Oct/November Kern Business Journal by Kern Business Journal

KERN Journal Business

Vol. 3, No. 4

Cover story

The technology of the future is here now

October / November 2014

Get an inside look at Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics Page 30-31

Health Care issue

here’s no question that technology is changing at a rapidly gaining pace. A cellphone is almost guaranteed to be obsolete before a two-year commitment to a wireless carrier has expired. Standard features found in today’s affordable cars were either unheard of a short time ago or available only in luxury vehicles. In the world of health care, the progress of technology runs parallel to the consumer experience. There are technologies in use now that may have been seen in a science fiction movie not long ago. For Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, bringing the latest, cutting-edge technologies and procedures that can both save and improve lives to Bakersfield has long been a priority. In this issue, learn more about recently acquired advancements that demonstrate just how far medical care technology has come and how the patients, doctors and staff of Mercy and Memorial Hospitals are getting the immediate benefits. — Dignity Health

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIGNITY HEALTH

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital neuro interventionalist Dr. Kiron Thomas looks at brain images in Kern County’s first bi-plane interventional suite. Bi-plane technology allows physicians to see the delicate blood vessels of the brain from multiple angles.

Fight with your mouse. Learn more about your risk for breast cancer Kern Business Journal P.O. Bin 440 Bakersfield, CA 93302

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Bakersfield, CA Permit No. 838

There’s a new weapon in the fight against breast cancer-your mouse. Visit ChooseMercyMemorial.org/breastcancer to take our assessment. With a few clicks you can learn more about your risk for developing breast cancer and the steps you can take to help prevent it.

INSIDE

Find out how San Joaquin Community Hospital’s Quest Imaging is bringing 3-D mammography to Bakersfield. Page 14

ChooseMercyMemorial.org

Local hospitals catch the telemedicine wave to bring health resources to rural Kern. Page 34

Retired deputy turns his bright idea into new business with a little help. Page 42

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

alley Republic Bank is there for us, both professionally, and as our committed partner in supporting local cancer patients and their families.”

R AVI P ATEL, MD, FACP Medical Director Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center Compassionate care, provided by skilled oncologists using state-of-the-art technology is the cornerstone of CBCC’s practice. Each of our patients is an individual… treated with respect and dignity. It’s only fitting that we have chosen a financial institution that makes us feel the same.

Local. Responsive. Reliable. 5000 California Avenue, Suite 110 661.371.2000

11330 Ming Avenue, Suite 400 661.617.2130

valleyrepublicbank.com

Valley Republic Bank (VLLX)

October / November 2014

KERN Journal Business

Showcasing Kern County business and industry October / November 2014 Vol. 3, No.4 Kern Business Journal is a bimonthly publication of The Bakersfield Californian. Copies are available from The Bakersfield Californian, Kern Economic Development Corp. and Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene Senior Vice President Revenue and Marketing John Wells Editor Olivia Garcia Assistant Managing Editor Rachel Cook Art Director Glenn Hammett Graphic Designer Allison Escobar To submit a story kbj@bakersfield.com To advertise Gunter Copeland, Interactive Sales Manager gcopeland@bakersfield.com 661-395-7385 To subscribe 661-392-5777

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Editor’s Note

The might of health care industry grows

hen I was about 7 years old, I remember stepping into the car with my grandmother to go with her to see her general

practice doctor. I remember the drive as it took us quite a while to get there from her cozy little home in southeast Bakersfield to his cozy little office in the Greenfield area, past south Bakersfield. We past very, very few doctor or medical facilities on our way there. My, how times have changed. Today, if you take a casual drive through metro Bakersfield, you will get a general assessment of the growth of the local health Olivia Garcia care industry. Cutting-edge medical facilities, hospitals and specialized physicians are making their presence known in our community. And so when it came to discussing relevant issues for our October/November health care issue, our editorial team did not have to search too far. As you will discover in this edition, the health care industry has rapidly evolved, thanks in part to technological advancements, patient care demands and other opportunities. Take Dignity Health, for example, which is embracing telemedicine, in which patients communicate with physicians though technology. In addition, Dignity is offering a new sur-

gical procedure for spinal pain and advanced option for heart care. Or Beautologie Cosmetic Surgery and MediSpa, which is is the first local plastic surgery facility to incorporate the use of Google Glass within its practice. See what Dr. Darshan R. Shah and his team have to say about that. Then there’s Kaiser Permanente using new avenues to reach, treat and work with patients. But these are just a few PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE examples of topics you will Kaiser Permanente licensed vocational nurses Irene Ethridge, encounter in this issue. It is left, and Rosa Roldan wait for patients to be seen at the Kaiser obvious that the might of Permanente Care Corner in the Wal-Mart at 5075 Gosford Road in southwest Bakersfield. the local health care industry will continue to grow. growth in the industry. Read his column to find “Revenue wise, the local health care indusout more. try has experienced rapid growth over the past In addition, make sure you catch up with 10 years,” writes Kern Business Journal columour regular contributing columnists who fill nist Jose Granados in this issue. “Back in 2001, us in on other significant business news in this core health care industry (comprised of hospiissue. tals, clinics, doctors, dental care, etc.) registered Columnist David A. Milazzo, for instance, annual revenue of $918 million. In 2011, this explores the new king of money: mobile mermarket sector registered $1.6 billion in annual chant payment systems. He provides businesses revenue, a 74 percent growth. Currently, health care brings in near $2 billion in annual revenue, with a helpful comparison of systems for their merchant dealings. doubling over a period of 15 years. Very few Olivia Garcia is editor of the Kern Busiindustries can claim such growth.” Granados, however, notes there is room for ness Journal.

Business at-a-glance Bakersfield’s first inpatient oncology unit opens at Mercy Hospital Downtown Mercy Hospital Downtown celebrated the opening of Bakersfield’s first inpatient oncology unit in July. In a news release, the hospital announced that nurses who have completed an oncology nursing certification staff the unit. The unit features seven private patient rooms and a family lounge on the ground floor of the hospital. The Friends of Mercy Foundation paid for renovations to the space. “The inpatient oncology unit brings patients with cancer together with specialized nursing care in a single, dedicated space. This enhancement allows for improved coordination of care and a better overall experience for patients and their families,” the news release said. — Kern Business Journal

Kasasa changes the face of local banking in California Kern Federal Credit Union proudly launches Kasasa, a new brand of free checking and savings accounts. Kern Federal Credit Union’s Kasasa accounts reward consum-

ers for using their account with what interests them most — high interest, cash back, automatic savings or digital downloads from iTunes or Amazon. “We are pleased to offer these unique, free accounts to our community,” said Miranda Whitworth, Marketing Manager at Kern Federal Credit Union. “Kasasa delivers what research shows people really want but believe they can’t have —great financial products with the personal service of our community-based financial institution.”

Kern Federal Credit Union is offering Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, Kasasa Save® and Kasasa Tunes. All are free, rewards-based accounts with no minimum balance to earn the rewards or maintain the account, no monthly service fee, free online banking and free ATMs nationwide. For more information on Kasasa

accounts, consumers can visit kernfcu.org. — Kern Federal Credit Union

Three Bakersfield Firms make 2014 Inc. 5000 Three Bakersfield companies are included in The 2014 Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest growing private companies selected by the editors of Inc. Magazine. The 2014 Inc. 5000 is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved an astounding three-year growth of 516 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $211 billion, generating 505,000 jobs over the past three years. The three Bakersfield firms on The 2014 Inc. 5000 are: • CharTec, which provides sales, marketing and operations training for managed services and technology services providers (Rank: 1623);

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAZELLE TRANSPORTATION

Bakersfield’s Gazelle Transportation Inc. recently landed on the 2014 Inc. 5000 list. Gazelle serves the crude oil transportation and logistics needs of major U.S. crude oil-producing regions. • Gazelle Transportation, which transports crude oil and provides logistics for monitoring tanker trucks. Gazelle Transportation monitors deliveries in real time to keep customers fully informed and to ensure that product arrives on time (Rank: 1934); and

• Proforma Progressive Marketing, offering graphic communications services through commercial printing services, promotional products, business documents and eCommerce services (Rank: 3365).

For the complete list of companies on The 2014 Inc. 5000 visit inc.com/inc5000/list/2014. — Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Chamber Roundups Oct. / Nov. Events

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; Nov. 7, 14 and 21 – Government review council, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, 1725 Eye St. Oct. 4 – E-waste event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce (back parking lot). Oct. 6, 13, 20, and 27; Nov. 7, 14, and 21 – Strictly Business, 10 to 11 a.m. The Chamber’s live business broadcast is online at Bakersfield.com.

Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum The KCHCC is inviting its membership and local business professionals to attend its Candidate Forum from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Sierra Middle School, 3017 Center St. in East Bakersfield. The forum will feature candidates from the following races: Kern High School District; Congressional District 21; Senate District 14 and Assembly District 32. The California Endowment sponsors the event. The forum is made possible in partnership with Dolores Huerta Foundation, Faith in Action, South Kern SOL and Building Healthy Families.

Sixth Annual Cultural Festival The KCHCC is partnering with the Bakersfield Museum of Art to hold Altares de Familia, a family-centered, cultural

festival enjoyed and celebrated by people of all backgrounds. Altares de Familia will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Bakersfield Museum of Art/Central Park at Mill Creek, 1930 R St. Organizers say the event has strong ties to traditional folk art, which make it an artistic and meaningful experience. People gather to honor and remember friends and family members who have passed by creating altars, special foods, and traditional arts to honor deceased loved ones. At BMOA, student art pieces created in honor of the event will be displayed and juried. In the garden area, residents can view the altars created by local community members, while in the park adjacent to the museum, attendees can enjoy traditional Aztec dancers, youth mariachis, Mexican folk dancing, Mexican cuisine, children’s crafts area, cultural craft vendors, traditional calavera face painting and live music by Mento Buru. Anyone interested in sponsorships, vendor opportunities, or who would like to display an altar can contact the Chamber

or BMOA. Admission to the event is $3 per person; children 6 and younger get in free. Presenting sponsors are Bright House Networks and Kern Federal Credit Union. For information, visit kchcc.org or bmoa.org.

All-Chamber Mixer Cal State Bakersfield Athletics, in conjunction with the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, North of the River Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Bakersfield Downtown Business Association, will be hosting an All-Chamber Business Mixer on from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Icardo Center on the CSUB campus. Come join us for appetizers, drinks and giveaways; meet CSUB coaches and staff; and network with Bakersfield businesses. Become familiar with CSUB Athletics department and their scholarship program. For information, contact the KCHCC office at 633-5495. — Jay Tamsi, KCHCC

Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce

Oct. 9 – Labor and Employment Law Update, check-in and networking 7:30 a.m.; forum 8 to 10 a.m., Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, 1725 Eye St. Free for Chamber members; $40 for nonmembers. Complimentary light breakfast provided. Oct. 23 – 2014 Business Expo, 4 to 7 p.m., Rabobank Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave. This is the area’s largest annual business-to-business showcase. Nov. 12 – Social Media Therapy, check-in and networking 11:30 a.m.; program and lunch noon to 1 p.m., Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, 1725 Eye St. $30 for members; $60 for nonmembers. Nov. 27 through 28 – Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Visit www.bakersfieldchamber. org or call 327-4421 for information, or to register for any of these events. — Melissa Rossiter, GBCC

The mission of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce is to serve as an advocate for the creation, development, and general economic growth of its members and African American businesses in the Kern County area. Its vision is to create a prosperous and thriving African American business environment. Established in 2003, the KCBCC opened

North of the River Chamber of Commerce The greater Bakersfield area is an ever-changing landscape and with those changes come great opportunity. The North of the River Chamber of Commerce is welcoming that opportunity and taking their decades-old institution to a higher level. Founded in 1928 under the name North of the River Club, the organization worked heavily with Oildale’s Lighting District, Recreation District and North High School. Now, The NOR Chamber’s main focus is supporting businesses not only north of the Kern River but also through out Kern County. President Elect Carinne Cowell is a driving force in the group, spearheading fundraising events like the NOR Chamber Golf Tournament and this year’s Football Pool. During business hours Cowell is a branch manager for Kern Schools Federal

its office in October 2005, and the KCBCC Foundation was formed in 2006.

Activities for October and November: • Oct. 7 – Trip to Eagle Mountain Casino, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Cost is $20. Pick-up will be at 2201 V St. • Oct. 21 – Business mixer, 5:30 to 7:30

Credit Union. “I am very lucky to work for a company that supports my involvement with The Chamber,” Cowell said. “I love being out in the community, supporting local businesses, and my credit union values our participation too.” Without the support of businesses and civic minded citizens, the NOR Chamber of Commerce would not be in operation. From the small business owners who volunteer their time organizing mixers and luncheons, to retirees who help balance budgets and staff events and the larger businesses that have stepped in with support and sponsorships, the chamber runs on generosity. While the efforts have been grass roots, Cowell knows their end product is polished and makes a positive impact for North of the River businesses and citizens. “We all work very hard to make sure things are a success. We are able to provide support to our members and know we are giving them a forum to network and grow,” Cowell said. With the explosion of growth in North-

p.m., location to be determined. • Nov. 1 – Chamber food drive • Nov. 6 – All-chamber business mixer, 6 p.m., hosted by the Cal State Bakersfield Athletic Department. • Nov. 11 – Outlets at Tejon bus trip. • Nov. 25 – Food giveaway. — Carol Holley, KCBCC

west Bakersfield over the last several years, the NOR Chamber is seeing its coverage area expand and mature. Areas that were once rural and sparsely populated have been blanketed with neighborhoods and business centers. While the chamber is ecstatic about the new opportunities, Cowell is quick to point out membership isn’t limited to businesses in Rosedale and Oildale. “We are the NOR Chamber but our real goal is to support business across Kern County. No matter where you set up shop we are here to help you succeed,” he said.

Upcoming Events: •

•

The second Thursday of every month – NOR Chamber monthly luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hodel’s Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Drive. $20 per person Oct. 23 – October mixer, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Historic Union Cemetery, 730 East Potomac Ave.

— Miranda Whitworth, NOR

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Bank with a relationship team that makes it our business to know yours

As the #1 agricultural lender among all commercial banks in the nation, Wells Fargo places special focus on building long-term customer relationships. Our local commercial bankers take the time to listen and learn about your businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; unique circumstances. With this knowledge and our understanding of business cycles and seasonality, we can offer you informed recommendations and rapid credit decisions, forging a lasting relationship. Wells Fargo offers specialized financial services for all areas of food and agribusiness, including input, production, supply, processing, and wholesale distribution and retailing. To learn more about how Wells Fargo can help your business thrive, contact: Bakersfield Commercial Banking Office Geraud SmithĆ&#x2021;É&#x201E; "$*) 'É&#x201E; $ É&#x201E; - .$ )/É&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E;Ć&#x201A;Ć&#x201A;Ĺ˝Ć?Ć&#x201A;ĹżĆ&#x192;Ć?ĹžĆ&#x201A;Ĺ˝ĹźÉ&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E;" - 0 Ć&#x2020; Ć&#x2020;.($/#Ćł2 ''.! -"*Ć&#x2020; *( Jeff StoneĆ&#x2021;É&#x201E; "$*) 'É&#x201E; ' .É&#x201E; ) " -É&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E;Ć&#x201A;Ć&#x201A;Ĺ˝Ć?Ć&#x201A;ĹżĆ&#x192;Ć?ĹžĆ&#x201A;ĹżĹžÉ&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E;./*) % Ćł2 ''.! -"*Ć&#x2020; *( WELLS FARGO COMMERCIAL BANKING

Term loans Ć&#x152;É&#x201E; $) .É&#x201E;*!É&#x201E; - $/É&#x201E;Ć&#x152; Equipment financing Ć&#x152; Real estate financing Ć&#x152; Treasury management Risk management and insurance* Ć&#x152; Investment banking* Ć&#x152; Commodity hedging* Interest rate hedging* Ć&#x152; Employee benefits Ć&#x152;É&#x201E; 0.$) ..É&#x201E;1 '0 /$*)É&#x201E; ) É&#x201E;.0 ..$*)É&#x201E;+' ))$)" É&#x201E;É&#x201E;Ć˝É&#x201E; )1 ./( )/É&#x201E; ) É&#x201E; ).0- ) É&#x201E;+-* 0 /.Ć&#x2C6;É&#x201E; É&#x201E; É&#x201E; É&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E; É&#x201E; É&#x201E; É&#x201E;Ć&#x152;É&#x201E; É&#x201E; É&#x201E; Ć¸É&#x201E;ĹžĹźĹ˝Ć&#x20AC;É&#x201E; ''.É&#x201E; -"*É&#x201E; )&Ć&#x2021;É&#x201E; Ć&#x2020; Ć&#x2020;É&#x201E; ''É&#x201E;-$"#/.É&#x201E;- . -1 Ć&#x2020;É&#x201E; ( -É&#x201E; Ć&#x2020;É&#x201E; Ć?Ĺ˝Ĺ˝Ć&#x201A;Ć&#x201A;ĹżĆ&#x201A;ĹżÉ&#x201E;Ć§ĹźĆ&#x2026;Ć¤Ĺ˝Ć&#x20AC;Ć¨

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Medical Groups Bakersfield Heart Hospital announces outpatient wound healing program

oor circulation, infection, diabetes and injuries all can cause open wounds that are difficult to heal. To help patients overcome issues related to various types of wounds, Bakersfield Heart Hospital (BHH) recently opened their outpatient wound healing program to address the growing need for wound care. Bakersfield Heart Hospital’s Center for Wound Healing is located directly across the street from the hospital at 3012 Sillect Ave. It offers advanced wound care treatments and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help heal wounds, including diabetic wounds of the lower extremities, pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, ischemic ulcers, traumatic ulcers, radiation wounds, atypical wounds and postsurgical wounds. Medical Director for the new center, Ed Nichols, MD, explains, “Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy greatly increases oxygen concentration in a patient’s bloodstream, allowing oxygen to pass more easily through blood plasma into wounds to heal them. For patients who meet criteria, HBO therapy can be essential to healing certain types of chronic wounds.” More than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes. Comprehensive foot care programs have been shown to reduce amputation rates in diabetics by 45 to 85 percent. Wound healing increases patient quality of life and works toward limb preservation in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. “This is very good news for the growing number of people who need this specialized care, especially the elderly and patients with diabetes,” said David Veillette, BHH. To learn more about Bakersfield Heart Hospital’s outpatient wound-healing program, contact Center for Wound Healing Director Bonnie Quinonez at 661-6340200. — Bakersfield Heart Hospital

Kaiser joins Wal-Mart to create pilot clinic Contributed by Kaiser Permanente

isiting your doctor just got easier, thanks to Kaiser Permanente and Wal-Mart. The well-known health care provider and retail corporation teamed up and developed an innovative way of obtaining health care services in a retail space through the development of the Kaiser Permanente Care Corner. The Care Corner, a two-year, retail-based pilot, offers health care services through one-onone video visits with a doctor or nurse to Kaiser Permanente members and Wal-Mart employees. This interactive video technology includes the gathering of real-time health information using sophisticated digital stethoscopes and other devices that can be connected to high definition video cameras specifically designed for medical applications. The pilot clinic, which is located inside the Wal-Mart at 5075 Gosford Road, consists of two private care rooms for nurse advice and physician consultations. A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is available on-site to help facilitate the visits from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Once an individual comes into the Care Corner, the LVN connects them to an advice nurse via telephone, at which time the nurse will triage and provide home care advice if appropriate. If the ailments are more serious, the patient will be connected to a physician via the telehealth video technology. If the patient receives a new prescription during their telehealth visit, they have the option of filling it right away at the Wal-Mart pharmacy. Copayments and coinsurance that are the patient’s responsibility will be collected at the time of the visit. In addition to the facilitated visits with the LVN, registered

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAISER PERMANENTE

A licensed vocational nurse checks the vital signs of a walk-in Kaiser Permanente member at the Core Corner inside Wal-Mart.

nurse and/or physician, shoppers can access self-service stations offering wellness information on smoking cessation, exercise and nutrition. A scale and blood pressure machine are also offered to all customers free of charge. Both Kaiser Permanente and

Wal-Mart are committed to offering affordable ways for people to stay healthy. “We are thrilled to introduce this convenient and innovative way to receive health care services while you shop,” said Dr. Madhu Advani, assistant

area medical director for Kaiser Permanente Kern County. Beginning Sept. 17, 2014, the Kaiser Permanente Care Corner will be available to any interested individual with services offered on a fee-for-service basis.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Experience Bakersfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Private Business & Social Club Exquisite dining, impeccable service, astounding views and plenty of style in an exclusive setting far above the rest.

FEATURING

Private Gym and Lockers, Meeting Rooms, Cocktail Lounge, Banquet/Event Rooms, Reciprocal Membership Access to Sundale Country Club and Bakersfield Racquet Club, and nearly 150 Clubs Worldwide.

For Membership Information and to Schedule a Tour, Call 324-6561

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Mission Bank opens new office, celebrates 61 consecutive profitable quarters

ith the recent opening of its Riverwalk Business Banking Center in southwest Bakersfield, Mission Bank now has three business banking centers in metropolitan Bakersfield and one each in the Kern County communities of Shafter, Mojave and Ridgecrest, one in Lancaster in Los Angeles County, and one in Helendale in San Bernardino County. Recognized as a high-performing community bank, Bakersfield-based Mission Bank also has achieved a remarkable 61 consecutive quarters of profitability. “The opening of the Riverwalk BBC and Mission Bank’s recent achievement of realizing 61 quarters, or 15 years, of profitability, demonstrate Mission Bank’s strength and growth commitment to the communities it serves,” said A.J. Antongiovanni, Mission Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “Mission navigated the financial crisis and came out strong,” Antongiovanni noted, pointing out that Mission Bank’s acquisition last year of Mojave Desert Bank in eastern Kern County and the High Desert has helped fuel the bank’s growth. Located at 11200 River Run Blvd., just off the corner of Stockdale Highway and Buena Vista Boulevard, the Riverwalk BBC occupies the southeast corner of the first floor of the two-story I-Mortgage Building. Veteran banker Bob Meadows has been appointed vice president and manager of the Riverwalk BBC. Business bankers, including Rob Hallum, who heads the Agriculture Division, will assist him. In addition to being the location for Mission Bank’s agriculture division, the Riverwalk BBC will feature four work desks for everyday banking needs, including taking deposits, opening new accounts, sending wires, accepting payments, and all other services provided in traditional banking offices. A fullservice ATM, with a night drop deposit drawer, is also available at the Riverwalk BBC. With the completion on June 30 of the second quarter of 2014, Mission Bank achieved a stunning 61st quarters of profitability. The 2014-second quarter financial statements reported net income of $714,000, an increase of $63,000 from last year’s comparable quarter. Comparing net income from the first six months of 2013 to 2014, net income increased from $1,094,000 to $1,342,000. — Mission Bank

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAISER PERMANENTE

Employees from Klassen Corporation incorporate wellness into many coordinated activities. To raise heart disease awareness as part of the Go Red for Women campaign one year, Klassen employees dressed in red and earned points toward an annual competition and healthy snacks, which were paired with educational materials.

Four steps to a healthier workforce By Danielle Davis

strong company starts with strong employees — healthy, energetic, and engaged in their work. But a healthy business doesn’t create itself. It takes commitment. As you are reading this, you are probably wearing many hats in your organization, so starting a program or keeping the focus isn’t always easy. At Kaiser Permanente, we have developed a better way to take care of your business. We have a comprehensive program that is offered to our employer groups, and we have also created a checklist to help you get started with your workforce health program. Klassen Corporation, which offers Kaiser Permanente to their employees, recently participated in a program called the “Workforce Health Learning Circle” with eight other businesses. Through the 12-month program, which consists of five meetings, the employer representatives, primarily human resources staff, participated in a training that guided them through the establishment of a workforce health program at their worksite. “Being a part of the Learning Circle helped us realize we could incorporate wellness into our existing company culture by making small changes,” said Jackie Andrade, a human resources representative for Klassen. Recently, Klassen Corporation changed the menu for their lunch meetings and company activities. “We’ve swapped the pizza for healthier sandwiches, and we offer fruit

and veggies paired with peanut butter or other appetizing dips,” Andrade said. “During a recent evacuation drill, we incorporated one of the Learning Circle wellness break activities into our stand-up safety meeting. Employees had fun and were more engaged in the activity than we’ve experienced with traditional meeting formats.” The core of the 12-month program consisted of four essential steps to establishing a thriving workforce. If you want to get started on your own, here are 4 steps to help you succeed. Assess • Get leadership endorsement – Your program has a better chance of success when the company owner or CEO is on board, and leadership buy-in makes it easier to get things done. The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) offers seven benchmarks of results-oriented workplace wellness programs. • Target the most important health issues in your workforce – Find out what health issues matter the most by conducting an employee wellness survey, which includes the needs and interests of your employees. Plan • Form a wellness committee – An active wellness committee is an important part of a successful workforce health program. • Set goals and agree on clear definitions of success – Set goals based on the results of your employee interest survey. Keep them simple and easy to achieve so employees are encouraged to

continue their efforts. • Determine incentives – Offer rewards and incentives to motivate your employees. • Develop a program calendar – Create monthly health topics and plan your communications schedule. Engage • Implement – Launch and engage employees. Create a healthy workforce topic center and stock it with education resources, tools, and programs to encourage participation. • Keep employees engaged – Ongoing communication will help to promote your program and keep the excitement going. Check out WELCOA’s increasing participation checklist. Measure • Evaluate your program – Track progress, participation and interest in your program. Evaluate your program’s success based on before-and-after survey results. • Share the results – Communicate program participation rates and positive outcomes with your employees. • If you offer Kaiser Permanente to your employees, contact your account manager today to learn how we can help you get started. Additional Resources: Kaiser Permanente’s website – businessnet.kaiserpermanente.org The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) at welcoa.org Danielle Davis is the area director of account management for Kaiser Permanente.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Local plastic surgeon to use Google Glass in Bakersfield By Robin Mattingly

r. Darshan R. Shah of Beautologie Cosmetic Surgery and MediSpa is the first local plastic surgeon to incorporate the use of Google Glass within his practice. Shah and a group of doctors nationwide are some of the first doctors to bring the technology of Google Glass to surgery, in particular plastic surgery. Shah’s use of Google Glass includes: • Taking pictures and photography for healthcare education, reference and remote consultation. • Tele-consultation during operative procedures. Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head mounted display. It

displays information in a smartphonelike format. Wearers communicate via the Internet via natural language voice commands. Shah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. As a part of his surgical training program at the University of California, San Diego, he trained at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield. There, he received his board certification in general surgery. He also has extensive training in plastic and reconstructive surgery from the Mayo Clinic. For more information on the use of Google Glass, contact Robin Mattingly at 661-843-6193 or rmattingly@beautologie.com.

Robin Mattingly is vice president of marketing for Beautologie Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa.

HSC is proud to announce the opening of our High Pressure Iron Testing and Recertification Facility for our Bakersfield Branch. HSC has industry certified technicians to serve all of your equipment needs to ensure that your equipment is safe and free of washout and corrosion.

INSPECTIONS INCLUDE 1. VISUAL INSPECTION - Looking for wash out and corrosion that’s identifiable to the naked eye. 2. ULTRA SONIC THICKNESS TEST - A gauging process used to identify thickness of metal. 3. MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION - An inspection using magnetic particles to identify cracks and discontinuities in metal. 4. HYDROSTATIC TESTING - Pressure test using air and water.

Plug valves - ball valves - swivel joints - pup joints fittings - vessels temporary piping - manifolds - flanges - welds - down hole tools - pumps Bakersfield (661) 324-9721

3824 Buck Owens Blvd, Bakersfield, CA 93308

www.Howard-Supply.com

Ventura (805) 641-3002 4300 N. Ventura Ave, Ventura, CA 93001

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Clinica Sierra Vista welcomes first class of residents to Bakersfield family medicine residency program Editor’s note: Clinica Sierra Vista, one of the largest federally qualified health centers in the nation, welcomed its first class of medical school graduates to its Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program this year. Clinica Sierra Vista’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen W. Schilling and Carol Stewart, MD, FAAFP, program director of the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, shared the following with Kern Business Journal about the program and its medical residents.

linica Sierra Vista is one of the largest federally qualified health centers in the nation, consisting of more than 70 sites in its three-county service area. For more than 42 years, Clinica Sierra Vista has been providing comprehensive primary care services to lowand moderate-income residents in Kern, Inyo, and Fresno counties. The Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program is a three-year postgraduate training program of six residency positions per year led by Dr. Carol Stewart. The program is sponsored and housed within Clinica Sierra Vista at the new East Niles Community Health Center in Bakersfield. It will soon have an academic affiliation with University of California, Los Angeles. Our first year class of residents consists of six culturally diverse individuals who represent the population in our community. Four of the six residents graduated from the UCLA PRIME program and have a two- to three-year commitment to

work in an underserved area after their residency training. Teaching health centers provide an optimal training environment for graduate medical education given their close faculty supervision and the emphasis on patient-centered care, and represent the future of high-quality trained medical providers. Primary care residents trained in this setting can immediately increase the clinical capacity of community health centers. The hope of our program is that we can retain the physicians to continue to serve, work and live in Kern County and Central California. We are aiming to address the shortage of primary care physicians and build a pipeline of health professionals who will practice in underserved areas. There is a maldistribution of primary care health professionals in Kern County. Research has indicated that providing of primary care services can lower health care costs, while sustaining excellent quality of care. Diagnosing and treating illnesses early has been seen to improve patient health and increase quality of life. In spite of this evidence, there exists a current physician shortage in the area of primary care. In July 2013, Clinica began a family medicine residency program in Fresno, California, which is named Sierra Vista Family Medicine Residency Program. Our goal of starting the two programs is to support the recruitment, training, and retention of family medicine physicians that are dedicated to serving the underserved in California’s central San Joaquin Valley.

Meet the residents: • Adan de Jesus Romero Born in Chalatenango, El Salvador, graduated from Universidad de El Salvador Facultad de Medicina. He has a three-year commitment to work and serve in an underserved area. • Rafael Chiquillo Sosa Born in San Salvador, El Salvador, graduated from Universidad de El Salvador Facultad de Medicina. He has a two-year commitment to work and serve in an underserved area. • Josue Fong Balart Born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, graduated from Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Santiago de Cuba. He has a three-year commitment to work and serve in an underserved area. • Hector Arreaza Born in Venezuela, graduated from Universidad Nacional Experimental ‘Romulo Gallegos’ Área de Medicina, San Juan De Los Morros, Venezuela. He has a two-year commitment to work and serve in an underserved area. • Cindy Her Born in Merced, graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine. • Fernando Palacios Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, graduated from Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica.

A star of our own

KDG simply has the best and the brightest. Congratulations to KDG partner Dustin Dodgin for being selected as a 2014 Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyer magazine. Dustin practices in the areas of business and employment litigation and business counseling.

kleinlaw.com

BAKERSFIELD · FRESNO · SAN DIEGO

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Clinica Sierra Vista receives grant for Covered California education

n September, Clinica Sierra Vista (CSV) acknowledged participation in the Covered California Navigator Grant Program. The program awards grants to organizations focused on educating consumers about Covered California health insurance plans. Those chosen to participate have demonstrated experience in reaching populations in need and successfully enrolling consumers in health care programs. The program will provide emphasis on motivating individuals to get informed about health insurance coverage, providing assistance during enrollment and renewals and discuss the benefits of seeking a health insurance plan. “CSV has seen much success in its partnership with Covered California,” said Clinica Sierra Vista CEO Stephen W. Schilling. “In this next phase, we will use the lessons from our previous outreach which we hope results in another successful enrollment campaign.” The second open enrollment period will begin on Nov. 15 and continue until Feb. 15, 2015. Clinica Sierra Vista, like Covered California, is in the middle of major preparations for outreach and enrollment in Kern, Fresno

and Inyo Counties. The organizations are looking to reach people who may have never had health insurance, don’t speak English well, have lost insurance coverage and other reasons. It’s important for those without insurance to reach out and inquire about coverage, as most adults are required to have public or private health insurance or face a financial penalty. The fine increases over three years and by 2016, the fine will be 2.5 percent of income or $695 per person (whichever is greater). The fine will be determined on the number of months without coverage. Based on information provided by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, there are 3.3 million individuals in California who have the potential to enroll and only 42.7 percent have selected an insurance plan. According to Covered California, it is projected 1.7 million Californians will enroll by the end of this newest open-enrollment period. During the last enrollment period, an estimated 64,189 consumers in nine Central Valley counties, including Kern and Fresno counties, enrolled in Covered California health insurance plans through February 2014. — Clinica Sierra Vista

PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE

Peter V. Lee, Covered California executive director, visited the East Bakersfield Community Health Center to talk about enrollment efforts in November 2013. Clinica Sierra Vista CEO Stephen Schilling listened in the background.

Back to School. Back to Work. Fall is the perfect time for your company retreat. Why a corporate retreat... -Builds morale -Genuinely forges bonds -Provides valuable training -Lures new talent to the team

800.821.2801 | WonderValley.com

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

A year after symposium, progress against valley fever slow $2 million before it can move on to testing in sick people so it’s in the process of pitching investors.

By Courtenay Edelhart

avid Leon was always glad when a nurse changed his intravenous bag to amphtericin-B, a powerful antifungal medication. “It’s yellow. I call it lemonade,” he said during a summer visit to a Bakersfield pulmonologist. The arrival of the yellow bag, which had been preceded by other medications, meant the 45-year-old Leon’s roughly four-hour course of treatment for valley fever was about half over. In July, he had endured this regimen three times a week for about six weeks in an effort to control the disease that in December forced the amputation of his left leg. Also called coccidioidomycosis, valley fever is an infection of the fungus Coccidioides. The fungus is common in the soil of the western and southwestern United States, including California’s San Joaquin Valley. Digging and strong wind sometimes sends spores airborne, where they can lodge in the lungs. In September 2013, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, organized the Kern County Valley Fever Symposium where physicians, patients and public health officials met for two days to learn about the disease and brainstorm solutions. Among those in attendance were officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who announced a randomized controlled trial to get a better understanding of how to treat the illness. That raised expectations. Finally, the fight against valley fever was getting some traction. But less than a week before the city’s third annual Walk for Valley Fever on Aug. 9 and nearly a year after the symposium, many wondered how much had actually changed. “From a practical point of view, we haven’t made any progress as such,” said Dr. Navin Amin, an infectious disease specialist at Kern Medical Center. “We still don’t have a cure, and clinically, we’re seeing more and more cases compared with this time last year.” That’s partly because of the weather, Amin said. As the state’s worst drought in a century drags on, there’s more dry dust in the air. Nationally, reported cases of valley fever increased 684 percent from 2,271 in 1998 to 17,802 in 2012, according to the most recent data available from the CDC. That’s an almost seven-fold increase. It’s not exactly clear what’s driving that. The CDC theorizes it could be environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, improved detection and reporting, and higher numbers of people traveling or moving to endemic areas. Most of the infection last year was in Arizona, which had 5,861 cases, followed by California, with 3,439 cases, according to state public health officials. The rest were in Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO

David Leon being treated for valley fever in the office of Dr. Syed Alam.

But there’s good news, too. Statewide, reported valley fever cases dropped 33 percent from 2011 to 2013. That could be a sign that efforts to educate the public are helping. “Awareness. That’s what’s really needed,” said valley fever survivor Leon. “All the time, on really dusty days, I see people going outside anyway.” While most who contract valley fever do not become seriously ill, about 5 percent develop a disseminated form of the disease, meaning it spreads from the lungs to the central nervous system, skin, joints, major organs or bones. For reasons not yet understood, people of color are at higher risk for the most severe form of the disease. Leon is a MexicanAmerican who suspects he got valley fever while driving a bread company truck through dusty air. “You had to drive around in it,” he said. “The bread had to be delivered.” The CDC says nationally, valley fever is the primary or contributing cause of about 200 deaths a year. That’s a relatively small number in the grand scheme, which is why the disease hasn’t garnered much attention from medical researchers or pharmaceutical companies. At the moment, there isn’t a single U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug specifically formulated to fight valley fever, although there are anti-fungal medicines for other illnesses that are prescribed off-label. The first medicine specifically formulated to treat valley fever is under development by a Valley Fever Solutions, headquartered in Tucson. The company is close to taking its antifungal drug Nikkomycin Z into the next phase of clinical trials, but it needs at least

Some progress Despite the reality that a vaccine or cure is still far away, there has been some incremental progress in getting an earlier diagnosis. That’s tricky because valley fever’s symptoms are common to many other disorders. Infected people usually tire easily. There may also be shortness of breath, fever, cough, headache, night sweats, muscle aches, joint pain and rashes on the upper body or legs. The most reliable ways to confirm valley fever are blood tests, biopsies and cultures. A once commonly used skin test fell out of favor years ago because of a high number of false positives. In July, the FDA approved a new skin test from San Diego-based Nielsen BioSciences. The new test, SPHERUSOL, performed well in clinical trials, said Tom Carpenter, senior vice president and chief development officer at Nielsen. The company plans to roll out the new test in phases starting this year, he said. It can return results within 48 hours. Depending on the lab, the other tests may deliver answers anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks later. Inmates and Valley Fever In a valley fever study published this summer, the CDC recommended the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation start using the new skin test at prisons to identify not only those who are sick, but those who are immune from previous exposure to the fungus. In April 2013, the federal receiver who oversees medical care in state prisons ordered that black, Filipino and other vulnerable inmates be excluded from Avenal and Pleasant Valley state prisons, which together housed 83 percent of California’s valley fever-infected inmates. Avenal is in Kings County and Pleasant Valley is in Fresno County. The annual cost to the state for treating prisoners with valley fever is more than $23 million, according to the CDC study. Since the court order, 1,698 at-risk inmates have been transferred to other prisons. Another 649 voluntarily stayed behind after signing waivers. The prison system has worked to mitigate valley fever for years and continues to do so, wrote CDCR Assistant Secretary Deborah Hoffman in an email last week. In addition to the relocations, efforts include infrastructure improvements to reduce indoor dust in the air, training for guards, orientation for inmates, and changing the type and duration of activities. The state is still reviewing the CDC study on the relative effectiveness of those measures. Promising research Valley fever research funding has fluctu-

ated over the years, but lately it’s been rising. As part of NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases allocated $3.5 million to valley fever research last year, up from $2.3 million in 2012 and $1.9 million in 2011, according to Dr. Dennis Dixon, chief of bacteriology and mycology at NIAID. The government supported multiple treatment trials that demonstrated the effectiveness of already approved anti-fungal drugs for use against valley fever, Dixon said. Other research has discovered genetic mutations that provide clues to valley fever susceptibility and severity, and insight into potential treatments. Advocates are excited about a recent ruling they hope will spur more of that. In June, the FDA decided to include the fungus that causes valley fever on a list of qualifying pathogens mandated by the Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now, or GAIN Act, signed into law in 2012. The law was designed to create incentives for the development of treatments for new and emerging drug-resistant bugs and streamline the approval process. Also in June, the Health Officers Association of California, or HOAC, announced it would launch a continuing education program on the diagnosis and treatment of valley fever. It’s in the early stages of planning. HOAC is a Sacramento-based trade association representing leaders of public health organizations, which are typically municipal or county agencies. “We believe that there’s not enough awareness around it,” said incoming executive director Kat DeBurgh. “In the Central Valley, some doctors – most doctors, I hope – know about it, but everyone can use a refresher, and we need to educate, say, the doctor in San Francisco, for a patient who goes down to the valley to go off-road vehicle riding or camping and then goes home. “They will not be seeing a Valley doctor, so we really need to reach the whole state.” ‘Real progress’ McCarthy insists there has been “real progress” in the fight against the disease. “It is no secret that with countless diseases present or emerging in communities across the country, the competition for focus from federal research agencies is intense,” he said. But last year’s symposium achieved “positive headway,” McCarthy added, and he pledged to continue fighting for money and resources. That can’t come soon enough for Leon. He’s grateful to be alive and for a supportive family, but he’s anxious to get well enough to work again. “Before they took my leg, I couldn’t stand or walk. With this,” Leon said, indicating his prosthetic, “at least now I can stand and walk again. And I have a lot more energy since they started the medicines. I’m a lot less fatigued.”

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Hospitals Ag family makes second large gift to Memorial Hospital Foundation

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN FAHEY

Lajpat Rai Munger, who immigrated from India to California in 1966, poses with his sons, Baldev (David) Munger and Kewel (Kable) Munger.

he Munger family is donating $1.5 million to the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation. That’s on top of the $2 million the successful farming family donated in 2012. Combined, the donations are the largest gift from a single donor in the hospital’s history, said chief philanthropy officer Sue Benham. The original gift established the Sarvanand Heart and Stroke Center at Memorial, which brought to Kern County advanced cardiac technologies that local patients previously had to go out of town for. The second gift will expand on that by funding the consolidation of services in a new hybrid endovascular catheterization lab. The new lab will enable patients to have surgery immediately if an emergency arises during a normally routine cath lab procedure. “They can have an operation on the same table by the same people, without having to be moved or assembling a new team, which results in better outcomes,” said Memorial President and CEO Jon Van Boening. An immigrant who moved to California from India in 1966, Lajpat Munger retired in 1988 to devote himself to philanthropy full time. His sons run Munger Farms, one of the largest blueberry producers in the world. The family has funded schools and hospitals in its native India and took a particular interest in local cardiovascular care after Lajpat Munger suffered two heart attacks. — The Bakersfield Californian

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Dr. James A. Cusator is a diagnostic radiologist and the medical director at Quest Imaging.

San Joaquin Community Hospital’s Quest Imaging introduces 3-D mammography By Megan Simpson

t’s often hard to find a few extra moments to focus on your health with busy day-to-day activities and balancing work and family, but those few extra seconds could be life changing — especially when it comes to detecting breast cancer. What if there was mammography technology right here in Bakersfield that only took a few seconds more than a traditional 2-D mammogram, but provided exponentially greater results? Thankfully, there is – at San Joaquin Community Hospital’s (SJCH) Quest Imaging This groundbreaking technology is tomosynthesis, a form of 3-D mammography. A groundbreaking study published in June in the Journal of the American Medical Association found 3-D mammography finds significantly more invasive cancers than a traditional 2-D mammogram. Breast tomosynthesis uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers, or slices, to essentially build a 3-D mammogram. For example, picture a 2-D breast image as only looking at the front and back cover of a book; with 3-D mammograms, doctors

can look page-by-page within the book. According to the National Cancer Institute, traditional 2-D mammograms miss about 20 percent of all breast cancers. Tomosynthesis can be performed at the same time as a standard 2-D breast X-ray using the same piece of equipment. During a 3-D mammogram, a woman’s breast is compressed, just as it is for a typical mammogram. It allows doctors to examine breast tissue one layer at a time. This creates an image in which the radiologist can detect cancer earlier, when it is more easily treatable. Most patients will likely not notice any difference at all. “The biggest benefits from tomosynthesis are an increase in detection of invasive cancers, which are the most common type, and the decrease in the false alarms or callbacks for additional imaging,” said Dr. James A. Cusator, a diagnostic radiologist and the medical director at Quest Imaging. “We are definitely finding cases we would not have detected with just the 2-D mammography. This is exactly what you want in a screening test: increased tumor pickup and decreased false-positives.” A recent study – “Breast Cancer Screening Using Tomosynthesis in Combination with Digital Mammography” – published in

the June 25, 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found a 41 percent increase in the detection of invasive breast cancers and a 29 percent increase in the detection of all breast cancers. Threedimensional mammography has also been shown by several studies to reduce callbacks for additional diagnostic testing by nearly 40 percent, reducing anxiety and health care costs. Tomosynthesis is the first and currently the only Food and Drug Administration approved 3-D mammography system in the U.S. and the best way to make early detection, even earlier. “If you are only going to do one screening test, you would want to take advantage of the best equipment and the best place to do it,” Cusator said. In Bakersfield and Kern County, that place is Quest Imaging. The American Cancer Society urges most women to have yearly mammograms starting at age 40. For those seeking mammograms, check with your doctor and consider a 3-D mammography at Quest Imaging. Megan Simpson is the senior marketing and communications coordinator for San Joaquin Community Hospital.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Kern Valley Healthcare District keeps up with growth, need By Anna Leon

ern Valley Healthcare District (KVHD) operates the Kern Valley Hospital, a rural health clinic and Mt. Mesa Clinical Pharmacy. The hospital provides both acute care and skilled nursing care in Mt. Mesa, about 10 minutes from Lake Isabella. The improvements and growth of the KVHD in the last five years have been many indeed under the direction of current Chief Executive Officer Tim McGlew. Federal regulations require all hospitals and health care providers to have electronic health records system in place within their hospital system or clinical practice setting by Jan. 1. With electronic records, information is available whenever and wherever it is needed. Kern Valley Hospital implemented a hospital wide electronic health records system in 2012, which has facilitated a greater and more seamless flow of information within the digital health care infrastructure, transforming the way care is delivered. KVHD’s Rural Health Clinic has seen significant growth since the introduction of telemedicine three years ago to the clinic. The facility offers psychiatry, psychological counseling and neurology services using equipment provided by grants

from University of California, Davis and University of California, Irvine. A grant from Kern Health Systems made it possible for KVHD to purchase the Rural Health Clinic building, and KVHD is in the process of adding two additional exam rooms for a total of nine exam rooms, two of which will be used for telemedicine. The clinic has recently begun offering expanded hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., which will be fully implemented this October to meet the demand for clinic services. Many recent improvements have allowed Kern Valley Hospital to provide better care for the approximately 18,000 residents in its the 400-square-mile service area, such as advanced upgrades in almost every department. Improvements include a new electrocautery unit for the Surgery Department; new ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT Scan) and new digital radiography equipment for the Radiology Department; new ventilator, echocardiogram and electrocardiogram units for the Cardio-Pulmonary Department; and a new chemistry analyzer for the Laboratory Department. Along with all this growth, KVHD realizes that a health care facility is a workplace, as well as a place for receiving and giving care, and has continued to focus on recruiting knowledgeable, caring staff who not only have the means to provide

accurate diagnosis, but also the heart to give relief and comfort to patients who walk through their doors. Newly recruited Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Kevin Chamas said it is a “pleasure to be here.” “There is a lot of optimism and plans for the future and I really want to be a part of that,” Chamas said. “The greatest thing about the KVHD is the people that work here and what their intentions and desires are; it’s all about them wanting to serve the public.” A Learning Management System (LMS) was implemented in 2013 for staff to maintain educational requirements and stay current on training. LMS is a web-based technology that tracks and manages all aspects of the medical facility’s personnel training requirements. Preparing for immediate and continued growth, the KVHD Board and Administration just completed a strategic plan for the next three years focusing on expanding many areas of service and most importantly, the vitally needed renovation of the Emergency Department. Exciting times are ahead for the Kern Valley Healthcare District, its employees and the rural communities it serves. Anna Leon is the public relations and marketing coordinator for the Kern Valley Healthcare District.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Tehachapi Hospital construction project delayed but still underway By Tehachapi News

oard members of Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District are faced with a growing deficit for construction of a new Tehachapi Hospital and the likelihood that completion of the facility will need to be staged. Still, longtime physician and board member Dr. Sam Conklin said in mid-September that the project is back on track after some delays and “with a schedule we can depend on.” Completion of a new Tehachapi Hospital has been pushed out to at least the second quarter of 2016 instead of the fall of 2015 — and the district is still figuring out how to handle a growing funding shortfall that was revealed to be $23 million in August. Officials broke ground on the new facility in March 2013. Even then they knew that the $65 million in bonds approved by voters in 2004 and 2009 would not be enough to complete the facility that was designed to

replace the hospital destroyed in the 1952 earthquake. State regulators have seismic concerns about the mountain town’s current hospital and it continues to operate only because a new facility is being built. According to a report for the board authored by Interim CEO Eugene Suski, the district’s seismic compliance deadline is Jan. 1, 2016. The replacement hospital will not be complete by then. In a report to the board, Suski said the district is working to determine what steps are needed for an extension to the deadline. The construction project was previously delayed by litigation. In November 2011, just before the district was set to break ground on the project, a group called Tehachapi Area Critical Landuse Group filed a writ of mandate with Kern County Superior Court alleging that the district board had violated the California Environmental Quality Act in approving a mitigated negative declaration of environmental impact for the new hospital. In September 2012, Judge Kenneth C.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEHACHAPI NEWS

Construction on the new Tehachapi Hospital continues at a slow pace. Construction is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2016.

Twisselman II tossed the suit, paving the way for the project to resume. Trouble with incorrectly poured concrete also delayed construction. Conklin said in mid-September that a new contractor is now at work. “It is really booming over there and moving along,” he said. Construction Project Manager Stacey Pray said the district needs to consider a phasing of construction that will allow the

new hospital to open even though everything originally planned may not be completed. The board was expected to consider this option in late September. Pray said phasing could reduce the shortfall from $23 million to about $6 million. In April, the board approved an agreement with GL Hicks Financial Services to help obtain additional financing for the project.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Dignity hospitals welcome new technology, procedures By Dignity Health

edical advances happen every day, and Dignity Health is committed to bringing the latest technology and medical procedures to Bakersfield. A new surgical procedure for spinal pain and advanced option for heart care are just a few of the latest options now available at Mercy and Memorial Hospitals. Making cervical disc disease less of a pain in the neck Supporting the human head, which can weigh 8 to 12 pounds, requires an amazing feat of engineering. Your neck has to bear that weight, protect the spinal cord, and still provide mobility. And yet, this cervical portion of the spine is made up of just seven thin, delicate vertebral segments separated by cartilaginous discs. When these discs start degenerating from overuse, an accident, or just everyday life, symptoms appear, including arm, shoulder or neck pain, and weakness or numbness that may include pain. Until very recently, replacing a damaged disc required cervical fusion, a procedure where the space is filled with a block of bone taken from the pelvis, causing the vertebrae to grow together. Dr. Steven Schopler, a Bakersfield orthopedic surgeon, said cervical fusion “is a very successful operation and works very well. But in a younger and more active person who wants

to get back on the job, or someone who has an active lifestyle and plays sports, we can now offer a great new innovation, the Mobi-C Cervical Disc.” Made of two metal plates and a plastic insert in the middle, the advantages of the new Mobi-C include being able to replace cervical discs in two adjacent locations. “According to the latest statistics, you have about a 3 percent chance per year of the next segment going bad either above or below if you have a fusion, which means a 30 percent chance in 10 years – a substantial number,” Schopler said. “This is new technology surgery that can be done through a very small incision. It avoids the need to do a cervical fusion, and it preserves motion of the cervical spine,” Schopler said. “It also protects the adjacent cervical discs from increased mechanical stress, and in clinical results it has been shown to produce results equivalent to, or superior to, a fusion in terms of pain.” Approved by the Food and Drud Administration in 2013, Schopler performed the first local two-level cervical disc replacement using the Mobi-C procedure at Memorial Hospital this past June. Since then, the majority of his cervical disc replacement patients have been able to go home within a day since a shorter hospital stay is another benefit of the new procedure, which he says makes them some of his happiest patients. Sudden cardiac arrest protection without touching the heart When it’s working correctly, your heart will pump as

much as 2,000 gallons of oxygen-rich blood every day. But if there’s a problem with a heart’s electrical system, it can produce rhythm abnormalities called arrhythmias. The danger begins when some arrhythmias turn into rapid, disorganized electrical impulses that make the heart beat too fast, cause the ventricles to shudder uselessly instead of pumping blood, and trigger life-threatening sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In the United States, there are approximately 850,000 people who are at risk of SCA and could benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a small device placed in the chest or abdomen that uses electrical pulses or shocks to help control life-threatening arrhythmias. Until now, these ICDs have been placed inside the ribcage, with flexible wires that run within a blood vessel to connect with electrodes attached to the heart. Now, for those who require protection from SCA but don’t need a pacemaker function, there’s new technology that offers an exciting advantage compared to previous ICDs. The Boston Scientific S-ICD System, the world’s first and only commercially available subcutaneous implantable defibrillator sits just beneath the skin of the chest with no wires or electrodes, leaving blood vessels and the heart untouched. In August, Memorial Hospital became the first local hospital to implant the new system when Dr. Jared Salvo, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, performed the surgery on a local man. A little more than 2,000 people in the world have had the device implanted.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Bakersfield Heart Hospital sends patients home sooner with new minimally invasive procedure By Brij Bhambi and Sarabjeet Singh

atients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm used to endure an open procedure and a long recovery period. The average hospital stay ranged from five to eight days. The time until a patient could return to normal activity ranged from six weeks to three months. But at Bakersfield Heart Hospital, a procedure known as the endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair lets patients leave the hospital on the same day or next day and they can usually return to normal activity in just a few days. What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)? AAA is an enlarged area in the lower part of the abdominal aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. The aorta, about the thickness of a garden hose, runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Because the aorta is the body’s main supplier of blood, a ruptured AAA can cause life-threatening bleeding. Depending on the size and rate at which your AAA is growing, treatment may vary from watchful waiting to emergency surgery. Once the AAA is identified, doctors will closely monitor it so that surgery can be planned if it’s necessary. What are the signs and symptoms of AAA? Most develop slowly over years and don’t cause signs or symptoms unless they rupture. Many are identified during a routine physical exam. When symptoms are present, they can include: • A throbbing feeling in the abdomen; • Discomfort in your back or the side of your abdomen; • Steady ache in your abdomen that lasts for hours or days. Who is at risk for AAA? Factors that put you at a higher risk include: • Gender - Men are more likely than women to have aortic aneurysms. • Age - These aneurysms are more likely to occur in people who are age 65 or older. • Smoking - Damages and weakens the walls of the aorta. • Family history - People with a family history of aortic aneurysms are at higher risk for the condition, and may develop aneurysms before the age of 65.

Partners Scott Belden, David Blaine and Katy Raytis are client-oriented professionals committed to providing business owners and management with legal services that exceed their expectations in three core areas: cost, efficiency, and results. Business | Commercial | Employment Litigation Employment Counseling

www.beldenblaine.com • Certain diseases and conditions that weaken the walls of the aorta. Examples include high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Minimally invasive surgical option for AAA The new procedure performed at Bakersfield Heart Hospital is an endovascular repair, which entails the insertion of a compressed stent graft contained within a catheter. The stent graft can be anchored to the aorta providing a conduit for blood flow and shunting it away from the weakened portion of the aorta. A scaffolding cage supports the stent graft and the specific endoluminal graft is deployed. The insertion requires only one or two small incisions in the artery of the legs and eliminates the need to perform an open abdominal incision. This procedure can be used on appropriately selected patients. Noteworthy facts about the procedure being done at Bakersfield Heart Hospital: • Cardiologists have not previously been using this procedure in Kern County and Bakersfield Heart Hospital is the first hospital where this has been done. • Patients are not intubated (on artificial respiration or a breathing machine) because general anesthesia is not required. • Length of stay is same day or next day. • Infection rate is significantly lower and recovery time is significantly shorter. • Once discharged, most patients return to normal activity within two to six weeks. For more information on this procedure, contact the Bakersfield Heart Hospital at 852-6200. Brij Bhambi is the chief medical officer for Bakersfield Heart Hospital and Sarabjeet Singh is the structural heart program medical director for Bakersfield Heart Hospital.

5100 California Ave., Ste 101, Bakersfield 93309 661.864.7826

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

New Facilities Hoffman Hospice breaks ground on hospice home By Gretchen Daughtery

ounded in 1995 by Tom and Beth Hoffmann, Hoffmann Hospice is Bakersfield’s only locally founded, nonprofit hospice provider. It was founded to meet and exceed the hospice needs of this community. In an effort to continue serving this purpose, Hoffmann Hospice has embarked on its most ambitious project to date – Kern County’s first and only hospice home. Located on 5.75 acres in the new Seven Oaks Business Park off Buena Vista Road, this 25,000-square-foot, 18-room hospice home will make it possible for patients with acute pain and symptom management needs to be cared for in a home-like setting by a staff of clinical experts who are specially trained in end-of-life care. Official groundbreaking took place on April 9 and ever since then, Klassen Corporation has been onsite daily making tremendous progress with early construction. Site grading has been completed, materials for sewer lines and storm drains have been delivered, trenching is in progress, as well as a chalk outline of the building has been completed. This fall, the foundation slab will be ready to pour. Projected completion and grand opening is set for spring. Hoffmann Hospice’s goal is to provide

die while still in the hospital before receiving hospice care. Moving a loved one from a hospital into current hospice care presents many challenges because, too often, there is not a physical location available for patients to be placed to receive acute hospice care. Rather than having to stay in or be re-admitted to a hospital, our professionally staffed hospice home can provide short-term care in a home-like setting to stabilize patients. Once the doors are open, current statistics project that up to an additional 1,800 families each year will have the opportunity to experience compassionate hospice care in a home-like setting. “This home will be such a wonderful rePHOTO COURTESY OF HOFFMAN HOSPICE source for the community for years to come. Hoffman Hospice’s first hospice home is expected to be completed next spring. I have every belief this is the right time and this is the right project. It will fill a gap in service to patients and families in the privacy the continuum of care in this community beof their own home – wherever that home tween the hospital and the home,” said Rick may be. This could be a private residence, an Riley, Hoffmann Hospice board member. assisted living home, skilled nursing facility, For project updates and photos, please or even an RV at the Kern County Fair. visit our Hospice Home Project page at hoffDespite this goal, every year there are mannhospice.org or call 410-1010 for more many Kern County hospice eligible residents information. that never have the opportunity to benefit PHOTO COURTESY OF HOFFMAN HOSPICE Gretchen Daughtery is the director of from hospice services. As one example, The new hospice home will be in the Seven marketing and development for Hoffmann approximately 23 percent of hospice-eligible Oaks Business Park. Hospice. people recommended to Hoffmann Hospice

Dignity Health and Hoffman Hospice join forces

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOFFMAN HOSPICE

Artist rendering of the Hoffmann Hospice home.

ignity Health and Hoffmann Hospice are pleased to announce a new partnership to deliver hospice care in Kern County. The association of the two nonprofit organizations represents an expansion of hospice services offered by Dignity Health. With the anticipated 2015 opening of the Hoffmann Home, Kern County’s first and only hospice home, and the expected 1,800 additional families served, Dignity Health and Hoffmann Hospice recognize that through aligning core services and operational strengths the end result is improved access to quality end-of-life care for Kern County residents. Under this new alignment, Hoffmann Hospice will assume operational responsibility for the Dignity Health Mercy Hospice service line beginning

Sept. 30, 2014. Both Dignity Health and Hoffmann Hospice are committed to compassionate, patient centered care for Kern County residents. The transition will take a minimum 30 days to complete, at which time the goal is that all affected staff will be able to continue employment with either Hoffmann Hospice or Dignity Health. Most importantly, patients who are currently under the care of Dignity Health Mercy Hospice will have no interruption of services during this transition. Hoffmann Hospice is the oldest hospice agency in Bakersfield, caring for residents at the end of life for nearly 20 years. Dignity Health, which operates Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, has offered hospice services since 2008. — Dignity Health and Hoffmann Hospice

October / November 2014

ce i v r l Swe. l o r y out ho a P EEll to find R F t Ge Ca

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Think Bigger Taking your small or medium sized business to the next level is easy with Worklogic HR. From the solid foundation of a basic Human Resources Information System to comprehensive co-employment solutions, Worklogic HR helps increase your efficiency and profitability while giving you more time to focus on your core competencies. With a wide choice of affordable, customizable HR management and business administrative solutions, Worklogic HR provides everything your small business needs to become a bigger business.

Human Resources – Benefits Workers’ Compensation Safety – Payroll – Human Resources Information System

800-828-4187 • www.worklogicHR.com

Locally Owned Since 2000

What These People Know About Human Resources Could Save Your Business. Human Resource management is a critical part of any business. Doing it right can be the difference between success and failure. Attend one or all of these upcoming Human Resources training seminars and learn how to protect your business, develop better employees and create a more productive workplace.

Robin Paggi

MA, SPHR-CA, CPLP, CPC Training Coordinator

David Blaine, SPHR

Employment Attorney

Katy Raytis

Employment Attorney

Visit www.worklogiclegal.com to view all upcoming trainings.

4029 Coffee Road • Bakersfield, CA • 661.695.5163 • worklogiclegal.com

WorklogicHR Legal Solutions is a division of BeldenBlaine, LLP

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County plans for larger facility By Jess Deegan

magine being married for 50 years, and your spouse no longer knows who you are. A person with Alzheimer’s disease is destined to slip into a world that is different from what most would consider normal. Moreover, the people who care for them (most frequently spouses or children) are equally destined to live in this alternative universe where their loved one no longer recognizes them. Alzheimer’s is one of the most devastating of the dementia-related diseases. Thankfully, there is help for local families facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc. (ADAKC) is the only local nonprofit agency in Kern County that offers a social model respite (day services) program. Additionally, their no-cost services include education, caregiver training, a resource library, in-home safety assessments, support groups, crisis counseling, and referral service. ADAKC’s day service program provides social and cognitive stimulation and socialization for persons diagnosed, while their caregivers get a much-needed break from the extreme exhaustion of care giving. Caregivers often neglect their own health and statistics show that without help, the caregiver often passes before their loved one with the disease. More than 10,000 people in Kern County suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. As the population ages, these numbers will continue to grow. To better meet the growing needs of our community, ADAKC must expand. ADAKC is in escrow on land in the Seven Oaks Business Park. Here, they will build a new larger facility with the ability to triple their capacity and ability to improve the mental health of families affected by Alzheimer’s and others dementias. The estimated cost of construction is approximately $3.5 million, of which $600,000 has been raised and an additional $1 million pledged. You can become part of the legacy

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE ASSOCIATION OF KERN COUNTY, INC.

Estimated costs for the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc.’s new facility is approximately $3.5 million, much of which has been been raised through pledges.

to help families in our community suffering with this disease. Ways to you can help: • Donate online at ADAKC.org. • In-person (and take a tour to see ADAKC’s mission in action). • Mail donations to ADAKC (Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc.), 5500 Olive Drive, BLDG 1, Bakersfield, CA 93308. • Donate appreciated stock. • Call 393-8871 for more information about Leadership Naming Opportunities. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE ASSOCIATION OF KERN COUNTY, INC.

The proposed location for ADAKC’s new facility is located in the Seven Oaks Business Park.

Bank of America gives back to Central Valley

rapping up the third quarter of 2014, Bank of America officials say the bank has already awarded $373,000 to 28 nonprofits in the Central Valley, including those in Bakersfield.

Organizers say the grants will support education, jobs, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization — areas vital to creating healthy communities. “When people in California, specifically in the Central Valley, can have greater

access to education, jobs and affordable housing, our state as a whole succeeds,” said Lynn Knudson, market president for Bakersfield/Visalia at Bank of America. “Bank of America is working to provide access to these important needs, while also addressing issues relating to neighborhood revitalization. Skills training, jobs and stable homes are a critical part of helping people start down a path to economic stability while also meeting their immediate financial needs.” Some of the awarded local organizations include:

Jess Deegan is a former board member for the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc.

• FOOD Inc. (Community Food Bank) to help fund the food bank’s increased demand due to job loss in the local agricultural workforce as a result of severe droughts that have struck California. • United Way of Kern County to support the Kern VITA Partnership, which seeks to provide free tax preparation to more than 5,000 residents, most of which are low-income families with limited English proficiency. — Bank of America

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

THREE-WAY CHEVROLETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMMERCIAL TRUCK CENTER

Â&#x201E; Â&#x192;

Â? Â&#x2039; Â?Â? Â?

Â&#x201E;

Â Â? Â&#x201E; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192; Â Â? Â?Â? Â? Â Â Â? Â Â&#x20AC; Â?Â? Â? Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â Â? Â Â&#x20AC; Â? Â Â Â? Â Â&#x20AC;

Â&#x2020;Â&#x20AC;Â Â? Â? Â Â Â? Â Â&#x20AC;

Â&#x2C6;

Â&#x152;

Â&#x2030;Â&#x192; Â&#x160;Â? Â Â Â&#x2021;

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â&#x201E;

Â&#x201E; Â&#x2020;Â&#x20AC;Â&#x2021;

Â&#x201E; Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2021; Â&#x2019; Â Â? Â&#x2026; Â Â? Â&#x20AC; Â&#x17D; Â

Â Â? Â?Â? Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;

Â&#x2C6;

Â Â

Â&#x2030;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2030;

Â&#x160;Â? Â Â Â&#x2021;

Â Â? Â?Â? Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;

Â&#x2C6;

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â?

Â&#x201E;

Â&#x201E; Â&#x201A; Â Â Â?

Â&#x2026; Â&#x17D; Â Â

Â&#x201E; Â&#x201A; Â Â Â?

Â&#x2026; Â?

Â Â? Â?Â? Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;

Â&#x2C6;

Â Â

Â&#x192;

Â&#x160;Â? Â Â Â&#x2021;

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â?

Â&#x2030;Â&#x201E;

Â&#x160;Â? Â Â Â&#x2021;

Â&#x201E;

Â&#x2026; Â&#x2020; Â? Â&#x2021;

Â Â

Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;

Â Â? Â?Â? Â? Â Â Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;

Â&#x2C6;

Â Â

Â&#x201A; Â

Â&#x160;Â? Â Â Â&#x2021;

Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â?

Ask us about the Small Business Buyers Program

7IBLE 2D s "AKERSFIELD #! s 7AY!UTOMOTIVE COM

Brian Ek, Manager 661-201-7437

Eric Burell, Manager 661-201-7372

Art Montsinger 661-978-7015

Bert Roberts 661-204-6026

Joseph Wilkerson 661-201-7459

Joseph McDowell 661-204-0249

Hal Burton 661-331-5237

All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Prices valid through 10/31/14.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Health Education Emergency medical training opens up many career choices By Natalie Dorrell

re you looking for an exciting, challenging career helping others? Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training at Cerro Coso Community College works with a variety of jobs including paramedics, law enforcement officers, firefighters, air medical crew members, and many more to provide care and transportation of sick and injured patients. Every day, people’s lives depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs). According the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is projected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Cerro Coso Community College’s EMT program is doing its part to fill the demand for qualified EMTs. The college offers EMT certification in California City, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Bishop, and Mammoth Lakes. Emergency Medical Technician I training surveys the techniques of emergency medical care through recognition of signs and symptoms of illnesses, and injuries. Proper procedures of emergency and transportation aspects required for EMT-I personnel are covered. Upon completion of the above objectives and passing final exams, students will receive a certificate of completion and state skills form. This qualifies students to apply and take the national exam for the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic distinction to ultimately qualify for application within the State of California. Technicians are entering many fields in

the job market due to the diverse abilities of the EMT. Once completed and certified as an EMT, students often continue into other health career programs, including vocational nursing, medical assisting, pharmacy technicians, and other fields from wild land firefighting to safety officer positions. Having this training is useful in everyday activities including coaching, youth groups or activity advisors, scout leaders, ski patrol, and family or individual functions. EMTC C070, CPR for the Healthcare Provider is a one-day course that meets current American Heart Association standards. The course provides training in emergency treatment for life-threatening cardiopulmonary arrest, airway and breathing management, and foreign body obstructed airway for all age groups in a particular setting. This class also includes one and two rescuer CPR, use of barrier devices, AED use and the prevention of disease transmission. Most people can go their entire career without making a life-or-death decision at work. Most EMTs can’t go a single day without making one. At Cerro Coso, students learn from instructors and working professionals with real world experience. “The students in our EMT program gain valuable quick-thinking experience for the field, while learning a lot about themselves, and how they’ll react in a real life-or-death situation,” said Mike Metcalf, faculty director for the Allied Health Department. EMT training at Cerro Coso paid off big for one student when a woman started choking in a restaurant. Having just completed EMT training at the college, the student recognized a patron performing the Heimlich maneuver incorrectly and quickly jumped into action saving the woman’s life. “It made me feel good because without

PHOTO COURTESY OF CERRO COSO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Cerro Coso students Corey Momsen and Diego Ramirez practice applying and reading a blood pressure cuff during an EMT training class.

my training, I couldn’t have done that. I probably would have just sat there and called 911,” said Zach Rush of his experience. The Emergency Medical Technician Program at Cerro Coso Community College offers various courses in emergency medical technology. These courses prepare students for a career in emergency medical services and help students planning to obtain a higher level of medical training to become an registered nurse, physician’s assistant or medical doctor with the skills and exposure they need to enhance their position for a competitive application process. Whether you want to become an EMT at a hospital, a lifeguard, ski patrol, search and rescue, firefighter, or a paramedic, Cerro Coso can prepare you for a reward-

WIC feeds families, teaches breast-feeding skills By Louis Medina

here’s a good reason why Kern’s business community should care about a program focused on pregnant moms’ and young children’s nutrition. “Money,” said Beth Tolley, Community Action Partnership of Kern’s Women, Infants & Children program manager. “It’s a lot cheaper to have a healthy baby than one who is not,” Tolley said, adding that neonatal intensive care can cost thousands of dollars per day.

“The program also brings a great deal of money to Kern County because food assistance vouchers are spent locally,” she said. WIC, a nutrition assistance program, is part of the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It provides food and health education for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and also for children ages 0 to 5, whether a couple, a single parent, or grandparents are raising them. “There are an awful lot of grandparents raising children,” Tolley said. Grandparents raising grandchildren can present its chal-

CAPK/LOUIS MEDINA

Beth Tolley, Community Action Partnership of Kern’s Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program Manager, discusses how WIC vouchers may be cashed in for nutritious foods at participating grocery stores.

ing career responding to emergencies and helping people in need. If you are looking for a career where no two days are alike, EMT training might be a good choice for you. “Just when you think you have seen it all, your next call comes in and proves you wrong,” Metcalf said. “Every day our students are responding to critical situations where they truly are the difference between life and death.” Information on Cerro Coso’s EMT program is available on the web at cerrocoso. edu. Natalie Dorrell is the public relations, marketing and development manager for Cerro Coso Community College.

lenges, especially if the seniors are often on fixed incomes, Tolley said. WIC, which has qualifying guidelines based on total household income, is a welcome source of support for many child-rearing grandparents. And at 185 percent of the federal poverty level, household income guidelines for WIC are pretty generous, allowing many families to qualify. “More than 60 percent of children statewide are on WIC,” said Tolley, who has been with CAPK for 21 years, the last 15 as WIC program manager. “Lots of couples starting out, lots of military families are on WIC. It makes your dollars go a long way and ensures nutritious intake for the whole family.” The education part of the program emphasizes common-sense tips such as eating balanced meals, managing portion sizes, and Continued on page 25

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Continued from page 24 avoiding sugary drinks. CAPKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WIC Program has an annual budget of upwards of $3.5 million and boasts a monthly caseload of 20,475 clients who receive services through 23 sites in Kern, four locations in San Bernardino County, and a mobile clinic that serves isolated communities, including Trona. In March, the position of regional breastfeeding liaison was created â&#x20AC;&#x153;to improve the regional culture so that it is more friendly toward breast-feeding,â&#x20AC;? Tolley said. This full-time employee helps extend CAPK WICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outreach footprint to Kings and Tulare counties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Breast-feeding is better for the child and mom,â&#x20AC;? Tolley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheaper for society if mom breast-feeds. Bacterial flora in the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stomach develops better so the baby doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get sick as often and mom doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to take off work. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s improved brain development and less obesity among children who are breast-fed.â&#x20AC;? Besides being a nutritional assistant, CAPK employee Irita Davis is also a WIC peer counselor because she breast-fed her own children. Davis has 51 clients on her caseload and teaches them a variety of tips. Davis explained that besides breast-feeding education, the program also provides breast pumps to clients based on their individual needs, including work schedules, extended hospital stays or breast engorgement. For information about CAPKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WIC Program, including an interactive map with WIC clinic locations and contact details, visit www.capk.org/wic. You can also call toll-free 1-866-327-3074. Phone assistance and printed literature is available in English and Spanish. Louis Medina is an administrative analyst with Community Action Partnership of Kern.

CAPK/LOUIS MEDINA

WIC Nutrition Assistance Peer Counselor Irita Davis breast-fed her own children and now helps other women learn how to breast-feed. She uses a life-like doll to show clients how to properly hold a baby â&#x20AC;&#x153;tummy to tummy.â&#x20AC;?

' & ( ' & & & " & ) * &

"" * & "" & & + "

, ' - ' . "" /

! " # $% # &

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Medical Insurance Covered California’s second open enrollment period starts Nov. 15 By Diana Greenlee

hen James Ronnow contacted California’s health insurance exchange last March, he said the exchange’s employees seemed just as confused as he was about the application process. Ronnow, 30, said workers gave him conflicting information, and he had to follow up multiple times to resolve his issues. It was clear “everybody was not on the same page,” he said. Covered California’s second open enrollment period starts Nov. 15 and ends Feb. 15. The question remains, are they ready? From her office in Sacramento, Covered California Information Officer Sarah Sol said Covered California is up to the challenge. “We are in good shape this time,” she said, noting that the exchange’s website has been expanded to accommodate more traffic. More than 18,000 Kern County residents enrolled in health insurance through Covered Californian during the first open enrollment period; 16,385 were eligible for a subsidy, which was either advanced to the insurance company or issued to the enrollee as a tax credit. California opted to create its own statewide health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. Sol said a pent-up demand for health insurance caused a frenzy during the first open enrollment, which ran from Oct. 1, 2013 through March. She said technical challenges and a steep learning curve for all parties contributed to the turmoil, creating a perfect storm. In Kern County, residents, certified enrollment counselors and insurance agents complained of problems with the state’s website as open enrollment kicked off. But local leaders of enrollments efforts said they are ready for round two this fall. Once again, Covered California is providing free in-person enrollment assistance to help guide consumers through the insurance process, and a link on their website, coveredca.com, to connect folks to a list of local certified enrollment counselors that can help applicants review their options and sprint through the enrollment process. Edgar Aguilar, Dignity Health’s program manager for the Community Health Initiative of Kern County, said a quarter of Kern denizens who signed up via Covered California during the first open enrollment period enrolled with counselors’ help.

PHOTO BY COURTENAY EDELHART

This spring, health care advocates held a news conference encouraging people to sign up for health insurance ahead of the March 31st Covered California deadline. The second open enrollment period begins Nov. 15.

The Community Health Initiative, which is operated out of Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, is part of a cooperative group of local agencies, clinics and family resource centers that geared up to assist individuals and simplify the process. “Some people don’t realize that enrollment can be done by paper or even over the phone,” Aguilar said. Pam Holiwell, the Kern County Department of Human Services’ assistant director of employment and financial services, said the county has upgraded their computer system to tie into the state’s IT system to help streamline enrollment. Holiwell said folks can enroll in Medi-Cal, that state’s version of Medicaid, all year, but Covered California gives those who don’t qualify for Medi-Cal affordable health insurance options. The director said the county agency has 400 trained human services technicians across Kern in facilities such as Clinica Sierra Vista, ready to sign people up. “We work as a team,” said Ana Velasquez, Clinica’s health insurance assistance program manager, of the cooperation between local partners. Clinica Sierra Vista operates health centers in Fresno, Inyo, and Kern counties and Velasquez said the organization is adding staff members to prepare for the crunch of open enrollment. She said the federally qualified health center has also retained most of its trained assistors from the last enrollment period. “We don’t have to start over again,” she said. Velasquez said Clinica workers have seen improvements in the Covered California website, and enrollment will be a

October / November 2014

smoother process this year. “Based on the complaints, I don’t think we’re going to see the glitches we saw last year,” she said. Clinica Sierra Vista Chief of Programs Bill Phelps said premiums are going up this year, but so are tax credits, offsetting the increases. The penalties for failing to have insurance will also increase next year. Phelps said Clinica Sierra Vista has “a good solid core of providers,” but that the limited number of physicians accepting insurances obtained via Covered California has created challenges for policyholders. He hopes recent legislation will broaden those provider networks. “This is a huge problem here in California, especially in the Central Valley,” he said in late September. “Bills related to network adequacy were passed by the legislature and are sitting on the governor’s desk now.” Ronnow, a server at Rosa’s Italian Restaurant, echoed Phelps. His subsidized policy costs him one dollar per month, but it’s been tough finding doctors who’ll take it. “We can use it in an urgent care center,” he said. “I guess it’s worth it in the end.”

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE

Ana Velasquez of Clinica Sierra Vista gives instructions to those preparing to enroll for health insurance at the East Bakersfield Community Health Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in March.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Man, Machine, A New Dimension and Medicine for Cardiac Imaging Robotic technology is assisting physicians in surprising new ways. No better example exists than the da Vinci® Surgical System at Memorial Hospital where specially trained surgeons are performing a wide range of state-of-the-art procedures. Using a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special instruments, the da Vinci can access delicate parts of the human body through several tiny incisions instead of the large incision used in traditional laparoscopy. The da Vinci System can now be used for single site procedures. Procedures like hysterectomies can be performed through a single incision that’s only about 2.5 centimeters, opposed to six to eight inches for laparoscopic procedures. To Dr. Charles Allen, the only local surgeon doing single site surgeries using the da Vinci System, having this technology in Bakersfield means patients can receive the world’s most advanced surgery close to home. “Cases that had been formerly sent to Los Angeles because of their complexities can now be done here locally, which is a great advantage for patients who otherwise would have the added cost of staying away from home while recovering,” he said. The advantages include smaller, less noticeable scarring, faster, easier recoveries, and significantly less pain and blood loss.

The echocardiogram, a test physicians often use to help them determine how well the heart is working, has taken on a new dimension at Mercy Hospital Southwest. A traditional echocardiogram, or echo, uses a device that sends ultrasound waves through the chest. As they bounce off the structures of the heart, a computer converts them into simple pictures. Now, the Imaging Department at Mercy Hospital Southwest can offer a new perspective. When results from a standard echo are not sufficient or a physician needs a closer look at the heart, the new Vivid E9 Cardiovascular Ultrasound system from GE Healthcare can deliver it. The Vivid E9 uses 4D Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) technology. Unlike a traditional echo that provides images taken from the surface of the chest, TEE captures images from inside the body. Using a tiny transducer placed down the throat TEE produces a more detailed look at the heart without interference from the ribs or lungs. The detailed pictures provided by TEE help doctors see things like how well the heart is pumping, if abnormal tissue is present that could indicate infection or cancer, or if there are blood clots in the heart following a stroke. They use this data to diagnose heart problems or as a guide when planning next steps for treatment. A detailed image means physicians have more information to make the most accurate recommendations for their patients. According to Elias J. Solis (EJ), director of Imaging Services at Mercy Hospitals, the new Vivid E9 is a literal lifesaver. “Having the ability to diagnose and treat patients sooner and with greater accuracy is important in the war against heart disease,” he said.

October / November 2014

Striking a Balance Between Quality & Risk There is no disputing the important role imaging technology plays in healthcare. Where would you doctor be without being able to see what’s going on inside your body? Because patient safety is always a priority and as the number of imaging procedures being performed continues to grow, there is a new focus on developing technology that produces outstanding images while exposing patients to as little radiation as possible. An example of this new technology has just come to Mercy Hospital Downtown in the form of the Discovery NM630 nuclear camera from GE Healthcare. Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, and other abnormalities. During a nuclear medicine procedure, radioactive materials are injected or swallowed and eventually accumulate in the area of the body being examined. The radioactive emissions are detected by a special camera that produces pictures and provides molecular information. So, what makes Mercy’s new nuclear camera different? Exposure. It has the ability to produce high quality images physicians use to identify disease in its earliest stages while reducing a patient’s exposure by 50%. This means less risk for patients without reducing the quality of the image that is so often key to an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Adding new technology can be exciting, but for Elias J. Solis (EJ), director of imaging services at Mercy Hospitals, the most important thing is how it’s felt at the human level. “We pride ourselves on our dedication to our patients,” he said. “This technology is an example of that commitment, and the quality patient care we provide.”

Treating Stroke On a New Plane When someone is having a stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability, minutes matter. So advancements for stroke treatment like the Bi-plane Interventional Suite now available at Memorial Hospital’s Sarvanand Heart and Stroke Center can make a world of difference for some patients. This 3D imaging technology makes it possible for physicians like Dr. Kiron Thomas, Bakersfield’s only fellowship trained neuro-endovascular specialist, to treat patients that previously could not be treated. The blood vessels in the brain are different than those in other parts of the body, making the margin of error when treating conditions like stroke very small. Now, guided by the bi-plane images, physicians can place tiny wires into the brain with exacting precision to treat stroke-causing clots and blockages, as well as aneurysms. “The bi-plane procedure gives doctors the ability to look at two angles simultaneously, which results in a safer and more efficient procedure for patients,” said Dr. Thomas. “This cutting-edge technology reduces procedure time and radiation doses, allowing Dignity Health to treat patients with cerebral aneurysms or other vascular disorders who were previously unable or unsafe to be treated with single-plane technology.”

Dr. Kiron Thomas, the first fellowship trained neuro-endovascular specialist in the Bakersfield area, demonstrates how the new Bi-plane Interventional Suite located at Memorial Hospital is used to treat cerebral trauma, such as stroke.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

A look inside: Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics Photos by Gregory D. Cook

ounded in Bakersfield, Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics has provided high quality prosthetics since 1978. Today, Achilles serves Bakersfield, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Templeton with four locations. Services range from a variety of prosthetic limbs to full service mastectomy care. Vice President Logan Newton granted the Kern Business Journal a behind-the-scenes look at the work of this thriving medical business this fall. For more detail on their services, visit achillespo.com.

Established in 1978, Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics specializes in fabricating artificial limbs and braces incorporating the latest technology, such as the microprocessor-controlled knee joint pictured at the bottom center.

Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics staff members produce a wide range of prosthetic and orthotics devices in their Bakersfield workshop.

Board-certified prosthetist Logan Newton cleans up a plaster casting of a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leg at Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics. The casting will then be used to fabricate a properly fitting socket to which the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new prosthetic leg will attach.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Logan Newton make an adjustment to the sleeve that will connect Mike Rallesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; prosthetic leg to what remains of his leg. Ralles, who lost the lower portion of his leg to diabetes complications, is being fitted for his first prosthetic.

Prosthetist Nathan Whiting consults with a patient during a fitting for a leg prostheses. After initial measurements are taken, a plastic check socket is created to ensure proper fit before the actual socket is fabricated out of carbon fiber.

Prosthetist Logan Newton makes adjustments to the fit of Steve Mosleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prosthetic leg. People often require regular adjustments to the fit of their prosthetic limbs.

Steve Mosley tests the fit of his prosthetic leg as prosthetist Logan Newton observes.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Bakersfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leading Commercial Real Estate Brokers Industrial

Retail

Office

Wayne Kress Director Principal 661.633.3819

Vincent Roche Senior Director Principal 661.633.3817

Duane Keathley Senior Director Principal 661.633.3817

Jeffrey Andrew Senior Director Principal 661.633.3827

wayne.kress@paccra.com

vincent.roche@paccra.com

jeff.andrew@paccra.com

Our Mission is to take care of our clients. We are forever aware that we don't exist without them. We perform at the intersection of their needs and desired results. And we've produced satisfaction time and again. Office

Retail

Industrial

Retail

Office

Industrial

Alex Balfour Senior Associate 661.633.3856

Nathan Perez Sales Associate 661.633.3814

Scott Reynolds Senior Associate 661.633.3825

Josh Sherley Sales Associate 661.633.3840

Patrick Thompson Associate Director 661.633.3813

Coby Vance Senior Associate 661.633.3807

alex.balfour@paccra.com

nathan.perez@paccra.com

scott.reynolds@paccra.com

josh.sherley@paccra.com

patrick.thompson@paccra.com

coby.vance@paccra.com

BAKERSFIELD OFFICE 5060 CALIFORNIA AVE., SUITE 1000 BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA 93309 661.327.2263 MAIN 661.633.3801 FAX

FRESNO OFFICE 9 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST, SUITE 101 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93720 559.433.3512 MAIN 559.433.3537 FAX

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

YOUR BUSINESS REAL ESTATE IS OUR BUSINESS. The Fresno Office of CBRE is now

Fresno Office OFFICE

INVESTMENTS

OFFICE

INDUSTRIAL

We may have a new name, but we are still the same professionals with the same committment to our clients.

WHO ARE WE? Gary Mathias Senior Director 559.433.3528

gary.mathias@paccra.com

RETAIL

Rick Amerine Senior Director 559.433.3541

rick.amerine@paccra.com

Tony Cortopassi Rudy Blankenship Senior Director Senior Associate 559.433.3525 559.433.3549

tony.cortopassi@paccra.com

rudy.blankenship@paccra.com

RETAIL

Terri Giovacchini Senior Associate 559.433.3530

terri.giovacchini@paccra.com

James Griffin Senior Associate 559.433.3531

james.griffin@paccra.com

RETAIL

Jeff Lauritzen Associate Director 559.433.3540

• We are commercial real estate advisors with industry leading expertise. • We are advisors with expert knowledge in the specific domains of industrial, office, retail, land, and multi-family real estate, for space occupiers, developers and owners. • We are advisors with deep roots in greater Fresno, Visalia, Tulare, Bakersfield, North Los Angeles County and Central California. We are focused on providing solutions to our client’s real estate needs.

jeff.lauritzen@paccra.com

Every year, Cushman & Wakefield | Pacific helps hundreds of people solve their commercial real estate problems. Whether it is helping you find the real estate you seek or dispose of surplus real estate, we offer help. We have brokered some of the most significant commercial real estate transactions in central California. Our advisors concentrate on specific types of property, and most work on teams, ensuring that capacity is available to help you. They’ve built deep stores of market knowledge, and their experience will make yours perfect.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Telemedicine brings new treatment options to rural, urban Kern By Diana Greenlee

r. Kian Azimian never considered a career in television, but it still looks like he’s going to be a star. He’s part of a network of physicians at Dignity Health that provides services using telemedicine, allowing doctor and patient to commune via technology. With so many underserved rural areas in Kern County, telemedicine is catching on. Registered nurse Michele Shain, 53, Memorial Hospital’s director of transformational care and specialty programs, said telemedicine has been used for the last five years at Memorial Hospital, Mercy and Mercy Southwest. She said the unit resembles a “television on wheels,” but acts as a long-distance link between doctor and patient. The patients connect with an off-site specialist who controls the camera, enabling in-depth consultations. The camera swivels, shooting at various angles and magnifications, while medical personnel assists on the patient’s side. Some high-tech units have stethoscopes and additional medical equipment. “The neurologist can even check the (patients’) pupils,” Shain said. Memorial uses the equipment in critical care for pediatrics, mental health, and neurological evaluations relevant to stroke. The hospital has contracted with expert facilities outside of Bakersfield, such as Dignity Health Neurological Institute of Northern California and Children’s Hospital Central California, to provide expert care. Shain said with the shortage of physicians, it helps meet the needs of Bakersfield’s growing community. “It’s hard to recruit specialists to our area,” Shain said. Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Vice President of Business Development Gary Frazier, 40, said Memorial provides telemedicine equipment to Kern Valley and Tehachapi hospitals, bridging the gap in care by enabling them to access Memorial’s network of neurologists in Sacramento and Bakersfield – free of charge. He said the benefit to patients makes the service a necessity. “It goes from profit to community benefit,” he said San Joaquin Community Hospital is also onboard and has been providing telemedicine in their Stroke Center for the last year. Offsite specialists, drawn from a pool of board certified stroke neurologists all over the U.S., evaluate patients who exhibit symptoms of stroke, which may be any combination of facial or arm droop and slurred or garbled speech, to create a plan for care. Jimmy Phillips, 28, San Joaquin Community Hospital executive director of marketing, said the goal is to reduce patients’ financial and emotional burdens with telemedicine. Strokes are time-sensitive, and left untreated, they can result in death or disability. Phillips said other neurological conditions mirror the symptoms of stroke, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE

Michele Shain, RN, MBA, Director of Transformational Care and Specialty Programs at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, listens to Dr. Alan Schatzel, on the screen of the RP-Lite Remote Presence System used for long distance patient care. Schatzel was in Sacramento, while Shain was in Bakersfield during this interview and demonstration. Schatzel is the medical director for Mercy Neurological Institute in Sacramento.

“Many times (patients) are not actually having a stroke,” he said. “If they are, we can transport them to the Stroke Center and get the treatment process started. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.” Although Kern Medical Center Chief Strategy Officer Scott Thygerson, 46, agrees telemedicine is ideal for urgent care, the county hospital connected UC Irvine for appointments for multiple sclerosis patients starting in February. Finances are a concern for the fiscally beleaguered hospital, but Thygerson said telemedicine is cost effective. Later this year, KMC will begin streaming appointments from their offices into the downtown jail and Lerdo county jail facilities to provide medical care to prisoners, saving both time and money. Thygerson said KMC also plans to link rural patients to their specialty clinics to treat HIV, valley fever and other infectious diseases quicker. “Our mission as a county-owned hospital is to care for the entire county,” he said. “Having stable access to care is part of that.” Physician Assistant Greg Davis, 47, Kern Valley Healthcare District’s manager of rural health clinics, said the district has offered remote mental health and neurological care for the last three years. Administrators are planning to expand facilities to accommodate more telemedicine clinics, including a mobile unit. Davis said the growing mountain communities face technological challenges in the pursuit of telemedicine. “The broadband in the valley is so dis-

PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE

Licensed vocational nurse Irene Ethridge demonstrates how the telemedicine aspect of the Kaiser Permanente Care Corner works inside the Wal-Mart at 5075 Gosford Road in southwest Bakersfield.

mal,” he said. “But it’s improving.” Mental health is the largest component of their telemedicine practice, and Davis said 95 percent of the patients are “fully comfortable” with the off-site doctors. Azimian, 38, echoed Davis. He said there’s an enormous need for mental health treatment but no funding. Telemedicine has transformed the level of care folks with a mental illness receive in the emergency room. “It used to be we’d give them clearance

and shove them in the corner to wait for the MET team,” he said. “It could be 12 to 24 hours for a visit. Now they can see a telepsychiatrist within minutes.” Memorial is planning to telecommute, streaming more local doctors into medical facilities in Kernville, Lake Isabella, and Tehachapi. Dates are pending, but the physician is ready for his small screen debut. “Technology has finally caught up with our ability to care for patients,” Azimian said.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT YOUR EYES COVERED EYEGLASSES

CONTACT LENSES

Visit our new location at:

SUNGLASSES

The Marketplace 9000 Ming Avenue L-1B "AKERSlELD #! 661-664-3300

GREAT REASONS to get your eyewear from Vision Essentials by Kaiser Permanente HEALTH. We offer more than just glasses and contact lenses. Our optometrists provide high-quality eye care. Regular eye exams can detect not only vision problems, but also certain health conditions. CONVENIENCE. Getting your eye care and eyewear in one location is easy. Call 661-664-3300 to make an appointment or current members can book online at kp.org SERVICE. /UR OPTICIANS CAN HELP YOU lND JUST THE RIGHT LOOK 7HETHER YOU WORK AT A COMPUTER PLAY A SPORT OR TRAVEL THE GLOBE WE CAN lT YOU WITH GLASSES OR CONTACT LENSES THAT SUIT YOUR STYLE AND YOUR LIFESTYLE QUALITY. Choose from a wide selection of frames, lenses and contact lenses--for any lifestyle and budget. PEACE OF MIND. We want you to feel good about your look. Any glasses you purchase from Vision Essentials come with a 30-day total satisfaction guarantee on frames (excluding Internet offers).

SEE MORE AT KP2020.ORG Kaiser Permanente members typically have coverage for medically necessary eye examinations, and some members, including those members with THE PEDIATRIC VISION BENElT UNDER THEIR !FFORDABLE #ARE !CT PLAN MAY BE ABLE TO APPLY A SUPPLEMENTAL BENElT TO THEIR PURCHASES /THERWISE THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS DESCRIBED HERE ARE PROVIDED ON A FEE FOR SERVICE BASIS SEPARATE FROM AND NOT COVERED UNDER YOUR HEALTH PLAN BENElTS AND YOU ARE lNANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THEM &OR SPECIlC INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HEALTH PLAN BENElTS PLEASE SEE YOUR %VIDENCE OF #OVERAGE Member shown.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Safety program makes good dollar sense for large local nonprofit By Louis Medina

“S

upervisors and staff, It’s that time of year when the creepy crawlies and buzzing insects are coming out.” So went the springtime email to all employees of Community Action Partnership of Kern. “We have already had three insect bites and because of that, our topic for this week is ‘Working Safely Around Stinging Insects.’” The message was from CAPK’s Safety and Administrative Specialist Laurie Sproule, who implements the agency’s safety and worker’s compensation program. The email included a link to the internal “Voice of Safety” newsletter, which Sproule has edited since 2008. The newsletter features topics including disaster preparedness for adults and children, costs associated with obesity, tips for controlling stress at work, heat illness, flu season advisories, extension cord safety and more. “It’s standard procedure for companies in industries like oil or construction to have safety programs, but it’s unusual among nonprofits to have a dedicated safety person,” said Michele Nowell, the agency’s director of human resources.

“However, with 700 employees and 80plus facilities, we need someone in charge of safety,” she added. “I think we’re the most mobile agency in Kern County,” said Sproule, whose eblasts often emphasize driving safety. The agency boasts a dozen poverty-fighting programs throughout Kern’s 8,200 square miles, including Head Start and Early Head Start; Women, Infants & Children nutrition; CAPK Food Bank; Volunteer Income Tax Assistance; Shafter Youth Center; Friendship House Community Center; East Kern Family Resource Center and more. The payoff for Sproule’s proactive encouragement for staff in all programs to “report everything, no matter how small” has been a considerable reduction in the agency’s experience modification (MOD) rating. This is the rating that affects the premium paid for worker’s compensation insurance and assessment fees charged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since 2008, CAPK has seen a reduction of 40 points in its MOD rating and an average savings of $400,000 per year. Worker’s compensation broker Clifford & Bradford Insurance Agency publicly praised Sproule at a recent CAPK Executive Board meeting. Nowell gave an example of the hands-

CAPK/LOUIS MEDINA

Community Action Partnership of Kern’s Safety and Administrative Specialist Laurie Sproule dons safety equipment used by CAPK Energy Program installers to prevent falls when they are working on rooftops.

on inspection work Sproule does to ensure CAPK employee and client safety. “Laurie will go to the different facilities, and she’s going to walk through and find things that are unsafe or could cause an accident,” she said. “Let’s say she finds a leaking outdoor faucet that causes water to stagnate

on the sidewalk. She’ll highlight things like rot on the building, slipping hazards, and puddle and mosquito concerns from that one faucet.” Armed with a checklist and a camera, Sproule will document her findings and share them with the appropriate CAPK directors. She will provide a 30-day deadline for correcting any problems and follow up within a specified timeframe. For accidents that have already occurred, Sproule said she looks over “accident data to see where we need to focus our attention.” This could be anything from Head Start children biting other children to employee driving safety. Sproule is also responsible for CAPK’s fleet vehicle safety, training on issues ranging from eye protection and forklift safety to roofmounted solar panel installation safety. She’s also tasked with agency-wide dissemination of public health alerts, such as food product recalls, hazardous weather warnings, air quality alerts or traffic advisories. For information about CAPK’s Safety Program, contact Laurie Sproule at LSproul@capk.org or 661-336-5236 ext. 1119. Louis Medina is an administrative analyst with Community Action Partnership of Kern.

Retirement Planning

Will your business survive after you retire? By Steven Van Metre

everal of my clients are owners of local small businesses. Like their employees, these business owners are also planning to someday retire. Their retirement savings options can include SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE-IRAs, SIMPLE 401ks, small business owner 401ks, traditional 401ks, money purchase plans, profit-sharing plans, and defined benefit plans. But often these clients believe their businesses are their main – or in some cases, their only – asset that can be cashed in for the money they will need to support themselves in retirement. That is a risky plan, which statistics show may not be realistic. Like their employees, owners must diversify their assets and savings vehicles to achieve retirement security. They also must engage in years of succession planning if they have any chance of selling or passing to family members the businesses they view as cash cows. Last fall, Forbes reported that the success rate for selling a small business Steven Van Metre is approximately 20 percent. Only one of five owners who responded to an online poll and said they wanted to sell their business reported success. Other poll results included: 14 percent of respondents said they plan to convey their businesses to family members; 6 percent said they would just lock up one day and walk away; and

a whopping 49 percent said they probably won’t retire. Instead they will “just go out feet first.” Just walking away is squandering a valuable asset. And planning to work until death is not a practical option. Diseases and accidents have a way of interfering with plans to work well into our later years. We cannot control if and when we get too ill and disabled, or suddenly die, leaving our businesses and families high and dry. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that about 25 percent of the nation’s small businesses are family owned. And about a third of small business owners are age 55 or older. That means that retirement – either voluntary or forced by circumstances – looms for many owners. And for those planning to hand over businesses to family members, good luck. Nationwide research by the Family Business Institute, a North Carolina-based consulting firm, revealed in 70 percent of the cases in which a business’ founder dies, the familyowned business dies with the founder. The institute blamed “an unfortunate lack of family business succession planning.” Developing a succession plan takes courage for a business owner to face his or her mortality and to objectively evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of those being considered for leadership. A mere blood tie is not a sufficient qualification to run a company. The desire may be to reward a much-loved child. But if that child lacks management skills, knowledge, or leadership temperament, both the child’s and business’ future will be jeopardized. Some steps to take in developing a succession plan

include: • Start early. Succession plans should be developed years before they are needed and adjusted as circumstances and participants change. • Discuss plans with family members. Don’t go it alone. Develop a plan in consultation with family members. Everyone should be on the same page and agree on company objectives. • Identify successors. These should include both owners and managers. Identify who will run the day-to-day operations, and the active and non-active roles of family members. Often professional managers or teams of professional advisers are brought in to run a company. • Decide on ownership transfer. An attorney and accountant can help evaluate the several different options that exist for transferring a business’ ownership interest to the next generation. This evaluation should include minimizing the impact of tax rules that apply to such things as “gifting” and estates. • Meet the needs of the retiree and new owners. It is important to compensate the retiring founder, while providing financial security for the next generation of owners. The world of business has many unknowns. But one thing is certain: One day in your future will be your last in your business. It’s important to plan for that day. Steven Van Metre is a Bakersfield financial planner who specializes in retirement income strategies and teaches a course on retirement planning for the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning at Bakersfield College.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Medical Profile: Amol P. Kamboj

Amol P. Kamboj, MD GEMCare Amol P. Kamboj, MD, is a board-certified pediatric and adult allergist and immunologist at GEMCare. What inspired you to practice medicine? Growing up, I spent many weekend mornings rounding at the hospital with my father, a pediatrician. That undoubtedly colored many of my career choices! What do you enjoy most about your career as an allergist? Unfortunately, most of the medical problems I deal with (food and environmental allergies, eczema, asthma) are hereditary. What that means, though, is that I get to see and treat families, which is a joy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not uncommon to see siblings and parents at the same time,

which almost always makes for a fun time. What are your goals in the clinic? A good understanding of their medical problems often goes a long way in treating disorders my patients deal with. So I try to spend as much time as I can educating patients on causes and triggers of their problems, and things they can do to alleviate symptoms. Allergic patients can have a lot of control over their medical problems, which can be empowering. How do you practice a happy, healthy life? Fortunately, I genuinely enjoy what I do for â&#x20AC;&#x153;work,â&#x20AC;? which I think is the healthiest decision Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made. In my free time, I love to travel, listen to live jazz, play basketball and tennis, read, and hike around our beautiful state with Bella, my golden poodle.

:+< <28 1((' $ 5($/725

:KHQ LW FRPHV WR EX\LQJ D KRPH WKH PDMRULW\ RI EX\HUV DJUHH WKH\ QHHG D 5($/725 WR QHJRWLDWH IRU JRRG SULFHV DQG EHWWHU WHUPV RI VDOH

RI KRPH EX\HUV KDYH XVHG D 5($/725

" ! FRPSOLFDWHG SURFHVV EXW 5($/7256

KDYH XS WR GDWH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ PDUNHW FRQGLWLRQV LQ \RXU DUHD DQG FDQ VKRZ \RX RSWLRQV WKDW EHVW Ă&#x20AC;W \RXU VLWXDWLRQ

'RQÂˇW ZDLW Ă&#x20AC;QG D 5($/725 WRGD\

"" %DNHUVĂ&#x20AC;HOG &$ Q ""

" ! ! !

Â&#x201E; Â&#x201E;

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Kern’s health care industry booms, but there’s room for improvement By Jose M. Granados

strong health care industry benefits everyone in the community, including businesses. A healthy community produces a healthy and productive workforce. Given that the local health care industry benefits everyone in the community, let’s examine how effectively it takes care of us. At first look, Kern County has a thriving health care industry. Key economic indicators show a healthy growth over the past few years. For example, Bakersfield has new facilities like the AIS Cancer Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital, as well as facilities and service expansions at other local health care providers. Revenue wise, the local health care industry has experienced rapid growth over the past 10 years. Back in 2001, core health care industry (comprised of hospitals, clinics, doctors, dental care, etc.) registered annual revenue of $918 million. In 2011, this market sector registered $1.6 billion in annual revenue, a 74 percent growth. Currently, health care brings in near $2 billion in annual revenue, doubling over a period of 15 years. Very few industries can claim such growth. Although not as profound as the revenue growth, the health care’s industry demand for employees has been significant. The local health care industry added more than 3,000 employees over the past 10 years and now employs more than 18,800 people. As robust as Kern County’s health care industry may seem, there are still opportunities for improvement and growth. According to the California Department of Public Health (County Health Status Profiles 2014), Kern County has a high rate of mortally, ranking 48th out of 58 California counties. Furthermore, Kern County ranks high for diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. A recent study revealed that some patients travel out of the county for needed healthcare services. These and other key indicators show opportunities for growth in the health care industry. From Kern County consumers’ perspectives, there seem to be disparities in how they rate their health compared to official reports of health outcomes. Most Kern County adults rate their health as fair or better. However, more than 66,000 Kern adults saw a cardiologist in the past 12 months. More than 85,000 purchased cholesterol medication in the past 12 months, and more than 112,000 purchased high blood pressure medicine. Only 14 percent of Kern adults did not buy medication in the past 12 months.

Moreover, Kern County ranks 57th for deaths due to diabetes out of California’s 58 counties. Kern ranks 54th for coronary heart disease and 53rd for chronic lower respiratory disease. Kern adults lag behind the nation and other California cities when it comes to the use of medical providers for basic health needs. In the past 12 months, for example, 35 percent of Kern adults visited a dentist, compared to 47 percent of adults in Los Angeles and 51 percent of U.S. adults. To make matters worse, Kern adults are less likely to jog, hike, bicycle or play basketball compared to adults in Los Angeles. Kern adults are more likely to participate in somewhat sedentary activities such as bowling, fishing, camping and flower gardening. In terms of health care access, 78 percent of Kern County adults have some type of health insurance. In spite of Covered California’s efforts to enrolled local uninsured adults under The Affordable Care Act, there are more than 130,000 adults (22 percent of Kern County adults) without insurance. The majority of those without health insurance are young adults, 71 percent of them are younger than 45. They are also likely to live in low- to mid-income households. Nearly 80 percent of those without health insurance live in households with annual incomes of less than $50,000. Employment wise, 36 percent are employed full time and 23 percent are employed part time. All these indicators, as well as many others, support the same thesis: while Kern’s healthcare industry has

Bakersfield chosen for expanded breast cancer testing

omprehensive Blood and Cancer Center in Bakersfield has been named the first site in the nation where breast cancer patients can obtain a promising experimental drug through an expanded access program.

Pfizer Inc. is developing the drug, called Palbociclib, which began clinical trials several years ago. CBCC participated in the trial through a research partnership with UCLA. Five patients from Bakersfield were

come a long way over the past few years, there is still a lot of room for improvement and growth. Jose M. Granados works for The Bakersfield Californian in the Market Research Department. This market analysis is based upon data from Scarborough Research, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis and California Department of Public Health.

among 165 people who received the therapy from 2010 to 2012. The trial went well, so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Palbociclib a “breakthrough therapy” designation in 2012. The designation expedites the review and approval of treatments deemed groundbreaking. Now Pfizer is rolling the drug out again for expanded testing, and Bakersfield is the first market of several where it will be available.

Cancer is abnormal cell growth. Some breast cancers are driven by hormones while others are not. So called “hormone positive” breast cancer accounts for about 60 percent of stage 4 cancers, or cancers that have spread beyond their point of origin. The drug works by arresting the ability of hormonepositive cancer cells to divide and multiply. — Courtenay Edelhart, The Bakersfield Californian

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

KEEP BUILDING.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Kern Green honors corporations, community members By Allie Castro

n Sept. 10, Kern Green celebrated the third annual Kern Green Awards, an event dedicated to celebrating achievements in sustainability practices in our community. The competition was truly close between the nearly 40 nominees in 12 categories, with many categories being decided by a mere handful of points. We are happy to report that nominees included both old and new faces, and though they are all winners in our book for making a difference in our community, the awards were given to the following:

October / November 2014

facility. By increasing training and educational opportunities, participating in a composting program, reducing waste and waste pick-ups, and increasing the use of reusable products, the facility has grown to an impressive 95 percent wastefree facility and has saved nearly $77,000 in business costs. Sustainable Purchasing Award: Aera Energy Aera Energy is leading the way in sustainable purchasing in their Bakersfield headquarters. The company uses 100 percent recycled paper, purchases green cleaning products, provides compostable cafeteria and break room utensils, napkins, and paper goods and is currently reviewing its office supply list for more ideas. Aera is also committed to working with local vendors when possible.

Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Renewable Award: Ikea Ikea’s sustainability strategy is “People and Plant Positive.” The Distribution Center has installed large solar panels that fulfill 83 percent of the company’s energy needs each year. They have also updated their indoor and outdoor lighting, implemented improved metering devices to better identify and understand energy usage, and areas of improvement, and have been focusing on minimizing the impact the large distribution center has on the land around it. Water Efficiency & Conservation Award: CAL Water In the Bakersfield District, CAL Water sponsors five hugely impactful programs that helped save 49 million gallons of water in 2013: rotating nozzle rebates; smart irrigation controller rebates to help with lawn watering in changing weather conditions; bathroom fixture replacement program to replace old toilets, shower heads, and aerators with high-efficiency models; spray body rebates to help with pressure regulation; and the high-efficiency sprinkler nozzle program.

PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO

High atop the IKEA southwestern distribution center near the foot of the Grapevine, Ben Collinwood of REC Solar (top left) leads a tour past part of the massive 370,000-square-foot solar installation on the company’s roof. The solar panels produce 2.88 million kilowatt-hours of electric power annually.

Air Quality Improvement Award: Kern COG (Council of Governments) Kern COG’s winning project this year has been their new and wonderfully successful CommuteKern program. This program encourages ride sharing in order to reduce both the number of single occupancy vehicles, and the overall number of vehicles on the road. CommuteKern offers software that links riders with potential rideshares, and leads presentations and educational sessions within the community to provide educational information about ridesharing, as well as potential ridesharing options. Waste Reduction and Recycling Award: FedEx Ground FedEx Ground has made great strides towards the goal of becoming a zero waste

Building Material and Design Award: Baker Hughes Baker Hughes recently relocated its Bakersfield offices to a large, 70-acre campus near Shafter, and was determined to use the greenest methods possible when it came to the construction and operation of the new campus. The campus is now run using Bloom Energy, which produces much lower gas emissions than alternative energy sources. They also utilized natural and energy-efficient lighting methods and employed temperature control methods that maximize the efficiency of the HVAC system. Green Leadership or Community Service Award: Kern River Environment Magnet Led by Teacher Kathy Dwyer, five students displayed their dedication to green community service while participating in the Kern River Environment Magnet program. These students helped get their school lunch leftovers composted, cleaned up trash left by campers near the Kern River, and planted trees at Kernville Elementary School and the Audubon Kern River Preserve. The goal of this program is to educate students about environmental practices, and help them understand and take ownership of their environment. Overall Green, Large Business Award: Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente focused on both reducing their impact on the environment, and provid-

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

ing their employees with resources to make sustainable choices. The company collaborated on a spring cleaning day to collect recyclable materials like eye glasses, cell phones, and confidential papers for shredding, on top of their regular recycling program; has reduced its energy consumption through things like replacing HVACs with high efficiency units; and reduced water consumption with high efficiency sprinklers. They also brought sustainable lifestyle options to their employees by hosting farmers markets for a sustainable, healthy, and local food option, as well as bringing a low emission mobile health vehicle to employees to reduce the number of medical trips. Overall Green, Small Business Award: Stria Stria has shown that small changes can make a big difference through simple initiatives like installing bike racks to make biking to work a viable option for employees and implementing a no-idle policy by hanging up reminders for employees. The company also has receptacles to collect e-waste — one of the most difficult areas of recycling — and has also digitized documents to reduce paper waste. Community Volunteer Award: Ray Scott PHOTO BY JENN IRELAND Ray Scott is the administrator of Price Steve Murray of Murray Family Farms puts out fruit on the tables in the Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices parking lot as Dianne Hoover, right, Disposal, a Keep California Beautiful Board and others shop at the farmers market. member and President, Keep America Beautiful Awards Committee Member, and Greater Bakersfield Green Expo Chairman, among other roles. He is also involved with Alianza Eco Coworker Award: Arlene Finlayson Recycling, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, and Through her work as the sustainability the Kern County Art Council. With all of the time he dedicates to sustainability projects, it’s a developer, Arlene Finlayson has helped Ikea wonder Scott has time for anything else. increase its involvement in sustainability practices for the last three years. Finlayson has improved the recycling program at the distribution center in Lebec, helped with the acquisition of solar panels for the distribution center, and has increased employee involvement in community volunteer events like tree gardening at a community garden and planting trees in Panorama Park. Eco-Educator Award: Bob Hodash Bob Hodash has brought sustainability education and opportunity to Sierra Middle School by helping lead the programs Kids for Solar Energy and the Green Team. By holding after school meetings and lunchtime activities, Hodash has helped create a culture of community involvement among the students when it comes to recycling and outreach. The school now has recycling bins and compost programs, and provides its students with opportunities to speak publicly about recycling to help educate others.

PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO

Ray Scott of Price Disposal is president of the Keep California Beautiful Board. Keep California Beautiful is an environmental education nonprofit whose mission is to preserve the state’s natural resources.

PHOTO BY JOHN HARTE

Bob Hodash is a science teacher at Sierra Middle School who also oversees the Kids for Solar Energy club.

Eco-Student Award: Lydon Olivares To Lydon Olivares, being green is “a lifestyle more than a project.” Many of Lydon’s daily and weekly activities are dedicated to building a sustainable community and lifestyle, including acting as a 4-H animal advocate, farming in his backyard, working with the Kern River Environmental Magnet School’s river restoration project, and organic farming.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Small Business Development Center

Retired deputy taking invention international By Kelly Bearden

ecessity is said to be the “mother of invention.” Retired Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Perlis and his colleagues in law enforcement had a need. So Perlis came up with an invention. A law enforcement officer for about four decades, Perlis retired from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in 2008 with hopes for an active retirement, which would include beginning a small business to augment his pension. “I thought about building and running a bed and breakfast, but I really had no true idea how I wanted to Kelly Bearden stay busy and make additional money,” said Perlis, 61, who continues to work for the county as a “reserve,” or extra-help deputy assigned to corrections and the courts. “I am officially retired, but I keep my hand in law enforcement.” And from this connection to law enforce-

ment grew Perlis’ idea for a device officers could use to safely hang up their duty belts when they went home at the end of their shifts. With the help of mentoring from consultants at the Small Business Development Center at Cal State Bakersfield, Perlis’ invention has been so successful that its sales just recently went international. “For generations, cops, deputies and troopers wore a ‘Sam Brown’ duty belt, which attached at the front with a metal buckle,” said Perlis, explaining that “when you ended your work day, you went to the locker room and took off your gun belt,” hanging it onto the inside of your locker door. But increased concern for tactical operations led to the replacement of metal buckles with less shiny plastic ones. And fewer departments now provide locker rooms for their officers. As a result, most officers bring their bulky duty belts home, draping them over furniture, or stashing them in closets. “I, along with a multitude of others, got tired of stubbing our toes on our gun belts on the floor of the closet,” said Perlis, who credits his wife for suggesting he invent a device to hang the equipment out of the way. Perlis sought the advice of Rod Blair, a

local inventor, who is also an SBDC consultant. Blair helped Perlis with designing and patenting his Duty Belt Hanger. “He walked me through every step of the patent process and I couldn’t be happier,” Perlis said. “The Duty Belt Hanger is an original design and I am proud to say I wrote three applications for design patents and was issued all three. I now have a total of seven different designs, all with Rod’s help.” Perlis has sold about 300 belt hangers, which cost $24.95, to mostly local customers. Other sales come through his website dutybelthanger.com. His customers live and work all over the U.S. Most recently he sold belt hangers to customers in New South Wales, Australia. Although much of his business comes from word of mouth, Perlis is in the process of making a BluTube video that will target law enforcement and a YouTube video for the general public. He will also be placing advertisements in law enforcement magazines. He is receiving marketing and financial advice from SBDC consultants. Perlis credits SBDC with the success of the Duty Belt Hanger and his related picture framing business, I’ve Been Framed by Chuck, which creates police and firefighter memorial and retirement displays. “I truly don’t think I would be as far along with both had it not been for the mentoring I received through SBDC and Rod,” said Perlis. The Small Business Development

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALL THE GOOD’ UNS PHOTOGRAPHY

Retired deputy Chuck Perlis displays the duty belt hanger he invented.

Center at CSUB is one of five service centers overseen by the University of California, Merced 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, Mono and Inyo counties by providing free one-onone consulting, small business training and research. For information, go to csub.edu/ sbdc. Kelly Bearden is the director of the Small Business Development Center at California State University, Bakersfield.

BVarsity Live Friday Nights Catch all of the scores, news updates and live look-ins Listen Live on Newstalk 1180 KERN

with Vance Palm at 7 p.m.

on bakersfield.com

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Working to be Well

No budget? No problem By Sean Kenny

orksite wellness programs continue to increase in popularity. In fact, a 2013 Bswift Wellness and Benefits study found that 81 percent of small companies and 85 percent of large companies (5,000-plus employees) offered some type of wellness program. Furthermore, a 2014 study by Fidelity Investments revealed that 93 percent of employers planned to maintain or expand funding for their programs over the next three to five years. With goals to control healthcare costs, reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and attract and retain top talent, the benefits of well-designed wellness programs are many. Add to that provisions in the Affordable Care Act to further incentivize both employees and employers, and there is little wonder why these programs are on the rise. All that is wonderful, but what happens if your company lacks the resources and budget for such programs? You’ve come to the right place. There are some things any organization can do, regardless of size, to foster and support a culture of wellness at the workplace. First Step: Executive support The first step is to ensure upper level support exists for such a program. While worksite wellness may seem like a no brainer, getting support from executives sends a clear message to employees that the program is supported, valued and there to stay. Have the executives circulate a letter of support and visibly participate in the program. Next Step: Reach out to local resources Bakersfield is a community full of free health resources and talent. Connecting with organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and similar entities can yield resources from free materials to potential speakers for “lunch and learns.” Be creative and don’t limit your program to traditional health topics. A topic we see increasing in the industry is that of “financial wellness.” Finances are one of the top three most reported stressors. Check with your bank, EAP or accounting firm to see if they offer presentations on budgeting, retirement planning or other relevant topics. In addition, many local schools provide medical students for simple health fairs and so forth. This is a true win-win: students get experience and community outreach credit while employers receive a variety of free, on-site health services. Finally, most health clubs will offer staff speakers and discounted memberships rates

for your workplace. Evaluate Your Efforts Continually get employee feedback on activities to see if you are offering topics and activities they are interested in. The name of the game in wellness is participation. If employees are not participating, you will not realize any benefits. 3 Things Your Office Can Do Now Wall of Wellness Create a space in a high-traffic area such as a hallway or breakroom and make it a source of health information. Post articles, local 5K walks/runs, healthy recipes, even create a lending library of health books and DVDs. To fill that space, a great resource is the National Health Observances website (http://healthfinder.gov/NHO). Each month, a variety of health observances are recognized. There you will find copyright-free information, resource links and even tweets for social media and emails. Healthy Pot Luck Host a healthy potluck for your next staff meeting or training. You can also create your potlucks with special themes such as “healthy holidays,” healthy tailgating (Super Bowl), heart health month (February) and more. Wellness Wrap Ups Conclude each staff meeting with easy stretching, share the monthly health observance or an interesting wellness article. This information could also be included in a monthly email. It only takes a few minutes and can go a long way in getting employees thinking about their health and feeling valued by the company.

Sean Kenny is the health and wellness manager for Advanced Care Wellness, a service of Managed Care Systems, LLC. For more than 16 years, Sean has designed successful wellness solutions for organizations in the fields of oil, ag, healthcare, law enforcement and government.

Top 10 Reasons Why Businesses Join a Chamber of Commerce

1 2 3 4 5

Business exposure

Advocacy efforts

Connections with other businesses

Leads generation

Want to make a difference in community

Various benefits/services

Credibility of membership

Seminars and workshops

Civic responsibility

Participate on Chamber committees

AND you can have it all with your membership in the... Contact Joy Davis, Director of Membership at (661) 327-4421 or jdavis@bakersfieldchamber.org for more information on Chamber membership.

6 7 8 9 10

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Energy Summit focuses on Kern innovation, best-shared practices Compiled by Kern Business Journal

he Kern County Energy Summit returns with this year’s event to be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bakersfield. The eighth annual energy summit, which is organized by the Kern Economic Development Corporation, will feature top energy experts, industry leaders and energy efficiency suppliers to share best practices and cutting-edge innovations, organizers said. “Advancements and opportunities presented at the Summit are tremendous,” said Fiona Lytle, Energy Summit event coordinator, adding that local energy companies are thinking beyond traditional ways to derive resources through improved technologies and expanding across industries. “For example, Chevron’s co-gen facilities produce electricity for the grid and clean water for the ag industry, and the solar industry is playing a major role in helping oil operators economically meet new mandates. Everywhere you look, innovation is taking place to make big changes and a smaller impact on our environment,” she said. Lytle said that each year, the Energy Summit grows in depth and breadth of information covered, number of attendees and awareness. For the first time, KGOV-TV will play

a role as well by videotaping the event, and a videographer will create short videos with event highlights and speaker/attendee interviews. “With a mix of ‘old and new’ energy sources prevalent in Kern County, the Energy Summit’s main purpose is to create public awareness about the region’s resources, energy innovation, and technological development as it affects the area’s position as an economic powerhouse,” Lytle said. “The Summit also serves as a platform for business, government, and community leaders to come together in support of the shared vision of growing a diversified energy portfolio, a healthy environment, a robust economy, and creating sustainable jobs for Kern County.” Public and private sector decision-makers, such as CEOs, government officials, and operations and logistics experts, are encouraged to attend. In addition, participants will gain resources and information to grow their businesses and profits while reducing their environmental impact. Kern’s energy cluster also supports job growth in other key sectors, including transportation, power generation, manufacturing, and petrochemicals. “Kern County is the leading energy and natural resource provider in the state and continually promotes the idea/ strategy of utilizing all types of energy sources to secure our

energy future,” Lytle said. “With public commitments to renewables coming from the local, state, and federal levels, the industry has become one of the fastest growing nationwide, and much of that growth is taking place in Kern County.” Consider the following facts: • Kern County is a leading producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, geothermal, solar and wind power. Common perception is that Kern only produces oil, which is just one segment of the energy here. • The county is one of the strongest players in the global energy industry. Renewables alone produced 7.4 GW of power generation, which is enough to power about seven million homes. • Over the last six years, over $15 billion in private investment has created 4,500 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs in the region’s wind and solar industries. • Lytle added that the region is also gaining attention from the biofuel industry, in part because of our geographic location and accessibility to major markets.

Cost to attend is $80 and includes a light breakfast, snacks and lunch. For information, contact the Kern Economic Development Corporation, 862-5150, or to register for the event, visit kedc.com.

Legal Briefs

When your employee has an accident, you’re also blamed By Milt Younger

hether it involves fiddling with GPS devices, loading CDs into a player, combing their hair, shaving, or doing clearly illegal things — such as talking on handheld cellphones or texting while driving — distracted driving seems to be epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, cellphone distractions alone are causing 600,000 crashes and 3,000 deaths on the nation’s roadways each year. As an attorney who has represented clients who suffered enormously as a result of distracted drivers —one client lost both of his legs and the other is still trying to recover from massive injuries — I am well aware of the personal misery this negligent behavior is inflicting. But if a distracted driver who caused a crash is one of your employees, likely you, too, will be feeling the pain. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that more than 25 percent of all traffic accidents involve someone who is driving as

part of their daily work responsibilities. Transportation officials estimate on-the-job crashes cost employers $24,500 per crash, $150,000 per injury and $3.6 million per fatality. Generally an employer is viewed liable for the actions of an employee if the employee was acting within the scope of his or her employment at the time of the accident. Therefore, if an employee injures someone due to negligent behavior, such as driving while distracted, the victim likely will sue your company directly for damages. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of companies sued by victims of accidents caused by drivers distracted by cellphones and texting. Settlements and verdicts in these cases have ranged from $1.5 million to more than $21 million. A prudent and responsible company must do two things to protect itself and its employees. It must educate and enforce. Develop a clear, written policy defining “distracted driving” behavior and the consequences for employees who engage in the behavior. Because many of the distractions are rooted in continually changing technol-

ogy, the written policy should be reviewed annually. While state laws ban using hand-held cellphones and texting while driving, your policy also should include use of navigation systems, eating, wearing headphones, etc. Consult with your human resources and legal specialists to develop a policy and punishments that can be enforced. In theory, a zero-tolerance policy may look good. But can it be enforced and applied equitably to all employees and situations? Communicate this policy to managers and employees. Effective safety programs go beyond distributing a written policy. Some companies bring in speakers, conduct workshops, enroll workers in safe-driving courses and provide annual refresher courses. Safe driving behavior should be practiced from the top of an organization down to the rank-and-file level. Examine company practices to weed out those that encourage workers to use their cars as extensions of their offices. Encourage employees to pull over and stop their cars when taking company phone calls. The federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration has set a high priority on curbing driving while engaging in prohibited cellphone and texting on-the-job. From its role as the enforcer of workplace safety rules, OSHA is looking closely at employers and the policies they are adopting and enforcing.

The federal agency has launched a multi-pronged effort that includes: educating employers to prevent work-related distracted driving accidents; working with the National Safety Council and other organizations to combat distracted driving; and responding to complaints about employers that ignore the risks and actually may be encouraging workers to engage in dangerous driving behavior. Workforce Magazine recently reported that 90 percent of adults in the United States have cellphones. With the numbers so high, it would seem logical that having a workplace policy about how they can be used is a no brainer. Milt Younger is a longtime Bakersfield personal injury attorney.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Human Resources

Teach your employees to ‘mind their manners’ By Holly Culhane

rowing up, a parent or mentor likely advised you to make a good first impression. Often you are given only one chance – the first encounter – to impress during a job interview, social setting or business exchange. The same is true for a business. The first impression left with a customer, potential employee or vendor may be the last, especially if the impression is negative. Concerned that their employees may not be making good first impressions and damaging their companies’ reputations and bottom lines, the owners and managers of several local companies encouraged P.A.S. Associates to offer “business etiquette” classes. One such three-hour class will be conducted on Nov. 11. Decades ago, company conHolly Culhane cerns centered on how employees performed in social settings, such as business lunches, over the phone and in face-to-face contact. But with the arrival of email and social networking outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, there are many more ways for employees to interact. Consider just a few: Electronic devices – Some people are addicted to their gadgets. They constantly check for incoming calls and text messages. At a popular local restaurant, a group of young, professionally dressed men were huddled around a table. Each had his cell phone next to his plate and repeatedly glanced down. When is it appropriate to

have your phone out during a business lunch? Generally never. Business meals – Many young employees stumble over simple table manners. In this on-the-go world, where families seldom eat together, young employees often do not know which fork to use when, or which bread dish at the table to claim. But other diners know and are watching. Expressing gratitude – In today’s electronic world, a written note is a rarity. But a simple, written expression of gratitude for an interview or business opportunity makes a standout good impression. Apologizing – Some people cannot accept blame or apologize for problems. A sincere apology can go a long way to retaining an unhappy customer. Some people also are uncomfortable accepting compliments. There is an art to apologizing and accepting compliments. Email exchanges – Consider your words carefully. Never respond to an email when angry. A harsh or careless response will travel far and can sting for a lifetime. Remember, emails are not text messages. Write clearly; check your spelling. And, respond. Failing to respond to an email can be an infuriating turnoff. Meetings – Arrive on time; pay attention; don’t dominate the

conversation. Phone etiquette – I have seen employee behavior range from ignoring calls to responding harshly. Company owners and supervisors should telephone their employees once in a while. If you are not satisfied with the treatment you received, coach employees on how to properly answer telephones. Cubicle etiquette – An employee who speaks too loudly in the work place, makes inappropriate remarks, props feet onto shared workspaces and performs basic hygiene tasks, such as trimming toe nails and flossing teeth, is rude and disruptive. A gentle nudge may stop the behavior. Otherwise, training and discipline may be required. Dressing for success – There is a fine line between dressing appropriately for the office and being just plain sloppy. Most employees want to look their best. Often all it takes is coaching. Just because an article of clothing is in fashion doesn’t mean it looks good! Whether you are concerned about the first impression being made by a young, new employee, or a veteran who has been moved into a more public role, workplace etiquette can be taught and most definitely should be learned. Holly Culhane is president of the Bakersfield-based human resources consulting firm P.A.S. Associates and P.A.S. Investigations. She can be contacted through her website PASassociates.com and through the PAS Facebook page.

It’s easy to donate to your local library By Katherine Ross

ree up space in a cluttered office or home. Share a good book (or three) with your community and get an extra deduction on your tax returns. There are many great reasons to donate to your local library, and your donations can live on in so many ways. You can drop off a single title, or even a box or bagful of books, at the first floor information desk of the Beale Memorial Library at 701 Truxtun Ave. in Bakersfield or at any other branch of the Kern County Library. If you have even more to donate, or if the library is closed, boxes or bags of books may be left at our loading dock at the rear of our downtown library just beside our back door. Library staff members and the hardworking volunteers of the Friends of the Kern County Library group are happy to evaluate donations to find the optimum destination for your books to live again. Many will be added to the collection, a welcome supplement to our shrinking book budget in these tough economic times. Other donations, such as slightly outdated titles, will go to the ongoing

or quarterly book sales, which raise money for the library. Be sure to watch our website “News and Events” list, kerncountylibrary.org/HTML/ news/index.html. The Friends of the Library’s next major book sale will be March 2015.

All of the money raised at the Friends of the Library book sales is returned to the library for collection additions and for summer youth and children’s programs. You can make a difference and help your local library in other ways as well. Take a

look at our “Support the Library” website, kerncountylibrary.org/HTML/support.html. With just a couple of clicks, you can donate a title from our Amazon Wish List, make a monetary donation, or join the Friends of the Library. You can also donate your time by becoming a volunteer. Visit kerncountylibrary. org/HTML/about/volunteer.html to learn how. The Kern County Library offers a lot to the community, including free computer use, free three-week book loans, free e-books, free math and computer tutors, and free programs for all ages, including “Historic Sunset Camp — Past & Present, the Dust Bowl History of Kern County’s Weedpatch Camp,” coming to the Beale Memorial Library at 1 p.m. Oct. 21. Plus, we’ll be sponsoring many more free events in connection with the One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern community read. If you should wish to give something back to the library, be it ever so tiny, you have our eternal gratitude, and the satisfaction of making a lasting contribution to your community. Katherine Ross is a reference librarian for the Kern County Library System.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Our teamwork = your gain

Kaiser Permanente + San Joaquin Community Hospital When caregivers are connected and work as a team, they collaborate on the best ways to help keep your employees healthy. Kaiser Permanente partners with awardwinning* San Joaquin Community Hospital to provide high-quality, integrated care. Working together means our members get comprehensive, seamless care.

Visit kp.org/choosebetter to learn more.

Our Kaiser Permanente doctors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; supported by one of the most advanced electronic health record systems in the nation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; provide high-quality care in the medical office and in the hospital. The teamwork and integrated care we provide often leads to better outcomes and controls health care costs to help your employees and your business thrive. *American Heart Association National Mission Lifeline Accredited Heart Attack Receiving Center and American Stroke Association Gold Plus Award

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Three risk management tips to keep your business healthy By John Pryor

ost of us go to our family physician routinely for a thorough examination of any physical, mental, and other health care issues we may face. The same should be true for the financial health of your business. Three business health care tips you’ll find helpful are: 1. Identify and measure your risks through annual examinations and diagnoses. 2. Reduce your risks through proper exercise of safety and security along with a healthy diet of fire prevention. 3. Finance your risks using cost-effective methods to pay for the business health care risks you face. Many diagnostic tests are needed. Those essential for tip No. 1’s risk identification and measurement process are: • Organizational ownership data • Financial statements • Property appraisals • Premises inspections • Fleet schedule and driver list • Mobile equipment list • Claim history, and • Insurance policy schedule. If you have a system for updating these data over time, your “doctor” (insurance broker) will greatly appreciate always having current data in your “patient chart.” With these foundational data in place, tip No. 2 – risk reduction – will logically follow. These data will be needed to determine your BMI – not Body Mass Index, but your Business Management Index. Needed data are: • Cal / OSHA IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Plan) required by state law. • Emergency response and disaster plan – plus, if you have one, your business’ continuity plan as it’s direly needed to keep your revenue stream flowing. • Drug testing policy for job applicants and random employee testing. • Internal accounting controls to prevent embezzlement. • Security measures — alarm systems, video cameras, cyber-crime prevention, fencing, etc. • Review of contracts in which you transfer risk to others and, equally important, when others transfer risk to you. Like exercise and diet, these data help keep you going at the lowest possible cost. With these proper prescriptions in place

to protect the financial health of your business, you should be ready to move to tip No. 3 – how you structure your business “health plan” John Pryor and pay for it all. If you’re an owner of a small business, your choices are limited. Nevertheless, you’ll want to be certain you’ve selected the most costeffective balance between risk assumption and the costs you incur for risk transfer to others through contracts and commercial insurance. If you’re an owner of a larger business, you have considerably more options about which to ask your broker for counsel. The most popular are: • High-deductible plans • Retrospective Rating Plans • Membership in a “PPO” otherwise known as a “captive insurance company,” and • Certification by the state as a self-insured employer. You’ll want to talk to your insurance broker about these and other Alternative Risk Transfer techniques. Or you can engage an independent risk management consultant who receives no commissions or fees for these programs — nor from agents, brokers, or carriers — but that would be self-serving for me to mention. Regardless of the size of your organization, you’ll want to track your Total Cost of Risk (TCOR) to truly understand your risk management health. TCOR includes far more than insurance premiums paid. It includes: • Uninsured losses and deductibles paid. • Costs incurred for safety, security, fire and cyber-theft prevention, etc. • Legal fees paid for drafting indemnification agreements and for defense of uninsured claims. • Administrative costs incurred to manage your risk management health in all of its dimensions. By moving these three tips into formal action, you’ll greatly improve your organization’s financial health and no doubt extend its life expectancy as well.

John Pryor, a risk management consultant, can be contacted through the Small Business Development Center at California State University, Bakersfield.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tech Talking

Competing mobile merchant payment systems give business owners a wealth of options By David A. Milazzo

Q: I hear it’s possible to accept credit card payments using a smartphone or tablet. Which are the best payment systems? A: Cash is king. Or so it was for millennia. Not until the 20th century did checks become popularized and employed by ordinary citizens. And even more recent is the mass adoption of credit and debit cards. I’ll spare you the history lesson of bartering with goats — suffice it to say, humans continually search for more efficient and reliable methods of paying for goods and services. Not long ago, accepting credit cards (sometimes called merchant services) was a privilege reserved for large, established businesses. Forced to navigate complex and expensive hardware and David A. Milazzo network requirements, many smaller business owners opted out. But in today’s world, setting up your entire credit card processing system takes less time than grooming that prized goat. With a smartphone or tablet, card swiper and bank account, anyone can accept credit or debit cards wherever there is Wi-Fi or cell connectivity. The most challenging task is determining which service fits your business while leaving you with the most cash after the processing fees. (Hint: read the fine print.) This new breed of merchant provider uses four methods to get compensated for their services: hardware costs, monthly fees, per transaction fees, and per transaction percentages. And each of the four major players — Square, PayPal, Intuit, and most recently, Amazon — take a varied approach. Square was the first company to pioneer the card swiper that plugs into your smartphone’s audio jack. Through the magic of turning numbers into audio waves and back again, they allow a plastic gizmo smaller than a postage stamp to be your gateway to untold riches. Square gives you the reader for free, has no monthly charge, and only subtracts a

2.75 percent fee per transaction. That is, if the card is present and you “swipe” the sucker. If you manually enter the card number, then it’s considered a “keyed transaction” and due to the supposed risk of fraud, incurs a higher 3.5 percent plus a 15 cents transaction fee. Bummer. But in most retail environments, the shopper presents their card and the lower fee prevails. Square offers decent turn around in depositing your cash within one to two business days. Not too shabby. Next to hop into the fray were PayPal Here and Intuit GoPayment. Each provides a free reader and competitive per-swipe transaction fees. But they complicate the process with monthly fee options and sliding scales of cost depending on a litany of subtle variables. The tradeoff is both bring their own killer feature. Intuit GoPayment gives you direct QuickBooks integration, and PayPal Here woos you with their installed base of existing PayPal spenders. Another PayPal selling point: they’ll transfer your money instantaneously to a free debit card. With no two-day cooling-off period and one percent cash back for your debit card purchases, you get a slick way to recoup some of those stinky fees. The newest contender is Amazon, known for leveraging their scale and disrupting markets. In contrast to the others, they charge $10 for their Amazon Local Register swiper, but they’ll credit that back against your first transaction fees. Their fees are also significantly lower — at least at first. Signing up before Oct. 31 grants a 1.75 percent transaction fee until January 2016. Following this 14-month Shangri-La, they plan to continue mildly undercutting the market with flat 2.5 percent for swiped and 2.75 percent for keyed transactions. The greatest news for business owners is these four juggernauts should continue undercharging and out-innovating each other creating ever more streamlined ways to capture that elusive buck. And let’s face it: all of this beats keeping tabs on the global G.E.R. (Goat Exchange Rate). David A. Milazzo is the founder and principal of Bakersfield-based Macroscopic, an Apple enterprise technology consultancy based in Bakersfield.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Marketing

Your brand and social media, finding what’s right for you By Marlene B. vHeise

roducing brand personality is not always an easy task. Brand personality is the way a brand makes you feel and consists of numerous elements including logo, signature colors, taglines, website and so on. When all of these elements are in sync, your business will have a brand personality that makes you instantly recognizable and identifiable. What better place to inject and reinforce a brand and its personality than on social media where your clients can Marlene B. Heise invite your company into their lives? For a small business, there is a vast array of options for social media platforms. In order to determine which platform you should choose, decide what you want from your social media and match the platform to achieve those goals. Do you want to find new customers? Run contests or post coupons on Facebook or Twitter. Want to promote a specific product? Upload photos to Instagram or Pinterest. Social media can be used to influence,

motivate and morph customer’s actions and opinions about a company. Here are a few facts about the leading social media platforms and basic instructions for how to tap into them. Facebook facts: • Facebook’s social network has more than 1 billion active monthly users. • Members tend to be older and wealthier than users of competing networks and since 2012, in two short years, the number of Facebook users ages 45 to 54 increased 45 percent. • 73 percent of users in the U.S. have incomes of more than $75,000. Basic tutorial for Facebook: Create a business Facebook page with

monthly-customized cover graphics; share two to three posts each week and at least one customized graphic, which is themed to your brand personality. Your posts should be 100 to 250 characters long. Each month, write posts around specific content. That could include photos and videos, coupons, or company events; however, it must be current and topical. But, what is really important is to infuse the company culture and personality into the posts. Keep it engaging and fun (they don’t all have to be industry or company facts). LinkedIn facts: • Business owners interested in a professional demographic almost universally use LinkedIn. • 30 percent of U.S. business owners report using LinkedIn regularly; 41 percent say the network is the “most valuable agent for growth.” • This platform is heavily male, 61 percent of users are male versus 39 percent female. • One of five online adults is on the platform. Students and recent college graduates make up LinkedIn’s fastest growing demographic; sounds ripe for recruitment. Basic tutorial for Linkedin: Create a business LinkedIn page, which should include customized company informa-

tion so that every message a potential customer sees will be consistent with your brand personality and have a similar look and feel. Join a LinkedIn group for business leaders in your community and start discussions about topics you have expertise in. Ask for endorsements or recommendations from those you do business with to build credibility. Post frequent updates about your business that include recent awards and certifications, new hires and anything that proves credibility and growth. Now, what’s powerful about all this? It is when all of these elements are combined, have a similar look and feel, and they all work together strategically. All this being said, social media is social and should be fun, while informing and engaging to consumer. It is considered “free” media; however, you as a business owner need to have sufficient time to interact with your social media platforms. Venture into only one platform that fits your business at a time and build upon that. You will see that social media, when combined with traditional media, can be a game changer for your business. Marlene B. Heise of Bakersfield is owner of Heise Media Group and Marlene B. Heise Consulting.

FOR SALE Woodmere Industrial Lots

Phase I of Parcel Map 10606 features finished lots ready for industrial or commercial development. Located within the City of Bakersfield, Parcel Map 10606 is developed into several industrially-zoned lots that allow for a variety of commercial and industrial uses. This offering of lots features finished improvements such as streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, utility stubs, and more. Several lots are available ranging in sizes from 9,600 square feet up to 25,398 square feet. Woodmere Drive is highly accessible from both Ashe Road to the west and Stine Road to the east. Seller will consider offers for a build-to-suit or owner-financing.

FOR LEASE 3400 Unicorn Road

Features affordable office-warehouse suites in a bustling industrial submarket. Located near Meadows Field International Airport and adjacent to Highways 99 & 65, 3400 Unicorn is dynamically situated to take advantage of major distribution channels. Suite 103 includes an approximately 1/3 office build-out and private restroom. Suite 113 is fully built out with a flexible mix of office space and open areas. Zoned M-2 H PD Medium Industrial within the County of Kern, allowing for a variety of commercial and industrial uses. NO extra charges for common area maintenance.

FOR LEASE 100 West Columbus Street

Is located at the signalized intersection of Union Avenue and Columbus Avenue in Northeast Bakersfield, CA. The three-story office property is across from Garces Memorial High School, and is less than a mile from Memorial Hospital. Suite 200 is an improved ground floor medical suite with five exam rooms and was formerly occupied as a dentistry office. Suite 201 is also an improved ground floor suite with a mix of several private offices and open space. NO additional fees for common area maintenance or NNN charges.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

For 15 years we’ve been committed to providing premier cardiac care. We bring that same commitment to the rest of your body.

Cath Lab Spine Center

Women’s Heart Center Full-Service ER Joint Replacement Center Center for Wound Healing

There’s more to good health than just having a healthy heart. At Bakersfield Heart Hospital we’ve been busy adding even more health care services to our already award-winning cardiac care. Things like our Joint Replacement Center, our Spine Center, our Center for Wound Healing and, just in case, our Full-Service Emergency Department. Of course you’ll still be able to get the best cardiac care possible in our Women’s Heart Center, our Cath Lab, and soon our Cardiac Rehab Center. Only now you’ll be able to get that same excellent care for all your other parts, too.

THE HOSPITAL IS PARTIALLY OWNED BY PHYSICIANS

3001 SILLECT AVE, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308

BakersfieldHeartHospital.Com

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Air district provides digital feature to keep locals updated on air-quality conditions By Janelle Schneider

he San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s mission to protect public health through cleaner air includes accurately forecasting air quality, adopting effective and common sense regulations, awarding millions of dollars in grants and incentives to reduce emissions, and providing tools to help people manage their daily lives in the context of seasonal air quality challenges. The best health protection tool developed by the Air District is one that many residents and educational organizations rely on to guide them in planning outdoor activities. The Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) is a free, automated, easy-to-use data reporting system that delivers real-time,

localized air quality conditions directly to a subscriber’s computer or smart phone. Selecting from the District’s broad network of Valley monitors, a subscriber receives hourly emails when air quality is either improving or deteriorating. “We’re the first air district in the country to develop and implement a system such as this, and we are delighted that it is being used by so many people,” said Jaime Holt, the district’s chief communications officer. Developed through a partnership between the Air District, University of California, San Francisco and the American Lung Association, RAAN launched in 2010 to help schools determine appropriate outdoor activity levels for their students in the context of air quality. The program was soon expanded to the entire Valley and continues to see consistent enroll-

ment increases. The RAAN program, accessible through the District’s website or free iPhone app, also includes specific guidelines for outdoor activity depending on levels of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and an individual’s health concerns (see accompanying chart). Accompanying detailed, hourly graphs for each monitor and the pollutants it measures are also historical data. “Using the information available through RAAN, teachers and school staff can make better-informed decisions about their students’ outdoor activities,” Holt said. RAAN fills a void in accessing neighborhood-level air quality. Each day, the district issues a countywide air quality forecast, which gives a good, overall outlook for general air quality in a large region. RAAN

reveals differences that may exist within a region and does it in real time. “To use an analogy, the daily forecast tells you if it’s raining, whereas RAAN will tell you how hard,” Holt said. In addition to geographic variances in pollution levels, time of day is also critical to determining the best times for outdoor activities during seasons when air quality may be uncertain. Access to real-time, hourly air quality data helps ensure that exertion can be limited to periods of the day when air quality is acceptable. Visit www.valleyair.org/RAAN for complete instructions or download the free iPhone app, “Valley air,” at iTunes or the App Store. Janelle Schneider is an outreach representative for the Valley Air District.

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Q&A

The American Lung Association steps up efforts

n the age of ice bucket challenges and painting the town pink, the American Lung Association is making a major push to draw attention to lung cancer in women. The force of that push is being felt all the way here to Kern County. Area Director Tamira Smith Lopez is spreading the word about the Lung Association’s efforts as the organization plans for a “Turquoise Takeover” next spring to draw attention to the cause. This fall, she shared why it’s so important for businesses to care about lung health Tamira Smith Lopez and raise lung cancer awareness. Tell us about the American Lung Association and what it does in Kern County? The mission of the American Lung Association in California is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. In Kern County, we accomplish our mission through asthma, tobacco, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer education programs. Some of these programs are Asthma Basics, Open Airways for Schools, asthma education for children in grades first through fifth; Better Breathers’ Clubs, support and educational group for individuals with COPD; Freedom from Smoking, smoking cessation program for adults; and through the Lung HelpLine, which provides lung health information in over 150 languages from medical professionals. The Lung Association hosts two signature fundraising events annually to raise funds to continue our work in the community. • Our Holiday Poinsettia campaign is held annually from Oct. 1 through Dec. 5 and gives businesses and individuals the opportunity to purchase holiday poinsettias in advance to use for decorations and gifts with the proceeds going to the Lung Association. • LUNG FORCE Walk on April 11, 2015 encourages individuals, families, and business to join the force for lung health by raising their voices against lung disease and for lung health. Every dollar raised helps the lifesaving mission of the American Lung Association. For the business community, why is it important for employers and employees to be aware of lung health? Workdays lost to hospital visits, sick days and less productivity caused by lung disease cost American businesses billions of

dollars each year. From parents dealing with their children’s chronic asthma to employees suffering from COPD, lung cancer or even simply taking several extra breaks per day to smoke, productivity is often hampered by the effects of the effects of lung disease — this makes it very important for the business community to address. The ALA is kicking off a major campaign focusing on women’s lung health. Why is this so important? Recently, the American Lung Association launched its LUNG FORCE movement, which focuses on battling lung cancer in women. Lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer in the United States and claims more lives each year than breast, colon, pancreas and prostate cancers combined. This is the moment to tackle this disease head on by raising awareness and funds to increase research to end this most deadly cancer. While lung cancer research will benefit all Americans, particular focus has to be paid to women who have seen an increase in lung cancer diagnoses of more than 100 percent in the past 35 years, while lung cancer in men has fallen by 21 percent. National Women’s Lung Health Week (the second week of May) is a national movement to raise awareness and increase support for early detection of lung disease so that everyone has a fighting chance. The Lung Association will turn America turquoise, our signature color, by lighting buildings and other landmarks across the country – from local town halls and governor’s mansions to landmarks such as Niagara Falls and the Reno Arch. All this in support of women’s lung health – and in particular lung cancer, which, is the No. 1 cancer killer of women – stealing the lives of more than 72,000 women in 2013 alone. This number represents more women’s live lost by lung cancer than breast cancer and includes one out of every four women’s deaths due to cancer in America. The ALA is also in the process of revamping its annual walk. When is the walk and what changes can the community expect? The LUNG FORCE Walk, which takes place April 11, 2015 at Yokuts Park in Bakersfield, is a charity walk like no other. This year’s LUNG FORCE Walk will be a passionate community gathering that will celebrate the collective power of participants’ breath and voices to stand up against lung cancer and for lung health. Besides the actual walk itself, there will be many opportunities to get involved with the LUNG FORCE movement to make each and every concerned voice count in the battle against lung disease.

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

Dollars and Sense

A look at tax aspects, credits of the Affordable Care Act By Joel A. Bock, CPA, MST

hen the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly referred as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare) was signed into law on March 23, 2010, it created a variety of provisions that will have an impact on many taxpayers. The following is a brief summary of some of its tax-related provisions: Net Investment Income Tax and Additional Medicare Tax The Net Investment Income Tax and the Additional Medicare Tax each became effective Jan. 1, 2013. The Net Investment Income Tax adds a 3.8 percent tax on investment income over a threshold amount ($250,000 for a married couple filing jointly). The Additional Medicare Tax adds a 0.9 percent tax on wages and self-employment income over a threshold amount ($250,000 for a married couple filing jointly). Small Business Health Care Tax Credit The Affordable Care Act also created the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. For

tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paid by small business employers or 25 percent of premiums paid by small tax-exempt emJoel Bock ployers. To be eligible, the employer must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees with average wages of less than $50,000 per year (excluding the owner and the owner’s family). For tax years 2014 and thereafter, the maximum credit increases to 50 percent of premiums paid by small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid by taxexempt employers; however, the premiums must be paid on behalf of employees enrolled in a qualified health plan offered through a Small Business Health Options Program Marketplace. If a small business or small taxexempt entity has already filed a tax return without claiming the credit and later finds that it qualified for the credit, then the credit can be claimed by filing an amended tax return. Certain employers are required to report the cost of coverage under an employer-spon-

sored group health plan on an employee’s Form W-2. It is important to note that this does not affect a taxpayer’s tax liability, but is reported for informational purposes only. Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit For tax year 2014, the Health Insurance Premium Tax credit will allow individuals and families to claim a premium tax credit to help cover the cost of health insurance purchased through an Affordable Insurance Exchange. This tax credit is refundable, which allows taxpayers with no tax liability to benefit from the credit. Additionally, the credit can be paid in advance to the taxpayer’s insurance company. Individual Shared Responsibility Provision Also starting in 2014 tax year is the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision, which requires an individual to either have minimum health insurance coverage or pay an additional amount with the individual’s federal tax return (unless a statutory exemption is met). The annual payment is as follows for the next three years: • 2014 – The greater of 1 percent of your

household income that is above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status, or your family’s flat dollar amount, which is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, limited to a family maximum of $285. • 2015 – The greater of 2 percent of your household income that is above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status, or your family’s flat dollar amount, which is $325 per adult and $162.50 per child, limited to a family maximum of $975. • 2016 – The greater of 2.5 percent of your household income that is above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status or your family’s flat dollar amount, which is $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, limited to a family maximum of $2,085. For years after 2016, the amounts shown above for 2016 will be increased based upon inflation. Please consult your tax advisor to determine how the provisions of the Affordable Care Act impact your specific situation.

Joel A. Bock, CPA, MST is a partner in Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock, a Bakersfield accounting firm.

Stay connected Live, streaming video programming on Bakersfield.com

First Look with Scott Cox: Weekdays from 7 to 10 am. features interviews, as well as comments and analysis from The Californian’s award-winning journalists.

Strictly Business: Cindy Pollard, President/CEO of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, as she talks with local businesses on Mondays from 10 to 11 a.m.

Power Hour: From the Auto Club Famoso Raceway to the new Kern County Raceway Park, catch it live, every Tuesday at 11 a.m. on bakersfield.com Roadrunner Rundown: Costelloe, Cal State’s Director of Broadcasting and New Media discuss Cal State Athletic Programs from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

The Real Estate Show: Presented by Watson Realty ERA features real estate news and market information from Kern County on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m.

B Varsity with Zach Ewing: Features previews, interviews and highlights that give you an inside look at the local high school sports scene. Live Well: Lisa Krch explores Wellness, Health, Fitness and Living Wednesdays 10 to 11 am

Open Up: With Don Clark and Tina Miller Thursdays 10 to 11 am

PRODUCED BY

TBC MEDIA

October / November 2014

KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

October / November 2014

WE’RE YOUR PLAN FOR

WOMEN’S CANCER CARE When it comes to cancer care for women, The AIS Cancer Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital offers the latest treatment options with a full-range of board-certified, fellowship-trained female cancer physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of breast disease and other cancers affecting women. Our Quest Imaging offers the ONLY Tomosynthesis 3-D Mammography services in Kern County. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 3-D Mammography is 41 percent more effective at identifying invasive breast cancer than traditional 2-D mammography. If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, talk to your doctor and make a plan to come to The AIS Cancer Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital.

Due for a mammogram? Ask your doctor for a referral to Quest Imaging – featuring the ONLY 3-D mammography in Kern County. Located on Stockdale Highway, with a new location coming soon to downtown Bakersfield!

WhatsYourPlan.net