May 22, 2025
Bakersfield College Foundation
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, May 22, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Bakersfield College Campus Center, West Wing, 2nd Floor, Rm. 218
1801 Panorama Drive Bakersfield, CA 93305
Present: Deanna Blaise, Derek Jeffery, Derek Yurosek, Dolores Salgado, Ken Byrum, Lauren Skidmore, LaNina Andrews, Paul Pavletich, Sarabjeet Singh, Jessica Wojtysiak, Patrick Wade, Queen King, Robin McNabb, Tom Ming, Vinny Oddo, Rebecka Zepeda
Absent: Ariana Joven, Connie Perez-Andreesen, Jeff Bell, John Pitre, Karen Zuber, Octavio Escobedo, Ryan Hansen, Chris Hamilton, Frank Wooldridge, Jerry Fliger, Kyle Carter, Marko Zaninovich
Staff: Cheryl Scott, Kylee Gregory-Gutierrez, Susan Hubbell, Alyssa Cross, Tye McCovery
Guests: Melissa Allen, George Boodrookas
Meeting Minutes
- Call to Order – Derek Yurosek called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
- Roll Call – Kylee Gregory-Gutierrez took roll call and confirmed there was a quorum.
- Public Comments Statement – The public comments statement was read by Derek Yurosek.There were no public comments received.
- Approval of Agenda – Motion – There were no amendments to the agenda. Paul Pavletich. motioned to approve the agenda. Dolores Salgado seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The agenda for May 22, 2025, is APPROVED.
- Approval of Meeting Minutes from February 27, 2025 – Motion – There were no amendments to the meeting minutes. Deanna Blaise motioned to approve the minutes. Paul Pavletich seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The meeting minutes for February 27, 2025, are APPROVED.
- Renegade Innovation Fund Update – The total for this Spring round is $134,792 which includes rollover from prior year. The first round for fiscal year 2025, we awarded $14,370. This is the second round for fiscal year 2025. $7,475 was awarded by the finance & investment committee on 5/15/25 which leaves $127,317 available.
- Industrial Automation – The Industrial Automation program requested $56,000 for new trainers for a new course in the bachelor’s degree program. Deanna Blaise motioned to approve the request. Dolores Salgado seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The request for $56,000 is APPROVED.
- BC Rodeo Team – The BC Rodeo team is requesting $37,600 for training equipment including the Smarty Bulldogger, Smarty Horse Saver, and the Smarty Bronc. Paul Pavletich motioned to approve the request and Deanna Blaise seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The request for $37,600, with any included sales tax, by the BC Rodeo team is APPROVED.
- Behavioral Sciences – This grant request is designed to establish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) resources for the Behavioral Sciences Program. Academic programs that could benefit from aerial survey technology include agriculture, environmental sciences, geography, and geology. This request of w$5,275 was APPROVED by the finance committee on 5/15/25.
- BC Afro Cuban Percussion Ensemble – These funds will be used to purchase a full set of bata drums to use to teach in the Afro Cuban Percussion Ensemble.The request for $2,200 was APPROVED by the finance committee on 5/15/25.
- Quarterly Financial Review – Dr. Queen King presented the quarterly financial review. She reviewed the balance sheet, statement of revenue and expense, and the BC Foundation operating statement of revenue and expense. As of 5/8/25, the UBS portfolio is $65,781,237.
- Proposed Fiscal Year 25/26 Budget – Dr. Queen King presented the proposed budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The overall budget outlines anticipated revenue of $6,254,700 against total expenses of $5,913,347, resulting in a projected net income of $341,353. Key revenue sources include $1.85 million in budgeted investment earnings, $1,025,000 from stewardship fees, and approximately $3.3 million from donations, events, and scholarships. The operations budget forecasts $1,336,700 in total income and $1,333,597 in expenses, yielding a net income of $3,103. Tom Ming motioned to approve the budget and Deanna Blaise seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is APPROVED.
- Nomination Committee Updates and Nominations for Board Members – Motion(s)
a. These current board members’ terms end in 2025 and they would like to be nominated for another two-year term (2025-2027) – Motion:- Deann Blaise
- Derek Jeffery
- Derek Yurosek
- Frank Wooldridge
- Octavio Escobedo
- Paul Pavletich
- Robin McNabb
- Sarabjeet Singh
- Tom Ming
Patrick Wade motioned to nominate the listed directors for another two-year term (2025-2027). Dolores Salgado seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The listed nominations are APPROVED.
b. Nominations for new board members for a two-year term (2025-2027) – Motion: - Blake Goehring, Senior Vice President, Resident Director-Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
- Neeraj Rama, Chief Investment Officer/Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center
- Angelica Martin, Vice President, Water Resources, Tejon Ranch Co.
- Dulce Hernandez, Project Manager, Chevron
Dolores Salgado motioned to nominate the newly listed directors for a two-year term (2025-2027). Deanna Blaise seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The nominations for the newly listed directors are APPROVED.
c. Nomination for board officers for a two-year term (2025-2027) – Motion: - Chair Nomination: Paul Pavletich
- Vice Chair Nomination: John Pitre
Patrick Wade motioned to nominate the two board officers for a two-year term (2025-2027). Tom Ming seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. The board officers’ nomination is APPROVED.
- President’s Update – This item was not discussed due to the absence of the President Jerry Fliger.
- Board of Directors Strategic Planning Process – George Boodrookas of Philanthropia Consulting presented to the Board an overview of the strategic planning process for the BC Foundation.
- Other Business / Adjournment of Meeting – With no other business brought forward, the meeting was adjourned at 5:03 p.m.