Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire

assie Fernandez is the executive director for Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Bakersfield-based nonprofit affiliate and works closely with the organization’s local board of directors.

Fernandez assumed the lead executive position of the Habitat affiliate in May 2019. She came to Habitat with a wealth of experience and background in the nonprofit arena — most recently as director of the Sherriff’s Activities League at the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, a program dedicated to helping improve the lives of children in underserved areas. She also has mortgage-lending expertise and experience in mental health recovery services.

A civic-minded community member, Fernandez has been honored with several awards, including the 2016 “Woman of the Year” by the Lamont Chamber of Commerce.

Fernandez says her life and career have always been guided by faith and seeking to put God’s love into action… and that faith folds perfectly into Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities and hope. She adds: “God is our center, not our border.”

A wife and mother of four children, she is married to a deputy in the Kern County Sheriff’s Department; she met her husband when the two worked together as deputies. As if four children aren’t enough to keep the couple busy, they also have three dogs and a cat. (Fun fact: As a sheriff’s deputy, Fernandez rescued and rehomed 8 kittens in one year.)

When she’s not busy with her children’s sports activities, Fernandez enjoys gardening, thrift and estate-sale shopping, as well as photography. She is also an advocate for children with special needs