Speakers

Goh attended Bakersfield High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in music and a graduate degree in music education from the University of Southern California.
After graduating, she taught music at Bakersfield Christian Life Schools and then moved to New York to work at the McGraw-Hill Companies, where she held several positions
including vice president of publishing operations.

After returning to Bakersfield in 2005, Goh volunteered at Garden Pathways for five years, and then became the president/CEO in 2013. She was the fifth district supervisor
of Kern County from 2010 to 2013. Goh was elected Mayor of Bakersfield in 2016 and was reelected in 2020

Celebrate Kay's and Denise's birthdays

Jimmie has been the Executive Director of the Independent Living Center of Kern County since 2011. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, both from California State University, Fresno. While in college, Jimmie was an active member of the Advocates for Students with Disabilities.

Jimmie is an active member of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers Board and their Executive Committee. He has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council (SILC) since 2013, and is on the State Plan for Independent Living committee with the SILC. He is a proud member of the local VOICED coalition, comprised of other non-profit Directors throughout Kern County. He is also a proud member of the Bakersfield East Rotary Club.

Before moving to Bakersfield, Jimmie held the position of Director of Program Services at Fresno County’s Independent Living Center, a position he held since 2001.

Jimmie is passionate about the independence of all people with disabilities. Disability has affected his own family with his own visual impairment and having a brother that is Deaf. In his spare time, Jimmie likes to spend time with his wife and three brothers, exercise, and watch football.

Laura Lollar Wolfe has a passion for literacy and women’s empowerment via education. She has been executive director of Kern Literacy Council since September 2015. Kern Literacy Council empowers individuals to improve the quality of their lives through literacy education. Our vision is to transform lives and thereby generations through Literacy. We provide one-to-one and small group tutoring, currently via Zoom, in Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, US Citizenship test preparation, and Family Literacy.

Richard Middlebrook is an eight-year Southern California Super Lawyer and is considered the preeminent DUI attorney in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. He focuses on the representation of persons accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and the forensic science associated with those areas. Richard has 28 years of legal experience that's specifically focused on DUI law. He spends hundreds of hours a year attending, moderating, and lecturing at DUI seminars throughout the world to assist those defending allegations of driving under the influence while expanding his own knowledge and expertise.

He is a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and currently serves as their First Vice President. He is also a Sustaining Member of the National College of DUI Defense and a Specialist Member of the California DUI Lawyers Association. He is trained as an Instructor in the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

He has tried over 250 DUI cases throughout his career with only 8 losses. He has acted as lead counsel in over 10,000 administrative hearings, writ proceedings, motions, and appeals. His success rates in those proceedings are unmatched anywhere in California.

Born in Atlanta, Ralph Emerson Bailey, Jr., grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Bakersfield in
1992. He began his professional career as a correspondent and later staff writer with The
Bakersfield Californian and later moved into television where he served as weekend anchor for both
KERO ABC-23 and KBAK-TV 29. He then morphed into radio where the last ten years he’s been the
executive producer and host of “The Ralph Bailey Show,” three-time Kern Press Club Award Winner
for Best Radio Show. Ralph, a Valley Fever survivor, has given up cigars but still enjoys golf,
American History, and expensive bourbon.

Ryan J. Alsop Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop was appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Kern County on January 2, 2017. As Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Alsop is responsible for implementing the policy directives of the Board of Supervisors and overseeing general operation and function of County government, including Budget and Finance, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Compliance and Accountability, Human Resources, General Services, Information Technology, Economic and Workforce Development, among other critical functions.

Mr. Alsop serves on the Board of Directors of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Finance Corporation and on the Board of Governor’s for Kern Medical. Immediately prior to his appointment, Mr. Alsop served as Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Los Angeles County from 2009 to 2016 and as Director of Government and Public Affairs for Long Beach Water from 2001 to 2009.

He has also served as Director of External Affairs for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Vice President of a private sector government relations firm in Washington, D.C. where he represented the interests of local governments throughout California and the nation, he’s served on the staffs of United States Representative Stephen Horn and California State Senator Ken Maddy, and has held government and public affairs positions with the Long Beach Area and Greater Bakersfield Area Chambers of Commerce.

Mr. Alsop received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the American University, School of Public Affairs, in Washington, D.C.

A Public Outreach, Crisis & Media Relations Thought Leader who understands the challenges and opportunities of internal & external management and communications.

 

• With a strong background in Behavioral Science, Pickett provides group and individual senior management training in critical thinking, crisis control, presentation skills, and strategic management.

• An accomplished facilitator, he designs and executes planning, decision-making and problem solving sessions.

• Pickett gives dynamic presentations that target strategies and tools for crisis management, media relations, and critical thinking. 

• He has been a public relations management advisor for the Kern Economic Development Corporation, Hall Ambulance, Inc., Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, Kern Council of Governments, California High Speed Rail, Aera Energy, Quincy Engineering, and the Golden Empire Transit District. He has also served as an executive for several corporations and public relations agencies.

• Pickett has a Master of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism. He teaches at California State University, the University of LaVerne and the University of Phoenix. He holds professional accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America.

 

A native of Kern County, Michael grew up in Wasco. Upon high school graduation, he went on to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. But the lure of alcohol and drugs caused him to lose focus and his life spiraled out of control. Walking away from his Christian upbringing, he drifted through life with no sense of purpose or direction. Then the day came when he was ready for change. He found and entered San Diego Teen Challenge in 2007—and began a renewed life with Christ free of drugs and alcohol.

After an internship at Inland Empire Teen Challenge, he worked in sales and the medical industry for years. Then God called him back to Kern County and Michael began working for Kern County Teen Challenge in August 2014. Over the next several years, he served in and managed various departments at the center and in May 2020, was promoted to Director.

Today, Michael’s heart is to serve the lost and hurting men and women in Kern County and beyond who need to experience the freeing redemption he found in Christ Jesus. He and his wife Kailey are the proud parents of a little boy and love living the redeemed life God has given them.

Laura was raised in Bakersfield and graduated from Highland High School. She attended Bakersfield College before moving on to Fresno to attend California State University Fresno where she earned her Bachelor's in Science for Real Estate and Land Economics. Upon graduating from college, Laura couldn't wait to move back to Bakersfield to begin a career. After working a couple years in the real estate industry, the opportunity to become a public servant presented itself in a position at the Assessor's Office.​

Laura quickly began to rise within the office, from a low-level Appraiser to now the Assistant Assessor. As the Assistant Assessor, her responsibilities include leading the operations of the office and overseeing the 87 managers, supervisors, appraisers, auditor-appraisers, title process and valuations clerks and internal HR staff. Laura is dedicated to defending Proposition 13 and ensuring that taxpayers pay no more than is required by law.   ​

The current Assessor-Recorder Jon Lifquist has endorsed Laura to succeed him as the next leader for Kern County.  He has seen her leadership, her advocacy for taxpayers, and her staunch defense of Proposition 13.  Laura is proud to have earned the trust of the current Assessor-Recorder and the trust of hundreds of taxpayers she has helped during the years.

Outside of work, Laura volunteers her time for her children's school through being the PTA President for many years as well as serving as the Chair of the School Site Council. Laura also helped form Brigade Recreational Youth Soccer League. Although, they had to close the organization down in 2021, she was an executive board member for 14 years, providing a fun and exciting recreational soccer experience for the youth of Kern. 

When Laura is not working or volunteering her time, she is with her family. Laura comes from a very large and fun family that continues to grow. She has been married to Phillip for 20 years and they have three beautiful children, Brandon, Cooper, and Devyn. As a family they enjoy attending Condor's games, going to the beach, camping, and hiking.