Our Two Cents Podcast

George Harmer has been the acting Director of Health and Safety at General Production Service for 15 years. He is a vital part in the development of people and processes ensuring a safe and healthful workplace. George also manages the safety of roughly 600 employees and has 16 safety professionals reporting directly to him. He has participated in multiple committees supporting the health and safety of employees in association with multiple oil producers here in Kern County for the past 15 years. As well as, actively involved in fighting legislation that negatively impacts our local industry.  George is actively involved with the TUHS Oil Academy as well as the Californians for Energy and Science. He is also a mentor for the Holmes Family Scholarship Program. 

Troy Burden sits down with George Harmer the Director of Health and Safety for General Production Service. George takes us through the history of the company from when they first opened in 1967 to our year where they now employ over 700 employees! GPS is a full service oil company that is dedicated to the future and is always pushing new and innovative ideas.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL PRODUCTION SERVICE:

Website: www.genprod.com/

Phone: 661-765-5330

Email: [email protected] 

Instagram: @general_production_service

Facebook: General_Production_Service

LinkedIn: GeneralProductionService

LEARN MORE ABOUT CALIUFORNIANS FOR ENERGY AND SCIENCE:

Website: https://energyandscience.com/

LinkedIn: Californians_for_Energy_and_Science

YouTube: Energy_Facts_Chats

Andy Amador grew up living, hunting and fishing in the Napa Valley. As an outdoorsman, Andy learned a profound appreciation for the beauty of every part of the valley. As the son of Napa Valley icon and meat cutter Gus Amador, Andy learned the value of great food and drink. As a youth, Andy spent an enormous amount of time in and around vineyards. At age 27, Andy purchased a 188 acre ranch in the eastern Napa Valley. Shortly thereafter, Andy planted 50 acres of vines at the ranch. He then expanded his vineyard holdings and planted a vineyard at the base of Mt. Veeder.

Scott Hanson sits down with Andrew Amador the Owner of MadoroM Vineyards & Winery as he takes us through the history of MadoroM and how his original plan was to use the land as hunting grounds. They discuss their newest wine release as their current stock and how to be featured on their labels. If you are a wine connoisseur or just starting out check out this week’s episode.     

LEARN MORE ABOUT MadoroM VINEYARDS & WINERY: 

Website: https://madorom.com/

Phone: 707-265-8232

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @madoromvineyards

Facebook: MadoroM_Vineyards

LinkedIn: Andy_Amador

Michael M. George has been in the financial services industry for more than 28 years, having served in various Audit, Marketing, and Operations roles. In his current role as Executive Vice President of Marketing at Safe 1 Credit Union, Michael is responsible for market expansion, product and service development, as well as grassroots, traditional, and social media marketing.

Mary Higgins has worked at Safe 1 Credit Union for nearly 35 years, starting as a teller in 1988. She has worked in almost every area of the Credit Union and now serves as the VP of Operations and Compliance.

Scott Hanson sits down with Michael George and Mary Higgins as they discuss the events leading to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. They outline the many different perks that credit unions offer their clients and how they differ from larger banks. Michael and Mary also discuss how more people are opening CD accounts now that rates are higher. If you had any questions following recent bank closures, tune into this week's episode!  

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFE 1 CREDIT UNION:

Website: www.safe1.org/home/home

Phone: 877-723-3128

Instagram: @safe1cu

Facebook: Safe_1_CU

Twitter: Safe1CU

Daniel Betts is a man of many hats, he is a father, husband, oil and gas worker, business owner, veteran, comedian, and executive director of The Kern County Warrior Gallery. He is a local comedian although he has performed all over from Flappers Comedy Club, to the World Famous Comedy Store in LA, to Afghanistan telling jokes to our forward deployed troops!  He has performed with Shawn and Keenan Ivory Wayans and you have most recently seen Daniel at Temblor Brewing Company, performing with Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan of Super Troopers as well as Joey Diaz, Theo Von, Joel McHale and many more!

John Duffield and Kyle Jones sit down with Daniel Betts as he tells us how he became the owner of the The Well Comedy Club which also happens to be the only comedy club here in Bakersfield! He takes us through his career journey from going to college for business to how he became involved in comedy. Daniel is also the executive director of Portrait of a Warrior which is a memorial gallery that honors our fallen troops by recognizing the sacrifices they made for our great nation.   

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WELL COMEDY CLUB: 

Website: www.thewellcomedyclub.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 661-724-6609

Instagram: @thewellcomedyclub

Facebook: The_Well_Comedy_Club

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PORTRAIT OF A WARRIOR GALLERY:

Website: https://kern-warrior.org/

Address: 1925 Eye St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Phone: 661-479-5095

Instagram: @portrait.of.a.warrior.kern

Facebook: Portrait_of_a_Warrior_Gallery_KernCounty

Take an inspirational trip with OTC Podcast host Dave Plivelich and his co-host Jon Slikker Jr. as they discover more about 420 Kingdom, a local cannabis business. Jordan Thorn from 420 Kingdom shares insights on the differences between THC and CBD, available forms, benefits, and much more. Listen in as they help dispel some of the misconceptions about cannabis, the state of the industry, and the desire to educate the community. Get the answers to your questions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT 420 KINGDOM:

Website: https://420kingdom.com/

Phone: 661-777-5464

Instagram: @fourtwentykingdom

Facebook: 420_Kingdom

Facebook: FUTURE_FC_Bakersfield_Soccer

Take an inspirational trip with OTC Podcast host Dave Plivelich and his co-host Jon Slikker Jr. as they discover more about 420 Kingdom, a local cannabis business. Jordan Thorn from 420 Kingdom shares insights on the differences between THC and CBD, available forms, and much more. Listen in as they help dispel some of the misconceptions about cannabis, the state of the industry, and the desire to educate the community.

LEARN MORE ABOUT 420 KINGDOM:

Website: https://420kingdom.com/

Phone: 661-777-5464

Instagram: @fourtwentykingdom

Facebook: 420_Kingdom

Facebook: FUTURE_FC_Bakersfield_Soccer

Join Dave Plivelich as he attends the 2023 Tigerfight Golf Tournament. Tigerfight aims to raise money to help financially assist local families who are going through pediatric blood cancer treatment. Dave had the opportunity to interview Clint Baird with Brown Armstrong, Garro Ellis with Moneywise and Ryan Tracy Freeborn with Landscape Development.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TIGERFIGHT FOUNDATION:

Website: https://tigerfight.org/about-us/family-stories/

Phone: 661-200-5655

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @tigerfight_foundation

Facebook: Tigerfight_Foundation

LEARN MORE ABOUT BROWN ARMSTRONG:

Website: https://www.ba.cpa/

Phone: 661-324-4971

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Brown_Armstrong_CPAs

LinkedIn: @BrownArmstrong

LEARN MORE ABOUT MONEYWISE WEALTH MANAGEMENT:

Website: www.moneywiseguys.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 661-847-1000

Facebook: Moneywise_Wealth_Management

LinkedIn: MoneywiseWealthManagement

Spotify: TheMoneywiseGuysPodcast

Apple Podcast: TheMoneywiseGuysPodcast

Text: 661-396-1000

LEARN MORE ABOUT LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT:

Website: https://landscapedevelopment.com/

Phone: 661-241-5090

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: Landscape_Development_Inc

Facebook: LandscapeDevelopmentInc

LinkedIn: LandscapeDevelopment

Twitter: @LDI_landscaping

Scott Hanson and Kyle Jones attend the annual NOR Business Expo. The NOR Chamber was founded in 1985 and has aimed towards bringing the community together. There are roughly 30 vendors who attended the event and our hosts had the opportunity to interview seven of them.

Kyle Jones interviewed Paula McCune with Damsel in Defense, as she explains how their goal is to prepare and prevent people from attacks. Kyle interviewed Alfred Valenzula, the current President of the NOR Chamber and owner of Executive Copier Solutions. His goal is to help small businesses and nonprofits grow by providing them with low cost printing options. Scott Hanson interviewed Miriam Alqaisi the owner of Radio Sandwich as she explains their late night events and how her business started from looking at a “For Lease” sign. Kyle interviewed Kailey Salinas the Public Relations Manager and Grant Writer for Teen challenge as she explains that Teen Challenge is for adults 18 or older who are suffering with life controlling addiction. It is a one year program that is completely free for anyone who would like to join. Scott interviewed Randy Chistiensen with Employer Training Resources, a local agency that helps find the perfect employees for local businesses. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE N.O.R. CHAMBER:

Website: www.norchamber.org/

Phone: 661-873-4709

Instagram: @norchamber

Facebook: North_of_the_River

LinkedIn: NOR_Chamber_of_Commerce

LEARN MORE ABOUT DANNY HILL:

Website: https://rewind981.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 559-213-0173

Instagram: @djDannyHill

Facebook: Danny_Hill

LinkedIn: DannyHill

LEARN MORE ABOUT DAMSEL IN DEFENSE:

Website: https://damselindefense.net/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 208-288-2989

Instagram: @DamselInDefense

Facebook: Damsel_In_Defense

Twitter: @Damselindefense

YouTube: Damsel_In_Defense_Corporate

Pinterest: @DamselInDefense

LEARN MORE ABOUT: EXECUTIVE COPIER SOLUTIONS:

Website: https://execcopiers.com/

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 661-336-2442

Facebook: Executive_Copier_Solutions

Yelp: ExecutiveCopierSolutions

LEARN MORE ABOUT RADIO SANDWICH:

Website: www.radiosandwich.co/

Phone: 661-742-1559

Instagram: @radiosammich

Facebook: RADIO_Sandwich

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEEN CHALLENGE:

Website: www.teenchallenge.org/centers/kern-county/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 661-399-2273 / 661-746-4917

Instagram: @kcteenchallenge

Facebook: KernCountyTeenChallenge

LEARN MORE ABOUT KERN COUNTY EMPLOYERS' TRAINING RESOURCE:

Website: www.etronline.com/

Phone: 661-336-6893

Instagram: KernCountyETR

Facebook: Kern_County_ETR

Jenna Thorn was raised in the Bakersfield community-with a father practicing emergency medicine, and a mother that's held experience, in several departments, as a registered nurse, as well as siblings before her, she answered their family calling into healthcare. It was a natural decision to join their "medical fleet" by getting her degree, and working as an emergency room nurse in local hospitals. Becoming a registered nurse is one of Jenna's greatest accomplishments as she considers it an honor for communities to allow her to care for their loved ones in their hardest hours. She provides medical attention and holistic care, to stabilize a patient's condition, maintain their status, and use evidence based practice to treat a person. She is a mother to four children, and a wife to her best friend. Since she knew her husband for most of her life, she was able to adopt his family's work ethic, and trade. Combining her care for patient's and knowledge and experience from a business mogul, AbsorbIV was born.

Kyle Jones and Dave Plivelich sit down with Jenna Thorn, the owner of Absorb IV, as she explains how she originally went to college to become a CPA and eventually decided to follow in her family’s footsteps and become a nurse. She describes how working in the emergency room during the pandemic changed how she wanted to help people which led to the creation of Absorb IV. Jenna describes the different types of services she offers like hydration, energy boosts and even migraine treatment. If you are interested check out their website and book your appointment today!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ABSORB IV:

Website: www.absorbiv.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 661-889-2964

Instagram: absorbIV

Amber Smithson is the Director of Business Development at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital. She joined the hospital about six years ago and since then has had the great privilege of helping to educate and advocate for mental health and addiction in her community. She is passionate about bringing about awareness and doing her part to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. 

Troy Burden sits down with Amber Smithson, the Director of Business Development at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare, as she helps bring truth to the common myths that surround mental health issues. She explains the common issues that our youth face such as anxiety and depression that stems from school or social settings and how no matter the situation it should be taken seriously. She encourages anyone who is facing mental health issues to be open and honest with those around them and to seek help when it becomes too much for them to handle.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE:

Website: www.bakersfieldbehavioral.com/

Phone: (661) 837-0755

Instagram: @bakersfieldbehavioral

Facebook: Bakersfield_Behavioral_Healthcare_Hospital

LinkedIn: BakersfieldBehavioralHealthcareHospital

YouTube: @bakersfieldbehavioralhealt762

Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital 661-398-1800
Kern County Crisis Line 800-991-5272
Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
National Alliance on Mental Health 800-950-NAMI (6264)
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 or 988
CA Youth Crisis Hotline 800-843-5200
The Center (LGBTQ+) 661-843-7995
TrevorLifeline (LGBTQ+) 866-488-7386
Trevor Chat (LGBTQ+) Text START to 678678
Kern Helpline (CAP-K) 211 (Food Distribution Info)
Kern County Family Justice Center 661-868-8410
Alliance Against Family Violence 800-273-7713
ORGANIZATIONS
Kern County Aging & Adult Services 5357 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone:
(661) 868-1000
Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County ​4203 Buena Vista Road Bakersfield, CA 93311
Phone: (661) 665-8871
Stepping Stones Outpatient Services 5201 White Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661)
241-5537 Email us, for information only: [email protected] Group
Therapy in person or via Zoom
Senior Helpers 3917 Stockdale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661) 768-0688 ​in-Home
Help
Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAP-K) Call 211 for connections to hundreds of
services in Kern County. Or visit: www.211kerncounty.org