Speakers

"Mr. LaManque brings over 35 years of aviation experience to his role as Kern County Director of Airports, a position he assumed in July 2025. Previously, he served as Senior Planner for the Virginia Department of Aviation, managing projects and budgets for 31 airports statewide, he has also held positions in Airport Operations and Business Development. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 20 years as a flight instructor and commercial pilot, including serving as a project pilot for NASA’s Langley Research Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in finance and real estate, an MBA, a Commercial Pilot’s License, an Advanced Ground Instructor Rating, and is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives."

It is all about the love of Jesus healing hearts and making the impossible possible.

Having personally experienced the impact of God’s grace and mercy in my life, I have great hope for others! My desire to follow God is fueled each time I witness God do the impossible. Be Finally Free began as a passion for people in prisons, addicts, and their families…’the least of these’ (Matthew 25:45). Today it is so much more than a passion…it’s a mission! BFF brings real hope through discipleship, education, and relationships. The challenges people face get solved through the love of God offered in relationships with people like us: people who love, hurting people. Join us! Pray, give, or volunteer.

Mr. Christian Clegg was selected as the City Manager of the City of Bakersfield in 2020. Under City Manager Clegg’s direction, the City Manager’s Office is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City, development of the City budget and implementation of City Council goals and priorities.

Mr. Clegg is a passionate, community-oriented local government leader. He is committed to reinventing how local governments connect to and serve communities, as well as redefining what it means for residents to be part of a community.

Mr. Clegg leveraged outstanding mentorship throughout his 5 years in the City Manager’s Office for the City of Tacoma, Wash. during a period in which the City undertook a comprehensive organizational change effort toward becoming a high performance organization.

Mr. Clegg then made a unique commitment to public service in taking on a challenge working in the City Manager’s Office for Stockton, Calif. as part of the new executive team rebuilding and then driving change in Stockton to create a new pathway forward for this community. His initial area of focus in Stockton was to rebuild the core internal organizational capacities, such as internal controls, policies and procedures, agenda management, strategic planning, performance measures and contracting.

Mr. Clegg received the 2016 League of California Cities John H. Nail Award for distinguished community leadership by a Deputy City Manager for maintaining the daily operations of the City while the City Manager focused on guiding the City through the bankruptcy process.

In more recent years, Christian has been more engaged with external partners building a legislative advocacy program, managing regional collective impacts strategies and implementing priority special projects for the City of Stockton. Of particular note is Christian’s pivotal role in establishing a new Office of Violence Prevention for the City of Stockton.

Mr. Clegg has a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Public Administration.  

As Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services for the County of Kern, I am deeply honored to lead the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD), a professional organization committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. 

 

From its inception in 1927, the KCFD has developed into an efficient force of over 600 dedicated professionals, providing essential services via 47 fire stations. Our footprint spans over eight thousand (8,000) square miles, encompassing nine incorporated cities, underscoring our daunting yet crucial role in public safety.

 

Our essential duties go beyond firefighting and extend to emergency medical support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention and education, fire investigation, and emergency management. Through these varied services, we aim to secure the citizens and businesses of Kern County, ensuring that our community thrives in a safe environment. Our collaboration with the State also highlights our commitment to broader fire suppression services in the State Response Areas (SRA).

 

I am fully aware of the task at hand and the expectations we have set for ourselves. But I am equally confident in the capacity and commitment of the men and women of the KCFD who make our mission possible. Every member of this department is a testament to our core values of Leadership, Integrity, and Service. These values guide our operations and ethos, inspiring us to face daily challenges.

 

I am immensely proud to be at the helm of such a dedicated team, and I promise you that the KCFD will continue to strive for excellence and put the safety of Kern County citizens at the forefront of everything we do.

Gus Mattammal is the Director of Advantage Testing of Silicon Valley. Advantage Testing has been described by the New York Times as “the gold standard of the tutoring industry.” Gus has led the expansion of Advantage Testing’s private and pro bono activity throughout the South, Midwest, and West. As a full-time educator with Advantage Testing for over 22 years, Gus has personally worked with over 1,000 students of every race and socioeconomic background and helped them achieve their academic goals and aspirations.

 

Gus is an elected member of the Midcoast Community Council, representing the 12,000 people who live between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica, and serves on countywide boards dealing with transportation and with tax oversight. He is also President of SHIFT-Bay Area (www.shift-ba.org), a nonpartisan policy advocacy group focused on regional issues in the Bay Area. SHIFT-Bay Area brings together people from across the entire political spectrum to promote transparent, accountable, sustainable policies in the areas of housing, infrastructure, finance, and transportation.

 

Gus is a candidate for the California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He hopes to bring the principles and policies discussed in A is for Average to our school system. To find out more or to support Gus’s campaign, visit https://www.gusforca.com/.

 

 

When not teaching kids or working on public policy, Gus enjoys reading, taking his border collie Dixie on long walks, and spending time with his amazing wife Jill, whom he hopes to one day deserve.

Amy Smith is the Capital Campaign Director for The Open Door Network, leading a $45 million effort to create a new campus that will expand opportunities for women, children, and families, providing a safe and nurturing environment for hundreds each year. Known for building strong community partnerships and leading successful fundraising initiatives, she previously served 8 ½ years as Executive Director of the Bakersfield Museum of Art. A proud 2013 graduate of Leadership Bakersfield, Amy has been active in Rotary for many years, serving as Twilight Club President and as Assistant Governor and Executive Assistant Governor for District 5240. She and her husband, Zane, have been happily married for 33 years and love cheering on their children, Christopher, a Financial Services Officer at a credit union in Monterey, and Charlotte, a substitute elementary school teacher pursuing her master’s in education.

 

Lauren Skidmore is a non-profit leader as CEO for The Open Door Network. She also is a 5th generation Cattle Rancher where she supports the family business. Since 2021, Lauren has led The Open Door Network which provides services to those whose lives have been, or could be, impacted by homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. Lauren describes her life goal as becoming a vital community leader through her passion in community development, outreach, leadership, and government relations. She is a life-long learner and hopes to be an asset in her community.

Prior to her work with the Open Door Network, Lauren was the District Director for the 34th District of the California State Assembly, working with the Honorable Vince Fong. She has served on many community boards and committees and is currently Chair of Kern County Planning Commission, member of the Kern Bakersfield Regional Homeless Collaborative, and member of the Go Red committee

 

Zane Smith has been the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County for the last 29 years with a full 37 years as a youth development professional with Boys & Girls Clubs.  During his tenure, the Club completed a successful capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art Club House; expanded program locations from 1 to now 75 throughout Kern County; and built relationships with 14 separate school districts for funding after-school programs and intersessions. 

Zane is a board member of the North Bakersfield Rotary Club, a member of the Bakersfield North Rotary Foundation Board, a member of the advisory board for South High School, and Vice President of the Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Zane Smith is married to Amy, a well-respected non-profit leader who works at Open Door Network and has two children, Christopher – a banker in Monterey and Charlotte – who is working on a multiple subject credential and a master’s in education.

Zane has a degree in fine art and frequently does portraits and caricatures for friends, family, and charitable events.

Brynn Carrigan has served as Director of Kern County Public Health since January 2021, bringing more than 17 years of experience in county government to the role. Throughout her career, she has led the development of innovative, community-driven programs focused on addressing Kern County’s most urgent public health challenges.

 

Under her leadership, initiatives such as Waste Hunger Not Food, a food rescue program, and Valley Fever Ambassadors, a community education initiative on Valley Fever prevention and early detection, have flourished.

 

Carrigan holds a degree in Business Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, and is widely recognized for her strategic leadership and deep commitment to building healthier communities through education, outreach, and collaboration.

 

A survivor of Valley Fever, Carrigan brings both personal perspective and professional dedication to her work. She currently serves on the Board of the Valley Fever Americas Foundation, where she advocates for increased awareness and support for those affected by the disease.

 

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Carrigan enjoys hiking local trails and playing disc golf with her husband.

In 1999, I began my career with Edward Jones as a financial advisor, immediately following my graduation from Brigham Young University with a degree in business administration and an emphasis in finance. In 2009, I received my CFP® certification, granted from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board). More recently, I received my CPWA® designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute® in 2022.

My senior branch office administrator, Nellie Mesa, joined our office in 2000. Together, we have established the longest-serving branch team in Bakersfield, California. Both Nellie and I are limited partners of Edward Jones. In 2024, we expanded our branch team to include Spencer Gumm, a registered branch associate. With the addition of Spencer, we are positioned to provide you with deeper insights, perspectives and guidance and an overall exceptional client experience.

My wife, Amy, and I married in 1997 and have made Bakersfield our home since 1999. Together, we have five children and one grandchild and are active members of the community, volunteering to serve in our church and supporting various local organizations, such as the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. I joined Rotary International in 2009 and the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club in 2016. I also serve on the board of the Bakersfield College Foundation, having been a member since 2011 and past board chair from 2018-2020.

Tyler Thompson joined the BC Football coaching staff in 2014 as an assistant coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2019. Prior to BC, he spent the 2013 season as an intern at the University of Maryland.

Thompson played football for BC from 2008-09 before transferring to the University of Nevada where he played from 2010-12.

He holds an A.A. from Bakersfield College (2009), a B.A. from Nevada (2012) and an M.S in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University (2016).

The Woolworth’s Building has always been an anchor. Rising unshaken from the 1952 earthquake, it stayed put as the decades swirled around it, the vinyl booths and milkshake mixers long outlasting the chain store’s corporate footprint. And now, in a turn both surprising and inevitable, it’s being brought back to life by two people who never left. 

Emily and Sherod Waite, lifelong Bakersfield residents and co-founders of Moneywise Wealth Management, weren’t looking to make a statement. They needed more room. But when they learned the Woolworth’s Building was for sale, the opportunity was too layered to ignore: a chance to expand their business, to preserve a cornerstone of downtown, and to reinvest in a place they’ve quietly championed for years. 

“For the past 15 years, I’ve been drawn to downtown’s creative energy,” Emily says. “It’s a real ecosystem — generational businesses, artists, entrepreneurs, institutions that have shaped Bakersfield’s identity. When our firm needed to grow, we didn’t look elsewhere. We looked downtown.” 

The building spans 44,000 square feet across four levels, each with its own quirks and complications. Adapting them wasn’t easy. The mechanical systems were outdated, the infrastructure unyielding, the fire codes unrelenting. With their shared business acumen and creative vision, the Waites moved methodically, balancing historical preservation with present-day function. 

“We knew we were inheriting something significant. But we also had to make it work — not just as a monument, but as a living, usable space.” 

Dr. Anna Marie is the CEO and Founder of Happy Whole You Wellness Center in downtown Bakersfield and a globally recognized leader in mindset, brain health, and whole-person wellness. Known as The Mindset Doctor, she has spent over 20 years helping individuals break through limiting beliefs and create meaningful, lasting transformation.

As a wife, mother, holistic health doctor, certified brain health expert, and mindset coach, Dr. Anna Marie blends natural medicine and neuroscience with practical mindset tools to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being. She is a published author of Stop Bullying Yourself! and is currently working on her second book.

Through Happy Whole You, her coaching, speaking engagements, and wellness programs, Dr. Anna Marie is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and empowering people locally and around the world to align their mind, body, and soul to create a balanced, confident, and empowered life.