Our Two Cents Podcast

Amanda Jones welcomes Jackie Andrade and Elizabeth Maldonado, Vice Chairman and Chairman of KC SHRM's 2024 Symposium. Jackie Andrarde, is an experienced and motivated human resources practitioner with sixteen years' experience. Jackie Introduces the non-organization: The Kern County Chapter Society for Human Resource Management otherwise known as KC SHRM as an organization of human resource professionals whose primary goal is to foster an educational environment that is facilitated by the exchange of information and ideas. The organization provides an extensive amount of resources and tools for all members from all different business backgrounds from small business owners to corporate companies with or without their membership.  Elizabeth Maldonado is an alumnus of the CSUB's School of Business. She joined AppleOne Employment Services in 2012 and specializes in Staffing and HR Consulting services. Elizabeth introduces KC SHRM's Annual Symposium, their largest event being held on October 2nd 2024. The Symposium's mission is to Inspire, energate, elevate and connect with like minded professionals to better educate each other. The event attracts about 400 HR and Business professionals from generalists level through the executive suite. They have a great line-up of speakers forming as well as 46+ vendors for the 2024 sessions to ensure we address the issues and challenges faced by today's HR professionals. Whether you'd like to be a sponsor, vendor or attend the event all information will be linked down below. Learn more about KC SHRM and the annual Symposium with the links below: KC SHRM Website KC SHRM Instagram KC SHRM Symposium details KC SHRM Youtube  KC SHRM Linkedin  

Amanda DiGacomo welcomes Norma Dunn, Program Director of the Kern Women's Business Center. Norma's passion for education and business, combined with her engaging personality, has earned her a reputation as a high-impact networker. She is a sought-after community leader as is accomplished at planning and executing strategies that are both effective and efficient. Norma Introduces what the Women's Business center provides and its dedication to enhancing opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining, successful contributors to their communities, with special assistance for women, low-income, minority, veterans, and non-profit businesses . The business center was established in 2019 and has had its physical location as of 2021. The business center provides a variety of resources for entrepreneurs to gain the knowledge they need to start and run a successful business. They offer business start up classes, monthly workshops, and free business consulting. The Kern County's Women's Business Center received the 2024 Women's Business Center of the Year Award out of 15 Counties, acknowledging their hard work and dedication towards the community. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER WITH THE LINKS BELOW: Phone: 661-567-0410 Address: 10800 Stockdale Hwy Suite 201-224 Bakersfield CA, 93311 Women's Center Website: www.mcscorp.org/kern Instagram: kernwbc Facebook: Kern_Womens_Business_Center  

Kyle Jones and Amanda DiGacomo welcome Jasmine Mazariegos, Senior Broker at Virtuity Financial Partners and the newest tenant in the Mill Rock Way office. Jasmine Introduces the company she works with, Virtuity Financial and discusses the aspects behind financial literacy. Jasmine tells us how she attended CSUB with a major in kinesiology but later realized through experience that a career working 9-5 for someone else wasn't going to get her to her financial goals, she was mentored and trained in Financial literacy and now provides the same information if not more to her clients. She discusses the change in perspective from working an average 9-5 job to dedicating herself to being an entrepreneur and teaching others that they can do the same. Jasmine provides her clients with financial advice that ranges from educating them about life insurance and advising them to protect assets in Trusts and Wills to teaching them about a wide range of investment strategies. She also discusses growing up not having the resources and education about financial literacy and is now passionate about teaching clients the importance of financial literacy. LEARN MORE ABOUT JASMINE AND REACH OUT WITH THE LINKS BELOW: Website: https://virtuity.com/ Jasmine's IG: Jasmine_finance  

Amanda DiGiacomo welcomes Jackie Koster, Founder and CEO of Key Staffing Inc and LLS Visionary of the year. Key Staffing is a company founded in 2019 by Mrs.Koster and it is now a leading recruitment firm serving all industries including, industrial, administrative, accounting, and medical. Jackie tells us the story of how Key Staffing came to be from simply her entrepreneuring spirit and determination to succeed. Amanda and Jackie also discuss the impact that generational cultures bring to the workforce and the difference on how to motivate for success. In starting a business there are always ups and downs, losses and wins, when Jackie started Key Staffing in 2019 the pandemic was an unforeseen obstacle but with great tenacity, Jackie and her team were able to provide the community with job opportunities for both candidates and clients. In 2023 Jackie discusses the loss in reduction of not only her company's staff but the drastic reduction of revenue her company was receiving, but with consistent efforts and an amazing staff the company has been able to grow from what they lost. Key Staffing is a company committed to helping candidates find the right opportunity for their lifestyle. Their mission is to create a long-term partnership with clients by connecting their workforce with companies and businesses. Key Staffing has collaborated with Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) to host a casino night in which all proceeds from the event will go towards funding research and supporting patients battling blood cancer. For more information on Key Staffing and the LLS casino night check out the links below.  LEARN MORE ABOUT KEY STAFFING:  LLS Casino Night Tickets LLS Donation Page LinkedIn: Jackie_Koster Instagram: Jackie_Koster Website: www.hirekeystaff.com/    

Kyle Jones welcomes Scott Garrison, Founder and CEO of Planned Exits, a new company that provides business owners with strategies on how to maximize their business's value upon exit. Scott tells us the story of how Planned Exits came to be and his inspiration behind the company. The company is committed to helping business owners, and entrepreneurs plan for successful exits with the most favorable terms that help them achieve their personal and professional goals. Exit planning is a critical process that holds immense significance for businesses, and It allows them to strategically navigate the complexities of transitioning out of their ventures. Whether they are selling the business, passing it on to family members, or exploring other exit options. Exit planning addresses legal and tax considerations, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition through meticulous analysis, financial planning, and the development of a tailored strategy. For more information on Planned Exits check out the links below. LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNED EXITS:  Website: www.plannedexits.com/ LinkedIn: Planned_Exits  

Amanda DiGiacomo welcomes Cepi and Lu, the executive board of Power Hub Bakersfield, a new local non-profit that helps businesses and C suite employees grow. Cepi the president tells us the story of how Power Hub Bakersfield came to be. Their inspiration behind bringing PHB to the community was that they wanted to provide business owners and C Suite professionals with the proper tools to power up their growth through networking, goal setting, financing, and accountability. This nonprofit is different from others as they provide networking, programs lead by experts, and an accountability coach. The board would like to invite any of you to their latest program sponsored by Lino's venue on February 8th 2024. More information for their upcoming programs is on their Instagram linked down below. LEARN MORE ABOUT POWER HUB BAKERSFIELD: Website: https://powerhubbakersfield.org/ Instagram: powerhub_bakersfield  

Kyle Jones welcomes Sarah Kuhlmann and Tarin Meadows, Co-owners of F45 Training Seven Oaks and Fit-Pantry. Sarah and Tarin tell us the story of F45 training. Their inspiration behind bringing F45 training to the community was that they wanted to provide a fun place that produces high-intensity workouts to get the heart pumping. F45 Training's mission is to help its members conquer everyday movements and unlock their inner athlete. At F45 Training, their workouts are created by certified personal trainers to bring together all muscle groups in the body, helping them achieve exceptional strength, energy, and flexibility that leave their members feeling their best. More information on F45 Training Seven Oaks is down below.  Sarah and Tarin established their own business known as Fit Pantry. Their mission behind their restaurant is to connect people to healthy real food with ease. They opened Fit Pantry in October of 2016 and have made it their mission ever since to serve others with well-balanced nutritious meals. You can find their locations and more information on their website below. LEARN MORE ABOUT F45 TRAINING AND FIT PANTRY: Websites: https://f45training.com/studio/sevenoaksca/ https://www.fitpantry.com/ Phone number: F45 Training: (661) 310-3305 Phone number: Fit Pantry: (661) 679-7684 Facebook: F45_Training_SevenOaks Fit_Pantry Instagram: f45_training_sevenoaks fitpantrybakersfield

Amanda DiGiacomo welcomes Debbie Powers, executive director of Golden Empire Gleaners. Debbie tells us the story of how the local non-profit was founded and how much they have grown since then. Debbie goes over what the non-profit does for the community and how it has an impact on many lives. She discusses the process in which the non-profit receives its donations and how they create and distribute the baskets. Donations are a big part of the non-profits mission, volunteering is the other important part, Debbie discusses how the volunteers are what allows the program to run smoothly and how because of volunteers they are able to reach more people around the community. Club 85 is a monthly monetary subscription in which your donation is used to create a case of goods that is then donated to a family in need every month. We encourage you today to check out this local non-profit and be a part of the team, whether it be through volunteer work or food/monetary donation.  Golden Empire Gleaners mission is to help alleviate hunger and provide food for those in need in the Kern County community. They accomplish this by collecting and distributing food and agricultural products that might otherwise go to waste. Through the help of their referring agencies, they are able to distribute food to needy children, senior citizens, families in crisis, people who are ill, disabled, homeless or unemployed. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOLDEN EMPIRE GLEANERS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP MAKE AN IMPACT:  Website: www.goldenempiregleaners.com/ Phone Number: 661-324-2767 Facebook: GoldenEmpireGleaners Instagram: GoldenEmpireGleaners  

We are welcomed today with a special recording from our Host Amanda DiGiacomo as she tells us the story on how she came about founding Atlas Financial Solutions. Amanda goes over a year-end business checklist for small business owners and how to close out their books. She goes over minimum wage increases and sick leave changes for 2024. Atlas Financial Solutions offers a variety of services that cater to small businesses, they are passionate about giving back to their community. Small business owners face many burdens, teaming up with AFS allows you to outsource those burdens. LEARN MORE ABOUT ATLAS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS: Website: https://atlasfinancialsolutions.net/ Phone Number: 661-241-3719 Facebook: Atlas_Financial_Solutions LinkedIn: AtlasFinancialSolutions Instagram: atlasfinancialsolutionsca  

Kyle Jones welcomes Richard Chapman, President and CEO of the Kern Economic Development Corporation. Richard educates us on what the Kern EDC corporation does and gives us an in-depth on the process of how they study and strategize the market overview of Kern County. He also gives us insight into what's going on in East Kern, he discusses how they started the East Kern Economic Alliance (EKEA) and goes over how they reach out to locals and corporations in the area to cultivate relationships and help sustainably grow their businesses. Kern Economic Development Corporation's mission is to cultivate and promote Kern County's boundless opportunities for business. The Corporation (Kern EDC) is a public-private partnership that brings together private businesses, education, elected officials, and non-profit organizations for the purpose of a single goal: creating a strong and diverse economy for Kern County. Kern EDC promotes the region to businesses looking for areas to expand and works with existing local businesses to ensure they have what they need to thrive and grow here in Kern County. LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION:  -Website: www.kernedc.com -Phone Number: 661-862-5150 -Facebook: Kern_Economic_Development_Corporation -LinkedIn: Kern_Economic_Development_Corporation -Instagram: KernEconomic Check out their market overview right here  

Troy Burden Welcomes Eric Dhanens and Alex Vigil, partners of the strategic engineering firm known as Cornerstone. Eric Dhanens, the vice president of Cornerstone, gives us insight on the idea behind Cornerstone. He goes over the civil engineering process in our region and what kind of services they provide, from flexible and dynamic engineering to a diversifying environment that provides clean energy. He also educates us on the carbon capture process and its importance. Alex Vigil is the president of Well Done Consulting LLC and a partner of Cornerstone. Alex's company, Well Done Consulting, works hand in hand with Cornerstone to provide clients with asset retirement, plug and abandonment, regulatory services, and so much more, all of which synergize smoothly with Cornerstone's firm. Alex shares with us a local non-profit called Orlie's Shoe Drive that Alex and his Wife, Nichole Vigil, co-founded in honor of Alex's father, Orlie. Orlie's family founded Orlie's Shoe Drive, which focuses on providing school-age children with one of life's basic necessities: shoes. They would like to give you the opportunity to positively impact our community by donating to their shoe drive fundraiser. More information on how you can contact and donate will be linked down below! LEARN MORE ABOUT CORNERSTONE ENGINEERING INC.: Website: https://cornerstoneeng.com/ Phone: 661-325-9474 LinkedIn: CornerstoneEngineeringInc LEARN MORE ABOUT WELL DONE CONSULTING LLC.: LinkedIn: WellDoneConsultingLLC LEARN MORE ABOUT ORLIE'S SHOE DRIVE: Website: www.orliesshoedrive.com/ LinkedIn: OrliesShoeDrive Instagram: orliesshoedrive YouTube: Orlie's_Shoe_Drive    

Dave Plivelich (The Marcom Group) and John Duffield (Integra Accountancy Corporation) welcome Shannon and Kevin Lowther, managing partners of Central Pacific Valuation, as they discuss how a business is valued and the reasons why it is important to know a business's value. Kevin and Shannon might value an interest in a business for clients who are interested in buying or selling a business as well as for gift, estate, and income tax matters. Shannon and Kevin give insight into what business valuations are by giving us a better look into all the aspects of a business valuation and breaking down the process of what a company's truly worth. LEARN MORE ABOUT CENTRAL PACIFIC VALUATION: Website: https://centralpacval.com/ Phone: 661-527-9080 Instagram: centralpacvaluation Facebook: Central_Pacific_Valuation LinkedIn: Shannon_Lowther Kevin_Lowther  

Kyle Jones welcomes Lori Malkin, secretary and founder of the JJ's Legacy Foundation as she invites us to the 8th annual Grillin and Brewin event November 9th. All proceeds from the event go towards the foundation's “got the dot?” program and club. Their program gives students an educational insight on organ, eye and tissue donation and the importance of donating. The program allows the children the opportunity to earn scholarships funded through these events to further their education as advocates for organ, eye, and tissue donation. JJ's Legacy was founded in 2010 a year after founder Lori Malkin's son Jeffrey John died in a automotive accident, when pronounced brain dead the doctors asked Lori if Jeffrey was an organ donor, Lori and her husband decided to donate her son's organs. In doing so Lori learned about how much of an impact her son's donation had in other people's lives.The mission of JJ's Legacy is to honor Jeffrey Johns by educating Kern County residents on the value and importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, increasing the number of registered donors, and providing compassionate support to donor and recipient families. LEARN MORE ABOUT JJ'S LEGACY: Website: www.jjslegacy.org/ Phone: 661-489-4430 Instagram: jjslegacy Facebook: JJs_Legacy LinkedIn: Lori_Malkin YouTube: JJ's_Legacy  

Dave Plivelich and Dustin Pitcher welcome Wendy Porter, the Executive Director and Founder of the Wounded Heroes Fund, as she explains how the Wounded Heroes Fund was born 13 years ago at her kitchen table. Wendy is the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, and after seeing the way her father was treated upon his arrival home, she wanted to give back to the Veteran community. Now, Wendy runs the Wounded Heroes Fund, which helps veterans adjust to civilian life by providing a sense of home through their community center. They offer a kitchen, shower, washer/dryer, as well as a food pantry that feeds 400 to 500 people a month. Wendy's goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for Veterans and ensure that all the money that is donated stays in Kern County. If you would like to learn more about how you can help the Wounded Heroes Fund, tune into this episode.  The Wounded Heroes Fund was started in 2008 by Wendy Porter. She is the granddaughter of two WWII Veterans and the daughter of a US Army Vietnam Veteran. She grew up experiencing the effect that war had on her father and the ungrateful homecoming he received. She wanted to make sure that this did not happen to the young men and women who are currently fighting for our country. Wendy has a Master's Degree in education and was a teacher for 9 years in Delano, California. She decided to stay home when her daughter, Chloe (14), was born. Wendy wanted to do something to give back to wounded veterans and their families, and being at home allowed that dream to come to fruition. With the help of family and friends, WHF was started. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOUNDED HEROES FUND: Website: https://thewoundedheroesfund.com/ Phone: 661-328-8600 Email: wendy@thewoundedheroesfund.org Instagram: woundedheroesfund Facebook: Wounded_Heroes_Foundation  

Dave Plivelich welcomes Bryan Porter, the owner of St. John Sporting Dogs, as he discusses his passion for showing and breeding Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Bryan started showing Chessies 13 years ago, even though he had no previous experience, and quickly won 6 shows in a row! Bryan is now the President and Chairman of the Kern County Kennel Club, which will be hosting a four-day all-breed show at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The event is from March 28th to 31st, 2024, and spectators are welcome! If you have ever considered showing and breeding, tune into this episode.  Bryan Porter is part of the Kern County Young Republicans, Active 20-30 Club, MARE, Kern County Wounded Heroes Fund, Kern County Kennel Club, and the Tulare Basin Wetlands Association. Dogs have always been an important part of his life, and 13 years ago, he started to show and breed Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Bryan has had multiple top-rated dogs in the country over the past few years. However, his current dog, Mary, has been the #1 owner-handled Chesapeake for the last two years. He is an avid hunter and spends his free time working on wildlife conservation. Bryan is the Vice President and Fundraising Chair for the Tulare Basin Wetlands Association and was also appointed to the Wildlife Commission for Kern County, representing Ward 3.   LEARN MORE ABOUT BRYAN PORTER: Website: https://stjohndogs.com/ Email: gopporter@aol.com Facebook: KC_Kennel_Club  

Thank you for joining us for our final episode of our health and fitness mini-series! John Duffield and Troy Burden welcome back Anna Marie Frank and Dr. Beatty as they discuss the many different services they offer and how they focus on improving the overall health and wellness of their patients. Anna Marie Frank has initial meetings with her patients so they can give her a detailed list of their symptoms along with a list of their medications so she can create a personal wellness plan for them. Dr. Beatty has multiple different tests he can run depending on the patient's visit that he can use to determine what the root of their problem is. They both focus on listening to their patients to create personalized plans that will increase their patients quality of life. Anna Marie is a doctor of Traditional Naturopathy, with a PhD in Holistic Medicine. She is also a certified brain health professional, ICF certified coach, certified master herbalist, and lover of life! She is also an author, speaker, employee wellness consultant, and mindset/Quantum Body Energy Coding coach. Her mission is to end mental health stigmas and help all people upgrade their brains and biology through lifestyle choices while rewiring their neuro pathways using holistic modalities. Anna Marie healed her own brain after years of depression and challenges with dyslexia and ADD. She is the creator and owner of Happy Whole You. A brain health-focused wellness center located in Bakersfield, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Anna Marie is also the formulator of her own brain nutraceutical line which includes, “Happy You, Calm You, & Bright You.” And she is the author of the self-improvement book, “Stop Bullying Yourself!” a guide to greater health, wealth, happiness, and success. Additionally, Anna Marie has training from the Gerson Institute, Amen clinics, Integrative nutrition institute, Mindvalley, the National Wellness Institute, WELCOA Wellness Council of America, and more. She is a lifelong learner and continues to expand in the field of wellbeing. Dr. Hugh Beatty, aka “The Wellness Doc”, is committed to providing quality medical care for your entire family. Dr. Beatty graduated from Occidental College in 1981 and obtained his BA in Chemistry from USCD School of Medicine in 1985. He has been practicing medicine in Bakersfield since 1998 where he offers comprehensive medical care and pain management procedures.         LEARN MORE ABOUT HUGH BEATTY, MD: Website: www.hughbeatty.com/ Phone: 661-395-0315 Email: dr.beatty@yahoo.com Facebook: The_Wellness_Doc LinkedIn: Dr_Hugh_BeattyMD   LEARN MORE ABOUT HAPPY WHOLE YOU: Website: https://happywholeyou.com/ Phone: 661-337-0216 Email: info@happywholeyou.com  Instagram: happywholeyou Facebook: Happy_Whole_You_Bakersfield LinkedIn: Anna_Marie      

Welcome back to episode four of our Health and Fitness mini series! Troy Burden and Amanda DiGiacomo had the opportunity to sit down with Stacy Kuwahara the Director for Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and Anna Marie Frank the Founder of Happy Whole You to discuss the importance of mental health. Anna outlined the services she offers at Happy Whole You and how she strives to help others with their mental health journey after struggling with it herself during her younger years. Stacy explains the common issues she comes across in her field of expertise and how they can be prevented with early intervention. If you have questions regarding mental health please listen to this week's episode and reach out to either Anna Marie Frank or Stacy Kuwahara.  Stacy Kuwahara is the Behavioral Health Director for Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. She oversees the Kern County Mental Health Plan, responsible for providing a full array of mental health and substance use services for Medi-Cal Beneficiaries in Kern. She is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist and has over 20 years' experience working in the mental health field. Prior to working in the county, she has worked throughout California for private organizations and spent time working for the National Health System in England. She holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Anna Marie is a doctor of Traditional Naturopathy, with a PhD in Holistic Medicine. She is also a certified brain health professional, ICF certified coach, certified master herbalist, and lover of life! She is also an author, speaker, employee wellness consultant, and mindset/Quantum Body Energy Coding coach. Her mission is to end mental health stigmas and help all people upgrade their brains and biology through lifestyle choices while rewiring their neuro pathways using holistic modalities. Anna Marie healed her own brain after years of depression and challenges with dyslexia and ADD. She is the creator and owner of Happy Whole You. A brain health-focused wellness center located in Bakersfield, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Anna Marie is also the formulator of her own brain nutraceutical line which includes, “Happy You, Calm You, & Bright You.” And she is the author of the self-improvement book, “Stop Bullying Yourself!” a guide to greater health, wealth, happiness, and success. Additionally, Anna Marie has training from the Gerson Institute, Amen clinics, Integrative nutrition institute, Mindvalley, the National Wellness Institute, WELCOA Wellness Council of America, and more. She is a lifelong learner and continues to expand in the field of wellbeing.  LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES:  Website: www.kernbhrs.org/ Email: kburton@kleinlaw.com Phone Numbers:  The access & Assessment Center: 661-686-8080 24 Hour Crisis Hotline Toll Free: 1-800-991-5272 24 Hour Substance Use: 1-866-266-4898 Assisted Outpatient Treatment: 844-360-8251 Family Advocacy Services: 844-360-8250 Instagram: kernbhrs Facebook: Kern_Behavioral_Health_and_Recovery_Services LinkedIn: KernBehabioralHealthandRecoveryServices Twitter: https://twitter.com/KernBHRS LEARN MORE ABOUT HAPPY WHOLE YOU:  Website: https://happywholeyou.com/  Email: info@happywholeyou.com Phone Number: 661-337-0216 Instagram: happywholeyou Facebook: Happy_Whole_You LinkedIn: Anna_Marie_Frank    

Amanda DiGiacomo sits down with Melissa Rossiter the Senior Marketing Specialist for Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield and Chelsey Hall the President and Co-owner of Modern Grub as they discuss why nutrition is so important for your overall health. Melissa explains where the 5 Blue Zones are located and the 9 things (The Power 9) they all have in common such as nutrition. This led to Blue Zone Project - Bakersfield to partner with Modern Grub to give our community healthier food alternatives. Modern Grub is a great resource to use on your health and fitness journey since they have pre-made meal prep meals. If you have been struggling with eating healthy please tune into this week's episode.     Melissa Rossiter is the senior marketing specialist for Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield. She is excited to use her skills in storytelling and public relations to share how this inspiring project will help transform the health and wellness of the community where she grew up. With a career spanning 20+ years, Melissa has worked as a newspaper reporter/editor, TV news producer and in various marketing roles in Kern County. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from California State University, Bakersfield. She has a unique blend of skills and experience, including media relations, graphic design, marketing/branding and event planning. Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Melissa worked at Kern County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services on its public information team, where she managed and supported the department's marketing, engagement, and branding efforts. She also discovered a passion for advocating for mental health by overseeing the messaging and design efforts for awareness campaigns during Mental Health Awareness Month in May and National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month in September. Chelsey Hall is the President and Co-owner of Modern Grub, Inc here in Bakersfield, California- Bakersfield's CLEAN Meal Prep Company and At-Home Delivery Service. She has been in the grocery retail business since 2000 and has had a passion for nutrition, health and wellness for as long as she can remember. After studying Nutrition and Business Administration at Cal State University of Bakersfield she made the jump from the Grocery Industry into the Restaurant and Food Packaging Industry. She started Modern Grub in 2014 after recognizing the gaps in the Health and Wellness Industry in Bakersfield, noticing that the area was lacking in healthy eating options compared to other California cities similar in size. After ten years in business Modern Grub has successfully partnered with some amazing organizations like Kern Health Systems, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff's Department, Motor City Buick GMC, A3 Sports Performance, Local Nursing Facilities, Sully's Neighbourhood Markets, and now Blue Zones Project of Bakersfield where Chelsey now fills the role of Co-Chair for the Grocery and Restaurant Sector. Modern Grub is open seven days a week. Walk-ins are welcomed every day. They also deliver to homes and offices and help coordinate Wellness Programs in corporate offices. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE ZONE PROJECT: Website: https://bakersfield.bluezonesproject.com/ Instagram: bzpbbakersfield Facebook: Blue_Zones_Project_Bakersfield LinkedIn: Blue_Zones_Project LEARN MORE ABOUT MODERN GRUB: Website: https://eatmoderngrub.com/ Phone:  661-695-9006 Address: 1100 Calloway Drive, Unit 100 Instagram: modern_grub Facebook: Modern_Grub  

Welcome back to the second episode of our Health and Fitness mini series!! Kyle Jones sits down with Ryan Beckwith and Jake Hannaman as they discuss the importance of exercising. They understand how daunting it can be to start your fitness journey so they focus on creating your routine to fit your needs and lifestyle. Kyle relates it to making an investment in yourself and how he feels after starting his own journey years ago. If you have been struggling to create your own routine tune into this week's episode!  Ryan Beckwith is the owner/operator of A3 Sports & Wellness, Inc. and has helped thousands of athletes achieve their goals in sport (and life) over the last 20 years as a coach and educator. His specialties are biomechanics, speed and power, weightlifting for athletes, and developing the holistic athlete. Jake Hannaman is the co-owner of Movement Studios which strives to promote health and wellness by bridging the gap between medicine and fitness.   LEARN MORE ABOUT A3 SPORTS: Website: https://a3sportsperformance.com/ Email: ryan@a3sportsperformance.com Phone: 661-885-8889 Instagram: A3SportsPerformance Facebook: A3_Sports_Performace_&_Fitness   LEARN MORE ABOUT MOVEMENT STUDIO: Address: 1400 Easton Dr. Suite 146, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: 661-477-9101 Instagram: MovementStud  

Welcome to the first episode of our Health and Fitness mini series! Kyle Jones sits down with Rashamm Sandhu, MD as he discusses how to improve your overall heart health. Dr. Sandhu strongly encourages lowering your risk factors by cutting down on processed foods, exercising, and not smoking. He outlines the benefits of being proactive with heart health and how it can significantly improve your quality of life.     Dr. Sandhu is an Interventional Cardiologist based in Bakersfield, California. He completed his internal medicine residency and cardiovascular fellowship at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, where he was recognized for teaching excellence and was chosen as the Chief Cardiovascular Fellow in his final year. Driven by a passion for procedure-oriented care that yields immediate and gratifying life improvements, he relocated to Bakersfield over a decade ago. In December 2022, Dr. Sandhu took the bold step to open his own practice, the Cardiovascular Institute, where he is board-certified in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, and Nuclear Medicine. His approach to patient care is holistic, focusing on total well-being that incorporates health, diet, and lifestyle changes. Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Sandhu enjoys a balanced life filled with hobbies such as yoga, hiking, and international travel, gaining inspiration from different climates and cultures. His contributions to the medical community extend beyond the clinic; he has published various research studies, textbook chapters, and has presented at national conferences. His balanced approach to medicine, along with his commitment to treating the whole patient, sets Dr. Sandhu apart as a leading expert in his field. LEARN MORE ABOUT RASHAMM SANDHU, MD, FACC: Website: https://cacvinst.com/ Email: info@cacvinst.com Phone: 661-443-0088 Instagram: cacvinst Facebook: California_Cardiovascular_Institute  Twitter: @cacvinst    

Thank you for joining us for the final episode of our education mini series! Amanda DiGiacomo sat down with Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at CSU Bakersfield (CSUB). Dr. Harper gives us a detailed overview of the University's structure such as who appoints the president and committee leaders, as well as who reports directly to the president. He explains the different types of programs and degrees they offer as well upcoming events. Dr. Harper and Amanda discuss the overall campus life and what one can expect when joining the CSUB family. If you have been considering CSUB or would like to learn more about our wonderful CSU, tune into this week's episode! Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at CSU Bakersfield (CSUB). Prior to joining CSU Bakersfield, Dr. Harper was AVP for Academic Administration at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) and before joining WCU, Dr. Harper was the Associate Provost at Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, PA. Dr. Harper also led a cross-functional team of faculty and administrators to launch the Pocono Education Center in Tannersville, PA., which offered numerous academic programs including Engineering Management, Nursing, and the Master of Business Administration. Dr. Harper was a coordinator of the university's strategic plan Vision 2015, where he played a central role in charting the university's strategic growth plan. Before joining Wilkes University, Dr. Harper was an Associate for Academic Affairs at the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV), which is the system administrative body of the sixteen 4-year institutions and twenty-three 2-year institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Harper drafted both correspondence and policy guidance under the signature of the Governor of Virginia. In addition, Dr. Harper played a lead role in the assessment and accreditation processes at the system level, as well as serving as a liaison between SCHEV and multiple state-wide constituencies including the NASA space consortium. Dr. Harper was on the faculties of Christopher Newport University in Virginia as an Associate Professor of Communication Studies and as an Assistant Professor at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Harper is the author of over 15 scholarly articles, which span the fields of psychometrics, electronic communication, assessment, and budget and planning. LEARN MORE ABOUT CSU-BAKERSFIELD: Website: www.csub.edu/ Phone: 661-654-2782 Instagram: csubakersfield Facebook: CSU_Bakersfield Twitter: @CSUBakersfield YouTube: CSU_Bakersfield  

Welcome back to episode three of our education mini series! This episode John Duffield and Scott Hanson welcome Matt Guinn, the President of Bakersfield Christian High School as he explains how they focus on creating strong relationships with the families that attend their school. This means the families are not only more involved in their children's education but more involved in decision making. He also explains how they track common metrics like GPAs and college acceptance but their overall focus is preparing their students for AP Exams, College and even the military. He ends the episode with advice for returning parents as well as parents that have been considering the private school route.  The 2023-24 school year will mark Matt Guinn's second year as President of Bakersfield Christian High School (BCHS) and his 25th overall in education. Prior to his arrival at BCHS,  Matt spent 23 years with the Kern High School District as a teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of Instruction, Director of Business, and Principal. He attended Biola University and graduated with a BS in Business-Marketing from CSUB. He then obtained a single subject teaching credential through CSUB and a Masters in Educational Administrative Leadership from Point Loma. His wife of 26 years, Audra, is a graduate of Community Christian and former employee of BCHS, and their two children Morgan and Kyle are both graduates of BCHS. LEARN MORE ABOUT BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL: Website: www.bakersfieldchristian.com/ Phone: 661-410-7000 Email: mguinn@bakersfieldchristian.com  Address: 12775 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93314 Instagram: bakersfieldchristian Facebook: BakersfieldChristianHighSchool    

Welcome back to episode two of our education mini series as Kyle Jones sits down with Jeremy Adams and Amanda Frank as they give us an in depth look into our local public schools. They discuss the pros and cons of schools starting at a later time as well as how to create change and where to start. Jeremy and Amanda express their concern for how connected students are to their phones and how distracting they can be. They both advise parents to be as involved as possible in their students' education as well as their personal lives. If you are having concerns about the new school year, tune into this week's episode!     Jeremy S. Adams is one of the most decorated educators in the state of California. In 2018, he was the first classroom teacher inducted into the California State University, Bakersfield, Hall of Fame. A graduate of Washington & Lee University and CSU Bakersfield, he has written on politics and education for the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, The Daily Caller, The American Conservative, New Discourses, The Daily Caller,, and many other outlets. He lives with his family in Bakersfield, California. Amanda Frank is the Kern Education Pledge Coordinator at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. She has a passion for serving the community and believes that education is the great equalizer. In addition to her work with the Kern Education Pledge, Mrs. Frank serves as a trustee on the Norris School Board. She is actively involved in numerous leadership organizations and committees including The Plank Foundation, the Kern County School Boards Association, CSUB Executive Advisory Council for the School of Arts and Humanities, Blue Zones Steering Committee, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber's Governmental Review Committee and is a past chair of the Leadership Bakersfield Advisory.   LEARN MORE ABOUT JEREMY ADAMS: Website: https://bakersfield.kernhigh.org/ Email: jsa76@yahoo.com Instagram: @jeremysadams1976 LEARN MORE ABOUT NORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT:  Website: www.norris.k12.ca.us/ Phone: 661-387-7000 Address: 6940 Calloway Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93312  

Steve Sanders currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS). In his role he provides direct support to the elected Kern County Superintendent of Schools, and he oversees the Communications Division for KCSOS and its educational television station KETN, in addition to overseeing the California Living Museum (CALM) and the Kern County Network for Children. Steve has worked for KCSOS since 1998. Welcome to the first episode of our education mini series! Amanda DiGiacomo and Kyle Jones welcome Steve Sanders Chief of Staff of the Kern County Superintendent as he gave us a detailed overview of our local school districts. There are 46 local school districts here in Kern County and they discussed where and who to reach out to for resources and programs like CALM and Camp Keep. Steve was also able to explain the structure of the board of trustees and superintendents as well as their roles. They also touched on SALPA programs which were created for children with special needs. Steve left us with 4 tips: look up your districts LCAP (budget) and district page, attend local back to school night, meet your teachers and Principal, and read over the districts back to school packet given to all parents.  LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:  Website: https://kern.org/ Phone: 661-636-4000 or 661-636-4130 Email: stsanders@kern.org Instagram: kcsosofficial Facebook: KCSOS YouTube: @KETNTV Twitter: @KCSOS

Family man Danny Hill is co-owner of Hill Broadcasting and is co-host of the Danny & Kait syndicated radio show. Danny & Kait have won Best of Bakersfield, Favorite in the Radio Personality category for 4 years in a row. Their show is currently on 11 radio stations in 6 states! Danny is married to Kait and they have five adorable children. Danny is also an accomplished wedding DJ, winner of the Kern County Bridal Association's Wedding DJ of the year and was featured on “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway” on TLC. Derek Jeffery is the Vice President & General Manager for KGET-TV, Telemundo, and CW Bakersfield stations. As a native to Bakersfield, he attended local schooling before receiving an athletic scholarship to Utah State University. That is where he received his degree in Broadcast Journalism. He returned home to start his professional career at KGET-TV in 2004 as a non-paid weekend intern and ascended through the ranks being promoted to Vice President/General Manager in 2014. Mr. Jeffery is a voice, advocate, and staunch supporter of his hometown currently serving on several local non-profit boards and is the current City Chairman for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. David Perkins started his sales and marketing career at Advanced Beverage as a sales manager while earning his Bachelor's degree in marketing. He then moved to Urners Furniture Store as their marketing director where he spent the next 10 years. During that time he always dreamt of owning his own business and armed with his love for community and writing he became a publisher at the Rio Bravo Publication. After two years he acquired the Seven Oaks Magazine which is now Greets Seven Oaks, and is celebrating 9 years as the publisher and owner.   Danielle Alcala is a big believer in community and got her start in marketing by working with local non profits. She has helped multiple organizations such as: Tiger Fight, JJ's Legacy, Teen Challenge, and many others with their fundraising by using her knowledge of social media and current trends. She is a current board member of ADAKC as well as the NOR Chamber. When she isn't working with her clients you can find her helping out at the Fox Theater or ice skating at Mechanics Bank.   Thank you for joining us for the final episode of our mini series on sales and marketing!!! Amanda DiGiacomo hosts a roundtable discussion with Danny Hill the President & CEO of Hill BroadCasting, David Perkins a publisher for Greet Seven Oaks, Danielle Alcala the owner of Alcala Solutions and Derek Jefferies the VP and General Manager for KGET-TV/Channel 17 News. They discuss the different types of platforms that are available for advertising such as TV, radio, magazine, and social media. They explain their sales programs and the current trends among each of their platforms and how beneficial they can be to a company. LEARN MORE ABOUT DANNY HILL:  Website: https://djdannyhill.com/ Phone: 1-559-213-0173 Email: dannyhill@rewind981.com Instagram: djdannyhill Facebook: Danny_Hill Twitter: DJDannyHill LEARN MORE ABOUT KGET: Website: www.KGET.com Phone: 661-283-1700 Email: 17news@kget.com Instagram: kgetnews Facebook: KGET-TV_17_News YouTube: KGET_News Twitter: KGETNews LEARN MORE ABOUT GREET SEVEN OAKS: Website: www.strollmag.com/locations/seven-oaks-ca/ Email: david.perkins@m2co.com Phone: 661-432-1223 Instagram: GreetSevenOaks Facebook: Greet_Seven_Oaks LEARN MORE ABOUT DANIELLE ALCALA: Phone: 661-563-6271 Email: danyellsk8@gmail.com Instagram: danyellsk8 Facebook: Danielle_Alcala  

Anthony Garcia is a highly regarded sales expert, bestselling author, and motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience. He is passionate about helping companies achieve remarkable growth and scale by enhancing the skill and efficiency of their sales process. Anthony's expertise in training and developing successful sales teams have earned him top accolades in various sales fields. His international best-selling book, "Catapulting Commissions," has been recognized by Selling Power Magazine as a must-read for sales professionals seeking to elevate their performance. His valuable insights have been featured in renowned publications like Forbes, Selling Power, New York Weekly, and Success Magazine. As the host of the popular Catapulting Commissions podcast, he shares interviews and strategies from top sales performers and entrepreneurs, inspiring his audience to reach their full potential. With his dynamic presence, Anthony is in high demand as a keynote speaker, where he motivates and empowers business owners and sales professionals to achieve exceptional growth and surpass their goals. Welcome back to episode 3 of our sales and marketing mini series! John Duffield welcomes back Anthony Garcia, founder of Anthony Garcia Inc as they discuss how to access a company and develop a process to train their team in order to create monthly recurring revenue. Anthony explains how he believes there is not one sales methodology that fits every industry but rather the importance of creating a strong sales team so you receive the most out of your marketing efforts. Anthony touches on AI and how it has become a helpful tool that is now more commonly used.  LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTHONY GARCIA:  Email: anthony@anthonypgarcia.com Instagram: @anthonygarciainc Facebook: Anthony_Garcia YouTube: AnthonyPaulGarcia LinkedIn: Anthony_Garcia Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonyPGarcia  

Welcome back to episode two of our sales and marketing mini-series! Dave Plivelich and John Duffield welcome back Dustin Pitcher, the co-owner of Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo, a local firearm and gunsmithing store. Dustin outlines the difficulties of advertising in his industry and how he had to think of creative solutions like collecting emails, creating reward programs, and having monthly giveaways. He started his business career in the car industry, where he then moved to sell yellow page digital products, which led him to work for The Marcom Group, where he learned the ins and outs of sales and marketing. He stresses the importance of using CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solutions and creating marketing strategies to increase your sales. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIRTY BIRD: Website: https://dirtybirdusa.com/ Address: 2420 Mohawk Street #700, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Email: info@dirtybirdusa.com Phone: 661-387-5200  

Welcome to the first episode of our mini series on Sales and Marketing! Our hosts John Duffiled, Troy Burden, and Dave Plivelich sit down to discuss what to expect out of this series and how sales and marketing isn't a one size fits all. Dave emphasizes how every industry requires a different plan and what works for some doesn't work for others. Meanwhile, John explains how important it is to track how much business you have received from your marketing efforts to determine if your plan is working. If you're looking for more sales and marketing knowledge, tune into this week's episode! LEARN MORE ABOUT JOHN DUFFIELD:  Website: www.bakersfieldaccountants.com/ Email: john@661cpa.com Phone: 661-488-7000 Instagram: bakersfieldaccountants Facebook: John_Duffield LinkedIn: Offices_of_John_Duffield LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARCOM GROUP:  Website: www.themarcomgroup.com/ Email: dplivelich@themarcomgroup.com Phone: 661-489-4444 Instagram: MarcomGroup Facebook: The_Marcom_Group LinkedIn: marcom_group YouTube: The_Marcom_Group LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LYNN COMPANY: Website: www.lynncompany.com/ Email: troy@lynncompany.com Phone: 661-873-2200 Facebook: The_Lynn_Company LinkedIn: Lynn_Company  

Kyle Jones is joined in studio with his daughter Ella Jones as they welcome back Krista and Bryce Horton. Since we spoke to them last they have created Drink Horton, a go-to cocktail of coconut rum mixed with diet. Krista has also partnered with Ulta and Sephora for limited edition products! Bryce is also working on a Golf apparel line and hopes to launch it this year. If you want to Keep up with The Hortons tune into this week's episode and see if their story can inspire your entrepreneurial endeavors. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HORTONS: Websites: https://drinkhorton.com/ www.kristahorton.com/ Instagram: krista.horton bryce_horton Facebook: Krista_Horton  

Mikin is an accomplished Executive Director/CEO with over 25 years of experience in the small business and association world. With a focus on the small business and commercial construction industry, she has represented and served 550 companies, fostering business development, education, and collaboration among industry professionals and community partners. Mikin excels at building and managing efficient and collaborative teams. Her success is rooted in her expertise in business development, relationship building, collaboration, exceptional team building, and strategic problem-solving. Alongside her professional achievements, Mikin is passionate about workforce development and empowering young professionals to find their path to success. She believes in nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth and development. Mikin's commitment to mentoring and guiding emerging professionals further strengthens her impact in the industry. Notably, she led the successful rebuilding and rebranding of a business after a major embezzlement incident and reputation damage, demonstrating her resilience and ability to overcome challenges while maintaining a focus on fostering opportunities for the next generation of professionals. Scott Hanson welcomes Mikin Plummer the Director and CEO of Kern County Builders Exchange. She has been with KCBEX for 10 years and was tasked with rebuilding their reputation after the company underwent a public scandal. Her goal is to help anyone who is in or related to the construction industry by providing quality services, industry education, safety training, political advocacy, networking opportunities, and construction resources. LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN COUNTY BUILDERS EXCHANGE: Website: www.kcbex.com/ Email: mikinp@kcbex.com Phone: 661-324-4921 Instagram: kerncountybuilders Facebook: KernCountyBuildersExchange LinkedIn: KC_Builders_Exchange    

John Duffield and Danielle Alcala sit down with Alberto Colmenares, a local alcohol infuser. He learned the basics of infusing in Hartford CT in 2013, and since then has developed it to a point where he believes its quality deserves a brand. He touches on the aspects of the business that he had found difficult as well as the aspects he loves the most. Alberto has developed four main flavors and discusses his plans for expanding by introducing his infusions to local stores and bars. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASA COLMENARES: Email: casacolmenaresinfusions@gmail.com Phone: 530-305-9033 Instagram: @casacolmenaresinfusions  

Yiuvany Aguilar was born in a typical Peruvian family as the eldest of four children. As a registered nurse by profession, Yiuvany has experienced true pain, frustration, and grief endured by patients and families. She decided to specialize as a holistic nurse, life coach, and Mindfulness and Self compassion teacher, to help her patients, and later, those resources were applied in her own grieving journey. Dave Plivelich and Dustin Pitcher sit down with Yiuvany Aguilar Onofre, a local holistic nurse specializing in integrative therapies, like GEMT, Mindfulness and Self Compassion. Being a nurse causes Yiuvany to face love and loss everyday so she wrote a guidebook that focuses on navigating life's many challenges. The book is Pearls of The Soul: Facing Adversity With Love, and you can purchase it from Amazon. If you have recently faced a tragedy and are struggling, please listen to this week's episode to hear Yiuvany's inspiring advice.    LEARN MORE ABOUT YIUVANY AGUILAR ONOFRE: Website: www.amazon.com/PEARLS-SOUL-FACING-ADVERSITY-LOVE/dp/B0BR7CBWMP Email: yiuva@yahoo.com Instagram: yiuvany_aguilar Facebook: YiuvanyAguilarOnofre LinkedIn: Yiuvany_Aguilar_Onefre    

Tracy is a marketing, political and public relations strategist with over 25 years of experience. She has engaged broad coalitions to support businesses at the local, state and federal levels. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Strategic Consulting, Inc. A firm that represents water, oil and gas, healthcare, defense technology, carbon capture and storage (CCS), government entities, agriculture, national business associations, mining, solar, telecommunications and other exceptional industries and projects. Tracy has represented political candidates at the city, county, state and federal levels as well as multiple successful statewide ballot initiatives. Currently, the firm lobbies government on behalf of business and is a frequent commentator on radio and TV for political analysis, business advocacy and public relations. The firm markets most of the top California political slate mailers. In December 2017, after a rigorous vetting process, Providence was accepted as a partner in Worldcom Public Relations Group®. Worldcom provides access to the international creative capability of over 2000 communications professionals in 115 cities, in 49 countries on six continents. Troy Burden sits down with Tracy Leach the President and CEO of Providence Strategic Consulting, a local business that specializes in strategic communications for existing businesses as well as effective advocacy resulting in successful project entitlements and permitting. Tracy explains the importance of effective public affairs as well as building public and political support. She also helps guide projects through government permitting all the way to construction. Tune into this week's episode to learn more about public relations and how beneficial it is to our local community. LEARN MORE ABOUT PROVIDENCE STRATEGIC CONSULTING INC.: Website: https://provconsult.com/ Email: consult@provconsult.com Phone: 661-327-1698 Instagram: @provconsult Facebook: Providence_Strategic_Consulting LinkedIn: ProvidenceStrategicConsulting Twitter: @Prov_Consulting  

The Beautiful Bakersfield Awards is the biggest night in Bakersfield's civic life, recognizing individuals, businesses and organizations for accomplishments completed during the prior year to improve quality of life and help make Bakersfield better. Every year since 1990, the Chamber looks forward to highlighting the most positive and heartwarming stories from our fellow community members. Amanda DiGiacomo sits down with Roberta Nilsson who is the chairman of this year's Beautiful Bakersfield Awards as they discuss what to expect at this great event. Look out for Our Two Cents Podcast since we will be conducting interviews at the after party! We hope to see you there!       LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL BAKERSFIELD AWARDS: Website: https://beautiful.bakochamber.com/ Email: info@bakochamber.com Phone: 661-327-4421 Instagram: @BakoChamber Facebook: Beautiful_Bakersfield        

Kevin Burton, has put over 30 years in community service, and always finds a way to give back to the community he was raised in. He has worked as an EMT, Paramedic, Bakersfield City Reserve Firefighter, and Harvey Hall's PR/Marketing Director. He helped Harvey Hall run his first campaign for mayor along with his twin brother Brent. He then went on to become a political consultant for Gene Tackett, and worked for Law Offices of Young Wooldridge.He was also the President for the San Joaquin Community Hospital Foundation and he is now the Administrator of Client Relations and Governmental/Public Affairs for Klein DeNatale Goldner. In addition to his extensive professional career he also helped raise several million for the now AIS Cancer Center at Adventist Health Bakersfield as well as helped raise millions for the Breast Center, and the then expansion of the Cardiac Services at Adventist Health Bakersfield.  Dave Plivelich and Jon Slikker Jr. are joined in studio with Kevin Burton as he walks us through his impressive career journey from working as an EMT to being the Administrator of Client Relations and Governmental/Public Affairs for Klein DeNatale Goldner. His love for the community is clear and he discusses the millions he has helped fundraise for local cancer and health centers here in Bakersfield. Kevin is also a part of multiple boards here in Kern County and advises anyone who is starting out to become a part of our giving community. If you are looking for a heartwarming and inspirational story tune into this week's episode.    LEARN MORE ABOUT KLEIN-DENATALE-GOLDNER: Website: www.kleinlaw.com/ Email: kburton@kleinlaw.com  Phone: 661-485-2100 Instagram: @kleindenatalegoldner Facebook: Klein-Denatale-Goldner LinkedIn: Klein_Denatale_Goldner  

John Duffield sits down with Bryan Oberg, the owner of The Iron Lily Venue and Cask and Strength Bar and Kitchen. He was given the opportunity to purchase a wedding venue which in turn led to him taking over the restaurant formerly known as The Mark and is now known as The Cask Strength Bar and Kitchen. Through this purchase he obtained a liquor license which has led to the creation of both a Tequila and Whiskey Club! Bryan advises anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps to manage a healthy work life balance. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IRON LILY: Website: www.ironlilyvenue.com/ Phone: 661-752-5459 Email: bryan@ironlilyvenue.com Instagram: ironlilyvenue Facebook: Iron_Lily_Venue LEARN MORE ABOUT CASK AND STRENGTH BAR AND KITCHEN: Website: https://caskstrengthbar.com/ Phone: 661-322-7665 Instagram: CaskStrengthBar Facebook: Cask_Strength_Bar_and_Kitchen YouTube: Bryan_Oberg  

The vision for the Bakersfield Women's Business Conference originated during the International Year Of The Woman. Phyllis Hullett, then Director of Student Services at Bakersfield College, gathered a group of community-minded women from industry, government, education and service-oriented areas on March 28, 1989. The goal was to discuss the feasibility of producing a business conference geared toward the needs of women. Out of this meeting, twelve women and one lone man, Pat Shaffer, Dean of Development at Bakersfield College, agreed to serve on the executive board. Options Unlimited, The Bakersfield Women's Business Conference was born. Amanda DiGiacomo is joined in studio with NaTesha “T” Johnson the CEO of Upside Productions Management, a strategic partnership company here in Bakersfield. She specializes in cultivating relationships focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion outreach. NaTesha is often referred to as the “Community Connector” since she is passionate about empowering the new generation of leaders through personal and professional development. She is also the Chair of the Women's Business Conference and this year's theme was Bringing Business Back. Amanda also attended this year's Women's Conference as one of the many vendors they had on site! She was able to attend the day before where she had the opportunity to interview: Janelle with ADAKC, Adriana with Ikondium Design, Todd Jeffries with Bakersfield Community Healthcare, Heidi with Sugar Daddy's Boutique, Artisa Mae Moten with Awakened Consulting, Stephanie with SNA Creations and Vonda with Kern Golden Girls. Amanda also attended the day of where she was able to interview: Dress for Success, Charity with Kern County SHRM, Johnny with Great Heritage, Cassidy George with Cypress Avenue Media, Janice with the Department of Human Services, and Jasmine Gutierrez the Job Development Specialist with BC. LEARN MORE ABOUT BAKERSFIELD WOMEN'S BUSINESS CONFERENCE:  Website: https://bakersfieldwomen.org/ Phone: 661-378-4707 Email: bakersfieldwomen@gmail.com Instagram: @bakersfieldwomen Facebook: Bakersfield_Women's_Business_Conference YouTube: @bakersfieldwomensbusinessc3885  

Jeffrey Johns slipped quietly into heaven in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 1, 2009. He was surrounded by family and friends who had come to say their final goodbyes to a vibrant young man who was deeply loved and who will be forever in our thoughts and prayers. After Jeffrey's passing the family was presented with the opportunity to donate his organs and tissues. Though the family had never talked about donation in the past, it felt like the right thing to do; Jeffrey was a giving person and if he knew that he could save someone else's life, he would have done it in a heartbeat. Jeffrey saved the lives of five people in need of organ transplants and healed 50 others through tissue donation. His young and strong heart will continue to beat in the chest of a fortunate person who will hopefully see sunrises and sunsets for many years to come. Kyle Jones is joined in studio with Lori Malkin the founder of JJ's Legacy as she explains how JJ's Legacy educates the Kern County community on the value and importance of organ donation with the goal of increasing the number of registered donors. They also offer different programs ranging from financial medical assistance to help with transportation. The goal for this year's gala is to directly fund their different programs and spread the awareness of such an amazing cause. Kyle Jones and John Duffield also attended this year's Gala where they had the opportunity to meet Charles, a local Kern County resident whose life was saved by a 19 year old donor. His liver was failing and he was told he only had one year left. However, he received his liver transplant on August 16th, 2014 and has been thankful everyday since. Listen to this week's episode to hear his heartbreaking, yet wonderful story. LEARN MORE ABOUT JJ's LEGACY:  Website: www.jjslegacy.org/ Phone: 661-489-4430 Email: lorim@jjslegacy.com Instagram: jjs_legacy Facebook: JJ's_Legacy YouTube: JJ's_Legacy Got The Dot Club      

CASA of Kern County--modeled on a program started by Judge David W. Soukup (now retired) in Seattle--was developed locally by Hon. Robert Anspach. Judge Anspach relied on many of the "movers and shakers" in Bakersfield to make CASA happen. CASA of Kern County was incorporated on July 19, 1993. The first advocates graduated in July 1994 and started serving children. Since then, CASA has held multiple training sessions each year, graduating over 1400 volunteers, and serving over 3000 children. But our story is not over--the problems remain as critical as ever. Child abuse and neglect remain a significant problem in Kern County. While abused and neglected children are often the result of substance abuse, poverty, and homelessness, we know that it can occur in every neighborhood, within any income strata. We have more than 70 children on the waiting list, and we need CASAs now more than ever before. Amanda DiGicomo sits down with Heaven Vasquez, the Public Relations & Development Manager and Karlee Cain the Communications and Development Coordinator for CASA of Kern County as they discuss how they were founded as well as the different services they offer. They serve as an unbiased 3rd party for foster youth and have helped serve over 3,500 children since they were founded! Heaven explains how their volunteers go through 42 hours of training and agree to an 18 month commitment since their goal is to provide stable and consistent adults in the lives of foster youth. If you are unable to volunteer you can always donate directly or through one of their events like their upcoming Derby on May 6th. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASA of Kern County: Website: https://kerncasa.org/ Phone: 661-631-2272 Instagram: kerncasa Facebook: CASA_of_Kern_County LinkedIn: CASAofKernCounty YouTube: CASA_of_KernCounty    

George Harmer has been the acting Director of Health and Safety at General Production Service for 15 years. He is a vital part in the development of people and processes ensuring a safe and healthful workplace. George also manages the safety of roughly 600 employees and has 16 safety professionals reporting directly to him. He has participated in multiple committees supporting the health and safety of employees in association with multiple oil producers here in Kern County for the past 15 years. As well as, actively involved in fighting legislation that negatively impacts our local industry.  George is actively involved with the TUHS Oil Academy as well as the Californians for Energy and Science. He is also a mentor for the Holmes Family Scholarship Program.  Troy Burden sits down with George Harmer the Director of Health and Safety for General Production Service. George takes us through the history of the company from when they first opened in 1967 to our year where they now employ over 700 employees! GPS is a full service oil company that is dedicated to the future and is always pushing new and innovative ideas.   LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL PRODUCTION SERVICE: Website: www.genprod.com/ Phone: 661-765-5330 Email: gps@genprod.com  Instagram: @general_production_service Facebook: General_Production_Service LinkedIn: GeneralProductionService   LEARN MORE ABOUT CALIUFORNIANS FOR ENERGY AND SCIENCE: Website: https://energyandscience.com/ LinkedIn: Californians_for_Energy_and_Science YouTube: Energy_Facts_Chats

Andy Amador grew up living, hunting and fishing in the Napa Valley. As an outdoorsman, Andy learned a profound appreciation for the beauty of every part of the valley. As the son of Napa Valley icon and meat cutter Gus Amador, Andy learned the value of great food and drink. As a youth, Andy spent an enormous amount of time in and around vineyards. At age 27, Andy purchased a 188 acre ranch in the eastern Napa Valley. Shortly thereafter, Andy planted 50 acres of vines at the ranch. He then expanded his vineyard holdings and planted a vineyard at the base of Mt. Veeder. Scott Hanson sits down with Andrew Amador the Owner of MadoroM Vineyards & Winery as he takes us through the history of MadoroM and how his original plan was to use the land as hunting grounds. They discuss their newest wine release as their current stock and how to be featured on their labels. If you are a wine connoisseur or just starting out check out this week's episode.      LEARN MORE ABOUT MadoroM VINEYARDS & WINERY:  Website: https://madorom.com/ Phone: 707-265-8232 Email: info@madorom.com Instagram: @madoromvineyards Facebook: MadoroM_Vineyards LinkedIn: Andy_Amador  

Michael M. George has been in the financial services industry for more than 28 years, having served in various Audit, Marketing, and Operations roles. In his current role as Executive Vice President of Marketing at Safe 1 Credit Union, Michael is responsible for market expansion, product and service development, as well as grassroots, traditional, and social media marketing. Mary Higgins has worked at Safe 1 Credit Union for nearly 35 years, starting as a teller in 1988. She has worked in almost every area of the Credit Union and now serves as the VP of Operations and Compliance. Scott Hanson sits down with Michael George and Mary Higgins as they discuss the events leading to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. They outline the many different perks that credit unions offer their clients and how they differ from larger banks. Michael and Mary also discuss how more people are opening CD accounts now that rates are higher. If you had any questions following recent bank closures, tune into this week's episode!   LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFE 1 CREDIT UNION: Website: www.safe1.org/home/home Phone: 877-723-3128 Instagram: @safe1cu Facebook: Safe_1_CU Twitter: Safe1CU    

Daniel Betts is a man of many hats, he is a father, husband, oil and gas worker, business owner, veteran, comedian, and executive director of The Kern County Warrior Gallery. He is a local comedian although he has performed all over from Flappers Comedy Club, to the World Famous Comedy Store in LA, to Afghanistan telling jokes to our forward deployed troops!  He has performed with Shawn and Keenan Ivory Wayans and you have most recently seen Daniel at Temblor Brewing Company, performing with Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan of Super Troopers as well as Joey Diaz, Theo Von, Joel McHale and many more! John Duffield and Kyle Jones sit down with Daniel Betts as he tells us how he became the owner of the The Well Comedy Club which also happens to be the only comedy club here in Bakersfield! He takes us through his career journey from going to college for business to how he became involved in comedy. Daniel is also the executive director of Portrait of a Warrior which is a memorial gallery that honors our fallen troops by recognizing the sacrifices they made for our great nation.    LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WELL COMEDY CLUB:  Website: www.thewellcomedyclub.com/ Email: info@thewellcomedyclub.com Phone: 661-724-6609 Instagram: @thewellcomedyclub Facebook: The_Well_Comedy_Club   LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PORTRAIT OF A WARRIOR GALLERY: Website: https://kern-warrior.org/ Address: 1925 Eye St, Bakersfield, CA 93301 Phone: 661-479-5095 Instagram: @portrait.of.a.warrior.kern Facebook: Portrait_of_a_Warrior_Gallery_KernCounty  

Take an inspirational trip with OTC Podcast host Dave Plivelich and his co-host Jon Slikker Jr. as they discover more about 420 Kingdom, a local cannabis business. Jordan Thorn from 420 Kingdom shares insights on the differences between THC and CBD, available forms, benefits, and much more. Listen in as they help dispel some of the misconceptions about cannabis, the state of the industry, and the desire to educate the community. Get the answers to your questions. LEARN MORE ABOUT 420 KINGDOM: Website: https://420kingdom.com/ Phone: 661-777-5464 Instagram: @fourtwentykingdom Facebook: 420_Kingdom Facebook: FUTURE_FC_Bakersfield_Soccer  

Take an inspirational trip with OTC Podcast host Dave Plivelich and his co-host Jon Slikker Jr. as they discover more about 420 Kingdom, a local cannabis business. Jordan Thorn from 420 Kingdom shares insights on the differences between THC and CBD, available forms, and much more. Listen in as they help dispel some of the misconceptions about cannabis, the state of the industry, and the desire to educate the community. LEARN MORE ABOUT 420 KINGDOM: Website: https://420kingdom.com/ Phone: 661-777-5464 Instagram: @fourtwentykingdom Facebook: 420_Kingdom Facebook: FUTURE_FC_Bakersfield_Soccer  

Join Dave Plivelich as he attends the 2023 Tigerfight Golf Tournament. Tigerfight aims to raise money to help financially assist local families who are going through pediatric blood cancer treatment. Dave had the opportunity to interview Clint Baird with Brown Armstrong, Garro Ellis with Moneywise and Ryan Tracy Freeborn with Landscape Development. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TIGERFIGHT FOUNDATION: Website: https://tigerfight.org/about-us/family-stories/ Phone: 661-200-5655 Email: Tigerfight@tigerfight.org Instagram: @tigerfight_foundation Facebook: Tigerfight_Foundation LEARN MORE ABOUT BROWN ARMSTRONG: Website: https://www.ba.cpa/ Phone: 661-324-4971 Email: info@ba.cpa Facebook: Brown_Armstrong_CPAs LinkedIn: @BrownArmstrong LEARN MORE ABOUT MONEYWISE WEALTH MANAGEMENT: Website: www.moneywiseguys.com/ Email: info@moneywiseguys.com Phone: 661-847-1000 Facebook: Moneywise_Wealth_Management LinkedIn: MoneywiseWealthManagement Spotify: TheMoneywiseGuysPodcast Apple Podcast: TheMoneywiseGuysPodcast Text: 661-396-1000 LEARN MORE ABOUT LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT: Website: https://landscapedevelopment.com/ Phone: 661-241-5090 Email: info@landscapedevelopment.com Instagram: Landscape_Development_Inc Facebook: LandscapeDevelopmentInc LinkedIn: LandscapeDevelopment Twitter: @LDI_landscaping  

Scott Hanson and Kyle Jones attend the annual NOR Business Expo. The NOR Chamber was founded in 1985 and has aimed towards bringing the community together. There are roughly 30 vendors who attended the event and our hosts had the opportunity to interview seven of them. Kyle Jones interviewed Paula McCune with Damsel in Defense, as she explains how their goal is to prepare and prevent people from attacks. Kyle interviewed Alfred Valenzula, the current President of the NOR Chamber and owner of Executive Copier Solutions. His goal is to help small businesses and nonprofits grow by providing them with low cost printing options. Scott Hanson interviewed Miriam Alqaisi the owner of Radio Sandwich as she explains their late night events and how her business started from looking at a “For Lease” sign. Kyle interviewed Kailey Salinas the Public Relations Manager and Grant Writer for Teen challenge as she explains that Teen Challenge is for adults 18 or older who are suffering with life controlling addiction. It is a one year program that is completely free for anyone who would like to join. Scott interviewed Randy Chistiensen with Employer Training Resources, a local agency that helps find the perfect employees for local businesses.  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE N.O.R. CHAMBER: Website: www.norchamber.org/ Phone: 661-873-4709 Instagram: @norchamber Facebook: North_of_the_River LinkedIn: NOR_Chamber_of_Commerce LEARN MORE ABOUT DANNY HILL: Website: https://rewind981.com/ Email: dannyhill@rewind981.com Phone: 559-213-0173 Instagram: @djDannyHill Facebook: Danny_Hill LinkedIn: DannyHill LEARN MORE ABOUT DAMSEL IN DEFENSE: Website: https://damselindefense.net/ Email: support@damselindefense.net Phone: 208-288-2989 Instagram: @DamselInDefense Facebook: Damsel_In_Defense Twitter: @Damselindefense YouTube: Damsel_In_Defense_Corporate Pinterest: @DamselInDefense LEARN MORE ABOUT: EXECUTIVE COPIER SOLUTIONS: Website: https://execcopiers.com/ Email: info@execcopiers.com  Phone: 661-336-2442 Facebook: Executive_Copier_Solutions Yelp: ExecutiveCopierSolutions LEARN MORE ABOUT RADIO SANDWICH: Website: www.radiosandwich.co/ Phone: 661-742-1559 Instagram: @radiosammich Facebook: RADIO_Sandwich LEARN MORE ABOUT TEEN CHALLENGE: Website: www.teenchallenge.org/centers/kern-county/ Email: info@teenchallenger.org Phone: 661-399-2273 / 661-746-4917 Instagram: @kcteenchallenge Facebook: KernCountyTeenChallenge LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN COUNTY EMPLOYERS' TRAINING RESOURCE: Website: www.etronline.com/ Phone: 661-336-6893 Instagram: KernCountyETR Facebook: Kern_County_ETR    

Jenna Thorn was raised in the Bakersfield community-with a father practicing emergency medicine, and a mother that's held experience, in several departments, as a registered nurse, as well as siblings before her, she answered their family calling into healthcare. It was a natural decision to join their "medical fleet" by getting her degree, and working as an emergency room nurse in local hospitals. Becoming a registered nurse is one of Jenna's greatest accomplishments as she considers it an honor for communities to allow her to care for their loved ones in their hardest hours. She provides medical attention and holistic care, to stabilize a patient's condition, maintain their status, and use evidence based practice to treat a person. She is a mother to four children, and a wife to her best friend. Since she knew her husband for most of her life, she was able to adopt his family's work ethic, and trade. Combining her care for patient's and knowledge and experience from a business mogul, AbsorbIV was born. Kyle Jones and Dave Plivelich sit down with Jenna Thorn, the owner of Absorb IV, as she explains how she originally went to college to become a CPA and eventually decided to follow in her family's footsteps and become a nurse. She describes how working in the emergency room during the pandemic changed how she wanted to help people which led to the creation of Absorb IV. Jenna describes the different types of services she offers like hydration, energy boosts and even migraine treatment. If you are interested check out their website and book your appointment today! LEARN MORE ABOUT ABSORB IV: Website: www.absorbiv.com/ Email: info@absorbiv.com Phone: 661-889-2964 Instagram: absorbIV  

Amber Smithson is the Director of Business Development at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital. She joined the hospital about six years ago and since then has had the great privilege of helping to educate and advocate for mental health and addiction in her community. She is passionate about bringing about awareness and doing her part to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health.  Troy Burden sits down with Amber Smithson, the Director of Business Development at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare, as she helps bring truth to the common myths that surround mental health issues. She explains the common issues that our youth face such as anxiety and depression that stems from school or social settings and how no matter the situation it should be taken seriously. She encourages anyone who is facing mental health issues to be open and honest with those around them and to seek help when it becomes too much for them to handle. LEARN MORE ABOUT BAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE: Website: www.bakersfieldbehavioral.com/ Phone: (661) 837-0755 Instagram: @bakersfieldbehavioral Facebook: Bakersfield_Behavioral_Healthcare_Hospital LinkedIn: BakersfieldBehavioralHealthcareHospital YouTube: @bakersfieldbehavioralhealt762 Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital 661-398-1800 Kern County Crisis Line 800-991-5272 Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 National Alliance on Mental Health 800-950-NAMI (6264) Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 or 988 CA Youth Crisis Hotline 800-843-5200 The Center (LGBTQ+) 661-843-7995 TrevorLifeline (LGBTQ+) 866-488-7386 Trevor Chat (LGBTQ+) Text START to 678678 Kern Helpline (CAP-K) 211 (Food Distribution Info) Kern County Family Justice Center 661-868-8410 Alliance Against Family Violence 800-273-7713 ORGANIZATIONS Kern County Aging & Adult Services 5357 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661) 868-1000 Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County ​4203 Buena Vista Road Bakersfield, CA 93311 Phone: (661) 665-8871 Stepping Stones Outpatient Services 5201 White Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661) 241-5537 Email us, for information only: abk.marketing@bakersfieldbehavioral.com Group Therapy in person or via Zoom Senior Helpers 3917 Stockdale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661) 768-0688 ​in-Home Help Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAP-K) Call 211 for connections to hundreds of services in Kern County. Or visit: www.211kerncounty.org  

Tune into OTC's first mobile episode!! Scott Hanson attended the 2023 World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA and interviewed multiple vendors in attendance.   Scott Hanson interviews Russell Taylor, a Certified Crop Advisor with Live Earth. Live Earth Products, Inc. mines and manufactures humic acid and fulvic acid based products. The humic based ingredients manufactured by Live Earth are used in the following industries: agriculture, animal feeds, cosmetics, dietary supplements, balneotherapy, bioremediation, organic gardening, and lawn care. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVE EARTH: Website: www.livearth.com/ Phone: 435-286-2222 Instagram: @livearthproducts Facebook: Live_Earth_Products LinkedIn: LiveEarthProductsInc Scott Hanson Interviews Joaquin Orellana an Agricultural Engineer with Afrikelp USA. Afrikelp USA, is based here in California, and offers a liquid seaweed treatment that is sustainably extracted from the unique South African giant kelp, Ecklonia maxima. Each batch goes through a rigorous internal quality laboratory test and Afrikelp USA is regularly quality checked by independent labs. Their products can be applied to a range of crops from fruit and nuts to grains, seeds and vegetables. Using this product will help farmers stay on the forefront of agricultural performance. LEARN MORE ABOUT AFRIKELP USA: Website: https://afrikelp-usa.com/ Phone: 559-515-6177 or 760-625-4871 Email: jorellana@afrikelp.com Instagram: @afrikelpusa LinkedIn: Afrikelp Scott Hanson interviews Greg Willems the owner of CA Berry Genetics. California Berry Genetics offers new patented varieties to evolve their crop portfolios. To keep up with the significant increase in demand they provide farmers access to the most innovative, flavorful, efficient and emerging blueberry cultivars available. LEARN MORE ABOUT CA BERRY GENETICS: Website: http://californiaberrygenetics.com/ Phone: 559-859-9661 or 559-724-9169 Email: gregg@californiaberrygenetics.com Facebook: @CaliforniaBerryGenetics Scott Hanson interviews Gary Thompson with Guss Automation as he explains how they are the first and only autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer on the market. This high-tech herbicide sprayer removes the driver from the tractor to save labor and eliminate exposure to the chemicals being sprayed. Nine sensors on the sprayer detect, target and spot spray weeds on the orchard floor, which reduces material usage and drift during application. Reducing the amount of material being sprayed increases safety for the operator, environment, and food produced. LEARN MORE ABOUT GUSS AUTOMATION: Website: https://gussag.com/ Phone: 559-897-0245 Email: info@gussag.com Scott Hanson interviews Danielle Efargan Hager the marketing and communications manager for Tevel. Tevel Aerobotics is an Israeli-based startup founded in 2017 with the mission to solve the global shortage in harvesting labor using Flying Autonomous Robots™ (FARs). Their fruit-picking robots are driven by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and computer vision algorithms to gently pick fruit. Tevel's technology is automating today's farms to reduce harvesting costs, improve fruit quality, increase yield, simplify operations and reduce the amount of wasted fruit left on the trees due to unavailable labor. After operating in Israel and Italy, they set up their U.S. operations in early 2022 and already harvested a variety of fruit in California and Washington. LEARN MORE ABOUT TEVEL AEROBOTICS: Website: www.tevel-tech.com/ Email: tevelusa@tevel-tech.com YouTube: Tevel_Aerobotics LinkedIn: Tevel      

The Fox Theater opened on Christmas Day 1930, The Fox was one of the last of its kind built in the Gilded Age. The first film on The Fox's big silver screen was “Just Imagine”, a sci-fi tale set 50 years in the future to 1980. In 1977 the big screen went dark as The Fox closed its doors after 47 years in show business. The Fox sat silent until June 28, 1994, when The Fox Theater Foundation, a non-profit organization, officially saved it from the wrecking ball. Funds were donated by over 380 “Save The Fox” donors for the down payment, with restoration beginning July 1st. The Fox Theater Foundation's goal is to complete a five star restoration making the Fox Theater the heart of downtown's cultural district. John Duffield sits down with Matt Spindler the Executive Director of the Fox Theater as he explains all the work and planning it takes to run a successful show. He discusses upcoming events and encourages the community to check out cults and classics which take place every Monday. Matt is also asking the community to submit photos and records for The Memories on H project which aims to create a book filled with the history of the Fox Theater! LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOX THEATER:  Email: matt@thebakersfieldfox.com Website: http://thebakersfieldfox.com/ Instagram: @historicbakersfieldfox Facebook: @thefoxtheaterbakersfield Twitter: @foxfndn