Speakers

Ted King is a lieutenant at the Bakersfield Police Department, and is assigned to the Special Operations Division where he serves as the Special Operations Group Commander.  He has over 20 years of combines military and law enforcement experience, including SWAT, Robbery-Homicide, Gang Unit, undercover operations, and federal taskforce officer positions.  He has a private consulting company that works with businesses to assess physical security, vulnerabilities, emergency planning, and critical incident management.  Ted is a US Army veteran, holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in emergency management.

Kaelyn Peterson is the Executive Vice President, Public Affairs for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber and serves as Executive Director for BAKPAC, the Chamber's political action committee. Kaelyn is a Kern County native, born and raised in Bakersfield. She received her bachelor's degree from the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her MBA, (Master in Business Administration) from Cal State University, Bakersfield. Kaelyn began her career in Sacramento, CA working for then Bakersfield Senator, Jean Fuller, in the California State Capitol. While in Senator Fuller's office, she saw firsthand how hard our local legislative representatives work for their constituents to fight bad Sacramento legislation. This led Kaelyn to move back to Bakersfield in 2018 to begin working for the Chamber. In her role, Kaelyn runs the Chamber's comprehensive advocacy and public affairs platform, where she works to promote business friendly policy and the local, state and federal levels. She also oversees the political arm of the Chamber, which works to elect pro-business candidates to office. Kaelyn is married to her husband, Brent, and has two golden retrievers, Maverick and Millie.

Craig Harrison has been an inspirational speaker, author, and community leader for over 35 years. His insights, ecumenical spirit, and positive attitude have influenced many people on their journey of self-discovery.

Craig Francis Harrison graduated from Bakersfield High School, and UCLA, where he obtained a degree in Business and Economics with a minor in Psychology. He entered the Seminary at St. Johns and received a Masters Degree in Divinity.

Craig Harrison has legally adopted multiple children and 19 grandchildren, who have enhanced both his life and ministry.

He is a sought-after speaker and has donated many hours to numerous philanthropic organizations in Bakersfield, including Rotary, Kiwanis, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Friends of the Children, Jim Burke Dream Builders, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Catholic Charities. Craig has also served on the Boards of the Bakersfield Art Museum, the Wheeler Foundation, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

In 2020, Craig Harrison formed Transition Ahead, LLC, allowing him to help others achieve the best version of self through healing. He has performed countless workshops on grief, trauma, and living in peace; and is the author of “Angel Girl,” written in memory of an 11-year old girl who passed away from cancer, and “Pax et Bonum,” a tribute to his beloved Assisi, Italy. He is currently writing two new books.

Craig Harrison’s daily reflection, “Coffee with Jesus,” and weekly Sunday video, “The Message,” bring spiritual inspiration to thousands.

Paul leads the City’s Economic and Community Development Department whose responsibility includes job
creation, business assistance, homeless services, affordable housing, tourism promotion and neighborhood
vitality programs.

For over 35 years, Paul Saldana has worked as an economic development profession in diverse communities,
geographic environs and at various levels of local economic development.  He’s assisted hundreds of
businesses with their expansion and location needs resulting in the creation of hundreds of jobs and millions
in recurring revenue to local governments, schools, and special districts.  Paul’s focus on strategic doing and
performance outcomes led two organizations to achieve designation as an Accredited Economic
Development Organization by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the only individual
in California to earn this distinction. His prior work at a regional economic development corporation earned
the was named a 2020 Economic Development Organization of the Year by IEDC, which also recognized
the organization for their innovative COVID-19 response. 

Paul’s experience working in city and county government offers him the experience to communicate the
intricacies of the planning and permitting process to perspective businesses.  He has led community vision
projects, general and specific plans, annexations, and supervised planning, building inspection, code
enforcement and capital improvement programs.  From Main Street programs to redevelopment, Paul’s
experience at community level economic development is extensive.  He has managed business recruitment,
global trade and business assistance for the two-county regional economic development corporation and has
established and managed Small Business Development Centers, including providing direct business
counseling and training to countless number of businesses.

Paul earned his status as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and is the longest tenured CEcD in
California. He holds an MBA from Crown College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business (with
distinction).  Paul is completing his EdD in Organizational Change and Administration from California
Baptist University.  He has served as Chairman of the California Association for Local Economic
Development and currently serves as a member of the Accreditation Committee for IEDC. Paul serves as an
faculty member for Fresno Pacific University, instructing graduate and undergraduate students in corporate
finance and economics.

Paul believes that “all communities need a person or an organization that wakes up every day charged with
improving the health of the local economy” 1 [1] and as a consummate economic development professional, he
focuses his work daily on promoting the community as a location for new businesses and helps those
businesses locate, grow, and expand.

Lauren Skidmore is a pragmatic leader and visionary collaborator, with years of experience working with diverse private and public sectors. As a bridge builder, Mrs. Skidmore has a deep passion for facilitating change and advocacy for all communities in greater Kern County, particularly those who are the most vulnerable. 

Mrs. Skidmore was the District Director for Assemblyman Vince Fong of the 34th Assembly District, where she advocates for the broad interests and need of the Assemblyman’s constituents. Prior, Mrs. Skidmore served as the Director for Kern Citizens for Sustainable Government, where she elevated the organization’s impact in government transparency and efficiency. 

As a fifth-generation cattle rancher, Mrs. Skidmore is keenly aware of the impact of small business owners which propelled her to create innovative programs like the Bakersfield Young Professionals, while working as the Communications Manager for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Skidmore is actively involved in numerous leadership organizations and committees including Bakersfield College Foundation, Kern County Planning Commission, and Kern County Employee Retirement Association

Mrs. Skidmore is a wife and working mother of two children. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration (Management) from California State University, Fresno, and a Master’s of Science in Community Development from Kansas State University.

Barry Zoeller is Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, at Tejon Ranch Co.  He is responsible for all corporate level communications with the company’s various constituencies, including the financial and investment community.  In addition, he is the chief spokesperson for the company.

Zoeller has been with Tejon Ranch Co. since 2004, and previously was Executive Director of the Kern County Board of Trade.  Prior to that, he served as News Anchor/News Director for KERO-TV, the ABC television affiliate in Bakersfield.

He has been involved in numerous non-profit boards and community organizations, including the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Camp Keep, Vision 2020, CASA (serving two terms as board president), Bakersfield Museum of Art, Kern EDC, Bakersfield/Kern County Branding Initiative, and is currently a trustee of the Kern County Museum Foundation.

Barry recently authored “Words of Refuge,” a devotional journal chronicling his Facebook posts during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.  It’s available for sale on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GTBZJ52.

3201 F Street, Bakersfield, CA 93306

Ken Keller is President/Chief Executive Officer at Dignity Health Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Ken accepted his new leadership role at Memorial in December 2018 after serving as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer for four years where he provided important leadership to achieve operational efficiency of a $440 million healthcare enterprise serving all of Kern County. Ken has been instrumental in facilitating physician engagement and partnerships, overseeing major construction and expansion projects, leading strategic initiatives to achieve clinical excellence, and programmatic growth in cardiovascular, neuroscience, pediatrics, and burn care service lines.

Ken began his relationship with Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in 2003 as Vice President of Physician and Business Development, a role he held for five years. During his time away, Ken was recruited by Providence Health and Services of Southern California to lead their physician organization strategy. He then joined the Advisory Board Company as a Vice President leading numerous organizations through the evolution to successfully operate within today’s Accountable Care Era.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ken’s connection to community service is deeply rooted. He currently serves as a member of the American Heart Association Board of Directors for Kern County, the Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. He also served on advisory groups within several State Hospital Associations and Departments of Insurance.

www.dreamcenterbakersfield.com for more information

Flood Ministry is one of the partners with the City for the Bakersfield Navigation Center.

Jim has over 14 years-experience working on issues related to homelessness, poverty, food insecurity and support for low-income families.

He is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and California State University, Bakersfield where he received a Master’s in Public Administration.

Jim currently serves as the Executive Director of Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc. Flood Bakersfield is a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency formed in 2008 dedicated to intervening in the lives of the deeply impoverished to help them navigate available community resources to improve their quality of life. Flood has identified housing stability as primary to achieving this goal, and emphasizes reaching out to the most vulnerable homeless people as its priority. Flood has extensive experience providing street outreach and engagement, having offered this service in Bakersfield since 2011 and in rural county areas since 2013.

Other programs and services that Flood offers to homeless and at-risk people include: intake and assessment; case management, including benefits acquisition and linkage with health treatment and other community supports; housing placement and stabilization; aftercare; life skills training; and basic human necessities, including food, clothing and hygiene. Flood’s housing placement and stabilization program helps clients obtain affordable housing then monitors them on a regular and as needed basis for up to two years.

Prior to Jim’s position with Flood he served as the Homeless Services Manager for the County of Orange where he helped the County develop a systemic response to the homeless crisis there.

Jim is familiar with the issues surrounding homelessness in Bakersfield and Kern County and is committed to making a difference. Jim Currently serves on the Executive Board for the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative and previously served for three years as the Chairman of the Governing Board.

Jim has taught at the University level, serving as an Adjunct in the Fresno Pacific University School of Business. He has also lectured at California State University, Bakersfield on such issues as homelessness, poverty and food insecurity.

GOP Political Consultant and  Media Commentator on KGET TV 17;   KERN

Radio 1180 AM/96.1 FM "The Ralph Bailey Show" Mondays 4-4:30 pm.

 --Former chief of staff for 20 years to Cong Bill Thomas ; former chief of

 staff to  State legislator  Shannon Grove.

--Campaign management :  Shannon Grove, Kevin McCarthy, Cynthia Zimmer

District Atty ;Karen Goh for Mayor- Bakersfield, Chad Louie

 for Judge (Kern Co) ;  city council and county supervisor races;

Adjunct professor at Taft College, Kern County  --  Political

 Science

Elected member Kern County Republican Central Committee- 2018-present

Member, Bakersfield Downtown Rotary  2000-present

Graduate:  UCLA; Raised in the Coachella Valley -- Indio High School grad

 2  daughters - Margaret, patent law  attorney in Los Angeles ;

 Madeline, Junior at Baylor University, Waco , TX.

Peter Kang is a veteran defense attorney with over 23 years’ experience. He  served as chief assistant public defender from 2018 to 2021, and worked as chief deputy public defender from 2013 to 2018.  Peter graduated as a Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law.  He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and deputy staff judge advocate during the 9/11 attacks and the Global War on Terrorism

Prior to being named the Dean/AD Bolton had served as the kinesiology department chair since 2014 and  as Associate Athletic Director (2013-2014) In 2012 he helped lead the football team to a CCCAA State Championship.

From 2003-2007, he was the Head Football Coach at Santa Barbara City College, overseeing all aspects of the program. From 2002-2003 he was the Associate Head Coach at Humboldt State University having served at the Defensive Coordinator there from 1998-2002.

Bolton’s professional career started at Humboldt State where he was the NCAA Life Skills Coordinator and Assistant Football Coach from 1996-97. He then would move to become the Defensive Coordinator and a Physical Education Instructor at Sacramento City College from 1997-98.

Bolton has served on many BC campus committees including Academic Senate (2009-14), Campus Budget Committee (2014-2016) and the Advisory Board for the African American Mentoring Project (2012-14). He was a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) from 1997-2018 and most recently completed the Kern Community College District Leadership Academy during the 2019-20 school year.

He holds an M.S. in Kinesiology (1997) from Humboldt State and a B.A in Social Work (1994) with a minor Business Administration (1992), also from Humboldt State.

Bolton leads one of California’s premier community college athletic departments which competes in 20 sports (10 men’s and 10 women’s) with over 400 student athletes. At the conclusion of the 2019-20 year Renegade athletics finished #17 in the Daktronics CCCAAA NATYCAA Cup Standings, claiming three conference championships in volleyball, men’s soccer and wrestling. This brings the total number of department team conference championships to 184 along with 15 state championships and 10 national championships