The 18th Annual Kern Business and Technology Expo took place on Oct. 28 at the Rabobank Convention Center. The event, presented by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, had 141 different businesses showcasing and networking their products and services.
Sponsored by San Joaquin Bank, Jim Burke Ford and Bright House Networks, the event gave businesses the opportunity to showcase and display their products and services.
Among the businesses that had booths were Kern Schools Credit Union, Bakersfield Magazine, The Bakersfield Californian, Castle Print and Publications, Banks Pest Control and Costco Wholesales to only to name a few. Row upon row of big corporations and businesses filled the convention center at Kern County’s largest business showcase. Among the bigger businesses were a few smaller establishments. Two such businesses at the expo were Party Time Celebration Specialists and Fresh & Green, a business specializing “green” products.
“This is our first year at the expo,” Sasha Windes, who co-founded Fresh & Green with business partner, Jennifer Jordan, said. “We’re hoping to bring awareness of our store and let people know that there is an informational source for ‘going green’ in town.”
Fresh & Green was established approximately one and half years ago, starting solely as an online shopping experience. In June 2008, Fresh & Green opened its first retail store.
“We thought that Bakersfield was ready, and we really wanted to help people in Bakersfield go green,” Windes said. “I’ve lived in Bakersfield my whole life, and I plan on living here a lot longer.”
This year’s Business and Technology Expo was also the first for Party Time Celebration Specialists. Established about six years ago, Party Time founder/owner Kathy Roemmich has done decorations for previous Business and Technology expos for the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m hoping to get exposure to people who don’t know what I do,” Roemmich said. “And to bring remembrance to people’s mind about our services.”
Patrons of this year’s Business and Technology expo were catered to by many restaurants. Among the restaurants catering were Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, Tahoe Joe’s, Que Pasa and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery.