2008 Woodie Awards
BC hires replacement for Don Clark
Nick Stockton
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: News
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After an interim year as director of public information, Don Clark has decided to move on.
Clark, a former news anchor, came to Bakersfield College after his 17-year stint at local CBS affiliate KBAK. After leaving the station, he was unemployed for five months, seeking a job within the Bakersfield community.
He described how he came to the job as the result of his own frustrations causing him to turn to prayer. Shortly after his pious request, Walt Howald, executive director of Bakersfield College Foundation, called Clark to request his help with the enormous task of enhancing community outreach.
Clark invigorated the newly re-established office with many programs he speaks proudly of. He launched the BC Today radio program on Newstalk 1410 which airs every Saturday morning, and has about 40 episodes. The popular show became the ratings leader for its time slot. He described the time spent on the news show with former BC professor Chuck Wall as his favorite BC memories.
He also changed "The Source," BC's previously one-page employee newsletter, into a 12-page full color community magazine. He cites that the magazine is often referred to by many public figures, and he has received lots of positive feedback throughout the county.
So why has he chosen to leave? For Clark, this has been a difficult decision involving many personal choices and internal debates. Since leaving KBAK, he has had to work four jobs at the same time to make a living. This amount of work was overwhelming to him and as a result, one of the jobs had to go. While BC paid the most and was the most secure, it also demanded the most of his time.
Clark also discussed how he has let his faith guide more of his decisions, allowing Christianity to play a role in his decision-making. With that in mind, he has made his primary job working at the Bakersfield Rescue Mission, where he "Really gets to see lives transformed by the power of God."
Clark did not leave an empty seat, though. His replacement, Amber Chiang, comes into the job with impressive credentials and high expectations. Clark proclaimed that the college "had really picked a winner" and discussed how she would help to enhance BC's image as "the bridge to the workforce and to higher education."
Clark, a former news anchor, came to Bakersfield College after his 17-year stint at local CBS affiliate KBAK. After leaving the station, he was unemployed for five months, seeking a job within the Bakersfield community.
He described how he came to the job as the result of his own frustrations causing him to turn to prayer. Shortly after his pious request, Walt Howald, executive director of Bakersfield College Foundation, called Clark to request his help with the enormous task of enhancing community outreach.
Clark invigorated the newly re-established office with many programs he speaks proudly of. He launched the BC Today radio program on Newstalk 1410 which airs every Saturday morning, and has about 40 episodes. The popular show became the ratings leader for its time slot. He described the time spent on the news show with former BC professor Chuck Wall as his favorite BC memories.
He also changed "The Source," BC's previously one-page employee newsletter, into a 12-page full color community magazine. He cites that the magazine is often referred to by many public figures, and he has received lots of positive feedback throughout the county.
So why has he chosen to leave? For Clark, this has been a difficult decision involving many personal choices and internal debates. Since leaving KBAK, he has had to work four jobs at the same time to make a living. This amount of work was overwhelming to him and as a result, one of the jobs had to go. While BC paid the most and was the most secure, it also demanded the most of his time.
Clark also discussed how he has let his faith guide more of his decisions, allowing Christianity to play a role in his decision-making. With that in mind, he has made his primary job working at the Bakersfield Rescue Mission, where he "Really gets to see lives transformed by the power of God."
Clark did not leave an empty seat, though. His replacement, Amber Chiang, comes into the job with impressive credentials and high expectations. Clark proclaimed that the college "had really picked a winner" and discussed how she would help to enhance BC's image as "the bridge to the workforce and to higher education."