Erica Torres Garewal is the Assistant News Director at KGET TV-17 and a five-time Emmy-winning news producer.

She began her career at 17 News as an intern and officially joined the team in March 2010. She started as an associate producer for 17 News at Sunrise and was promoted as a producer. She has produced every newscast including the 5 p.m. – a coveted position at 17. Erica was promoted as Assignment Manager in 2017  then Assistant News Director in 2020. She now oversees the day-to-day operations of the newsroom and is in charge of assigning the local coverage you see on TV and online.

Erica was born and raised in Bakersfield. She graduated from Liberty High school in 2006. She continued her education at Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield, where she earned a degree in Communications.

In 2020, Erica was selected as Bakersfield Life Magazine’s 20 Under 40 People to Watch. The program recognizes local leaders and champions of the community.   

“Our mission at KGET is simple: to make our town a better place. The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce does this every day,” she says. “From vaccination clinics to supporting local businesses, KCHCC continuously gives back to our community and provides so many opportunities for folks in my hometown. I’m proud of our partnership with KCHCC and together we will continue to make our community a better place.”

“As I was in college, I unexpectedly became a single mother.  I was then told that because I was a young, single mother, there was no way I would make it through college—much less law school.  I wasn’t upset.  I knew they were mistaken,” she says. 

As a first-generation Mexican girl, Connie dreamed of going to college, being self-sufficient, and making a positive impact in peoples’ lives.  She wanted to better herself, honor her parents, and to help those people who could not otherwise help themselves.

She found herself juggling full-time waitressing, full-time parenthood, and full-time school. 

Connie accomplished her goal and opened her law practice. “I gotta tell you: It is the most rewarding experience I have lived thus far.  My law office is where I get to help my injured clients and make a difference in their lives,” she says. 

With this in mind, she’d like to share this thought with young women out there that have a dream that seems impossible, “YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF.  With a lot of hard work, self-discipline, and focus:  You can author your own story.  Dream it. Write it. Live it.” 

Growing up a child of immigrants, Gabriela’s path to success in life and business has been one of hurdles and triumphs from the start.

When Gabriela’s parents founded Carniceria La Carreta, a new world opened up before her and her passion for business was awakened.

After receiving her degree in business administration, Gabriela transitioned to her current role as CFO, where she oversees the financial operations of her family’s growing business.

For Gabriela, the KCHCC has been integral in fostering meaningful engagement with the community and other likeminded business leaders, opening the door for new and exciting opportunities.

Las Caliope consists of a violin, guitarron, vihuela & is also alternated with a steel-acoustic guitar! The trio is made up of Celéne, Tagacy and Rosana – three driven and multi-talented female musicians. 

Before Las Caliope was formed, each woman performed in various groups and at times, were the only female members in their mariachi ensemble. Once they became acquainted with one another, they started rehearsing in January 2021. They incorporate a variety of styles and genres such as Country, Classical, Pop, Mariachi & Cumbias!

Celéne is the trio’s visionary founder. She is an amazing violinist that helps her Calíope sisters by adding melody & harmony. She is the SOUL of the trio. 

Celéne is a fierce violinist that has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall at the age of 14 with Porterville High School & Musical Director, Juan Morales, former member of Mariachi Los Camperos. At the age of 14, she also performed with a semi-professional female Mariachi, Las Adelitas de Jose Luis Salinas. Celéne has been known to perform with a wide variety of local Mariachi bands throughout Bakersfield. She has opened concerts for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán with Mariachi Garibaldi de Jimmy Cuellar. 

As a child, Celéne faced bullying and cruelty. She turned her sadness into strength.  As a mother Celéne teaches her children that women can excel and provide for their children while working hard doing what they love!  She says being a Chicana, she is proud to represent her father’s home Guadalajara, Jalisco. She embraces her culture. Even though traditional mariachi and classical music is her foundation, she loves bringing creative with Las Caliope.

Tagacy is the trio’s HEART. She is one amazing team-musician and helps her Calíope sisters musically! Her weapons of choice are violin, bass, vihuela & violin! She’s a multi-talented musician. Tagacy has proved to herself and to others that “guitarroneras” can perform just as good as male musicians.She is a full-time student majoring in Human Biology.

Rosanna is the VOICE of the trio. Her weapon of choice is the vihuela & guitar, and occasionally her Fender acoustic-electric guitar! She is an outstanding vocalist  and has performed background vocals for professional artists such as Jenni Rivera & Joan Sebastian! She has also accompanied Christian Nodal at the Latin American Music Awards. She is currently a member of a professional all-female stringed-mariachi, Las Colibrí. Expanding her musical career, she has recorded demos and commercial jingles. Rosanna is a dedicated wife and mother that is also pursuing her Masters of education in teaching. Rosannas best advice for all women is, it’s never too late to make your dreams happen!

Griselda Moon is a Medical Office Manager and Marketing Consultant with over eight years of experience. She has helped many medical offices in Kern County grow their businesses.

As a humanitarian, Griselda sits on the board of World Heath Partnerships, a non-profit created to provide medical and mental health education to individuals in underserved countries. She is also a member of the Kern Coalition Against Human Trafficking and is a proud Human Trafficking Advocate with twelve years of experience. 

She is a true leader through her servanthood and dedication to bringing restoration to the lives of women and their families who have suffered from trauma. Most recently, she has founded Healing Hearts CA. Her organization will focus on using Certified Therapy Dogs to provide cuddle comfort and security for survivors of human trafficking as well as help them overcome the struggles of PTSD.

Griselda is proud of serving as a Diplomat for KCHCC for many years. She believes in fostering a caring community of mutual support, collaborations and partnerships. 

#KCHCC2022 #KCHCCLatinas2022 

Rosalina Rivera currently holds the position of Superintendent of the Delano Union School District. She is a lifelong member of the Delano Community and courageously advocates for the needs of students by supporting many charitable and civic organizations. 

With her transformational leadership approach, she has created a family-like environment that fosters innovation and positive relationships. As a superintendent, she has the opportunity each day to do whatever it takes to advance the lives of the children of Delano – a place where parents as well as students have dreams and aspirations to achieve goals and experience success. 

Because of her tireless efforts, she has received numerous awards including the following: CSUB Hispanic Excellence Award for improving the education status of Latinos, Mexican American Pioneers Phenomenal Woman Award; Central Valley Farmworker Foundation Women’s Leadership Award; California State Capitol – 32nd Assembly District Woman of the Year; and Delano Woman of the Year.

Cecilia Tomono was born in Lima, Peru, raised in Los Angeles and started her career in health care in 2007 after graduating from Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield. 

She has worked in medical equipment and pharmaceutical sales for 10 years, before jumping into a new adventure as a business development liaison with Adventist Heath in 2014. Ceci currently serves as the multisite administrative director of business development and oversees physician contracting and sales for the three Adventist Health medical centers in Kern County: Bakersfield, Delano and Tehachapi. 

Initially she started working with the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a member, and then took on the role of vice chair and chairwoman of the KCHCC Education Foundation for two years. While holding office, her focus was on fundraising for scholarships and providing business services to entrepreneurs.

She loves working with the KCHCC because her passion is to give back to the Hispanic community.  She personally benefitted as a scholarship recipient of the chamber when she was at Bakersfield College. She is the proud mother of two energetic boys and a supportive husband who also works at Adventist Health in Kern County.

Tere Quintana is a Community Specialist/Parent Liaison for the Kern High School District. She works closely with students’ parents to better understand the academic school system. Together, they can work closer to support their students’ ability to graduate on time and continue pursing higher education.

As a teenager, Tere moved from Jalisco, Mexico to the states. As an English learner herself, she personally understands the needs of the Spanish-speaking parents and the English-learning students at Bakersfield High School. Prior to this position, Tere worked as a Bilingual Technician.  

Tere has started a walking club and reading club for the parents, to encourage community and belonging. Additionally, she networks with community agencies to help the families with much-needed resources and educational programs.

Tere advocates for all English-learners, knowing the importance of communication in and out of school. She is one of the advisors for the PODER program in the KHSD. She is also part of the EL Task Force and the Equity & Inclusion Student Advisory Council. “I believe we all have the power to be successful if we work hard. We can live a better life and raise our children to be good citizens.”

In addition to Tere’s work in the Kern High School District, her family owns McMurphy’s Irish Pub and Panchito’s Cocina Mexicana. “We have been a member of the KCHCC for more than 10 years. I have met many people who make this community united and community. The KCHCC has also given me the opportunity to serve as a Diplomat and continue to assist those who may need help. Our family is very lucky to have the community support of our small-local businesses and the support of the KCHCC. I like to remind myself to always stay humble and never forget where you came from.”

Jessica Neeley is the external communications specialist for Dignity Health Mercy & Memorial Hospitals.  Working to promote the health and wellness of the community that Dignity Health serves. With a focus on raising awareness of the Dignity Health brand and their mission to work towards the common good, Jessica works with local media partners and community organizations to highlight key medical service lines such as pediatrics, oncology, cardiovascular and neurological services, as well as the numerous outreach programs that promote healing outside the walls of the hospital.  

Jessica also devotes a great deal of her time giving back to the community serving on local non-profit boards and committees such as the KCHCC Diplomat Committee, the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference, Thumbs Up, Cancer Down, and the CityServe Mayor’s Ball. 

“I am proud to serve on the Hispanic Chamber Diplomat committee and witness first hand the impact and the valuable resources the Hispanic Chamber provides our entire community.” 

#KCHCC2022 ##KCHCCLATINAS2022

In honor of “Women’s History Month,” the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to introduce you to Dolores Huerta, as part of our Latinas in Business & Leadership series. 

Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement.  

Huerta received an associate teaching degree from the University of the Pacific’s Delta College. In 1955 Huerta began her career as an activist when she co-founded the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization (CSO), which led voter registration drives and fought for economic improvements for Hispanics. She also founded the Agricultural Workers Association. Through a CSO associate, Huerta met activist César Chávez, with whom she shared an interest in organizing farm workers. In 1962, Huerta and Chávez founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), the predecessor of the United Farm Workers’ Union (UFW). Huerta served as UFW vice president until 1999. 

Despite ethnic and gender bias, Huerta helped organize the 1965 Delano strike of 5,000 grape workers and was the lead negotiator in the workers’ contract that followed. Throughout her work with the UFW, Huerta organized workers, negotiated contracts, advocated for safer working conditions including the elimination of harmful pesticides. She also fought for unemployment and healthcare benefits for agricultural workers. Huerta was the driving force behind the nationwide table grape boycotts in the late 1960s that led to a successful union contract by 1970. 

In 1973, Huerta led another consumer boycott of grapes that resulted in the ground-breaking California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, Huerta worked as a lobbyist to improve workers’ legislative representation. During the 1990s and 2000s, she worked to elect more Latinos and women to political office and has championed women’s issues. 

The recipient of many honors, Huerta received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. As of 2015, she was a board member of the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce “Woman of the Year” and the President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

#KCHCC2022 #KCHCCLatinas2022 #InternationalWomensDay