she continues to plan and execute some events, Bauer focuses on staffing and operating the business. Her years of experience in the corporate world also has allowed her to expand services to helping businesses with grand openings, employee events, holiday parties, business dinners, client or employee appreciation events, incentive/award trips, company picnics, trade shows, sales training and annual meetings. “We are finding that a lot of businesses have in-house staff trying to put on events while working their full-time jobs,” she said. “Many companies and employees are coming to us because they do not want the stress. Taking on event responsibilities, on top of normal job duties, can be tough on employees.” Bauer said she is seeing an increasing number of company officials opting to bring in an expert to take care of details. “We do not take over events,” Bauer said. Company officials are “as involved or not involved as they want to be. Some
companies give us a budget and their theme and we take care of the rest. Other companies want to be more involved and work by our side. We are flexible.” She also is seeing planned themed events, such as “murder mysteries,” used as elements of company team-building strategies. “The first murder mystery we did was for a fundraiser, but since then, we have had several businesses book us for team building using these parties,” she said, adding that solving a murder mystery is not only fun, it encourages employees who may not regularly interact to work together. But as Bauer’s Fairy Godmother grew, so did the need to improve the company’s business operations. And for that, Bauer turned to the Small Business Development Center at California State University, Bakersfield. “A good friend and colleague went through the SBDC program and told me about it. So I went online and applied,” Bauer explained, praising the services she is receiving. “Working with SBDC marketing consultant Maureen Buscher-Dang has been a dream. I am learning so much from her. Maureen has pushed me to look at my business in a whole new light. She has challenged me to work on my business and not just in my business. For the first time in eight years, I have a budget and soon a marketing plan.” Bauer encourages local entrepreneurs to seek the help of SBDC consultants. “It’s like having a mentor and business coach — someone pushing you and looking out for you; someone challenging you to be the very best you can be,” she said. The Small Business Development Center at CSUB is one of five service centers within the University of California, Central California SBDC Regional Network, which is a partnership between the university and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The center at CSUB assists entrepreneurs and small-business owners in Kern, Inyo and Mono counties by providing free consulting, small business training and research. For more information, go to www. csub.edu/sbdc. Kelly Bearden is the director of the Small Business Development Center at California State University, Bakersfield.
Winter 2019
KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Community Business
Philanthropy on Tap July 2018 for the Wounded Heroes Fund.
Philanthropy on Tap: Lifting our glasses to Kern County’s hardworking nonprofits By Louis Medina
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ow well do you know Kern County’s nonprofit community? You’ve probably heard about organizations like our local homeless and animal shelters, museums and youth-focused agencies that serve boys, girls or both. But do you really understand the community impact these nonprofits make, the challenges they face or the opportunities they offer to those who want to give back? Well, you can learn about a different nonprofit in our community every month and do so while drinking a toast to them courtesy of Kern Community Foundation’s Philanthropy on Tap program. A partnership between the Louis Medina foundation, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, and local popular drink venues Imbibe Wine & Spirits Merchant and Temblor Brewing Company, Philanthropy on Tap
showcases Kern’s hardworking nonprofits to local business leaders from the for-profit community. Over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, business professionals get an opportunity to meet the leaders of local community-based organizations, listen to client testimonials and possibly even enjoy a little show-and-tell demonstration — a tap dance jig from Kern Dance Alliance, a friendly static bike competition put on by Bike Bakersfield, a visit from a rescued owl who found his forever home at the California Living Museum or a nice greeting from the gentle service dogs that help Wounded Heroes Fund veterans deal with post-traumatic stress. Presenting agencies are selected through a “visibility grant” application process that, instead of money, awards them the opportunity to be showcased to potential donors and volunteers at an event hosted by the foundation. Now in its fifth year, Philanthropy on Tap has consistently drawn attendance from members of the chamber’s Bakersfield Young Professionals group, but in recent years, many leaders from both the for-profit and nonprofit communities have also joined us at these fun, free and engaging events in the hope of developing strategic network-
ing connections. “Philanthropy on Tap exemplifies Kern Community Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Kern’s nonprofit sector,” said foundation President and CEO Kristen Beall. “We provide an opportunity for selected organizations to build their capacity and increase their visibility with an audience of engaged and community-minded professionals — all at no cost to the presenting organizations.” Guests also enjoy a half-hour of networking one-onone with presenters and one another before and after the presentation. “These casual and intimate interactions help deepen community members’ awareness about local nonprofits’ needs,” Beall said. “Young business leaders, who will go on to become tomorrow’s philanthropists, discover opportunities to engage with charitable organizations through the various facets of philanthropy by giving to them monetarily or in-kind, volunteering or learning how to advocate on their behalf.” The grant application period for nonprofits wanting a chance to present through Philanthropy on Tap is open every year during the entire
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KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
Community Business
month of August. For more information about Philanthropy on Tap and Kern Community Foundation, visit www.kernfoundation. org, call 661-325-5346 or write to info@
kernfoundation.org. Louis Medina is the manager of community impact for Kern Community Foundation.
Philanthropy on Tap 2019 Schedule In 2019, Philanthropy on Tap events will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the Tuesdays below at two popular locations: Imbibe Wine and Spirits at 4140 Truxtun Ave., and Temblor Brewing Company at 3200 Buck Owens Blvd. Featured agencies will be: Feb. 5 at Imbibe: R.M. Pyles Boys Camp March 5 at Temblor: The Arts Council of Kern April 2 at Imbibe: United Way of Kern County June 4 at Imbibe: Bakersfield Museum of Art July 9 at Temblor: Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue Aug. 6 at Imbibe: Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Community Reading Project
Sept. 10 at Temblor: League of Dreams Oct. 1 at Imbibe: Bakersfield Police Activities League Nov. 5 at Temblor: Our first ever “doubleheader” with two agencies presenting: Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County Dec. 3 at Imbibe: Community Action Partnership of Kern Most Philanthropy on Tap events take place on the first Tuesday of the month, except when it falls on or immediately before or after a holiday. We are dark in May because the first Tuesday that month is Give Big Kern, our big online day of giving.
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Community Business
News and notes from the travel sector Steady growth in local hotel sector, new promotions to lure visitors By David Lyman
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teady growth in hotel industry: Bakersfield’s hotel sector continued to show steady growth in 2018. According to STR Inc., data from Jan. 1, 2018, through Nov. 30, 2018, show the number of hotel rooms sold in the Bakersfield market increased about 1.4 percent compared with the same period in 2017. Local hotels also were able to charge more for those rooms in 2018, with the average daily rate up about 2.3 percent year-over-year. That meant Bakersfield hotels also saw increased total revenue and revenue per available room up about 3.5 percent over 2017 levels. These increases occurred despite fewer hotel rooms being available, David Lyman due to the closure of the former Clarion Hotel on Rosedale Highway during its conversion to a Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. Increased hotel revenue also means higher levels of transient occupancy tax flowing to local governments.
Here’s what’s happening in Bakersfield tourism: Increased attendance at CALM: The California Living Museum had a record year in 2018 in terms of visitors. More than 100,000 people visited CALM, more than 20,000 students learned about native wildlife on field trips and another 67,000 visited CALM’s HolidayLights. During 2018, California’s premier native zoo and garden installed all-new signage throughout the zoo and developed a phone app with information about the native animals that have been rescued and housed at CALM. The California Coast Room was also completed, which showcases an interactive touch tank with native sea creatures, a moon jellies exhibit and CALM’s newest residents, Hank the octopus and a variety of seahorses.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT BAKERSFIELD
Bakersfield’s hotel sector continued to show steady growth in 2018. Pictured is the TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
gram will continue in 2019. Art After Dark featured afterhours art experiences, including fine art, entertainment and drinks at Kern County’s only accredited art museum. Each month, BMoA presented engaging educational art projects such as a block printing workshops or a collaborative community painting projects and paired them with a number of notable local restaurants and bars, such as Moo Creamery, Kern River Brewing Company, Nuestro Mexico and Lengthwise, to provide an educational, entertaining and social environment.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK ELLIS
Metcalf House at the Kern County Museum.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HENRY A. BARRIOS
Children enjoying the animals at CALM.
New projects at KC Museum: The Kern County Museum wrapped up a record number of important construction projects in 2018, the largest being the
completion of the Ray Watson Historic Vehicle Exhibition. Other upgrades include the remodeled Joss House with artifacts from the century-old Let Sing Gong Temple moved to the exhibit, restoration of the interior of Standard School, reconstruction of the 75-year-old band stand, remodel of the undertaker parlor, complete refurbishment of the historic Metcalf House, remodel of the drug store and upgrade of the Lori Brock Discovery Center.
Art After Dark is a unique offering of the Bakersfield Museum of Art.
Art After Dark: After a successful run in 2018, the Bakersfield Museum of Art’s unique Art After Dark pro-
History comes alive: Straight from the mouths of those who were there, “Stories on the Sidewalk” will be
PHOTO COURTESY OF BAKERSFIELD MUSEUM OF ART
Winter 2019
KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
Community Business
PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT BAKERSFIELD
Bakersfield’s newest postcard updates a classic design with current images of our city.
a fun, educational walk through history, where colorful and amazing characters from Kern County’s past come alive on the streets of Bakersfield. This walking tour on Feb. 9 will feature eleven stops in downtown Bakersfield, with a different actor at each stop portraying some of our city’s most famous — and infamous — residents: Col. Thomas Baker, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Madge the Madam, the outlaw Dick Fellows and more. Wear comfortable walking shoes and enjoy these exciting stories of Kern’s rich history, told in riveting, locally written dramatic presentations and performed by local actors and presented by the Arts Council of Kern. Attendance up on the farm: Murray Family Farms had an exceptional year in 2018 due to an increased focus on seasonal festivals and social media upgrades. New attractions included Potato Blasters, a paint gun arcade, vortex, upgraded admissions, snack bar, lighting and sound fidelity. Attendance grew by 18 percent in October and more than doubled during the spring events. This growth was the result of the improved use of technology and an increased emphasis on seasonal festivals to connect the community with local food, fun and production agriculture. The farm’s website has been recently revamped with new tools and a new look, adding online ticket sales and tour reservations. Outreach expanded from the company’s social media flagship on Facebook and launched into a wide variety of platforms to connect “Family Farm Fanatics” through Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, Snapchat and Instagram. Wrestling championships expand: CIF wrestling returns to Rabobank Arena in 2019 but with some exciting changes. First, the event will combine both boys
and girls wrestling. The girls wrestling had previously been held in Visalia. Next, combining both boys and girls wrestling means the event will expand from two days to three. That means more people and more hotel room nights sold. Third, the CIF wrestling event will be held Feb. 21-23, one week earlier than its traditional dates the first weekend of March. That is welcome news because Bakersfield will no longer have CIF and March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway competing for limited hotel rooms on the same weekend. With these two large events on separate weekends, each of them will have room to grow. Sports show returns: The Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show will again welcome outdoor enthusiasts to Bakersfield’s Kern County Fairgrounds in 2019. Not only is it the Central Valley’s largest fishing, hunting, boat and RV show, it is considered by most industry “insiders” to be one of the best RV shows in the Western U.S. In years past, this show often was held on the same weekend as both CIF and March Meet. In 2019, however, it will be held March 15-17. New postcard: The latest Bakersfield postcard is here, courtesy of Visit Bakersfield. The city’s visitor center went back to the archives and updated a classic Bakersfield postcard with current images of our city. The postcard is free and available exclusively at Visit Bakersfield, 515 Truxtun Ave., in front of the downtown Amtrak station. David Lyman, Ph.D., is manager of Visit Bakersfield. He and other members of Team More to Explore help visitors from throughout the world spend their money in California’s ninth largest city. They are available toll-free 866-425-7353 or at Info@VisitBakersfield.com.
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Finance Multistate retailers must understand which states may now have sales tax obligations By Joel A. Bock
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n a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court reversed the prior decision in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, which held that a state could not require a retailer from another state with no physical presence in the state to collect and remit sales tax on goods the seller ships to purchasers in the other state. This decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. dramatically Joel A. Bock changed a limitation in effect since 1992 protecting small retailers from the potentially burdensome task of collecting and remitting sales tax in multiple states. South Dakota’s law created an economic nexus standard for collecting and remitting sales tax based upon gross revenue (more than $100,000) or number of transactions (more than 200 transac-
With the Supreme Court now opening the door to allowing individual states the opportunity to require retailers with a sufficient volume of transactions and no physical presence to collect and remit sales tax, the next step for states desiring to take advantage of this new opportunity would be to enact legislation that is likely to comply with the economic nexus standard. tions) in lieu of the physical presence that was established in the prior Quill Corp. v. North Dakota case. In deciding whether a state tax is constitutional, since 1977, the Supreme Court has used the four-prong test established
in Complete Auto Transit Inc. v. Brady. The test evaluates: (1) substantial nexus, (2) nondiscrimination, (3) fair apportionment and (4) fair relationship to services provided to the state. In Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, the court held that only physical presence meets the substantial nexus test. Overturning the decision in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, the Supreme Court concluded, “The physical presence rule in Quill is unsound and incorrect. … The physical presence rule has long been criticized as giving out-of-state sellers an advantage. Each year, it becomes further removed from economic reality and results in significant revenue losses to the states. These critiques underscore that the rule is an incorrect interpretation of the Commerce Clause. … The physical presence rule of Quill is also an extraordinary
imposition by the judiciary on the state’s authority to collect taxes and perform critical public functions.” With the Supreme Court now opening the door to allowing individual states the opportunity to require retailers with a sufficient volume of transactions and no physical presence to collect and remit sales tax, the next step for states desiring to take advantage of this new opportunity would be to enact legislation that is likely to comply with the economic nexus standard. Currently, 45 states have some form of sales tax (the exceptions being Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon). While some states have subsequently enacted statutes that contain economic nexus provisions similar to that of South Dakota, senators from three no-sales-tax states (Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire) have introduced and/or
cosponsored Senate Bill 3180 titled “Stop Taxing Our Potential Act of 2018,” which would prohibit states from imposing a tax collection obligation on any business unless the business had physical presence in that state. This bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee for further review. Given this new sales tax environment, multistate retailers must implement systems to understand in which states they may now have a sales tax obligation and processes to comply with these obligations. Please consult your tax adviser to determine how these laws impact your specific situation. Joel A. Bock, CPA, MST is a partner in Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock, a Bakersfield accounting firm.
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1-800-982-2660 | TriCountiesBank.com
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Finance
Action Sports owner Kerry Ryan has survived, thrived in a scary retail market
PHOTO BY JOHN HARTE
Kerry Ryan and Suki at Action Sports By Maureen Buscher-Dang
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erry Ryan is defying industry odds. His independently owned Action Sports in Bakersfield is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Located at 9500 Brimhall Road, Action Sports has not only survived three decades, it has grown to become one of Bakersfield’s iconic retailers of specialty sporting goods. How has Action Sports survived when many nationMaureen Buscher-Dang wide sporting goods chains have collapsed and other independent stores have fallen victim to the crushing competition of the internet? “Our biggest focus is on bicycles,” explained Ryan. “We also do a seasonal winter snow ski and snowboard department, swimming, running, rollerblades, rock climbing and outdoor equipment, sunglass/eye protection and sports nutrition.” Noting that bicycling and snow sports require a high level of expertise and
service, Ryan explained: “You can’t easily buy those products online. We are focusing on niches where people can’t trust the internet. “We do spin and yoga classes. Our rock climbing gym is state of the art. These activities create a nice atmosphere inside the store.” And then there is Ryan, an ever-present personality who staffs his store with personable and informed specialists. Customers are never strangers when they enter Action Sports, where they are greeted with expert advice and help. While consumer interest and spending on outdoor sporting goods is booming, we have seen the demise of such retail giants as Sports Authority and a number of closures of family owned sporting goods shops. In a recent analysis, industry consultant Jon Schallert blamed the closures on retailers becoming “product generalists, rather than product specialists.” Stores that focus on customers and offer specialty products and services survive. It’s a formula Ryan says is helping him grow his business. Born in Glendale, Ryan grew up in Bakersfield, attending Nichols Elementary,
Chipman Junior High, Highland High School, Bakersfield College, San Diego State University and California State University, Bakersfield. As a teenager and young adult, he performed professionally as a union drummer, worked for Davies Motorcycle, in maintenance for the Kern River Golf Course, as a Kawasaki mechanic and as a ski tech and manager for Sports Circus. At age 28, he opened Action Sports. Ryan has never been just a retailer of sporting goods. He has been an active participant in a wide range of sports. He holds the Race Across America four-person speed record — 23.11 mph average speed, no drafting, nonstop five days eight hours, 3,000 miles, 136,000 feet of climbing. Ryan is joined at Action Sports by Jerry Campbell, a former A-Pro BMX competitor with more than 30 years of wrenching experience, 25 of which have been with Action Sports. Also on staff and coming from a competitive soccer background, Matt Thiesen offers his expertise in snowboarding and other winter sports. Ryan opened Action Sports in 1988 in the Town & Country Shopping Center at Gosford Road and Stockdale Highway. The
store quickly outgrew its 2,800-square-foot storefront and expanded into 10,000 square feet of the shopping center. In 2007, Ryan opened what he calls his 24,000-squarefoot “dream” store on Brimhall Road. He credits his long relationship with Bakersfield-based Mission Bank for helping make his dream come true. Ryan switched to Mission in 2006 after he said other banks only looked for ways to say no. “Mission Bank said, ‘Let’s see what we can do.’ I always feel they know who they are talking to because they do. It’s like going to the Cheers Bar, where everybody knows your name,” Ryan said. In a tough business, where competition is not just the guy up the street, but the retailer online and the big box discount stores everywhere, Ryan has learned that he needs to give customers personalized and expert services and specialized quality products. He said he expects the same from all of his vendors, including his lender. To Ryan, the relationship is very personal. Maureen Buscher-Dang is the founder of the Bakersfield-based public relations and marketing company Buscher & Associates.
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Finance
Devastation from the Camp Wildfire.
Business insurance lessons learned from California wildfires By John Pryor
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ost buildings destroyed in the Camp and Woolsey wildfires were residential, not commercial, yet included important lessons for business owners. At the top of the list is getting paid — promptly and reasonably — by your insurance carrier(s). Insurance policies spell out the steps required to prove your loss. Most losses are partial losses, therefore, listing each piece of equipment John Pryor or other personal property damaged or destroyed and proving its replacement value make good sense. However, if you don’t replace an item, you still receive payment based on each item’s actual cash value (replacement value less depreciation based on its age and condition.) However, most wildfire losses were total losses. Little personal property was salvaged. So, why should an inventory be required? Shouldn’t the personal property limit on the policy simply be paid by the insurer? Yes! At least most of that limit. Some insurers were “insightful” and
waived the inventory. They quickly wrote a check for 75 percent (or more) of their policy’s personal property limit. Simple. Sensible. Satisfactory. Last November, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones wisely asked other carriers to waive their inventory requirement in total losses and pay at least 75 percent of a policy’s amount of personal property insurance. Almost all now are reported to have done so. In addition, advance payments for hotel bills, restaurant costs, etc. and costs incurred for debris removal were usually voluntarily paid in advance by insurers. That really helps! So, how does this residential insurance overview translate to your business insurance? If a business sustains a total loss of its personal property, why shouldn’t waiver of the inventory be requested with at least 75 percent of the amount of personal property insurance paid upfront without delay? If not volunteered, you should ask for it. Secondly, where debris removal, business income and extra expense claims are in order, why shouldn’t at least partial advance payments be requested — and checks written? Ask for them. Turn to BUSINESS INSURANCE on Page 30
JEFFREY ZAMBO
ROBERT CHAMBERS
Diversified Project Services International, Inc. (DPSI) is proud to announce that Jeffrey Zambo, PLS has accepted the role of President of DPSI. Robert Chambers, PE is now DPSI’s Chief Engineer and CEO/CFO. This change in the organization better reflects the existing roles of their senior leadership. Robert Chambers started DPSI in 2007 to serve clients in the energy industry in California and overseas. Mr. Chambers has over 25 years of experience managing multidiscipline engineering and construction projects and companies. He has professional engineering licenses in California and Texas, and is also a licensed Class A General Engineering Contractor with Hazardous Substance Removal Certification. In 2009, Jeffrey Zambo joined the DPSI team. Mr. Zambo has nearly 30 years of experience as a Land Surveyor. For the past nine years, Mr. Zambo has led DPSI’s efforts to begin serving clients in new markets. In addition to our continued work in the energy industry, DPSI is now very involved with clients in Public Agencies, Utilities, Schools, Development, Military and Agriculture. With over 80 employees, DPSI has become a leader in Engineering, Surveying, Planning, Permitting, Inspection and Construction Services. Our headquarters is in Bakersfield, with additional offices in San Luis Obispo and Long Beach. Congratulations to Mr. Zambo and Mr. Chambers on their successes, and their leadership in guiding DPSI to become the project services provider of choice.
5351 Olive Drive, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Phone: (661) 371-2800 | Fax: (661) 371-2801 | www.dpsiinc.com
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Finance
For a more secure retirement, make the next generation financially literate By Steven Van Metre
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etirement planning clients often come into my Bakersfield office panicked and frustrated that their nest eggs are cracking under the weight of their children’s mounting college loan debts and helping them cope with financial problems. The handwringing always involves two common questions: What can I do? How can I ever save enough to finance my retirement? I advise them to help their children become more financially literate. Using a six-question survey distributed to thousands of Americans, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority reported in 2016 that “many Americans demonstrate relatively low levels of financial literacy and have difficulty applying financial decision-making skills to real-life situations.” One survey question read: “Suppose you have $100 in a Steven Van Metre savings account earning 2 percent interest a year. After five years, how much would you have?” To take the quiz and read the other FINRA findings, go to http://www. usfinancialcapability.org/quiz.php. A separate international study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found America’s 15-year-olds ranked in the middle of 18 countries surveyed and many appeared confused by money matters. But teenagers are not alone. A survey of adults by the American College of Financial Services found 80 percent struggle with balancing their finances. You would have thought the Great Recession of 2008-2009 would have focused Americans’ attention on financial issues. But Fortune magazine recently concluded in its study that today’s more “confident” Americans have lost their financial focus or never had it in the first place. So while schools across the nation appear to be falling short with the next generation’s financial literacy education, in many homes, parents also lack the interest or financial skills to make up the difference. Basic understanding of interest rates, for example, can go a long way in helping students and their families when it comes to evaluating college financing plans that include loans that result in decades of
indebtedness. Basic understanding of the difference between wants and needs and the concept of budgeting can mean that today’s students and their parents can create more financially secure futures. Clearly, more can and should be done to offer relevant and practical financial education to students in schools. The quality today varies from state to state, with some requiring courses and others just suggesting them, with some requiring specialized teachers and others assigning classes as extra duty to staff. Parents must not wait for the nation’s schools to step up and save the day. There are things we all can do to help our children and ourselves. A parent came into my office recently. He was worried about his children’s lack of basic financial knowledge. But he was optimistic. He had learned about the FutureSmart Digital program, which was launched in 2015 by The MassMutual Foundation in partnership with EVERFI, an education technology company. Focused on middle school students, the program can be viewed at www. massmutual.com/about-us/corporateresponsibility/futuresmart. The foundation has a goal of improving the financial skills of 2 million students by 2020. It is one of
Are you financially literate? Suppose you have $100 in a savings account earning 2 percent interest a year. After five years, how much would you have? a) More than $102 b) Exactly $102 c) Less than $102 d) Don’t know
For the answer and more questions, take the Financial Literacy Quiz at http://www.usfinancialcapability.org/ quiz.php
many online digital programs being offered by private companies and nonprofit organizations. In addition to encouraging schools to incorporate such programs into their curriculum or buying digital tutorials for at-home use, there are many simple things a parent can do every day to improve a child’s understanding of the financial world. Seize financial education opportunities. Expose children to money and financial decisions at an early age. For example, kids should not just “tag along” on a trip to the grocery store. Involve them
in decision-making and comparison shopping. Help them bridge the gap between learning and applying financial concepts. Discuss home budgets and spending decisions with your child. Discuss such concepts as needs versus wants, budgeting and costs. Weigh the cost benefits of purchases. Take your child to a bank where staff can explain banking. Some banks will open small accounts to give children the “feel” of saving. Discuss the connection between credit cards and money. If adults are losing sight of this debt-building connection, why should we just expect children to understand? Look around your home and everyday life. Financial lessons abound. And it is by teaching the next generation these lessons that we all will be more financially secure. Steven Van Metre is a Bakersfield certified financial planner who specializes in retirement income strategies and teaches courses on retirement planning for the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning at Bakersfield College. Go to www. bakersfieldcollege.edu/levaninstitute to sign up for one of his courses offered in February.
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Legal & Human Resources
When is it going to be enough? By Robin Paggi
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even years ago, I wrote an article that was published in The Bakersfield Californian warning employers that they should not use videos as their primary tool for harassment prevention training because of several lawsuits that were lost by employers who did just that. I was surprised when someone wrote a letter to the editor expressing his disdain about the article and harassment prevention training in general. Robin Paggi The writer said my article suggested “that businesses need to provide even more laborious and redundant training” and asked, “When is it going to be enough?” If the letter writer thought I was pushing even more laborious and redundant training before, what follows is probably going to make his head explode. Here goes. In October, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1343, which requires California employers with five or more employees to provide all employees with sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training conducted by trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in those areas. Employees in supervisory positions must receive two hours of training while nonsupervisors must receive one hour. The training must be completed between Jan. 1, 2019, and Jan. 1, 2020. Employees who were trained in 2018 or before will need to be retrained. (For more information on the training requirements, go to https:// www.dfeh.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/ sites/32/2018/12/SB_1343_FAQs.pdf). “Why, why, why?” I imagine the aforementioned letter writer is now asking while shaking what remains of his head. After all,
“the majority of employees ‘get it,’” and the “laws aimed at preventing these workplace distractions (his term for harassment) had merit years ago, but now, more often than not, they are used by employees with personal agendas,” he wrote in 2011. In the letter writer’s defense, that was before the #MeToo movement, when hundreds of women and dozens of men publicly came forward after years of silence to tell their stories of being sexually harassed. Who could imagine that all of these people had been subjected to sexual harassment and never said anything about it? Because I’ve worked in human resources for almost 20 years and because of my own experiences, I could. I feel confident in saying that every woman has at least one story of being subjected to unwanted verbal visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature at work (which is the definition of sexual harassment). I’ve got a few stories myself, including the male manager who gave me shoulder massages when I worked at a restaurant in my teens; the male co-worker who tried to kiss me at the company holiday party; the male board member who called me “Voluptuous Robin” every time he saw me; the female supervisor who told me the air outside of our building smelled like sperm, that a good training workshop was better than sex and how her husband’s sexual appetite had increased after his brother died; and the female supervisor who told me about the wonderful sexual lubricant she was using. None of this conduct was egregious; however, it made me uncomfortable and it shouldn’t have happened. Sadly, my stories seem harmless compared to what a lot of people have experienced. And, like those who finally came forward, I never said anything about the inappropriate behavior to the person subjecting me to it or to someone in a position of authority mostly because the perpetrator was usually a person in a position of authority and I was
afraid. Perhaps, as the letter writer stated, the majority of employees get that they shouldn’t engage in verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature at work. Unfortunately, many employees don’t. “The insidious complaints or accusations made by (system-playing) employees probably outnumber true violations,” wrote the letter writer. As someone who constantly receives legal updates regarding harassment lawsuits from various organizations, I disagree. You can see a sample of the dozens of lawsuits the state and federal government have filed against employers just in 2018 because of harassment that allegedly happened at their workplaces on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s website at https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/ litigation/selected/2018harassment.cfm or the Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s website at https://www.dfeh. ca.gov/news-and-public-records/pressreleases. The letter writer went on to say that because of harassment prevention training, “an employee is empowered by simply ‘overhearing’ something they feel is offensive. The system then begins to attack the unsuspecting violators, pushing the First Amendment aside in the process.” Hopefully, harassment prevention training will help employees feel empowered
to speak up when they overhear something they find offensive, as opposed to keeping quiet like I and so many others did. And, hopefully, there won’t be unsuspecting violators because everyone will learn what they shouldn’t say or do at work or around their co-workers. Finally, the First Amendment isn’t pushed aside because it doesn’t give us the right to say whatever we want to at work (check out my article “What happened to the First Amendment?” in the October issue of KBJ for more information about that). “What businesses, personnel professionals and the courts need to understand is that not everyone who cries wolf is a victim,” wrote the letter writer. That’s true. That’s also why employers and personnel professionals need to know how to conduct an investigation properly so those who are accused of wrongdoing have an opportunity to tell their side of the story. This new training requirement might seem unfair or unnecessary to employers. But the sad truth is that people are still being harassed at work (sexually and otherwise). Hopefully, telling employers and employees what harassment is (and what it isn’t), how to prevent it and what to do if it happens should help to solve this problem. Employers with five or more employees who fail to comply with the law should know that the DFEH (the state agency that handles harassment and discrimination claims) will accept complaints from employees after Jan.1, 2020, that their employers did not provide the training in 2019 and will work with employers to obtain compliance with the law. The letter writer asked, “When is it going to be enough?” Evidently, when harassment in the workplace is no longer, as he called it, a distraction. Robin Paggi is a training and development specialist with Worklogic HR.
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Legal & Human Resources
State law expands sexual harassment training need By Karen Bonanno
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he California Legislature passed and the governor signed into law an avalanche of labor laws in 2018. Many of them were controversial. But one — Senate Bill 1343 — received overwhelming support. The bill expands the requirement for companies to provide supervisors and workers training to prevent sexual harassment. In this #MeToo era, the bill authored by state Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, did not receive a Karen Bonanno single negative vote in a bitterly divided and partisan Legislature that seems ready to argue even about the time of day. State law enacted more than a decade ago required employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least two hours of training and education regarding sexual harassment, abusive conduct and harassment based on gender to all employees within six months of becoming a supervisor and every two years after that. The new law requires employers with five or more employees, including seasonal and temporary employees, to provide sexual harassment training to all employees every two years by Jan. 1, 2020. That means that training must happen in 2019. The training must be given within six months of a new employee assuming their position and once every two years after that. Supervisors are required to receive at least two hours of training, nonsupervisory employees at least one hour. SB 1343 requires the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing to develop and make available training courses that comply with the new law. But employers can customize training programs to fit the specific needs and challenges of their businesses and industries. The stories and accusations arising from the #MeToo
As with the old strategy, the new training requirement only will improve the workplace culture if it is part of a larger strategy, rather than a “one and done” compliance effort. There needs to be a companywide commitment to the concept that all employees must treat each other with respect. movement demonstrate that the old strategy of giving supervisors two hours of training every two years and no training to nonsupervisory employees was clearly not working. But merely expanding the program to require some form of minimum training to all employees cannot be relied upon to end the sometimes illegal and, frankly, immoral behavior of a few supervisors and co-workers. As with the old strategy, the new training requirement only will improve the workplace culture if it is part of a larger strategy, rather than a “one and done” compliance effort. There needs to be a companywide commitment to the concept that all employees must treat each other with respect. Begin at the top. Training works only if company leaders are engaged and actively supporting the goal of having a harassment-free workplace. Leaders must support employee participation in education and training. If company leaders do not value training programs, neither will employees. Customize content. With the help of attorneys and
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human resources consultants, training programs can be customized to include examples that relate to actual experiences in a particular workplace. A presentation that includes obvious or irrelevant examples of improper behavior will serve to only meet compliance requirements of the new law. For the most part, employees will snooze through presentations. Encourage discussion. Training works when participants can ask questions and receive answers from informed experts. If a training session does not spark discussion among participants, employees will become bored and disengaged. Go beyond the minimum. The new law requires two- and one-hour training sessions for supervisors and nonsupervisory employees, respectively, every two years. But companies can and should do more. Arrange regular training sessions or discussion groups to focus on specific workplace issues. A poster on the wall or random pamphlets left in the staff dining area will not convey a company’s commitment to a harassment-free workplace as clearly as real communication between workers and supervisors. No doubt, in this #MeToo environment, it makes legal and financial sense for companies to comply with California’s new training law to eliminate sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. But from a good management and employee productivity standpoint, offering meaningful training and follow-up also makes business sense. Karen Bonanno can be contacted at her company, P.A.S. Associates and P.A.S. Investigations. The Bakersfield-based human resources consulting firm can be reached through its website www.PASassociates.com and through its PAS Facebook page. Its next harassment and bullying prevention class is Feb. 26.
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Marketing “(Sit down please) News can be shocking! If you like surprise and shock, and truly love Domino’s, then read the news further….” To qualify, people first had to get a tattoo of the Domino’s logo permanently inked “in a prominent place” on their body. And, of course, authenticity of the tattoos would be checked. Next, they had to post a photo of their newly minted tattoo on social media with the hashtag #DominosForever. Once the two qualifications were met, the person would receive a certificate guaranteeing them up to 100 free pizzas, per year, for 100 years. Not long after the initial post, hundreds of people flocked to Russian social media to check out the savory deal. That’s when the clarifications began. The pizza chain limited the promotion to the first 350 qualified people. Then they issued minimum dimensions for the tattoo. This was followed by a body chart designating exactly where “visible parts of the body” were that people could place their tattoo. Originally, the campaign was intended to last two months. It was cancelled after four days. All told, 381 people qualified and snagged the deal. Key lesson: Do the math. Consider a market test to estimate demand.
Public relations disasters: Tasty lessons from 2018 By Maureen Buscher-Dang
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very year we can count on a new crop of public relations failures. And 2018 did not disappoint. There were several jaw-dropping teachable moments. Some even produced a few snickers.
Piece of Cake The Danbury News-Times headline last December said it all: “The Cheesecake Factory’s free cheesecake deal ends in chaos, furious customers, and reports of battling delivery people.” Talk about every PR professional’s worst nightmare. The Cheesecake Factory originally cooked up the idea to offer a free piece of cheesecake in celebration of their 40th anniversary. The nationwide plan was to offer 40,000 slices of free cheesecake to customers who Maureen Buscher-Dang ordered through the DoorDash app. It sounded easy enough. What could go wrong? Two hours into the promotion, all 40,000 free slices were spoken for. The company increased the number to 60,000. It did little to relieve the mayhem that ensued. DoorDash drivers packed the restaurants. In Virginia, a fight broke out as drivers picked up their orders. One person was arrested for disorderly conduct. Social media blew up with unhappy people unable to snag their free piece of
anniversary cheesecake, in addition to grumbling in-store and online customers. Key lesson: Think through promotional plans and their ramifications completely before campaign launch.
Domino’s Forever That was the name of a campaign one enterprising franchise owner came up with in Russia last September. The idea was to give away free pizzas — for life. The social media campaign kicked off with a bang:
Beer fell flat Slogans, or tag lines, are important. They should be short and memorable. Nike’s ‘Just do it’ is one example that’s been successful since 1988. Heineken is a beer company with more than 150 years under its keg. They should know a thing or two about marketing and public relations, yet they blew it last March. The brewer launched a campaign of television and online commercials featuring the tag line ‘sometimes, lighter is better.’ The problem cropped up when one particular ad was criticized as being “racist” and “tone-deaf.” In the ad, an attentive bartender notices a disappointed female customer looking at a glass of wine glass. He opens a bottle of beer and slides it over multiple surfaces. It passes two African-American women and one man before reaching the wine glass. “Sometimes, lighter is better” pops on the screen. We then see the lighter skinned woman pick up the beer. To their credit, the company pulled all of the ads and cancelled the campaign after the public backlash. “We missed the mark, are taking the feedback to heart and will use this to influence future campaigns,” Heineken U.S. said in a media statement. Key lesson: Think through the many ways words matched with images can be interpreted by the public before producing a campaign. Maureen Buscher-Dang is a Bakersfield public relations and marketing consultant. She can be contacted through her website www.buschermarketing.com.
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Health Adventist Health Bakersfield named 1 of 6 ‘Top Hospitals’ in California By Beatris Espericueta Sanders
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ighlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Adventist Health Bakersfield was named a Top Hospital by The Leapfrog Group for the first time, making Adventist Health Bakersfield the only Top Hospital in Kern County. Announced Dec. 10, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals Beatris Espericueta Sanders can receive. The Top Hospital designation is awarded by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization. The Top Hospital Award comes following the medical center’s “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the third consecutive time, also from the Leapfrog Group, and also an exclusive record among health care facilities in Kern County. “What a tremendous honor to be one of six hospitals in our state and the only in Kern County to receive this Top Hospital award. Every day, our staff comes ready to provide high-quality, compassionate care that exemplifies our mission of inspiring our community to live life marked by health, wholeness and hope,” said Sharlet Briggs, Adventist Health Bakersfield pres-
ident. “I’m extremely proud of our Top Hospital recognition and our third A grade that truly illustrates our commitment to providing the best health care available in Kern County.”
Among thousands of hospitals in the country, Adventist Health Bakersfield received a Top General Hospital distinction, recognized nationally alongside 13 Top Children’s Hospitals, 35 Top General Hospitals, 17 Top Rural Hospitals and 53 Top Teaching Hospitals.
“I’m extremely proud of our Top Hospital recognition and our third A grade that truly illustrates our commitment to providing the best health care available in Kern County.” — Sharlet Briggs, Adventist Health President
Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined
in each year’s Top Hospital methodology. “Being acknowledged as a Top Hospital is an incredible feat achieved by less than 6 percent of eligible hospitals nationwide,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “With this honor, Adventist Health Bakersfield has established its commitment to safer and higher quality care. Providing this level of care to patients in Bakersfield requires motivation and drive from every team member. I congratulate the board, staff and clinicians, whose efforts made this honor possible.” To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must submit a Leapfrog Hospital Survey and achieve highest performance in its category. The selection of Top Hospitals 2018 is based on surveys from nearly 1,900 hospitals. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2018 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/ tophospitals. Beatris Espericueta Sanders is the president of the Philanthropy Foundation at Adventist Health Bakersfield/ Tehachapi Valley.
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Health
If these workers snooze, companies are sure to lose By Dianne Hardisty
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l Bensusen’s license plate reads CPAPMAN. Bensusen doesn’t suffer from sleep apnea. He doesn’t need a continuous positive airway pressure machine to keep him breathing while asleep. But since his early research days at Stanford University’s pioneering Center for Sleep Science and Medicine, Kern County native BensuDianne Hardisty sen has embarked on a lifelong crusade to find and help the millions of Americans who have sleep apnea. The owner of Sandman Sleep Lab in Bakersfield, Bensusen operates one of the hundreds of labs in the U.S. that tests and treats people with potentially life-threatening sleep apnea. Sleep apnea involves interrupted breathing. In rare cases, the interruptions are caused by neurological factors. But most commonly, breathing is interrupted when throat muscles relax and block the airways during sleep. This is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. Severe sleep apnea generally is diagnosed when sleep is interrupted 30 times in an hour. But Bensusen said he has seen patients gasping for air 120 to 150 times an hour. During these episodes, patients’ oxygen levels decline and their sleep is
PHOTO COURTESY OF RESMED
As more people are being diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea, manufactures, such as San Diegoheadquartered ResMed, are designing smaller, more effective continuous positive air pressure systems.
interrupted. After spending restless nights, they awaken with dry mouths, irritability and fatigue. Although sleep apnea is generally associated with loud snoring, it is often called a “silent killer” because of its stealth association with so many fatal illnesses and workplace risks. Bensusen explained that sleep disorders — the inability to sleep or constantly waking up — were originally treated as psychiatric disorders. But in the 1960s and 1970s, Stanford University researcher Dr. William Dement, who is credited as being the father of sleep medicine, identified physiological causes and links to a wide range of physical disorders and diseases. After leaving Stanford University, Bensusen returned to Bakersfield, opened Sandman Sleep Lab and focused on educating local doctors, including student doctors at Kern Medical, about the dangers of sleep apnea and how to identify and treat the disorder. Physicians specializing in pulmonary diseases are now the leading sleep apnea experts. “Starting out years ago, there were about 10 ailments that were said to be linked to sleep apnea,” said Bensusen. “Today, it takes me an extra hour just to cover all the links that are so broad.” In addition to being associated with such scary fatal events, such as heart attacks and strokes, sleep apnea is considered a contributing cause in many chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia, a variety of digestive problems and even nighttime grinding of teeth. The significant link between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure results from the stress that interrupted sleep places on the heart. Researchers have discovered that both men and women who have obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to have enlarged walls in the heart’s left ventricle — the chamber of the heart that pumps blood through the body. This forces the heart to work harder, which in turn increases the risk for heart disease. “More than 54 million adults in the United States have sleep apnea, with more than 80 percent undiagnosed or untreated,” said Randy Thinnes, director of occupational health programs at ResMed, an
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANNE HARDISTY
Al Bensusen, the owner of Sandman Sleep Lab in Bakersfield, stands next to his car, which has CPAPMAN on its license plate. Bensusen’s mission is to find and help Kern County people who have potentially fatal sleep apnea.
international manufacturer of CPAP and other therapy systems that is headquartered in San Diego. ResMed is cooperating with many health care organizations to research the disorder and develop innovative and convenient treatments. The research has found 83 percent of people with drug-resistant high blood pressure also have sleep apnea, as does 77 percent with obesity, 76 percent with congestive heart failure and 72 percent with Type 2 diabetes. “Sleep apnea is increasingly linked to tragic events, like two train derailments in the New York metro area, as well as the deaths of notable figures, like actress Carrie Fisher and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,” said Thinnes. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, obstructive sleep apnea has been cited as a proximate cause or contributing factor in the probable cause of 13 highway crashes and rail accidents that combined have killed 50 people and injured 373 others since 2000. “Sleep apnea has been proven to be a high-cost chronic condition where untreated adults utilize twice the cost of medical spending than those who have been diagnosed and effectively treated,” said Thinnes. “With the constant changes in health care, especially higher deductibles and increased cost of care, providers and selffunded employer groups utilizing claims data have identified ‘addressing sleep apnea’ as low-hanging fruit for producing cost savings by proactively engaging in the education, identification and treatment of those effected,” said Thinnes. For the past several years, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies have identified the need to test and treat workers in critical industries
— particularly transportation industries — who suffer from sleep apnea and pose safety risks. A study by the University of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and American Transportation Research Institute concluded that about 28 percent of commercial truck drivers suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea. Since 2001, the NTSB has recommended screening employees in safetysensitive positions for sleep apnea. In 2016, federal agencies began a rule-making process titled “Evaluation of Safety Sensitive Personnel for Moderateto-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” The public was invited to comment on the cost and benefits of requiring motor carrier and rail transportation workers to be evaluated and treated for obstructive sleep apnea. A similar proposal was suggested for aviation employees, such as pilots. But with the incoming Trump administration’s focus on eliminating regulations, rather than adding them, the effort to require testing and treatment of workers for sleep apnea was abandoned in 2017. While some safety advocates are discouraged by the move, Bakersfield sleep expert Bensusen is less concerned. The Trump administration may “no longer require some industries to mandate sleep apnea testing and treatment,” Bensusen said. “But the final say will be with the insurance companies that rule the world.” With increasing evidence that sleep apnea is causing companies to lose money from decreased worker productivity and increased healthcare cost, and that sleepdeprived workers are safety risks, insurance companies will demand the testing and treatment of workers in a wider range of industries.
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Health
New CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital By Leslie Carroll
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here’s a new man leading the charge at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Ken Keller was named the new president and chief executive officer Dec. 19, 2018. Keller has served as the vice president/ chief operating officer for the hospital since 2015. He began his relationship with Memorial Hospital in 2003 as vice presiLeslie Carroll dent of physician and business development. He held that role for five years before being recruited by Providence Health and Services of Southern California to lead their physician group in Los Angeles. Keller then served as vice president for the Advisory Board Company, where he
successfully led numerous organizations across the country into today’s “accountable care era.” Keller is confident his wide range of experience on many sides of the health care industry has prepared him well for this new role. “I tell people that I’m trilingual. I’ve been in the health care space for about 30 years. During that time, I’ve garnered experience on the payer side, the physician side and the hospital side,” said Keller. “It gives me the ability to understand the needs and concerns of all parties and when we work in collaboration, it ultimately leads to better patient care.” During his tenure at Memorial Hospital, Keller has been instrumental in many projects, most notably the completion of the Robert A. Grimm Children’s Pavilion for Emergency Services, the launch of the new neuro critical care unit and establishing a dedicated, permanent unit for the Grossman Burn Center. Behind
the scenes, he supervised the conversion to a new electronic medical record system and oversaw an $11 million facelift for the hospital. So what does the future hold? Keller says his aim is to provide the best patient experience possible. Memorial Hospital will continue to partner with skilled physicians to deliver specialized treatment tailored to patient needs. Keller says he plans to focus on strategies to extend current services and expand into new service lines that are not currently offered. “I want to make sure we are aggressively focused on patient quality, patient experience and patient safety,” said Keller. “We want to continue to improve and elevate our game.” That includes continuing Memorial Hospital’s strong community partnership and delivering on the Hello Humankindness brand. “We are the community hospital. We owe it to the community to make sure we are going to be here as an institution, resource and partner in the coming years,” said Keller. Keller succeeds former President and CEO Jon Van Boening, who has accepted a position as president and senior vice president for Dignity Health’s Central California Service Area. Keller said he looks forward to building upon the legacy
Ken Keller
Van Boening leaves behind. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am honored to be chosen, but at the end of the day it’s really not about me. It’s about the 1,700 team members that we have, who focus every day on ensuring that patients have a quality health care experience at Memorial Hospital,” said Keller. “I want to continue to facilitate their efforts on a daily basis.” Leslie Carroll is a writer for Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals.
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Technology
Conversation then collaboration lead to innovative STEM mentoring program for girls in Buttonwillow By Cheryl Scott
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ne year ago, while writing a Kern Business Journal article about education and business working together, I chatted with Stuart Packard, superintendent of the Buttonwillow School District. Packard was anxious to invite business people into his classrooms and I knew from surveys and conversations that many local women working in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) were anxious to positively impact young girls. Conversation led to action, and we sketched out a program that would partner female STEM professionals with girls in Buttonwillow. KEDF would recruit the mentors; Packard and his team would provide the students. Soon, the Buttonwillow Girls STEM Mentoring Project was launched — and it’s been a flurry of activity ever since! Our goal is to nurture young girls’ self-esteem and confidence while introducing them to education and STEM jobs (especially local careers) they might never have considered otherwise. More students stay in school when they have a mentor Students with a mentor have better school attendance and participation, according to the National Mentoring Partnership, and they are 55 percent more likely to enroll in college than their peers. Studies also show that girls are more likely to develop sustained interest in STEM when they participate in extracurricular STEM activities and when their friends are also participants. “I want to help but my schedule is crazy” Many of the women interested in mentoring knew their busy work schedules would sometimes make it hard to attend every activity. They wanted to participate, but they didn’t want to let the girls down when they couldn’t make it to an event. Ultimately, we created small groups of mentors that were each teamed with a small group of girls in order to ensure that girls would always have at least one of their mentors present. We started the program with a pool of 50 mentors, more than twice the number we were seeking! Parent support and trust is critical Approximately 50 girls in the grades four through seven were selected, but we needed to gain permission and — equally critical — the trust and support of the
girls’ parents. Families were gathered on campus, along with a group of mentors, so we could introduce the program to the parents. After an evening of questions and answers (and cookies, of course) every student’s parent said “yes!” Breaking the ice The girls arrived at the first gathering event dressed to impress. Some were quiet and shy, while others were more gregarious. They enjoyed a game that included hopping from one hula hoop to the next with their new mentors, one of whom was still wearing her fire-retardant clothing and boots, left over from her day’s work as a facility engineer for Chevron. Time together and an “out of this world” lineup build bonds between women and girls The first off-campus activity brought the sixth-graders to CSUB to hear from NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez. He grew up working in the agricultural fields of California then achieved his lifelong goal of becoming an astronaut. In November, all 50 girls and a dozen mentors travelled to the Santa Barbara Zoo. After two female zoo employees talked about their own education paths and career choices, we had a quick lunch then explored the zoo. The day ended
with a quick stop at the beach — a novelty for many of the girls. At our holiday party, students and mentors received a Buttonwillow STEM Academy polo shirt and the girls were delighted when many of the mentors stayed for the school’s Winter Program. The bonds between students and mentors are already growing strong. Many mentors send notes to their students between activities, and the girls will soon
be doing the same, thanks to guidance from the Buttonwillow School District team. What will 2019 hold? The agenda includes visits to local museums, etiquette training, on-campus STEM activities and more! Cheryl Scott is the executive director of the Kern Economic Development Foundation.
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Business Insurance Continued from Page 17
In partial losses, two questions remain: • How can we proactively prepare for a major fire, earthquake or other disaster to minimize, if not eliminate, delay or denial of payments due us from our insurance carriers? • Also, what can we do to enable us to remember each piece of equipment or other items after each has been destroyed beyond recognition? One popular solution is to photograph (or video) your organization’s equipment and inventory and store the images online in the cloud or elsewhere for safekeeping. An insurance broker friend in the Woolsey fire said: “Photos have been terrific evidence for proof. Most of their supporting documents went up in flames!” Another is to work with your insurance broker to draft a step-by-step plan (or checklist) to be monitored by you with your broker as you each work together through this process alongside the insurer’s claim adjuster. This article focuses on personal property risks. Real property risks are addressed very differently and more objectively with competitive (or negotiated) contractor bids based on architectural designs and specifications. This process is more straight forward than adjusting personal property losses. Business income claims can be difficult as well. Direct damage is usually required to trigger coverage; however, many businesses near a wildfire were forced to shut down because of intense smoke and/or evacuation orders. This is something to explore in depth with your broker,
2019
viz., law and ordinance, contingent business income and dependent property income coverages. As one broker in the Camp Fire commented to me, “Our carriers consistently received high marks for trying to interpret coverage in favor of our insureds.”
The worldwide tax system currently in effect in the United States will allow a foreign tax credit for taxes paid by corporations to foreign countries, so as to mitigate double taxation of the same income. If the foreign country tax rate exceeds the U.S. federal income tax rate, then there is no U.S. federal income tax liability. Another in the Woolsey Fire said concerning the future: “Our issue now is nonrenewals, especially those in the (wildfire) area who did not have claims. Carriers need to remain on many of those accounts.” Finally, the task is to continue to work through the risk
management process with your broker to be certain that: 1. All risks are identified and measured, especially earthquake (plus earthquake sprinkler leakage as these claims are reported to have exceeded direct earthquake losses in the 1994 Northridge earthquake). 2. All reasonable cost-effective steps are taken to avoid — or at least mitigate — losses, not only to buildings and equipment but also to money, data (cybersecurity), business income, mobile equipment and other property risks. 3. All significant risks are either (consciously and intentionally) assumed or transferred to insurance carriers (or to others by contract) with adequate amounts of insurance on each type of property. Then you’ll enjoy one of several benefits of sound risk management, viz., a quiet night’s sleep. John Pryor, CPCU, ARM, is a risk management consultant with CSU Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Center and author of “Quality Risk Management Fieldbook” for small-business owners published by International Risk Management Institute in Dallas and available on Amazon.com.
For a complimentary copy of process maps for filing a property insurance claim with your insurance broker, please email Pryor at johnpryorqrm@gmail.com.
VOTE for “Best Of” 2019 NOW through Midnight FEBRUARY 17 TH www.Bakersfield.com
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SCORE Continued from Page 1
advice to thousands of clients at any of its over 300 offices located all over the country. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration that mentors and offers free or low-cost workshops to support the success of small businesses nationwide. For this, SCORE offers each business starter the mentorship and advice from any of its expert business volunteers, who form a network of assessors all over the country. SCORE meetings with the experts are strictly confidential and at no cost for the interested person, no matter how many meetings they have. SCORE also offers free or low-cost workshops, to learn important skills to help businesses thrive, in addition to events where people can receive valuable information that will help their business grow. Noemi Chavez is the founder of Chavez Web Design LLC, a Bakersfield web design company that specializes in web design and digital marketing. She is also an active volunteer and instructor with SCORE. Her website is www.chavezwebdesign.com. For more information on SCORE and upcoming events call 661-496-0767 or visit www. bakersfield.score.org.
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