About KEDC
Kern Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to cultivate and promote Kern County’s boundless opportunities for business.
As we look to the future
Kern EDC’s vision is in advancing employment opportunities and economic well-being. We plan to build on the success of the past, continuing our efforts to position the Kern EDC at the forefront of the competition for job creation. With a strong and formidable team, composed of experienced economic development professionals, we will continue to develop and implement innovative strategies for the region’s emerging and established industry clusters.
Meet the Team
PRESIDENT & CEO
Richard Chapman
Get in Touch
(661) 862-5161
Or Email me at:
Richard@kedc.com
Vice president of business development
Melinda Brown
Get in Touch
(661) 862-5058
Or Email me at:
Melinda@kedc.com
marketing & member relations manager
Sophia Gligorevic
Get in Touch
Call Me at:
(661) 862-5156
Or Email me at:
Sophia@kedc.com
Research & Marketing coordinator
Andy Young
Get in Touch
(661) 862-5164
Or Email me at:
Andy@kedc.com
Business DEVELOPMENT Specialist
Heather McMahan
Get in Touch
(661) 862-5162
Or Email me at:
Heather@kedc.com
Adminstrative Specialist
Christina Miller
Get in Touch
(661) 862-5150
Or Email me at:
Christina@kedc.com
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Chair
Dana Brennan
Grimmway Farms
Immediate Past Chair
Joe Ashley
California Resources Corporation
Treasurer
Andy Stanley
Bank of America
Secretary
Denise Newton
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Supervisor
Zack Scrivner
County of Kern
Supervisor
David Couch
County of Kern
Directors
Daren Alexander
A-C Electric
Nick Ambrosini
Valley Strong Credit Union
Alyssa Armesto
Tangram Interiors
Jimmy Balentine
Mojave Air & Spaceport at Rutan Field
Mary Barlow
Kern County Superintedent of Schools
Sonya Christian
Kern Community College District
Ted Cordova
E&B Natural Resources
Tim Curley
Valley Children’s Healthcare
Roman Cyrus
S.C. Anderson
Beckie Diltz
PROforma Solutions for Printing
Rob Duchow
Southern California Gas Company
Bill Farris
City Of Ridgecrest
Alexandro Garcia
Wasco City Council
Mary Beth Garrison
Rio Tinto
Andrae Gonzales
Bakersfield City Council
Mayor Sally Gonzalez
City of McFarland
John Guinn
Wonderful Real Estate Development
Joe Hay
Jim Burke Ford Lincoln
Teresa Hitchcock
Kern County Division of Economic & Workforce Development
David Howlett
Braun Electric
Sheri Horn-Bunk
Taft College Foundation
Joe Hughes
Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb, Kimball, LLP
Jeff Jones
City of Arvin
Ken Keller
Dignity Health Bakersfield Mercy & Memorial Hospitals
Rick Kreiser
Carney’s Business Technology Center
Wayne Kress
Cushman & Wakefield/ Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors
Orchel Krier
Taft City Council
Chevelle Krinitt
Macpherson Energy
Jey Lacey
Southern California Edison
Maybelle Liquigan
Kaiser Permanente, Kern County
Megan Lopez
Chevron
Karen Macedonio
California City
Jason Marshall
Berry Corporation
Phil McLaughlin
Tri Counties Bank
Mike Moore
Farm Credit West
Suzanne Noble
Western States Petroleum Association
Mark Novak
California State University, Bakersfield
Mayor Cathy Prout
Shafter City Council
Tom Saba
Saba Agency
Derek Sprague
Bakersfield Association of REALTORS
Tim Sullivan
Sullivan Petroleum Company
Scott Thayer
Castle & Cooke
Jamie Swetalla
Aera Energy LLC
Jason Wells
Adventist Health California Central Network
Susan Wiggins
Tehachapi City Council
Mark Wyatt
Bakersfield Adult School
Ex-Officio, KEDF
Contact Us
Do you have a question, comment or suggestion for us? We would love to hear it.
Kern Economic Development Corporation (Kern EDC) is a public-private partnership that brings together private businesses, education, elected officials, and non-profit organizations for the purpose of a single goal: creating a strong and diverse economy for Kern County. Kern EDC promotes the region to businesses looking for areas to expand, and works with existing local businesses to ensure they have what they need to thrive and grow here in Kern County.
Contact Us
Kern Economic Development Corporation
2700 M Street, Suite 200
Bakersfield, CA 93301
661-862-5150