The KITE Podcast

Ericka Lopez is the founder and owner of Honeybox Bakersfield. Founded in 2019 during a global pandemic, Lopez took a passion project and turned it into a career for herself. Thriving off of hosting, gathering, & serving, Ericka believes that a beautiful spread of food is one of the best ways to gather the people you love.

Miriam Alqaisi, 29, is the owner of fledgling sandwich company Radio Sandwich located in Bakersfield, California. After finishing her premed degree she found that the only thing on her mind was food. After she had a meal and still wasn't satisfied, she decided there must be more to the craving. She graduated with her MBA from CSUB in 2020 and thought that if she could accomplish that during the pandemic, maybe it was time to put those food dreams into physical form. Radio Sandwich was born from a love for a neglected area and building downtown that Miriam and others have been working to improve since.

Dr. Jeremy Alan Woods is an Associate Professor for the California State University Bakersfield (CSUB) School of Business and Public Administration and leads the school's entrepreneurship program. He is a Stanford-educated former Fulbright Scholar with over 25 years of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, executive, and consultant. In addition to teaching and coaching over 4,000 students, publishing 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings papers, and authoring over 30 additional thought leadership works over the past decade as a professor, from 1995-2010, Dr. Woods helped generate over $20 million in revenue on innovation & economic development projects in the United States, Brazil, and Germany for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Robert Half, Bertelsmann, Sony, and a variety of startups.

Interview: Angel Cottrell, Program Manager of the KHSD ROC & CTEC Entrepreneurship Resource Centers (ERC)

Ms. Angel Cottrell has consulted with and coached entrepreneurs and taught entrepreneurship topics for more than 15 years. Most recently, she joined the Kern High School District as Program Manager of the KHSD ROC & CTEC Entrepreneurship Resource Centers (ERC). The KHSD ROC & CTEC ERC are designed to support our youth in developing entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial mindsets and thinking. Angel believes everyone should have the opportunity to experience the greatest version of their grandest vision in business and in life.

Interview: Norma Dunn, Director of Mission Community Services Corporation's Kern Women's Business Center

Norma is a sought-after community leader accomplished in developing effective and efficient strategies, with a proven track record of assisting private, public, and not-for-profit organizations in forging "successful partnership." Born and raised in Kern County, Norma is committed to making a positive difference in her community as the Director of Mission Community Services Corporation's Kern Women's Business Center. In addition, Norma serves as the Workforce Development Director for the Kern County Society of Human Resource Management Board of Directors, Board Member on the American Red Cross Board of Directors for the Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter, and Chair of the philanthropy committee. Norma's profound impact supports entrepreneurs throughout the county through her contribution to the Kern Initiative for Talent and Entrepreneurship committee, Better Bakersfield & Boundless Kern steering committee, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Interview: Don Bynum, Temblor Brewing Co.

Don Bynum is a Bakersfield native and alumni of Garces High School and UC Davis. In 2014, Don and two friends, Tom Maxwell and Derrick Miller, sketched out an idea written on a cocktail napkin for what became Temblor Brewing. Working together and drawing on their intense passion for craft beer and home brewing they raised local investor capital and by September 2015, had a 14,000 square foot facility with a 20-barrel brewhouse. Don is committed to perpetually bettering Temblor and providing high-quality craft beer to the community. In this podcast, hear about the early days of Temblor Brewing and how Don built the right team to make the dream a reality.

Interview: Shannon LaBare

Founder of Purveyor Branding Co.

https://purveyorbranding.com/

Shannon LaBare is the founder of Purveyor Branding Co., a branding studio that guides businesses in building their brand like nobody's business. She comes from a long background of freelance design work, marketing for Bolthouse Farms + Campbell Soup Co, and a line of inspiring creative business owners. Purveyor Branding Co. has served many businesses + organizations in Bakersfield + beyond while cultivating community through Bakersfield Second Saturday, Be In Bakersfield, and The Hub of Bakersfield. A few notable local branding clients include Redhouse Beef, Voktail, Cal State Bakersfield, Pacific Ag Management, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, DotxOtt, and 17th Place Townhomes.

Interview: Justin Meng

President + CEO | Vinergy, Inc.

www.vinergyinc.com

Justin Meng is the founder and CEO of Vinergy, Inc. Vinergy is building the future of harvesting methods for table grapes and an expanding list of specialty produce crops with its electric-powered universal harvest carts and their forthcoming autonomous cart. Justin is a Bakersfield native and in this episode he talks about some of the challenges he had to overcome in starting and now scaling Vinergy.

Interview: Brandon H. McNaughton, PhD.

CEO | Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc.

www.akadeum.com

Brandon is an award-winning inventor and scientist with over 15 years of experience working with magnetic beads and nanoparticles. Born and raised in Bakersfield, where he attended Bakersfield College and CSUB, his experience includes the development of new types of particles, separation, and biosensors. Brandon brings previous startup experience in the life sciences and venture capital.

He is also a recognized expert in customer discovery and in using human-centered design for high technology applications. Before Akadeum, he served as entrepreneur in residence for Detroit Innovate, an early-stage venture fund facilitated by Invest Detroit. He also founded and served as chief technology officer of venture capital-backed startup Life Magnetics. He earned a Ph.D. in applied physics from the University of Michigan.