Metro April 2023

THERE’S

MORE TO LIFE IN HIGHGATE

Behind the privacy gates, Highgate Park and Highgate Place are brimming with life.

You'll find it in the Highgate Swim & Fitness Clubhouse and Parkshire Pool & Pavilion, with their swimming pools, spas, pickle ball, fitness center, year-round social activities and more.

You'll find it in the tranquility of the parks, pathways, and tree-lined streets.

1712-2095 sq ft.

And you'll find it in the beautiful Castle & Cooke homes, including the all-new Coastal and Mid-Century Modern styles.

You'll find everything that makes life worthwhile waiting for you in Highgate Park and Highgate Place, the newest master planned community, by Castle & Cooke, Highgate at Seven Oaks

MODEL HOMES NOW OPEN HighgateSevenOaks.com

2081-3008 sq ft.

661-412-4857 Ming Ave. and Highgate Park Blvd.

(West of Allen Rd.)

on the

INSIDE

4 6

CEO MESSAGE

Read a message from our Interim President/CEO, Hillary Haenes

BEAUTIFUL BAKERSFIELD AWARDS Winner of 2022 Renovation/Tenant Improvement of the year - Lino's Venue

10

10 LEADERSHIP BAKERSFIELD

Read about the Ag Day activities of Leadership Bakersfield

12 SHOP LOCAL, SHOP NOW

Read about this month's feature Happy Whole You

17 RIBBON CUTTINGS

Celebrate the grand openings of local businesses

18 UPCOMING EVENTS

Make sure these events are on your calendar

19 MEMBER NEWS

Find out what our members are doing in the community

12 COVER PHOTO

Anna Marie Frank, Founder / Owner of Happy Whole You

CONTACT US

1725 Eye St. • PO Box 1947 Bakersfield, CA 93303 661.327.4421 bakochamber.com

17 Metro is the official publication of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber.

This publication is produced and digitally distributed to the Chamber’s membership at the beginning of each month. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is correct and accurate as of the publication date. Metro does not warrant the accuracy or claims of its advertisers. The Chamber President/CEO has the sole right to refuse any advertisement.

Please send any comments, questions, article suggestions or advertising inquiries to info@bakochamber.com. © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means of the entire contents portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited.

METRO | PAGE 3

Message from the CEO With Energy Comes Growth + New Opportunities As we enter the second quarter of 2023, I am excited to report that the Greater Bakersfield Chamber is making great strides toward driving growth and prosperity in our community.

We continue to work diligently to promote economic development by streamlining regulatory processes, attracting new businesses to the area and promoting Bakersfield as a great place to live, work and play. We believe that by creating a business-friendly environment, we can encourage entrepreneurship and job creation, which will in turn drive economic growth.

We are proud to offer an array of resources to support businesses of all sizes and industries in the Bakersfield area. One of our most popular resources is our Labor Law & HR Series, which provides workshops and educational opportunities for employers to stay up-to-date on important employment laws and best practices in human resources management. Don’t miss our upcoming Sexual Harassment Prevention Training with Partner and Employment Law Attorney Jerry Pearson of Young Wooldridge, LLP on April 19!

We are committed to supporting our members and ensuring their success in the Bakersfield area. Whether you’re a small business owner or a larger corporation, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber has the resources, advocacy and networking opportunities you need to succeed.

Speaking of networking opportunities, we are working to schedule some upcoming mixers for the remainder of the year, so be on the lookout for the announcement of these soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to attend ribbon cutting ceremonies, which is not only a great way to network, but to support and meet new business owners.

As always, we are dedicated to advocating for the interests of our members and ensuring that Bakersfield remains a vibrant and thriving community. If you have any ideas or suggestions for how we can better serve you, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber!

Hillary Haenes

Interim President & CEO Greater Bakersfield Chamber

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A Message from Our Chairman of the Board The search for a new Chamber President & CEO is underway The Greater Bakersfield Chamber’s Board of Directors is working with a local consulting firm to fulfill the recruitment process, which could take up to three months. We will continue to provide you with updates as we move forward with our national search.

Our goal is to find the best candidate for this permanent position. We believe it is important to take the time necessary to identify someone with the skills, attributes and experience, who will continue to lead this longtime organization in its ongoing efforts of Building a Better Bakersfield.

Ken Keller President & CEO of Dignity Health Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

Chamber News

Welcome Back We are happy to welcome back Patrice Black for a third time at the Chamber! Patrice has temporarily joined the Chamber team as Member Relations Coordinator and will primarily be focused on member retention.

She previously worked at the Chamber, handling information services and served as the coordinator for the Ambassador Committee, ribbon cuttings and membership relations.

Patrice has also worked at Black’s Construction and American General Media and was the owner and operator of Moorea Banquet Centre.

She also has served on various boards, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County, the Fox Theater and the Chamber’s Government Review Council.

“The Chamber, to me, is more than a place of business. It’s home to me,” Patrice said. “I look forward to being out in the community again helping businesses be aware of the value of a Chamber membership and the opportunities we offer to help their business grow through marketing, special events and connecting with other Chamber businesses.”

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Beautiful Bakersfield Award Recipient – Renovation/ Tenant Improvement We were already honored to have just been nominated for the category, let alone, be announced as winners of this prestigious award. When they announced, “Lino’s Venue,” we just stared at each other and were lost for words. As every business owner knows, there is so much that gets done behind the scenes that nobody else sees.

We don’t do what we do for recognition, but that moment felt so good! Receiving this award just made us feel so thankful to be noticed by the community and gave us an overwhelming feeling of joy and accomplishment.

We have been able to collaborate with local organizations and nonprofits to provide a space that includes all the elements they need to host a successful event, with them just having to focus on their guests.

We have been able to reconnect with our downtown partners and other downtown businesses, providing a convenient central location. We have recently hosted events that range from beautiful weddings, high school reunions, business luncheons, awards ceremonies to private parties with live bands. We have had the honor to recently host our House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the next day see a beautiful bride get married, followed by a meet and greet fundraiser for Miss Kern County, a luncheon before the show for Bakersfield City Ballet's "Swan Lake," then three days later, an event celebrating the CAPK Foundation. Every week the bookings are different, and the reward is the privilege to be a small part of it.

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We are excited to share the completion of Chef Lino’s newly constructed catering kitchen, located right next door to Lino’s Venue, and now start the build out for our gourmet deli coming soon! This will allow us to extend our services. We feel blessed by the continued support of our community and give thanks to God for everything we have. Our children are our “why” and because of your support, we are living our dream. Thank you again to Providence Strategic Consulting for sponsoring this award, and to the Greater Bakersfield Chamber for the recognition and an evening we will never forget.

With much gratitude,

Chef Lino & Frances

Tickets On Sale Soon!

BAKERSFIELD’S BIGGEST NIGHT

Save The Date

Saturday, June 17, 2023 The annual Beautiful Bakersfield Awards, presented by Valley Strong Credit Union, is postponed until Saturday, June 17 due to logistics concerns. We are excited to continue the tradition of celebrating individuals, businesses and organizations that have made significant contributions to our community over the past year. Stay tuned for updates as we work to create an unforgettable event. For more information, visit our website.

beautiful.bakochamber.com

METRO | PAGE 7

Ag Day

Leadership Bakersfield

Ag Day was kicked off by our very own Kern County Ag Commissioner, Glenn Fankhauser, who leads the County of Kern’s Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards. The Department’s mission is to promote and protect the agricultural industry, environment and general public, and provide consumers, buyers and sellers with a fair marketplace. Fankhauser, shared they accomplish this mission by conducting regulatory and service activities pertaining to the agricultural industry and all retail and wholesale establishments of Kern County. They enforce applicable California laws and regulations established by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Fankhauser also discussed the crop report and his office’s role in developing it – proudly noting Kern County is the No. 1 agricultural producer in California (based on 2021 numbers).

Following Fankhauser, the group heard from the California Farmworker Foundation (CFF) Executive Director Hernan Hernandez. CFF was developed to provide concrete solutions for many communitywide issues that impact farmworkers such as housing crises, food insecurity, and health care.

Hernandez shared that the CFF’s purpose is to help METRO | PAGE 10

farmworkers become leaders, and empower them to become advocates for themselves and their communities.

After hearing from our morning speakers, the group loaded the bus and headed to our first tour stop – Wonderful’s Halos facility in Delano, the world’s largest citrus packinghouse. Wonderful’s state-ofthe-art Halos packinghouse measures 640,000 square feet, the equivalent of 11 football fields.

The group was welcomed by Wonderful Citrus employees who provided them with a detailed tour of the facility where they learned about the packing process from beginning to end. Halos include three mandarin varieties: Clementines, W. Murcott Afourers and Tangos. They are sweet, seedless and easy-to-peel – look for them the next time you go to the grocery store!

Our second tour stop of the day was Supreme Almonds, a premier almond processing facility located in Wasco. Supreme Almonds is a familyowned business that processes and markets almonds, shipping almonds all over the world. We were led by Operations Manager Patrick Mason on a tour of their high-tech facility in which almonds pass through infrared, color and ultraviolet sorters, hand sorting, metal detection and X-ray sorters.

The almonds are sized, graded and shipped in a variety of packaging styles for an assortment of confectionary and snacking customers. Supreme Almond’s team members Garrett Bloemhof and Matthew Haddon also shared the nursery and growing aspects of almond farming. Bloemhof led us into the almond orchards for a discussion on the almond lifecycle and cultural farming practices.

Our last stop of the day was the Kern Water Bank Authority. We were able to walk to parts of the Water Bank where the Kern River meets the banking project. The Kern Water Bank is a surface water storage project where six local State Water Contractors are able to store water in wet years and utilize the water during dry years. General Manager Jon Parker, gave us a tour and discussed the history of the project. The 20,000-acre Kern Water Bank consisted of 7,000-acres of recharge ponds, 85 recovery wells, 36 miles of pipelines and a 6-milelong canal. In 2021, they were able to recharge 3 million acre-feet of water and recover 1.9 million acre-feet of water. As it was raining during the tour, Parker shared they have been able to greatly utilize the project in these storm months as well.

Thank you to our Program Underwriter

Contributed by Jenny Holtermann, Water Association of Kern County Ariana Joven, The Wonderful Company METRO | PAGE 11

Happy Whole You: A Holistic Approach to Mental and Physical Health When it comes to matters that involve both the mind and body, the solutions are not always straightforward. That's why Happy Whole You, takes a holistic approach to help individuals improve their overall well-being.

Through their products and services, Happy Whole You aims to help individuals increase brain function, improve mental clarity, decrease stress and enhance positive thinking.

Founder/Owner Anna Marie Frank, Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy, and her team of professionals focus on "wholism," and support each of their clients with an emphasis on the needs of their mind, body and soul.

“We aim to help individuals improve their overall well-being and live a happier life,” said Anna Marie.

“Matters of the mind and pains of the body and soul are often intangible. They often can’t be explained as readily as they are understood by a direct experience. That’s why supporting one’s well-being isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Wholism is the philosophy behind Happy Whole You and it emphasizes the whole being rather than reducing things to their individual parts. This means treating a person as a whole rather than just focusing on specific symptoms or problems in isolation.

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According to Anna Marie, "working, on the WHOLE you takes effort, but many find that it can be very rewarding. Wholism is where happiness and growth await."

In today's world, health has become more important than ever before. As people become increasingly aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, they're looking for ways to take care of their bodies and minds in a holistic way. Happy Whole You is at the forefront of this movement. Their approach to wellness is all about educating and supporting their clients, so they can take control of their health and live their best lives.

"When we give our clients the knowledge and the education of how they can support themselves naturally at their home, we give them their power back," said Anna Marie. "It's all about educating and supporting our clients through education because when we know better, we can do better."

At Happy Whole You, they believe that holistic health is about more than just physical wellness.

They focus on all pillars of wellness, including financial, spiritual, mental, occupational and physical wellness. By taking a holistic approach, they help people achieve balance and harmony in all areas of their lives.

"We use some old-school Chinese medicine holistic health modalities and then we combine them with modern technologies," said Anna Marie. "I would sum up Happy Whole You as a company that focuses on three main things: Increasing your brain function, decreasing body inflammation and building a strong foundation of health."

Their approach is paying off.

Happy Whole You has helped countless clients improve their health and quality of life. They provide personalized care and support, which is essential for achieving lasting results.

As Anna Marie puts it, "It's never just one thing."

"Community support is essential to the survival of small businesses," she said. "When small businesses are supported, they can continue to provide valuable services and products to the community."

Anna Marie builds community support by expanding her network and relationships with other business owners. "It's important to remember that we're not in competition with each other; we're all working towards a common goal of serving the It's important to remember community." that we're not in competition

with each other; we're all working towards a common goal of serving the community.

“Achieving true health and wellness requires a multifaceted approach,” she added. “By focusing on all aspects of wellness, we’re helping our community achieve balance and wholeness in their lives.”

As a small business owner, Anna Marie understands the importance of community support in challenging times and what she loves the most about owning her own business is the community.

In addition to building relationships with other business owners, Anna Marie believes in the importance of small businesses giving back to their community.

"Small businesses are often the first organizations to give back to their community," she explained.

"By volunteering our time, donating our products or services, and supporting local events, we can make a real difference in the lives of the people around us."

Continued on page 14

METRO | PAGE 13

A Deeper Dive

Happy Whole You offers a unique range of products and services to help individuals achieve optimal health. For example, the Theta Pod is one of the latest technologies available to aid in relaxation and reduce anxiousness, stress, depression and sleep issues. By pairing the Theta Pod with Inner Voice, patients can achieve even deeper levels of relaxation and healing.

"The Theta Pod is a game-changer," said Anna Marie. "The Theta Pod uses light therapy to trigger the optic nerve, while binaural beats and music are overlaid to create a deeply meditative state. That music is based on this program that we use called Inner Voice."

Inner Voice is a treatment provided, where you speak into a microphone for about 30 seconds and it analyzes the frequencies in your voice and it tells a patient their top four emotional blockages that are impacting different organ systems in their bodies and identifies the sound frequencies they can listen to help resolve the issue.

The combination of four different elements, including Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), Binaural Audio Beats and Visual Pattern Light Stimulation, provides positive outcomes and METRO | PAGE 14

improves mental well-being for patients as well.

“We work on increasing brain function and decreasing body inflammation, and building a strong foundation of health,” said Anna Marie. “When you take care of these three things, you can take care of a whole host of things that ail you.”

CES has been shown to help eliminate unhealthy thinking patterns, and symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD. Binaural Audio Beats, played through headphones, help the brain enter a theta state of mind, resulting in synchronized brain waves and neural pathways.

Visual Pattern Light Stimulation increases the rate at which the brain enters the theta state and the combination of the light patterns and sound rhythms influences brain and neural activity. The theta state refers to a state of consciousness that falls between the waking and sleeping states. It is associated with a deep state of relaxation, meditation, creativity and heightened suggestibility.

Happy Whole You's “wholistic” approach to health and well-being is a reminder that taking care of one’s self requires attention to the whole person, not just one aspect.

Sponsoder by

Getting to Know Anna Marie Founder/Owner Anna Marie Frank, Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy is a multifaceted professional in the field of holistic health and well-being. She holds a Board Certification as a Traditional Naturopath, is a brain health expert, ICF certified coach, certified master herbalist, licensed holistic health practitioner (GEHA) and a passionate advocate for living life to the fullest.

Anna Marie is also an author, speaker, employee wellness consultant, QBEC mindset & wellbeing coach and a mom.

Her personal mission is to eliminate stigmas surrounding mental health and help people improve their brains and biology through lifestyle choices while rewiring their neural pathways using holistic modalities. Anna Marie’s own journey to healing her brain after years of depression and challenges with dyslexia and ADHD is what inspired her to create Happy Whole You. Anna Marie is also the formulator of her own line of brain nutraceuticals, which includes "Happy You," "Calm You" and "Bright You." She has also extended her nutraceutical line to include whole-food based liquid nutritional products. Additionally, she is the author of the self-improvement book "Stop Bullying Yourself!" a guide to greater health, wealth, happiness and success.

She has undergone training from respected institutions such as the Gerson Institute, Amen Clinics, Integrative Nutrition Institute, Mindvalley, National Wellness Institute and Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). Her dedication to lifelong learning is a testament to her unwavering commitment to helping individuals achieve their highest potential in all areas of their lives.

METRO | PAGE 15

Welcome New Chamber Members We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the companies that have joined the Greater Bakersfield Chamber.

Thank you for investing in our mission to Build a Better Bakersfield.

American Mechanical Systems 661-565-6404 “We are a commercial mechanical, piping and plumbing contractor in Bakersfield. Specializing in prevailing wage & public works projects.”

Quality Furniture 3792 Ming Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 661-836-5554 qualityfurnituredirect.com

Domino Plastics MFG 601 Gateway Ct. Bakersfield, CA 93307 661-396-3744 dominoplastics.com

“Bakersfield’s newest furniture retail store focused on modern and trendy furniture for the stylish individual and home.”

“For more than 50 years, we have developed custom solutions with our customers and distributors. We provide the fastest design to production runs in the industry. With more than 3,500 dyes, we have the capability to make tens of thousands of products to your specification.”

Empire Aesthetic Center 4101 Empire Dr., Ste. 120 Bakersfield, CA 93309 661-825-4569 empireeyeandlaser.com/aesthetics “We are Bakersfield’s premier destination for highquality facial aesthetics, laser skin treatments, cosmetic procedures, body contouring and medical-grade skincare.”

Restaurant Depot Express 4821 Ming Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 714-666-8211 restaurantdepot.com “We carry everything food service businesses need including meats, poultry, seafood, produce, groceries, frozen foods, disposables, janitorial, equipment and supplies from major manufacturers.”

Roberts Electric Bakersfield, CA 93306 661-464-0767 robertselectric.tech “We offer solar, electrical, PLCs and maintenance services.”

LaFrenz Mechanical Inc 3121 Patton Wy. Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-397-1252 lafrenzmechanical.com

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 4615 Buena Vista Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93311 661-735-3000 coffeebean.com

“We offer industrial air compressor and air piping, sales, service maintenance and repairs and emissions testing.”

"Born and brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has always been passionate about connecting loyal customers with carefully handcrafted products."

Mango Haus 700 Truxtun Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-717-2138 mangohausbk.com “We are a locally owned restaurant offering healthy food options with flavor!”

Nekter Juice Bar 10424 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311 661-735-3344 nekterjuicebar.com “We make healthy living affordable and accessible through natural and nutrient-rich handcrafted juices, smoothies and acai bowls that taste good and help you feel better.”

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The David Marcus Thumbs Up Charity Bakersfield, CA 93312 661-205-1478 davidmarcusthumbsup.com “This charity was created in memory of David Marcus to keep his memory alive; we fundraise throughout the year to provide scholarships upon graduation.”

RIBBON CUTTINGS PAST RIBBON CUTTING

UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTING

Grand Opening Priority Urgent Care

Grand Opening Restaurant Depot Express

9900 Stockdale Hwy., Ste. 105 priority661.com

RSVP

Date: Wednesday, April 12 Time: 10 a.m.

Location: 4821 Ming Ave. Everything food service businesses need including, meats, poultry, seafood, produce, groceries, frozen foods, disposables, janitorial, equipment and supplies from major manufacturers.

For more information or to schedule a ribbon cutting, please contact us at info@bakochamber.com.

SCHEDULE YOUR CEREMONY

SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING Join Jerry Pearson, Partner and Employment Law Attorney of Young Wooldridge LLP, for this sexual harassment prevention training and certification.

Supervisors and Employees will learn how to:

WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 19

·

Ensure anti-bullying regulations are implemented.

·

Prevent harassment in the workplace.

·

Report and respond to employee concerns.

·

Communicate with other employees about harassment policy.

8-10 A.M.

Includes: A light breakfast and certification upon completion.

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training is State Mandated/Completion Certificate Valid for Two Years.

Employers must provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees and one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to non-supervisory employees. Training must be provided once every two years to all employees with six months of assuming either a supervisory or non-supervisory role.

California AB1825/2053.

COST: $30 for members/$60 for nonmembers LOCATION: Greater Bakersfield Chamber, 1725 Eye St. RSVP: 661-327-4421 or email info@bakochamber.com

Presented by LLP

METRO | PAGE 17

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

8minute Solar Energy - 2013 A-C Electric Company - 1951 Alzheimer’s Association, California Southland - 2018 Amtrak San Joaquins - 2020 AppleOne Employment Services - 1992 Bakersfield Museum of Art - 1996 BBSI - Bakersfield - 2014 BSK & Associates - 1972 CaliDental Bakersfield - 2022 Canteen Vending - 2011 Courtyard by Marriott Hotel - 1997

Saturday, May 13 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Broadcasting on KGET-TV 17 Streaming on KGET.com The Kern County Economic Summit is an annual program featuring economists and business leaders who provide valuable information designed to educate and broaden perspectives on international, national, and regional economies.

Danielle Plotner - State Farm Agency - 2021

Presented by:

Eagle Mountain Casino - 2004 Empire Eye and Laser Center - 2017 Employers’ Training Resource - 1984 Granite Construction - 1977 Greg's Petroleum Service - 2018 Kern Women’s Business Center - 2019 Merrill Lynch - Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. - 1978 Minuteman Press - 1991 MTS Solutions - 1998 North of the River Recreation & Park District - 2013 Pyrenees French Bakery - 1958 Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers - Coffee Rd. - 2019 Snider’s Inc. - 2021 Southern California Edison - 2012 Stewart Title of California, Inc. - 1975 The Daily Report - 1995 The Sequoia Sandwich Company - Downtown - 2000 The Shirvanian Law Firm - 2021 United Way of Kern County - 1993 Valley Children’s Healthcare - 2012 Verizon Corporate Office - 2021

METRO | PAGE 18

Upcoming Events April 2023

4.11.23 Beautiful Bakersfield Committee Meeting 11:30 a.m. | Chamber 4.21.23 GRC Meeting 8 a.m. | Chamber 4.25.23 Ambassador Committee Meeting Noon | Chamber

Member News North of the River Recreation and Park District (NOR) invites families to celebrate Easter early with our annual FREE Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 1-10 on Saturday, Apr. 8 at Emerald Cove Park. The event includes four specially designated areas for different age groups where participants hunt for eggs full of candy. In each area, one winner will find a golden ticket for a special prize! Attendees are encouraged to bring a basket for collecting eggs, a camera to take pictures with the Easter Bunny who will be present at the event for photos between 9:15 to 9:45 a.m., and to arrive early because the hunt starts at 10 a.m. sharp. “Every Spring, NOR carefully hides thousands of eggs in Emerald Cove Park,” says Jasmin LoBasso, Superintendent of Recreation & Community Services. “We host one of the biggest Easter Egg Hunts in the area, and we know that within minutes, it’ll be a race to grab as many eggs as possible. It’s an ‘egg-citing’ day for both the kids and their families!” For additional information, please contact Jasmin LoBasso, Superintendent of Recreation at jlobasso@norrecreation. org or 661-392-2000.

recipients families. For information contact, Lori Malkin at lorim@jjslegacy.org or 661-303-0853.

Covenant Community Services is celebrating 20 years of hope! Join us as we share powerful stories of hope that flip the script around statistics and outcomes facing foster youth. This event will take place on Friday, Apr. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Luigi’s Warehouse, 725 E. 19th St. The evening will feature great food, good friends, and the historical work of Covenant Community Services in restoring lives and transforming generations of foster youth. The cost to RSVP is $250/person or $2,500 for a table (seats 10). Contact randy@covenantcs.net or shelby@covenantcs.net for sponsorship or for more information. The evening will be attended by friends of Covenant who are committed to serving and supporting Kern County foster youth. Seating is limited.

Please join us for the Sharyn Woods Memorial Golf Tournament supporting Links for Life! There will be a Scramble Format, on-course challenge games, and prizes! This tournament will be held on Monday, Apr. 24 between 9 a.m. through Tee Time at the Seven Oaks Country Club, 2000 Grand Lakes Ave. To register, please click HERE or call 661-332-5601. For more information, please email staff@linksforlife.org.

The Women’s and Girls’ Fund, A Leadership Initiative of Kern Community Foundation, is honoring its 2023 Grant Recipients and the Judi McCarthy Women’s Philanthropy Awardees are Stephanie Lynch and Jaiden Elyssa Bareng on Wednesday, Apr. 19. The social starts at 11 a.m. with the program to follow at 11:30 a.m. at Seven Oaks Country Club, 2000 Grand Lakes Ave. Individual tickets are $95 and table sponsorships are $1,000. For information, contact Angie at 661-325-5346 or wgf@kernfoundation. org. Purchase tickets by Apr. 5 online at kernfoundation. org/events.

Join JJ’s Legacy for an evening under the stars in inspiration and celebration at the 13th Annual Gala on Saturday, Apr. 22, at Stockdale Country Club. The event begins at 6 p.m., and the community is invited to enjoy the evening with friends, dinner, fundraising events and dancing. The mission of JJ’s Legacy is to honor Jeffrey Johns, by educating Kern County residents on the value and importance of organ, eye and tissue donations, increasing the number of registered donors and providing compassionate support to donors and

Give Big Kern will be holding a Give Big Kern Nonprofit Meet and Greet on Saturday, Apr. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Park at River Walk, 11298 Stockdale Hwy. This is the first-ever Give Big at the Park event. This event is an opportunity to meet the diverse group of nonprofits that serve Kern County. The public will have a chance to win some amazing prizes from the Kern Community Foundation. Give Big Kern is set for Tuesday, May 2, and donors can give to their favorite nonprofits as early as Apr. 3. Learn about Kern Community Foundation and local nonprofit organizations as we get ready for Give Big Kern HERE. The Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Bakersfield Soul Food Fest from 3-9 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 22 at Noble Park, 700 S. P St. To become a vendor or for sponsorship opportunities, please call 661376-2853 or email djenterprise@outlook.com.

Reserve space now for the Kern County Career & STEM Expo hosted by the Kern Economic Development Foundation on Friday, Apr. 28 at CTEC, 7301 Old River Rd. Exhibitor registration is now open. Last year’s event was attended by more than 2,500 students and 120 exhibitors. For more information, register HERE. The Junior League of Bakersfield is currently accepting applications from nonprofit organizations to apply for a grant that benefits the community with focus on promoting literacy. If you know of any organizations that would be interested in applying for a grant, please contact Alyshia Kizer at administrative@jlbakersfield.org.

Bakersfield Museum of Art announced today the appointment of Victor Gonzales as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. A Bakersfield native and studio artist himself, Gonzales’ vision for BMoA aligns well with the museum’s mission, says BMoA Executive Director Amy Smith. “Museums are for everyone. Every age. Every background. Everyone. The exhibitions and events we’re planning now will underline that fact,” says Gonzales.

Gonzales created two exhibitions on view now: Color + Abstraction: Select Works From BMoA’s Permanent Collection and Dynamic, Surreal, Vibrant: Marion Osborn Cunningham. Click here for the full press release or visit bmoa.org/press. To arrange for an interview, please email lmarty@bmoa.org.

METRO | PAGE 19

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE FOCUS Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock CPAs and Advisors

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board Ken Keller Bakersfield Memorial Hospital - Dignity Health Incoming Chairman Rob Duchow Southern California Gas Company Dr. Mary Barlow – Kern County Superintendent of Schools

Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock CPAs and Advisors was founded in 1956. Today, the people who make up Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock hold a high degree of skill, and offer diversity and dedication to our clients and the public accounting profession. On the surface, accounting firms all seem to be alike, but we are more than a CPA firm. We specialize in tax, audit and business advisory services for your growth now and in the future. We will tell you what you need to hear – not just what you want to hear. We know how to identify and address critical issues that impact your business. We feel you will be impressed by the difference we can make for you.

MAJOR INVESTORS

Mark Bateman – Young Wooldridge LLP Deanna Blaise – Valley Strong Credit Union Bruce Davis – Bolthouse Properties Octavio Escobedo – Tejon Indian Tribe Kamal Gill – Brimhall Pharmacy/Panama Pharmacy Maybelle Liquigan – Kaiser Permanente Denise Newton – PG&E

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS

Jacob Panero – Varner Bros, Inc. Veronika Placencia – KERO-TV G Riar – Riar, Inc. Willie Rivera – Aera Energy

CHAMBER STAFF Hillary Haenes Interim President & CEO Kami Gonzalez Director, Administration & Operations Concepcion "Cepi" Willingham Member & Business Development Manager Savanah Adams Manager, Stakeholder Engagement Cynthia Gonzalez Operations Administrator Patrice Black Member Relations Coordinator

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

@bakochamber

BYNUM INC.