Beautiful Bakersfield Awards: The sound of our city: Greater Bakersfield Chamber honors 95 nominees creating a stronger community

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber will celebrate the 36th Annual Beautiful Bakersfield Awards, presented by Valley Strong Credit Union, honoring the people, organizations and businesses working to create a better Bakersfield.

This year’s event will take place Saturday at the Dignity Health Theater and Convention Center. This year’s theme is “The Sound of Our City,” celebrating the rich culture and voices that collectively make Bakersfield better.

Often called the most prestigious night in Bakersfield’s civic life, the awards spotlight local changemakers whose efforts elevate our community and its quality of life. A total of 95 nominees across 17 categories will be recognized for their incredible work. Nominated by community members and vetted by the Beautiful Bakersfield Committee, the following finalists represent the pinnacle of local achievement and dedication.

The celebration begins with a red-carpet reception and guest check-in at 5 p.m., followed by the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards ceremony at 7 p.m.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on Saturday via KGET+ and KGET.com. Viewers can also tune in to special red-carpet coverage beginning at 5 p.m. on KGET+ Live, hosted by Bakersfield entrepreneur Jim Damian and KGET reporter Gabriela Rosales, as they welcome nominees and guests to Bakersfield’s biggest night.

The Beautiful Bakersfield Awards will also air on KGET-TV 17 from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 28, allowing the entire community to celebrate the individuals, businesses and organizations that make Bakersfield a better place to live, work and visit.

The award recipients will be announced in Tuesday’s newspaper, and online at Bakersfield.com Saturday night after the conclusion of the event.

A Better Bakersfield

Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente Kern County

Honors an annual event, project, or initiative that greatly improves the quality of life in Bakersfield.

• Bakersfield Firefighters Historical Society

• Bakersfield Prosthetics & Orthotics Center (BPOC)

• Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County – Summer Jobs Program

• CALM HolidayLights

• Ford Dimension and Dream Builders Student Leadership

• Kern County Career & STEM Expo

• Pathways to Health Symposium

Architecture & Design

Sponsored by Ordiz-Melby Architects

Celebrates the completion of an innovative new building or space, showcasing an outstanding interior or exterior design that harmonizes with its environment.

• Adventist Health Bakersfield Emergency Department

• Avanza Autos by Jim Burke

• Bakersfield College – Combined Gym & Field House (Renegade Athletic Complex)

• Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire Inc.

• North of the River Recreation & Park District

• Terra Vista at Tejon

Arts & Culture

Sponsored by Tejon Ranch Company

Honors the efforts by a group or individual to enrich and elevate arts and culture within the Bakersfield community.

• Digital Marketing & Media Design program at CTEC

• Laurel Powell – Powell Gallery

• Southwest Library – Leadership Bakersfield Team 4

• Spotlight Academy of the Arts

Urban Core

Sponsored by City of Bakersfield

Recognizes individuals, businesses, or coalitions working to make downtown Bakersfield safer, more vibrant, and economically thriving.

• ELEV8 Gyms

• Live Well Give Well Community Cookout

• Woolworth’s Building

Educational Excellence

Sponsored by California Resources Corporation

Recognizes educators, projects or institutions advancing educational opportunities and achievement across all levels in the community.

• Bakersfield College

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County – ENABLE Program

• Industrial Technology Skills Challenge

• Kern County Superintendent of Schools STEAM Yard

• Valley Strong Credit Union

• Youth Against Commercial Tobacco (Y-ACT) Summit

Next-Gen

Sponsored by Kern County Superintendent of Schools

Honors a young individual or group (grades K-12) with exceptional citizenship and community involvement.

• Ella Jane Magdalene Porter

• Juan Antonio López Morales

• Luna Zelda-Sol New

• Paikea Solei Cota

Health & Wellness

Sponsored by Heart Vascular and Leg Center

Honors individuals, groups or organizations that go beyond their normal activities to promote healthy living through education, prevention or medical services.

• Adventist Health High-Risk Genetics Clinic

• Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

• Bakersfield Family Medical Group- Health Education Department

• Bakersfield Marathon

• Blue Zones Project Bakersfield

• Dr. Shweta Agarwal

• Hoffmann Hospice

• The Haven Yoga Studio

Heart of Hospitality

Sponsored by Hard Rock Casino Tejon

Honors outstanding hospitality professionals in lodging, dining, events, travel, and recreation who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

• Amanda Goforth — Mossman’s Catering

• Heather Dewar — Dewar’s Candy Shop

• Marie Joseph — Seven Oaks Country Club

• Ryann Florez- Hard Rock Casino Tejon

• Tyler Simone Bloomer — The Padre Hotel

Humanitarian Individual

Sponsored by Dignity Health – Mercy & Memorial Hospitals

Recognizes an individual whose volunteer efforts have made a significant and lasting impact in the community.

• Cornelio Gutierrez-Lozano

• Dr. Albert Ma

• Heather Pennella

• Jaubrae Ryan Dixon

• Pawan Gill

Humanitarian Group

Sponsored by Chevron

Celebrates a group whose dedicated volunteer work has made a meaningful difference in the lives of Bakersfield residents.

• American Red Cross Disaster Action Team

• C.H.A.N.G.E.S.

• Jamison Children’s Intake Center – Leadership Bakersfield Team 2

• Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation

• Love From Above Community

Emerging Nonprofit

Sponsored by Kern Community Foundation

Recognizes a nonprofit organization (1-10 years old) for its significant impact on the community through its grassroots initiatives.

• Beyond the Stars No Limits

• Gridstone Inc.

• The Motherhood Project

• Upside Academy, Inc.

• White Wolf Wellness Foundation

Nonprofit of the Year

Sponsored by Kern Family Health Care

Honors a nonprofit organization for its significant and lasting impact on the community.

• Independent Living Center of Kern County

• La Vida Nueva

• Special Needs Network

• The Open Door Network

• TigerFight Foundation

• United Way of Central Eastern California

• Valley Center for the Blind

Small Business of the Year

Sponsored by Bank of America

Celebrates a small business (25 employees or fewer) whose contributions, products, or services instill pride and benefit the community.

• Barton Marketing Group

• Green Clean Pros

• LinQride Inc.

• Maverick Medical

• Pilates Barre

• Saint Florian Leather Company

• TM Signs and Graphics

• Whitestone Industries

Large Business/Corporation of the Year

Sponsored by ARRC Technology

Recognizes a larger business (26 employees or more) for its substantial impact through volunteer work, donations or community engagement.

• California Resources Corporation

• Centre for Neuro Skills

• Houchin Community Blood Bank

• Kern Family Health Care

Young Professional of the Year

Sponsored by AFC Urgent Care

Recognizes an individual (ages 18-40) whose contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of life in Bakersfield.

• Gabriel Adame

• Joe Garcia

• Lindsay Erin Barnes

• Rafael Molina

• Savannah Oates

Business Person of the Year

Sponsored by Tri Counties Bank

Honors a local business owner or manager whose work has made a lasting positive impact on the community.

• Buffie Norby

• Michelle Penn

• Morey Mirkazemi

• Nik Boone

• Patrick Beck

• Priya Saha

• Quon Louey

Harvey L. Hall Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by Hall Ambulance Service

Presented to a long-standing community leader (age 55+) who has made an enduring impact on Bakersfield and its residents.

• Bryan Burrow

• Emmanuel Strategos, M.D. and Stephen Strategos, M.D.

• Greg Gallion

• Renee Bhaiji

• Sen. Shannon Grove