Spke Guest Editor:
Jeff Johnson
Jeffrey Johnson graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration. He served in ever-increasing positions of responsibility with two Fortune 500 companies – Merck and FMC corporation. He founded an agricultural machinery manufacturing company which was listed in the Inc Magazine Group of the 100 fastest growing privately held companies in 1980. He later headed a computer database information service for California agribusiness formed as a joint venture by three California newspapers in Bakersfield. For 13 years he was director of a small business development center in Bakersfield providing advice and counsel to small businesses in Kern, Inyo and Mono counties. Currently, he is the principal in a management consulting firm, JLM Associates, specializing in small to medium-sized businesses.
__________________________________
The meeting was called to order by Kristen Watson filing for absent Joe Hay (shocker)
Invocation: Robert Watson
Flag Salute: “Paddy” Collins
Greeter: Mike Willis
Good News & Announcements:
Cathy Abernathy visited Breakfast Rotary and volunteered our club to participate in their Thousand Flags at Riverwalk this Memorial Day weekend.
Dr. Vernon Harper stated CSUB hired their first women’s basketball coach.
Jim Damien reminded us to be sure to attend Joe Hay’s demotion (if he shows up) on June 27 at Luigi’s
Program:
This week's speaker is Rod Barnes, CSUB Head Basketball Coach.
Barnes has led Bakersfield to several program milestones starting with his first season in 2011 when the `Runners made their first NCAA Division I postseason appearance, earning a spot in the
CollegeInsider.com Tournament after posting a 16-15 record. Barnes also won his 200th game as a Division I head coach Feb. 22, 2012, when the Roadrunners defeated New Jersey Tech on the road in double overtime. Barnes was named “Independent Coach of the Year” by
CollegeSportsMadness.com in 2012.
With a 182-193 record in 12 complete seasons at CSUB, Barnes has a 368-382 career record as of the end of the 2022-23 season. He became the second-most winning coach in Bakersfield’s history on Feb. 13, 2020, with a home win over Chicago State, trailing only Pat Douglass’ 257 victories.
Rod Barnes was welcomed to update us on the status of CSUB’s basketball program. Rod has been at CSUB for 14 years and has seen the program grow to Division 1 in the WAC conference.
Rod has four pillars to success:
1: Academic Success. He has 14 students on the team with a 3.0 GPA average and graduated 12 members.
2. Community engagement: The team has donated 250 hours to community service this past year.
3. Competitive Success: Their goal is to be the best teamon the
West coast and make the NCAA tournament.
4. TeamBelieves: Believe in God, yourself and those around you.
Rod encourages a family atmosphere in recruiting and hopes we will support the team this year by buying tickets (661-654-goal) and attending the games.
.jpg){kind=logo}
.png)
