Leadership Bakersfield

Leadership Bakersfield kicked off its 2023 season with back-to-back “Leadership and Business Days” on Jan. 12 and 13.

The class was welcomed during a luncheon at The Padre’s Belvedere Room by former President/ CEO Nick Ortiz and Leadership Bakersfield Chair Christina Springstead. Pastor Traco Matthews, who is also the Chief Health Equity Officer for Kern Health Systems, provided an invocation. Matthews also moderated a question-and-answer discussion with keynote speaker Raji Brar, Chief Operating Officer for Countryside Markets and co-founder of the Bakersfield Sikh Women's Association. Brar discussed her upbringing, family businesses and why she continues to give back to our community.

Following the ceremony, participants received their DISC behavioral self-assessment results and learned about their meanings and how they impact leadership from Dr. Juanita Webb of J. Webb Consulting. Photographer April Massirio McGill provided headshots to end the day.

Day two was kicked off by Joe Coughlin, owner of Coconut Joe’s, who shared the story of his business, life and luck, and the importance of mentoring and helping others.

City councilwoman Manpreet Kaur followed and shared her local story, and how she became the first person of Sikh descent to be voted into the Bakersfield City Council.

To round out the morning, participants were placed in groups for the Marshmallow Challenge, a simple exercise designed for teams to build a structure by using spaghetti, masking tape and string. Afterward, groups met their fellow project teammates.

Temblor Brewing Co. hosted the group for lunch in the brewery, restaurant and venue’s dining room, which was followed by a tour of the brewery and discussion by Don Bynum, president of the brewery, and director of asset management for Bynum, Inc. They were treated to tastings of a few Temblor beers as well.

To wrap up, participants learned more about their projects and proposals from Mia Cifuentes, of Berry Corporation, who is the Project Chair for Leadership Bakersfield.

The Leadership and Business Days were led by Advisory Council members Jorge Barrientos of Chain | Cohn | Clark, Pawan Gill of the County of Kern and Leadership Bakersfield Chair Christina Springstead of Springstead Solutions.

By Christina Springstead Springstead Solutions