Greater Bakersfield Chamber

For our final Women’s History Month spotlight, we’re honored to feature Cathy Butler, Director of Public Relations for the Downtown Business Association (DBA). For 50 years, Cathy has been the DBA's heart and soul, shaping our downtown community's future with unwavering dedication. A mentor, leader, and fierce advocate for local businesses, Cathy’s passion has transformed our city in ways that will leave a lasting legacy. She has championed downtown businesses, strengthened community ties, and inspired countless others along the way. 🔊IN HER WORDS: Teamwork is everything! With the Greater Bakersfield Chamber rooted in the heart of downtown, it strengthens the very heartbeat of our community. Their commitment, alongside the DBA, has created new opportunities to uplift businesses and foster a thriving downtown. 💡HER ADVICE FOR WOMEN: Do what you love and surround yourself with those who believe in your vision. The right support team will lift you up, encourage you, and help turn your dreams into reality. ✨ HER FAVORITE QUOTE: “Life is hard by the yard... but a cinch by the inch!” – A phrase my husband always reminded me of, and it continues to inspire me every day. Thank you, Cathy, for leading with vision and creating opportunities that empower women in business to succeed! Look out for the next edition of Metro next week to read about all our 2025 Women's History Month features. #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInLeadership #BakersfieldLeaders #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen @bakersfielddba

"What does your brand really say about you?" 🤔 Bakersfield Young Professionals (BYP) closed out the week with an eye-opening branding masterclass! We had the pleasure of welcoming Shannon LaBare, founder of Purveyor Branding, to the Chamber office, where she broke down the essentials of Branding 101—helping us understand how businesses, organizations, and individuals can build an authentic and impactful brand. One key takeaway? "Your brand isn't what you say it is—it's what they say it is." – Marty Neumeier. Through this session, we: ✔️ Identified what truly resonates with an audience ✔️ Uncovered messaging clarity gaps ✔️ Explored emotional blind spots ✔️ Validated what feels authentic in branding A huge thank you to Shannon for guiding us through an engaging and interactive session! 💡 Learn more about Purveyor Branding: https://lnkd.in/gyw32HsG 📆 Join us for our next BYP Meeting on Friday, April 25, at 9 a.m. 🔗 Get involved: bakochamber.com/byp 📩 Interested in sponsoring or partnering? Contact Joel Paramo at jparamo@bakochamber.com. #BYP #YoungProfessionals #Networking #Branding #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth

Chamber members are invited to join us for our next Government Review Council (GRC) meeting, which will feature Lieutenant Nicole Anderberg of the Bakersfield Police Department’s Impact Team. Lieutenant Anderberg, who has served with BPD since 2004, will provide insights into ongoing efforts to enhance public safety in our community. She will present a short documentary, "Homelessness: A Balanced Approach of Service & Enforcement," followed by a discussion on the Impact Team’s initiatives and the Trespass Enforcement Program, which directly affects business owners and residents. 📅 Date: Tuesday, April 1 🕛 Time: Noon - 1 p.m. 📍 Location: Greater Bakersfield Chamber Office, 1725 Eye St., Bakersfield, CA 93301 🚙 Parking: Available on the street or in the parking garage at 18th & Eye. Please avoid parking in the lot outside our building, as it is privately owned. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed. Enter through the west entrance (facing The Padre). 📩 RSVP at https://lnkd.in/g7kt3u52 (link in bio) for your complimentary lunch Your participation is crucial as we discuss strategies to support a safer, more vibrant community. Please RSVP to confirm your attendance. For more information, contact Joel Paramo at jparamo@bakochamber.com. #GovernmentReviewCouncil #Advocacy #BakoChamber

As we continue celebrating Women’s History Month, we shine a light on Priyanka Saha, owner of Little Guide! Since she moved to Bakersfield from Kolkata, India, Priyanka has immersed herself in the community, using her business expertise to champion small and medium-sized businesses. Through the Chamber, she has found invaluable connections that have helped her grow Little Guide into a powerful resource for discovering hidden gems in our city. Her passion for storytelling and community building is truly inspiring—helping local businesses thrive, one guide at a time! 🔊IN HER WORDS: Through the Chamber, I’ve connected with so many amazing people who believe in the power of community. The support and encouragement I’ve received have helped me grow Little Guide Bakersfield into something truly special. It’s more than just a business; it’s a way for me to give back to our community. The Chamber has given me the confidence to keep going, even when things are tough, and to keep sharing the stories of local businesses that make Bakersfield unique. I’m so grateful for the connections I’ve made and the opportunities that have come from being a part of the Chamber. It’s truly helped me believe in myself and my mission. 💡HER ADVICE FOR WOMEN: Believe in yourself and trust your journey, even when the path isn’t clear. Life will challenge you, but your strength and resilience are your greatest assets. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and always be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and understand the importance of your dreams. Most importantly, never lose sight of who you are and what you stand for. You are enough, and you have the power to create the life you want. Keep moving forward, and remember that your story matters. ✨ HER FAVORITE QUOTE: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt Thank you, Priyanka, for your passion and perseverance and for uplifting our community one business at a time! #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInLeadership #BakersfieldLeaders #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen

Chambers unite! The Greater Bakersfield Chamber is proud to support our fellow Kern County Chambers and their members! When the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce reached out for help educating their members on newsletter marketing, we jumped at the chance to share our expertise. This week, our Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Joel Paramo, led an insightful workshop at the Tehachapi Depot Museum, guiding local businesses on how to leverage newsletters to connect with their audience, boost sales, share information, and more! He covered key strategies for identifying target audiences, tracking KPIs, and crafting impactful content—empowering small business owners with the tools they need to thrive! Huge thanks to the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce for partnering with us and to the Tehachapi Train Depot Museum for hosting this fantastic session! Let’s keep growing together! #NewsletterMarketing #SmallBizSuccess #ChambersUnite #BakoChamber #TehachapiBusiness @chambertehachapi @joelparamo

Oh hey, Bakersfield, just around 70 of our members posing for our Ambassador Committee Meeting photo. Where will they be next? Tune in next month to find out. We're still searching for the perfect group photo spot! Yesterday’s luncheon was filled with great conversations on the upcoming annual Give Big Kern and valuable insights into the impact it makes for nonprofit organizations throughout Kern County. A big shoutout to Ashley Tennant with Legacy Staffing Solutions, our Shine Sponsor, for sharing about their work, and Aaron Falk, Executive Director of Kern Community Foundation, our Serve Sponsor, for his continued support, the great lunch, and the $100 donation giveaway. We also had an amazing nonprofit panel featuring Boys & Girls Club, JJ’s Legacy, and United Way, who gave us a look at the incredible work they’re doing in our community. We can’t wait to see everyone again next month! Mark your calendar—our next meeting is Tuesday, April 22, at the Greater Bakersfield Chamber (1725 Eye St.). Interested in joining our Ambassador Committee? Contact Kimberly Price at kprice@bakochamber.com to learn more! #BakoChamber #Ambassadors #Networking #CommunityConnections #SupportLocal @legacystaffingsol @kernfoundation

Continuing our celebration of Women's History Month, we are delighted to feature Karen Zuber, a dedicated leader who embodies the spirit of economic growth and community empowerment. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of KRV Bridge Connection, Karen is passionate about bridging the gap between nonprofit partners and under-resourced communities, fostering collaboration and support where it’s needed most. She also serves as President of Bakersfield and Local Market Executive at Bank of America, bringing over 23 years of experience in leadership and financial services to drive meaningful impact in our region. 🔊IN HER WORDS: The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and Bank of America have been partners for over 100 years. Both organizations know that business owners are truly the heartbeat of the economy. Your commitment to advocating and creating strong support for business owners has provided a powerful impact on all aspects of our community. Every business you have supported has helped grow the economy and helped to create jobs, which in turn has helped families to thrive. A thriving community helps existing businesses to grow and to be able to give back in the communities. The impact of the GBCC is far-reaching and has helped Bank of America to live our purpose 💡HER ADVICE FOR WOMEN: “What will you be known for? Build your personal brand. We can’t be the best version of ourselves if we are trying to be like everyone else. Find your passion and do it to your heart's content. " ✨ HER FAVORITE QUOTE: “Everyone has a personal brand- by design or by default” - Lida Citroen Thank you, Karen, for leading with purpose and creating opportunities for women in business to thrive! #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInLeadership #BakersfieldLeaders #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen

The Bakersfield Young Professionals kicked off the week in style at drybar Bakersfield, and what an evening it was! Attendees enjoyed fabulous drystyles, refreshing drinks by Vocktail, delicious bites from Vecchio's, cupping from Oleander Studio, and exclusive perks from Pilates Barre and Apricot Lane Bakersfield—all while making meaningful connections with fellow young professionals. A huge thank you to our incredible event partner, Mira Patel, and to everyone who joined us! We couldn’t be more thrilled with the turnout and the opportunity to network. Join us at our next social! Want to get involved? Visit bakochamber.com/byp (link in bio) to sign up and learn more. 📩 Interested in partnering or sponsoring a BYP event? Contact Joel Paramo at jparamo@bakochamber.com. #BYP #StyledForSuccess #Networking #YoungProfessionals #Bakersfield 📸 Tag us! @bakochamber @drybarshops_bakersfield @voktail @bakersfieldpilatesbarre @apricotlanebakersfield @vecchiosbelcourt @oleanderstudio.arts @mirathakorpatel

This week on The Chamber PERK! Greater Bakersfield Chamber President & CEO Janelle Capra sat down with Natesha "T" Johnson of Upside Productions to talk about small business ownership, adaptability, and making strategic choices that work for you! Johnson shared how running a home-based business helped her maximize resources while balancing family life. She stressed the importance of customizing business strategies instead of following a one-size-fits-all approach: “If it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make dollars.” Using a puzzle analogy, Capra and Johnson discussed how every business owner holds key pieces—resources, strategies, and connections—to build long-term success. Catch the full episode now: https://bit.ly/4iQg7Mx (link in bio). And don’t miss The Chamber PERK every Thursday at 1 p.m. on KGET TV-17! #ChamberPERK #Studio17Live #BakersfieldBusiness #KGET17 #GBC @studio17live @kgetnews

Kern County’s business-friendly environment continues to attract major investments, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon is no exception. President Chris Kelley joined the Government Review Council (GRC) today to provide an update on this billion-dollar project. 🏗 Construction Progress: Phase 1 remains on schedule for completion by the end of 2025. 👷♂️ Workforce Development: Hard Rock is committed to staffing 50%+ of its workforce from Kern County, ensuring local job creation. 🎰 Talent Pipeline: The Hard Rock Dealer School Academy offers a 6-12 week training program to develop skilled professionals for the gaming industry. As this world-class entertainment destination takes shape, businesses should stay informed on the economic and workforce opportunities it brings to the region. Job postings will be available at GoToWorkHappy.com (link in bio). 📆 Mark your calendars for our next GRC meeting on Friday, April 1, at noon, featuring Lt. Nicole Anderberg from the Bakersfield Police Department's Impact Teams. For more information, contact jparamo@bakochamber.com. #KernCounty #HardRockTejon #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforceGrowth #BusinessOpportunities #GoToWorkHappy @hrhctejon