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
Call Me at:
(661) 862-5161
Or Email me at:
Richard@kedc.com
Vice president of business development
Melinda Brown
Get in Touch
Call Me at:
(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
Adminstrative Specialist
Christina Miller
Get in Touch
Call Me at:
(661) 862-5150
Or Email me at:
Christina@kedc.com
Business AtTraction & Expansion Specialist
Andy Young
Get in Touch
Call Me at:
(661) 862-5164
Or Email me at:
Andy@kedc.com
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Chair
Joe Ashley
California Resources Corporation
Vice Chair
Dana Brennan
Grimmway Farms
Treasurer
Andy Stanley
Bank of America
Secretary
Denise Newton
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Supervisor
Zack Scrivner
County of Kern
Supervisor
Mike Maggard
County of Kern
Ex-Officio Member Chair, KEDF
Mark Wyatt
Bakersfield Adult School
Directors
Daren Alexander
A-C Electric
Nick Ambrosini
Valley Strong Credit Union
Alyssa Armesto
Tangram Interiors
Mary Barlow
Kern County Superintedent of Schools
Sonya Christian
Kern Community College District
Ted Cordova
E&B Natural Resources
Roman Cyrus
S.C. Anderson
Debra Daniels
Taft College
Bill Deaver
Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field
Beckie Diltz
PROforma Solutions for Printing
Rob Duchow
Southern California Gas Company
Bill Farris
Southern California Gas Company
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
Chris Hamilton
Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb and Kimball, LLP
Joe Hay
Jim Burke Ford Lincoln
Teresa Hitchcock
Kern County Division of Economic & Workforce Development
David Howlett
Braun Electric
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
Sean McNally
Houchin Community Blood Bank
Mike Moore
Farm Credit West
David Morton
Sullivan Petroleum Company
Suzanne Noble
Western States Petroleum Association
Mark Novak
California State University, Bakersfield
Mayor Jeanie O’Laughlin
California City
Mayor Cathy Prout
Shafter City Council
Tom Saba
Saba Agency
Geraud Smith
Tri Counties Bank
Derek Sprague
Bakersfield Association of REALTORS
Jamie Swetalla
Aera Energy LLC
Todd Suntrapak
Valley Children’s Healthcare
Scott Thayer
Castle & Cooke
Susan Wiggins
Tehachapi City Council
Daniel Wolcott
Adventist Health Bakersfield
Mark Wyatt
Bakersfield Adult School
Contact Us
Do you have a question, comment or suggestion for us? We would love to hear it.
Please select a subject from our drop-down menu and complete the form so that we can direct your communication to the right department here at Kern EDC.
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