(August 14, 2025) Kern Leaders Academy proudly announces the selection of its 2025 class! This cohort represents a diverse group of outstanding individuals from across Kern County who have demonstrated exceptional potential and commitment to leadership, service, and community improvement.  Graduates don’t just serve; they lead with purpose, becoming the changemakers Kern County needs to tackle tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

Class fellows include:

Paris Davis, Broker/President, The Davis Group Real Estate

Cesar Delgado, Chief Information Officer, Kern Family Health Care (KFHC)

Jaubrae Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, C.H.A.N.G.E.S.

Maxx Garris, Chief Financial Operations Officer, Kern County Superintendent of Schools

Rubi Haro, Mental Health Clinician, Bakersfield College

Seth Hewett, President Elect of Kiwanis

Jake Pruett, Lab Manager, Clean Harbors Environmental Services

Yesenia Pulido-Mejia, Sr. Fleet Manager, Wonderful Orchards

Alissa Reed, Executive Secretary, Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties Building

Jesse Waldowski, Captain. Station 13-Tehachapi/ Union President, KCFFU 1301

Visit https: https://kernleadersacademy.org/2025-class/ for more information about the 2025 class.

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The Academy will have prominent faculty members, including, but not limited to:

Alex Alva, Budget and Finance Director, Kern County Administrative Office

Joe Arriola, Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst, Kern County Administrative Office

Juan Avila, COO, Garden Pathways

Alison Burrowes, Director, KC Behavioral Health Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

Brynn Carrigan, Director, Kern County Public Health

Morgan E. Clayton, President and Founder, Tel-Tec Security Systems and Tel-Tec Monitoring, Inc.

Christian Clegg, City Manager, City of Bakersfield

Jim Damian, Local Private Sector Entrepreneur

Mark Evans, Professor Emeritus, School of Business and Public Administration, CSUB

Dr. Joseph Florez, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Kegley Institute of Ethics

Melissa Frank, Vice President, Sr. Associate General Counsel-Gov. Affairs, The Wonderful Company

Steve Gamboa, Ph.D., California State University, Bakersfield

Richard Gearhart, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, CSUB

Jessica Grimes, Ph.D., Dean of Economic and Workforce Development; KCCD

Marlene Heise, Owner, Heise Media Group

Barry Hibbard, ASU Associates

Jenny Holtermann, Executive Director, Water Association of Kern County

Scott Hurlbert, City Manager, City of Wasco

Ariana Joven, Government Affairs Manager, The Wonderful Company

Stacy Kuwahara, Kern County’s Chief Operations Officer

Brian Miller, Principal of the Kern High School District’s ROP/ROC and CTEC

Nyakundi Michieka, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Economics, California State University, Bakersfield

Rachel Nettleton, Executive Director, Kern County Farm Bureau

Nate Olson, Ph.D., California State University, Bakersfield; Interim Director of the Kegley Institute

Georgia Petropoulos, President and CEO of B3K Prosperity

Melinda Santiago, Director of Behavioral Health, Kern Health Systems

Lauren Skidmore, CEO, Open Door Network

Michael Turnipseed, Kern County Taxpayers Association, Faculty Director

Keith Wolaridge, Owner-Five Pillars, Associate Professor of Business, Bakersfield College

Mike Zulfa, Ed. D., Superintendent, Kern High School District

Kern Leaders Academy looks forward to preparing the 2025 cohort to be effective community leaders. For more information about the program, please visit www.kernleadersacademy.org.