Metro August 2026

METR

A publication of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber | August 2026

BRIDGING THE G A P TalentBase connects veterans with local employers

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ON THE

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INSIDE

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CEO MESSAGE

Read a message from your President/CEO, Janelle Capra

MEET A BEAUTIFUL BAKERSFIELD AWARD WINNER Learn more about Ford Dimesion & Dream Builders Student Leadership

10 TALENTBASE FEATURE

Get to know the mission behind veteran-owned member TalentBase

14 LET'S MAKE LASAGNA

Hear an important update from the Chamber team

10 COVER PHOTO Kenny Spratt, Founder & CEO of TalentBase

AFFAIRS 18 GOVERNMENT UPDATE

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Stay up-to-date on the latest advocacy efforts of the Chamber

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NEW MEMBERS Welcome our new Chamber members

21 MEMBER NEWS

Check out what's going on in our community

Metro is the official publication of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber.

This publication is produced and digitally distributed to the Chamber’s membership at the end 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 2026. All rights reserved.

Reproduction by any means of the entire contents portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited.

CONTACT US 1725 Eye St. • PO Box 1947 Bakersfield, CA 93303 661.327.4421 bakochamber.com METRO | PAGE 3

Message from the CEO Change, Connection & What Comes Next There is something about back-to-school season that always makes change feel a little more real.

This year, it feels especially personal to my family.

My son, the last of our children to leap to high school, just started his freshman year. My oldest daughter is now in her second-year master's for Clinical Psychology at CSUB, and my middle daughter is also on the same campus studying Economics. It is these milestones that make you wonder where the time went while also reminding you to be excited about what comes next.

If this season has reminded me of anything, it is that change really is the only constant. Families grow and enter new chapters. Organizations evolve. And with every transition comes an opportunity to look ahead.

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber is certainly heading into a busy fall, with new opportunities to connect with our members, strengthen our advocacy, and continue building partnerships across our community.

We saw that work firsthand at our recent Coffee with the Chamber, where prospective and existing members gathered for a conversation about financial well-being with Bank of America’s Andy Stanley, Diandra Ko, and Karen Zuber. The conversation was another reminder that the Chamber is at its best when we bring people together around information that can make a meaningful difference.

Thank you to Bank of America for sponsoring the program, to Ivy Park at Seven Oaks for providing breakfast and, as always, to the members who continue to show up, ask questions, and invest in this community.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Bakersfield Chamber Political Action Committee, BAKPAC, will host its Meet the Candidates reception from 5-7 p.m. at The Padre Hotel. This exclusive event gives members and supporters an opportunity to meet BAKPAC’s endorsed candidates while supporting its mission to Protect What You’ve Built. Individual tickets are $250.

To register, email info@bakochamber.com.

Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, I hope you will join us for our annual Report from the Capitol. This year’s program is themed “Leading Today. Protecting METRO | PAGE 4

Tomorrow,” and will feature Senator Shannon Grove.

Members will have the opportunity to hear directly about the 2026 legislative session, the issues affecting employers and our regional economy, and what our community should be watching as we look toward 2027.

Change is also happening within our Chamber team. After nearly five years of service, Joel Paramo will be leaving the Chamber to begin a new role as Director of Community Relations and Marketing at Bakersfield College. Bakersfield College has been a Chamber member since 1992, and we are excited for continued collaboration in education and workforce development.

Joel has played an important role in advancing our communications, government affairs, and advocacy efforts while strengthening relationships across our membership and community. We are grateful for his contributions and look forward to continuing our partnership as he takes on his new role. You can read a personal message from him on page 14.

We have been working to ensure a smooth transition and continuity across Joel’s responsibilities.

Justin Salters of Hey Salty will support the Chamber’s government affairs work, including advocacy priorities, stakeholder relationships, and Government Review Council activities.

As our team evolves, our commitment to our members, partners, and mission remains unchanged.

Teams change. New opportunities emerge. But the mission continues.

Maybe that is the lesson of this season, both at home and at the Chamber: we can appreciate the chapter we are closing while still being excited about the one ahead.

There is much ahead, and I am excited about where we are going. Thank you for continuing to be part of it.

Blessings,

Janelle Capra

President & CEO Greater Bakersfield Chamber

A Greater Bakersfield Chamber program

OCT. 14, 2026

REPORT FROM THE

CAPITOL Leading Today. Protecting Tomorrow.

Presented by

Contact sadams@bakochamber.com to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.

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Living the motto of "Service Over Self" "A Better Bakersfield" Winner reflects on the 2026 Beautiful Bakersfield Awards Winning the 2026 Beautiful Bakersfield Award in the A Better Bakersfield category was an incredibly meaningful moment for me and for our Ford Dimension & Dream Builders Student Leadership program. More than anything, it was a reminder that the work our students are doing matters, and that their commitment to serving our community is making a difference.

For 50 years, Ford Dimension & Dream Builders has challenged young people in Kern County to live out our motto, “Service Over Self.” Our students are encouraged to look beyond themselves, recognize the needs in their community and, most importantly, take action. Throughout the year, they serve alongside local nonprofits, support our veterans, work with the Boys & Girls Club, help families in need and find creative ways to make a positive impact right here in Bakersfield.

What makes me most proud is that our students don’t simply complete service hours because they have to. They begin to understand that being a leader means being willing to show up, lend a hand and make a difference, even when there is no recognition attached to it.

That is why receiving the A Better Bakersfield award was so special. Six of our students from the Class of 2025 joined me at the awards ceremony,

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and one of them, Sophia Camou, had the opportunity to accept the award on stage and share a few words about what the program means to her. Watching our students stand in front of the community and represent the values they have worked so hard to live out was a

moment I will not forget.

Bakersfield is a community that shows up for one another, and I am grateful that our students have the opportunity to be part of that tradition. This award belongs to every student who has volunteered, every community partner who has welcomed them, and every person who has encouraged them along the way.

I am especially grateful to Dan and Mikie Hay and Jim Burke Ford for their continued support of Ford Dimension & Dream Builders. Their belief in our students and commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders makes so much of what we do possible.

I am incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished, but I am even more excited about what they will continue to do. If we can teach young people to lead with compassion, serve with purpose and believe they can make a difference, then we are not just building better students. We are helping build a better Bakersfield.

-Peggy Rivera Director of Student Leadership, Jim Burke Ford

Nominations for the 2027 Beautiful Bakersfield Awards are open! beautiful.bakochamber.com

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BRIDGING THE G A P

How TalentBase is building Kern County's Bridge from Service to Work The Greater Bakersfield region is rich with opportunity, but opportunity alone does not always create a clear path forward. Veterans bring valuable skills to the workforce, while local employers continue to search for qualified talent. Recognizing the gap between the two, Founder and CEO Kenny Spratt created TalentBase, a Bakersfield-based, veteranowned company designed to connect veteran talent with employers ready to put those skills to work.

TalentBase is the only Department of Defense SkillBridge third-party provider in Kern County outside the contractor programs at Edwards and China Lake, leaving a missed chance, Kenny argues, with installations on the county’s doorstep and industries that need the skill set those servicemembers already carry.

“We bring the right stakeholders to the table and provide them with solutions that are tailored to their challenges and needs,” he said. “That is how you solve workforce challenges. Instead of being solutionsfocused, you’re problems-focused. You need to focus on the problem and work backwards from there.”

After transitioning out of the Army and working with Fortune 500 companies, Kenny noticed problematic trends: high turnover rates, misaligned values, and a disconnect between the military and corporate world.

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“You’ve got employers that operate at a certain speed; they have hiring challenges and demands,” he explained. “There’s a big disconnect between the workforce system that’s supposed to help the employee and the employer. A lot of times they don’t know what those solutions are.”

CareerBridge is TalentBase's solution. The CareerBridge program includes professional development, employer alignment, and work-based learning. Its structured model starts with understanding employers' challenges and veterans’ barriers, then builds a path that addresses both sides.

Veterans go through a program that includes intake, screening and virtual professional development courses. Their basic needs are addressed first: housing, food and mental health. Then comes a tailored path that fits their career goals and fills gaps in their resume, providing them with free certification courses through the Employer Resource Center.

The process for employers is simple. With new cohorts every other month, TalentBase connects employers with qualified candidates who meet their expectations. Employers have more than one way to hire, from internships to direct placement. They evaluate talent in real-world settings before making long-term hiring decisions, ensuring the hiring process is focused on clarity and precision.

“I’ve got two stakeholders: the veteran and the employer. I need to create a great experience for both,” said Kenny.

The program has produced countless success stories.

One veteran, more than 20 years out of the Navy and enrolled at California State University, Bakersfield, came in feeling defeated. TalentBase brought him on through VA work-study, ran him through the program, and is now bringing him back full time after graduation.

Another navy Veteran, Eddie Rangel, had a technical background in networks and communications, but he found himself job-hopping, uncertain about his next steps. Today, he is at Braun Electric earning more than six figures in Kern County.

How TalentBase Came to Be Growing up on a ranch, Kenny learned that one finished task only meant the next one was waiting. Working with his hands instilled a work ethic many are familiar with in the Central Valley. At 18 years old, he knew he needed a change and joined the Army after being recruited by his uncle.

What followed was a 20-year career that ended with Kenny as a commandant at the U.S. Army Ranger School. In between, he served as a reconnaissance and scout platoon sergeant with the 173rd. In his role, he learned the skill that still defines his career, identifying talent that knows how to produce quality work.

“My strength lies in recognizing talent, building teams and making sure those teams can produce stellar results,” he said.

While the uniform came off, the work did not.

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After completing his service, Kenny entered Amazon through SkillBridge, a global program that connects veterans with roles across various industries. He found his biggest challenge was not leadership, but the systems that were in place. He had years of mission planning, but he had to learn the language of the corporate world.

He watched Amazon reach its quota for 10,000 veteran hires, only for retention to be the problem. Amazon would eventually lose half of those veteran employees before the first year was over. The lesson was clear: hiring is not the finish line if proper onboarding, communication, and fit are missing.

He later took that lesson to The Wonderful Company and the industrial park in Shafter, supporting a 2,000acre campus and the businesses around it. Talking with employers across Kern, he kept hearing the same pain in different words. Companies needed people; the workforce system had services, but he discovered that the two sides were not speaking to each other.

He thought "What if we changed the concept and said, ‘You’re the employer, what are your challenges?’ Then we bring the right stakeholders to the table."

TalentBase is that table.

Meeting People Where They Are TalentBase views a veteran's life holistically, considering their needs beyond a job. When a veteran transitions, the family transitions. Spouses and dependents need pathways too. Older veterans may not be digitally fluent. Some arrive with housing instability. Kenny knows that workforce cannot be the first conversation if someone is hungry or unhoused.

What if we changed the concept and said, ‘You’re the employer, what are your challenges?’

Then we bring the right stakeholders to the table."

- Kenny Spratt

Founder & CEO, TalentBase

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"We meet people where they are,” said Kenny. "If a veteran is transitioning and they’re not getting the help they need, that’s what leads to homelessness, depression, and the 22-a-day suicide rate. Even if I can help just one a day, that matters to me.”

While he may not have all the answers, community partners including Veterans Resources, Wounded Heroes Fund, CAPK and Bakersfield College allow him to connect someone with the help they need.

Get Involved The next CareerBridge cohort starts in September.

A few veteran seats remain, and the program is still looking for employer partners willing to interview, host or hire. The program is free for veterans and eligible military family members across Kern County.

To learn more, visit talentbaseusa.com or email connect@talentbaseusa.com.

The Chamber, Kenny explained, opened the door to opportunities and gave him the credibility he needed to work with other business leaders, turning his startup into a networked local effort.

"The Chamber has done a really great job of bringing people together to solve some of the challenges in the community," he said.

Kenny’s long-term goal is a workforce hub, a centralized resource center where fewer people are falling through the cracks between VA, training providers and employers.

Learn how TalentBase can help you. Visit talentbaseusa.com or email connect@talentbase.com.

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Let's Make Lasagna

The strongest communities are built one layer at a time If the Chamber were pasta, it would absolutely be lasagna.

There are a lot of layers. Things can get messy. And sometimes you’re not entirely sure how it is all going to hold together.

But somehow, it does.

Because at the Chamber, every layer is a person, and the people are what made this chapter unforgettable.

The people who opened doors, answered phone calls, offered advice, shared ideas, challenged my perspective, and trusted me enough to let me be part of something they cared deeply about. The people who showed up early, stayed late, volunteered their time, sponsored an idea, offered encouragement, or simply asked, “How can I help?”

They are what made the work meaningful. They are what made the hard days worth it. And they are what turned a job into something much bigger, an opportunity to belong to, serve, and help build a community I love.

The greatest lesson I am leaving with is that meaningful work is rarely about one person, one METRO | PAGE 14

organization, or one moment. The things that last are built together, strengthened together, and protected together.

I have had the privilege of sitting at tables with people from remarkably different backgrounds, industries, and perspectives. We did not always agree.

We certainly did not always see the same path forward.

But again and again, I witnessed what is possible when people are willing to listen, find common ground, and care more about moving our community forward than getting all the credit.

That is how community is built.

And, perhaps more importantly, that is how legacy is built. Legacy is not what has your name on it. It is the person you encouraged who later finds the confidence to lead. It is the introduction that becomes a partnership.

It is the idea someone trusted you with that continues to grow long after you have stepped away. It is opening a door, making the table a little bigger, and leaving something better for the person who comes next.

Bakersfield has given me countless opportunities to be part of that kind of work.

This community is filled with people doing beautiful things every day, often without recognition. Smallbusiness owners betting on themselves and their neighborhoods. Educators changing the trajectory of a student’s life. Nonprofit leaders showing up for people in their hardest moments. Business leaders investing in what comes next. Artists reminding us of who we are. Volunteers giving their time simply because they love this place. And the law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and public safety professionals who protect our families, uphold justice, and work every day to keep our community safe.

They have inspired me more than they will ever know.

And then there is my team. The people who laughed with me, challenged me, believed in me, and somehow helped turn a lot of “How are we going to pull this off?” moments into “I can’t believe we pulled that off.”

No title, project, or accomplishment will ever mean more to me than those relationships.

Now, I have the privilege of beginning a new chapter at Bakersfield College, a place that is especially meaningful to me because it is where my own higher education journey began. In many ways, this next step feels less like moving on and more like coming full circle, finding a new way to serve the same community that has given me so much.

My hope for what comes next, for me and for Bakersfield, is simple: keep building (and making lasagna).

Keep reaching across the table. Keep inviting people in. Keep choosing collaboration over competition and possibility over cynicism. Keep finding ways to make Bakersfield not only bigger or more successful, but kinder, stronger, and more beautiful.

My role may be changing, but my love for this community is not. Thank you for allowing me to serve, learn, grow, and build alongside you. I leave this chapter full of gratitude.

So, this is not goodbye. It is an open invitation to have pasta with me. Please stay in touch. You can find me on LinkedIn. With gratitude,

Joel Paramo

Senior Director of Strategic Communications Greater Bakersfield Chamber

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

UPDATE

August 2026

By Joel Paramo, Senior Director of Strategic Communications August was a productive month for Government Affairs at the Greater Bakersfield Chamber, with activity spanning federal infrastructure advocacy, local long-range planning, economic development, state legislation and several significant measures headed to California voters this November.

The Chamber partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to convene a transportation and infrastructure roundtable with Congressman David Valadao and local stakeholders as part of the U.S. Chamber’s Keep

America Moving national infrastructure tour. The roundtable allowed Kern County stakeholders to speak directly about regional transportation priorities and the importance of sustained federal investment in highways, rural roads, bridges, freight corridors, airports and other infrastructure as Congress works toward the next surface transportation authorization.

As the Legislature enters the final stretch of its session and voters prepare to consider major policy questions in November, the Chamber continues evaluating proposals, engaging with policymakers and ensuring Greater Bakersfield’s business community has a voice in the decisions ahead.

Monitoring & Emerging Issues Locally, the Chamber continued its engagement with the Bakersfield RISE 2045 General Plan, the City’s long-range framework for land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic development and future growth.

On Friday, Aug. 21, the Government Review Council (GRC) welcomed City of Bakersfield Development Services Director Phil Burns for a discussion about the Public Draft and its implications for businesses, development and investment.

The General Plan will guide decisions

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that affect how and where Bakersfield grows over the next two decades. For the business community, that includes questions surrounding available land, housing production, transportation networks, infrastructure capacity, commercial and industrial development, and the ability to attract future investment.

The Chamber encourages businesses, property owners and other stakeholders to review the draft and provide comments to the City before the Sunday, Sept. 27 publiccomment deadline.

Opportunity Zones 2.0 The Chamber also continued working with the City of Bakersfield, Kern County and regional partners through California’s Opportunity Zones 2.0 redesignation process. Following the State’s release of its preliminary recommendations, the Chamber joined local partners in advocating for additional Kern County census tracts with significant redevelopment and investment potential. The Chamber also encouraged members and regional stakeholders to submit letters supporting locally recommended areas.

Final Opportunity Zone designations could influence where federal tax incentives support commercial, industrial, housing, mixed-use and community development projects for years to come.

For Kern County, securing strong representation in the program is an important opportunity to attract private capital, support business expansion and encourage investment in areas positioned for future growth.

Proposition 40: Billionaire Tax

strengthening requirements that voters approve new or higher local taxes. The measure also seeks to ensure revenue raised for a specific purpose is used for the purpose voters approved.

For the Chamber, the measure addresses two longstanding business priorities: taxpayer accountability and predictability. Businesses make investment, hiring and expansion decisions based in part on the tax environment in which they operate.

Requiring broad voter support for special taxes provides an additional level of scrutiny before new costs are imposed on residents and employers.

Proposition 45: Infrastructure & Project Delivery The Chamber continues to support Proposition 45, the Building an Affordable California Act, which will also appear on the November ballot.

The measure would establish defined timelines for environmental review, permitting and judicial review for qualifying housing, transportation, water, public safety, education, broadband, clean-energy and other projects. For Kern County, the issue is closely connected to the ability to deliver infrastructure and development projects efficiently. Housing, water systems, transportation improvements, healthcare facilities, energy investments and other projects can face years of delay before construction begins.

Greater certainty in the approval process could help reduce project costs and accelerate investment.

The Chamber Board of Directors approved a GRC recommendation to oppose Proposition 40 on the November ballot. The measure would establish a new form of one-time wealth taxation on billionaires. While the proposal is targeted to a small number of taxpayers, the Chamber’s concern The Chamber is also monitoring debate extends beyond who would initially pay the tax. surrounding the measure’s broadband provisions, Creating a new framework for taxing accumulated including questions regarding their potential assets would introduce another level of uncertainty application to data centers. Supporters maintain into California’s tax structure and could establish provisions are intended to apply to a precedent for future expansion to additional The Chamber’sthose Political Action Committee, BAKPAC, infrastructure mass-market taxpayers or asset classes. For employers and to support continues candidatesproviding and initiatives that protectinternet jobs, access, while opponents have raised concerns about how investors making long-term decisions about where to strengthen the local economy, and advance business interests. the language could ultimately be interpreted. locate capital and create jobs, predictability matters.

As the June primary approaches, BAKPAC is focused on three SB 1203: Security Services The Chamber is also concerned that priorities: a one-

time tax does not address California’s underlying Success in the Election The Chamber is 2026 monitoring SBCycle: 1203, which structural budget challenges. If the measure1. Positioning for Supporting pro-business candidates whofor understand proposes new requirements California’s private contributes to high-net-worth individuals moving the challenges of running a business in Kern County. and proprietary security industries, including capital, economic activity or residency outside 2. Maximizing Member Engagement and Contributions: California, the State could also lose ongoing income- expanded training, reporting, compensation and Encouraging members toprovisions. participate Although in shapingprimarily the enforcement directed tax revenue.

Chamber’s advocacy efforts. at security providers, the legislation could affect BAKPAC’s Visibility and Trust: services. Increased employers that contract for those Proposition 43: Taxpayer Protection Act 3. Strengthening Highlighting the Chamber’s leadership in and statein training and compliance costslocal or changes policy discussions.

The Board also approved a GRC workforce availability could ultimately affect retailers, recommendation to support Proposition 43, the healthcare even facilities, warehouses, Membership contributions, smallconstruction gifts, providesites, a direct Local Proposition 43 would reinstate a two-thirds critical infrastructure and other businesses that rely way to influence the local political landscape. Contributions vote requirement for local special taxes,under including private security. $99 do noton require reporting, making it simple for certain sales, parcel, electricity and gas taxes, while members to support pro-business leadership.

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To contribute, mail a check payable to BAKPAC or email info@

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.

Arise Psychiatric Medical Group, Inc.

1500 Haggin Oaks Blvd. Suite 202 Bakersfield, CA 93311 (661) 735-3887 “Arise Psychiatric Medical Group provides compassionate, patientcentered mental health care, offering comprehensive psychiatric services designed to support individuals in achieving stability, wellness, and improved quality.”

Arise Psychiatric Urgent Care

9450 Ming Ave. Suite C Bakersfield, CA 93311 (661) 232-0232 “Arise Psychiatric Urgent Care provides timely, same-day mental health evaluations and treatment for children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, difficulty concentrating, and other.”

Bratcher Home & Design

1219 18th St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 549-0024 “Bratcher Home & Design is a curated home and gift boutique offering unique furnishings, thoughtful gifts, and personalized interior design for elevated, livable spaces.”

Community Property Management & Investments Inc.

3125 Park Meadows Dr. Unit B Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 379-6500 cpmiinc.com “Property/HOA management and Sales. At our core, we are fiduciaries who operate on a foundation of ethics, transparency, and communication.”

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Creations Financial and Insurance Services

5301 Office Park Dr. STE 210 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 864-7833 equipmentshare.com “Focused on long-term financial stability. Products we offer provide ability to keep money safe for the long haul.”

Dataflow Business Systems Inc.

501 Workman St. Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93307 (661) 397-2951 startdbs.com “We sell and service office copiers and are authorized dealers for Kyocera and Ricoh Document Solutions."

DIRT DOG X

5075 Gosford Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93313 (714) 837-5390 dirtdogla.com “Fast food restaurant serving hotdog, fries, tacos, specialty non-alcoholic drinks that preps everything in house."

Golden Valley Environmental LLC

4300 Ashe Rd. Suite 103 Bakersfield, CA 93314 (661) 317-2228 goldenvalleyenv.com “Golden Valley Environmental provides air quality compliance, LDAR, permitting, inspections, and regulatory consulting for California’s oil, gas, and industrial facilities."

Kern County Airports

3701 Wings Way / 5512 Sicily Ct. Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 391-1800 / (661) 747-4053 meadowsfield.com “BFL continues to prove that global connectivity can start right here at home. With service to five major hubs— Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver."

Kern Land Company LLC

369 S Doheny Dr. #326 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (661) 400-5983 “Manage commercial and residential properties"

Mustang Ace LLC

3300 Buena Vista Rd. Ste E Bakersfield, CA 93311 (817) 201-9222

Paisley Moons Limited Liability Company

2401 Bladen St. Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 809-4423 paisleymoons.com “Estate Sale and Liquidation."

Sky Zone Bakersfield

3500 Stine Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 281-5320 skyzone.com “An indoor trampoline park and family entertainment facility designed for all ages, offering a variety of highenergy activities in a climate-controlled environment."

The Fast Fire Watch Company 6298 Amberwoods Dr. Boca Raton, FL 33433 (786) 6797-323 fastfirewatchguards.com

U-Haul Co of Fresno

749 N. Blackstone Ave. Fresno, CA 93701 (559) 487-1714 “Truck, trailer & storage rental company"

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.

All American Glass Co. - 2009 American Cancer Society Inc., Relay for Life - 2023 Aspire Counseling Services - 2016 Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra - 1994 California Neurology Institute - 2023 Century 21 Jordan-Link & Co. - Jeanne Radsick - 2009 Columbus Estates - 2014

Member News B3K Prosperity’s Unbound returns for its second annual gathering of invited investors, industry leaders, and policymakers on November 8-10 at the Dignity Health Convention Center. Join decision-makers from across the U.S. and around the world to explore high-growth opportunities in Kern County. RSVP here.

Maaco Autobody & Painting BTS in Bakersfield - Beat The Sun, All-In-One — $1,299.

Enamel + UV paint, universal sealer, light chip and scratch repair, and a diagnostic scan. Get dents and body fixed and get a complimentary paint upgrade. And, our own Greater Bakersfield Chamber members take an extra 10% off paint-mention GBC.

Environment Sound Solutions, Inc. - 2010 Glinn and Giordano Physical Therapy - 2019 Golden Empire Concrete Sales - 1989 Greg's Petroleum Service - 2018 Guarantee Shoe Center - 1986 Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire ReStore SW - 2016 Hoffman Hospice - 1996 Homewatch Caregivers - 2024 Hourglass Hotel - Ascend Collection - 2010 Imbibe Wine & Spirits Merchant - 2009 Kern High School District - Career Resource Department - 1994 Kern Trophies - 1996 Knight's Jewelers - 2019 LinkEd Public Schools - 2024 Mechanics Bank Arena Theater & Convention Center - 1998 Nanette Yabiku Coaching LLC - 2024 Oildale Mutual Water Company - 2022 PAC West Systems - 2024 S.C. Anderson - 1990 Secure Systems - 1992 Smithco Surveying Engineering - 2022

Get Rewarded for looking out for your loved ones. We launched the Friends & Family (F&F) Bonus Bucks Program: refer someone and you earn $25 for every $1,000 of their job — and they save the same amount off their bill. And both get automatically entered into a $500 drawing.

Get a FREE estimate: Click to book a time best for you → or call (661) 529-2294 SoCalGas: Safety you can Recognize •

When identifying SoCalGas employees, look for:

•

Updated uniforms with a recognizable company logo

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An official photoidentification badge, which you can request to see at any time

•

Branded vehicles used by most field employees

See PDF here.

Join Make-A-Wish Central Coast & Southern Central Valley on Thursday, September 3rd, for Trivia & Treats for Wishes at KC Steakhouse. Gather your team, test your trivia knowledge, and save room for one of the sweetest parts of the evening: our dessert auction.

What is the Dessert Auction? It’s a fun and meaningful way to help grant wishes. Do you have a favorite family recipe for cookies, cake, or pie? Sign up to donate your signature dessert! During trivia night, guests will have the chance to bid on a variety of beautifully crafted treats generously donated by individuals, local bakers, and community partners. All proceeds help fund wishes for local children!

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Bakersfield Trivia & Treats for Wishes

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September 3, 2026 | 6-9 PM

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KC Steakhouse | 2515 F St, Bakersfield, CA

CLICK HERE FOR MORE MEMBER NEWS Please take advantage of this free members-only benefit and share any hiring announcements, operational changes, events, exciting news, etc. in our weekly Trending e-news. Must be a current Chamber member and 200 words or less.

Send news to info@bakochamber.com.

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RIBBON CUTTINGS AUGUST RIBBON CUTTINGS

Upcoming Events Tuesday, Sept. 1 Ribbon Cutting • 9 a.m. | Central Academy of Arts and Technology Monday, Sept. 7 Chamber Closed • All day | Labor Day Tuesday, Sept. 8 Ribbon Cutting • 11 a.m. | Dirt Dog X Thursday, Sept. 10 Ribbon Cutting • 9 a.m. | Bobbi's Hallmark Shop

Grand Opening Lululemon

10810 Stockdale Hwy. lululemon.com

Grand Opening Salty's BBQ and Catering 3214 Coffee Rd. saltysbbq.com

Thursday, Sept. 17 Mixer • 5 p.m. | Jim Burke Lincoln Friday, Sept. 18 Government Review Council • 8 a.m. | Greater Bakersfield Chamber Wednesday, Sept. 30 Labor Law & HR Forum • 8 a.m. | Greater Bakersfield Chamber

Grand Opening Kids Book Joint

2210 Chester Ave. Suite A kidsbookjoint.com

Grand Opening Everar Vitality and Serenity Wellness 2817 N. Chester Ave. everarwellness.com

Grand Opening Arise Psychiatric Urgent Care 9450 Ming Ave. #3 ariseurgentcare.com

Let’s Cut the Ribbon Together!

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CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE FOCUS 2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair of the Board Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr., California State University, Bakersfield Chair Elect of the Board Emily Duran, Kern Health Systems Immediate Past Chair Deanna Blaise, Valley Strong Credit Union Treasurer Lisa Carbajal, Cen Cal Business Finance Group

Springstead Solutions offers strategic financial consulting to businesses.

Owner Christina Springstead helps business owners find clarity and confidence with a trustworthy financial foundation. Clients are supported by a team that helps them make the right decisions to keep their business strong and running smoothly.

Learn more at springsteadsolutions.com.

Vice Chair, Public Policy & Political Action Willie Rivera, Campo Bar and Bottle Vice Chair, Economic Vitality Octavio Escobedo III, Tejon Indian Tribe Vice Chair, Leadership & Workforce Development Molly Busaca, Secure Systems General Council Mark Bateman, Young Wooldridge LLP Lindsay Barnes, KGET TV-17 Angela Barton, Barton Marketing Group Patrick Beck, Bakersfield Hyundai Nik Boone, Ascend Real Estate Jason Cater, City of Bakersfield Maggie Cushine, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County Melissa Frank, The Wonderful Company Kamal Gill, Brimhall Pharmacy & Panama Pharmacy Cherif Guirguis, LINQride DeAnna Lewis, Wingstop Maybelle Liquigan, Kaiser Permanente Jessica Pounds, Moo Creamery Austin Smith, Sage Equities Erin Tenter, Bolthouse Properties Sherod Waite, Moneywise Wealth Management Karen Zuber, Bank of America

MAJOR INVESTORS

CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE MEMBERS

CHAMBER STAFF Janelle Capra President & CEO

Joel Paramo Senior Director of Strategic Communications Savanah Adams Director of Community & Member Engagement Lorrie Guinn-Magers Director of Operations & HR Kimberly Price Community Events Manager Raegina Sanchez Program Specialist

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