AC Electric
A-C Electric’s talent needs go well beyond the educational opportunities currently
available in Central California. Our customers are leaders of industry, looking to
us to solve their automation needs utilizing sophisticated, sustainable design and
development methods. Sourcing this caliber of talent has proven to be both difficult
and costly. Further, our growth models require exceptional talent, and as such we
have set talent sourcing, acquisition and development at the forefront of our strategic
objectives. Supporting a local source for automation technology is an obvious and
desirable option for A-C Electric, therefore we welcome the opportunity.
Gaurdie E. Bannister, Pres./CEO, Aera Energy
As a major employer in Kern County, Aera Energy supports Bakersfield College’s efforts
to offer an Allied Baccalaureate degree in Industrial Automation. Having a local academic
program that prepares students for careers in technical management will support many
of the employment needs in the community while creating lasting partnerships with
key industries in Kern County.
Gregory Bynum, Owner, Gregory D. Bynum and Associates
Bynum and Associates’ success is built on its dedication to providing superior products
and services in all areas of its businesses as well as to its commitment to the communities
it serves. That’s why we support Bakersfield College’s proposed baccalaureate of applied
science in Industrial Automation.
» Read the full Bynum letter of support
Morgan Clayton, CEO/President, Tel-Tec Security Systems Inc.
From its inception, Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc. has been involved in making the
community a better place to live and work. Bakersfield College has a proven track
record in that arena, too. Bakersfield College meets local workforce demands in applied
and technical areas, and that is very important to us. Bakersfield College’s proposed
baccalaureate of applied science in Industrial Automation has our full support.
Darren Filkins, Sr. VP of Agriculture, Bolthouse Farms
I am pleased to support the efforts of Bakersfield College in bringing a Bachelor
of Applied Sciences to our community. This degree would help us meet our employment
and technical service needs tremendously, while providing a solid employment opportunity
with an industry leading company.
» Read the full Filkins letter of support
Leslie Golich, Public Affairs and Brand Comm. Mgr., Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to making lives better in the communities we serve.
The Bakersfield College Baccalaureate in Industrial Automation is in keeping with
that mission. By increasing the education level of residents, Bakersfield College
will help improve the economic status of people, thus benefiting overall health and
wellness of people in our community. Delivering Total Health takes teamwork, and Kaiser
Permanente joins with Bakersfield College to achieve that goal.
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce provides leadership for a healthy business
community. The opportunity to benefit regional business is the reason we support the
proposed Bakersfield College BAS in Industrial Automation program. The degree is a
means to support local business needs to develop the trained workforce for future
business growth of our community.
Jeffrey Green, Grimmway Enterprises, Inc.
As a family owned and operated business, and the largest agricultural employer in
Kern County, Grimmway Farms relies upon a workforce that can meet the continually
changing and challenging demands of the international agricultural marketplace. The
products grown and processed by Grimmway Farms compete with products grown and processed
around the world. To support a workforce that can meet the challenge of competing
on an international scale, Grimmway Farms strongly supports Bakersfield College’s
application to offer a Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Agriculture.
Russell Judd, CEO, Kern Medical Center
Kern Medical Center has greatly benefited from Bakersfield College academic contributions
to our community. It is our privilege to support Bakersfield College in their endeavor
to continue this tradition by providing a Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Industrial
Automation. A program for individuals to achieve this skill set would be a valuable
asset to Kern County.
» Read the full Judd letter of support
Carla Musser, Public Affairs Manager, Chevron
Chevron believes increasing the education level of residents improves their economic
status and, in turn, benefits overall health and wellness of the individual and the
community. Chevron supports the proposed Bakersfield College BAS in Industrial Automation
program.
Michael O’Doherty, CEO, Cushman & Wakefield/Pacific Commercial Realty
The demand for such talent is growing daily in our market, and with the combined expansion
of agriculture and the oilfields, there is a neverending search for these skill sets.
Ryan Pellett, Pres./CEO, J.D. Heiskell & Company
Our company is constantly on the lookout for quality industrial tradespeople to staff
our feed manufacturing plant locations, which is why the prospective Applied Science
in Industrial Automation offering from Bakersfield College really hits our sweet spot.
Our leadership is energized by the potential for new, specifically-trained talent
becoming available in an area where it has traditionally been in woefully short supply.
Jimmy Phillips, Marketing Director, San Joaquin Community Hospital
San Joaquin Community Hospital provides physical, mental and spiritual healing in
our community. Increasing the education level of residents is another way to improve
the health of a community, and that’s why San Joaquin Community Hospital supports
Bakersfield College’s proposed baccalaureate of applied science program. BC’s plan
to improve the education level of residents will also serve to improve people’s economic
status. The result is a corresponding increase in the health and wellness of individuals
and the community at large.
Blair Pruett, Business Development, Kern Steel Fabrication
Kern Steel Fabrication, Inc. is pleased to support Bakersfield College in their quest
to offer a baccalaureate of applied science in Industrial Automation. As an innovative
and highly automated structural steel fabricator, Kern Steel is keenly aware of the
large need for technically qualified employees. We are currently and historically
understaffed in these positions. We look forward to the benefit of technically skilled
employees provided by Bakersfield College, and we will support the BAS degree program
as much as possible.
Janet Rabanal, Exec. Director, Delano Chamber of Commerce
The Delano Chamber of Commerce strongly supports Bakersfield College’s efforts to
establish a Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Industrial Automation. The chamber’s
efforts in economic development, and advocacy, are designed to create an environment
for our members to prosper and succeed. The Bakersfield College BAS in Industrial
Automation will prepare individuals for technical management careers and this supports
our membership by improving the management pool needed in a critical area. The program
addresses a significant employment gap in our community and we think it is essential
to help improve our local economy.
Stephen P. Renock, President, Kern Schools Federal Credit Union
Kern Schools Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution founded
in 1938 by a small group of teachers from regional public schools. Improving education
in the communities we serve is at the heart of our business just as it is for Bakersfield
College. BC has a proven track record of meeting the needs of local workforce demands.
That’s why Kern Schools Federal Credit Union fully supports the proposed Bakersfield
College Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Industrial Automation as a means of creating
new ways to prepare underrepresented students and providing affordable, accessible
quality instruction.
Stephen W. Schilling, CEO, Clinica Sierra Vista
I am pleased to support the proposal by Bakersfield College to bring a four-year baccalaureate
of applied science (BAS) degree in Industrial Automation to the southern San Joaquin
Valley to meet the significant workforce training needs in the area.
» Read the full Schilling letter of support
Carol Sorrell, COO, Bakersfield Family Medical Center
Bakersfield Family Medical Center/Heritage Physician Network is recognized regionally
and nationally as an innovator in our health care delivery system. Patient education
and satisfaction is highly prioritized as a component of all of our medical programs
and service activities. In this same spirit of innovation and education, BFMC recognizes
the benefit that the Bakersfield College Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Industrial
Automation would have on our community in equipping the next generation of skilled
workers with the abilities and opportunities necessary to bring increased production
and prosperity to the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Jay Tamsi, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Increasingly, job openings are requiring college education and more and more are looking
for employees with a baccalaureate degree. BC’s proposal is right on track to meet
the needs of our region’s Hispanic businesses.
» Read the full Tamsi letter of support
Jon Van Boening, Pres./CEO, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
As an affiliate hospital of Dignity Health, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is dedicated
to delivering health services that are compassionate, high-quality and affordable.
We promote healthy lifestyles as an integral part of the community we serve, with
a special concern for the underserved. Bakersfield Memorial Hospital has enjoyed a
long history with Bakersfield College and its excellent services to both its student
community and the community at large. The four-year baccalaureate of applied science
(BAS) degree in Industrial Automation would meet significant workforce training needs
in the southern San Joaquin Valley, especially in our critical industries of petroleum
and agriculture. I am pleased to offer the support of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
for this program.
Ken Vaughan, Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock
As a Bakersfield College graduate and member of the Bakersfield College Foundation
Board of Directors, I’m in full support of the proposed baccalaureate of applied science
in Industrial Automation being proposed by Bakersfield College. This important degree
will help the southern San Joaquin Valley and the community I call home attract new
employers and provide the employee base for local business expansion. Our community
needs the increased education and economic development that this degree program and
its graduates can provide.
Michael Wolf, Div. Manager, Matrix Service Inc.
With the increasing demand for college graduates with technical degrees and the robust
energy and agricultural industry in central California, a local degree program is
very important to the region. In addition, raising the number of local residents that
have achieved higher education will help attract new business to Kern County which
benefits everyone in the community.
» Read the full Wolf letter of support
Lisa Wong, Principal, T.J. Cross Engineers, Inc.
TJ Cross Engineers, Inc. recognizes the value of providing affordable quality technical
education in our local community. We welcome the opportunity to partner and support
higher education with their goals to support our growing automation workforce needs.
Industrial automation is critical to Engineering, Operations, Process, Safety Management,
Data Management, and Supervisory Control. We appreciate that Bakersfield College has
recognized and addressed this gap.
Marko Zaninovich, President, Sunview Vineyards
Sunview Vineyards strives to grow quality table grapes. We value employees with a
quality education who are problem solvers. Sunview supports the establishment of the
Bakersfield College BAS degree program in Industrial Automation. The degree will help
meet our future employment needs and generate capable citizens that will improve and
contribute to the welfare of our community.
Barry Zoeller, Vice President, Corp. Comm. & Marketing, Tejon Ranch Co.
Tejon Ranch is happy to support Bakersfield College’s efforts to pursue offering a
baccalaureate of applied science in Industrial Automation. Kern County ranks 35th out of 50 California counties in the percent of bachelor’s degrees (or higher) earned
by residents. BC’s plans will produce a better educated population and enable place-bound
local students and military veterans the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree
needed for job opportunities. Benefiting the local community is part of the focus
of Tejon Ranch, and our support of the BAS in Industrial Automation is consistent
that value.
» Read the full Zoeller letter of support
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