Events

Kern Medical CEO Scott Thygerson has more than 20 years of experience as an executive and consultant in health care strategic planning, operations, business development, and marketing.

Prior to serving in his current position, Scott was Kern Medical’s President and before that, Chief Strategy Officer. He has fulfilled similar roles at hospitals within Dignity Health System and Trinity Health.

Amy Smith is the Capital Campaign Director for The Open Door Network, leading a $45 million effort to create a new campus that will expand opportunities for women, children, and families, providing a safe and nurturing environment for hundreds each year. Known for building strong community partnerships and leading successful fundraising initiatives, she previously served 8 ½ years as Executive Director of the Bakersfield Museum of Art. A proud 2013 graduate of Leadership Bakersfield, Amy has been active in Rotary for many years, serving as Twilight Club President and as Assistant Governor and Executive Assistant Governor for District 5240. She and her husband, Zane, have been happily married for 33 years and love cheering on their children, Christopher, a Financial Services Officer at a credit union in Monterey, and Charlotte, a substitute elementary school teacher pursuing her master’s in education.

Lauren Skidmore is a non-profit leader as CEO for The Open Door Network. She also is a 5th generation Cattle Rancher where she supports the family business. Since 2021, Lauren has led The Open Door Network which provides services to those whose lives have been, or could be, impacted by homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. Lauren describes her life goal as becoming a vital community leader through her passion in community development, outreach, leadership, and government relations. She is a life-long learner and hopes to be an asset in her community.

Prior to her work with the Open Door Network, Lauren was the District Director for the 34th District of the California State Assembly, working with the Honorable Vince Fong. She has served on many community boards and committees and is currently Chair of Kern County Planning Commission, member of the Kern Bakersfield Regional Homeless Collaborative, and member of the Go Red committee

🎲 It’s Bunco Night! 🎲
Join us for the November Club Social on November 20th at 6 PM at Denise’s home.
Roll the dice, enjoy some snacks, and share a night full of laughter and fellowship!

✨ Check out the flyer for all the details — we can’t wait to see you!

📅 RSVP by November 14th so we can save you a seat at the table!

As Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services for the County of Kern, I am deeply honored to lead the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD), a professional organization committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. 

From its inception in 1927, the KCFD has developed into an efficient force of over 600 dedicated professionals, providing essential services via 47 fire stations. Our footprint spans over eight thousand (8,000) square miles, encompassing nine incorporated cities, underscoring our daunting yet crucial role in public safety.

Our essential duties go beyond firefighting and extend to emergency medical support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention and education, fire investigation, and emergency management. Through these varied services, we aim to secure the citizens and businesses of Kern County, ensuring that our community thrives in a safe environment. Our collaboration with the State also highlights our commitment to broader fire suppression services in the State Response Areas (SRA).

I am fully aware of the task at hand and the expectations we have set for ourselves. But I am equally confident in the capacity and commitment of the men and women of the KCFD who make our mission possible. Every member of this department is a testament to our core values of Leadership, Integrity, and Service. These values guide our operations and ethos, inspiring us to face daily challenges.

I am immensely proud to be at the helm of such a dedicated team, and I promise you that the KCFD will continue to strive for excellence and put the safety of Kern County citizens at the forefront of everything we do.

Beth Brookhart has been a storyteller since childhood in Colorado, beginning with a book of poems written for her mother. A journalism graduate of Colorado State University, Beth spent two decades reporting on agricultural news, often found tromping through farm fields in pursuit of a story.

Later, her career shifted to communications roles with several agricultural organizations in Bakersfield, CA. In 2010, she embarked on her fiction-writing journey, leading to the completion of The Book Project, a prestigious two-year program at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver. An avid volunteer, Beth was inspired by her seventeen years of service on the board of her local museum to pen The Four Queens of the Buttonbush Museum.  

Beth lives in Bakersfield, CA with her husband who is a table grape farmer. She has two children and five grandchildren who are the most fun in the entire world. She also has three very large, drooling dogs named Lola, Vinny and Angus.