Speakers

Matt Riley is responsible for the growth and development of KG (US) Oilers Corp. and the Bakersfield Condors, the organization he has guided for all 21 years of the team’s existence. Riley was previously the vice chairman for the ECHL Board of Governors Executive Committee, and also served on various other league committees.

Riley joined the organization late in 1997, when they were named the Bakersfield Fog, to execute the transition from the Bakersfield Convention Center to Bakersfield Centennial Garden (now known as Rabobank Arena). He took charge of the Condors in July of 1998, and in his first season at the helm, the Condors were named the West Coast Hockey League Organization of the Year. In 2001, his title was expanded to include President. During the summer of 2002, Riley was named the Acting Commissioner of the West Coast Hockey League, and he played a large role in the transition to the ECHL as well as closing down WCHL operations.

The Keokuk, Iowa, native previously served as the Executive Director of the Mobile (AL) BayBears Baseball Club, the class-AA Southern League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and was integral in the construction of Hank Aaron Stadium, their home park. During their inaugural season in 1997, the BayBears led the Southern League in attendance. He also served as General Manager with the Mobile BaySharks Baseball Club, Assistant General Manager of the Chattanooga (TN) Lookouts (Southern League) and interned for the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Club. Riley is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University with a degree in communications. He earned a master’s degree in sport management from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama.

2019 President
Miramar International – Mill Rock
Athena Collup is a proud REALTOR® that has spent her professional career in Kern County assisting buyers, sellers,
and investors for over 25 years, specializing in residential and relocation real estate transactions.
Throughout her professional career, Athena has served on multiple levels of organized real estate as a Director for the
National Association of REALTORS®, California Association of REALTORS®, Bakersfield Association of REALTORS®,
Golden Empire Multiple Listing Service (GEMLS). She believes continuing education is critical to the service she
provides her clients. As part of that commitment, she received her Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation in
2014. She has also been the recipient of awards for excellence in the real estate industry, including the 2015
Salesperson of the Year. She is currently serving as the President for the Bakersfield Association of REALTORS®.
Athena is strongly invested in the REALTOR® Party and mission. As a long-time advocate, she works toward policies
that promote home ownership and inspire REALTORS® to serve their industry and community. In addition to her
volunteer work in organized real estate, she is also a community leader that has contributed her time and efforts to
various local organizations including Alliance Against Family Violence, Bakersfield Homeless Center, Relay for Life,
Gleaners, Habitat for Humanity, Families of Fallen Warriors, Wounded Heroes Fund of Kern County, and has served on
the Board of the Bakersfield Breakfast Club Rotary’s Foundation.
A native of Bakersfield, Athena and her husband Steven have raised 3 sons and have 8 grandchildren. They are both
very proud that their children “all own a home of their own and didn’t borrow any money from Mom and Dad.”

801 Hosking Ave., Bakersfield, 93307

Rotary became a better organization when Jim joined on December 5, 2001. Since then he has been a member of Simi Sunrise, Conejo Valley, and currently is a member of the Rotary Club of Moorpark. He has also served the District in many functions since 2005 including Assistant Governor. He is currently on the Rose Parade Committee as Float Director in addition to his on-going role as the District Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Chair.

Jim has personally helped combat polio through participating in eight National Immunization Days in India and been a speaker/trainer on the topic at assemblies and conferences for many districts. He recently chaired the Polio Survivor Summit held in Kolkata India.

Jim has been recognized within the District with the Sam Greene "Service Above Self" and the Dr. Otto Austel Polio Plus Award. He has also received the RI Five Avenues of Service Award and, in 2017, the prestigious “International Service Award for a Polio-Free World” from The Rotary Foundation.

In his professional life Jim was a High School Teacher, a Coach, and an Administrator.

Jim knows well the toll polio takes as he is a survivor who became paralyzed in 1948.

In summary, Jim is well-respected and sought after as a speaker, grant writer, and champion for the eradication of polio in the world.

 

Keith Brice is the President/CEO of Mid State Development Corporation. Headquartered in Bakersfield Mid State is an SBA authorized Certified Development company serving Kem County. Mid State partners with commercial lenders to finance owner-occupied commercial/Industrial real estate and equipment. The company was established in 1980 to assist in creating economic growth through projects that help businesses become more competitive in the marketplace.

Since its inception, Mid State Development has funded over $450 million in loans. These projects have created or retained over 12,000 jobs in Kern County.

Keith came to Mid State with over 20 years of Commercial Banking experience, having held Vice President Positions at Community First Bank, California Republic Bank and Sanwa Bank (now Bank of the West).  An active member in the community for over 34 years, he has served on various boards and committees. Keith is a past chair of: the Board for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Kern County and the Kern Community Foundation. He is also Past President of Kiwanis clubs of South and Southeast Bakersfield, past board member of: Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation, Kern Economic Development Corporation, Kern County Special Olympics, Junior Achievement of Bakersfield and Mid State Development Corporation.

He currently serves Chair of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee. He is a member of the CSUB Executive Advisory Council and Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for the Collegiate School of Business. He has received numerous awards including SBA Central California Financial Service Advocate of the Year and Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year.

A native of Washington, D.C., Keith earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. He is also a graduate of California Intermediate Banking School and Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle. He and Betsy Brice have been married for over 37 years. Betsy is a math teacher at Rosedale Middle School. The couple have two adult kids and one grandchild.