There was something for everyone at the Bakersfield Business Conference, whether it was the food, entertainment or just spending time with loved ones. Two of those 9,000 people in attendance were Laura Tate and her husband Jerry.
“I’ve been coming for the past three years,” said Laura. “They have an amazing group every year. Bill O’ Reilly was the number-one draw for me. I hope he’s brought back year after year.”
Scarfing down a Nestlé Supreme Triple Chocolate ice cream cone, Jerry sat relaxing in the shade.
“I liked Roy Firestone,” said Jerry. “I saw him interview before but never singing. He can sing.”
“I could see how it’s hard to impress after awhile,” said Laura. “It’s so hard to top every year. Obviously this year the security is much tighter than in the past.”
Bakersfield Police Department Bomb Squad Supervisor Danny Shrider said security has been the same every year for the past 10 years.
“We got here early and did a bomb sweep and walked around,” said Shrider. “People thank us for being here. More people are aware security is here. They’ve always been here but people weren’t aware.”
Karen Brawley and her husband have come every year from Tustin, Calif., almost three hours away, for the past five or six years.
“We come with Community Commerce Bank,” said Brawley. “We do business with them and my husband is an attorney for them so they sponsor us every year and it’s wonderful. We get a hotel in Bakersfield and stay overnight.”
Brawley is one of thousands who come every year for the speakers.
“I was very, very impressed with the world leaders’ panel (Ehud Barak, Gerald Ford, John Major, Ernesto Zedillo),” said Brawley. “I thought that was really great. I also enjoyed Andrew Cuomo (former secretary of Housing and Urban Development). I thought he was funny and very inspirational. “
Although the crowd had its fun, so did the entertainers. “All American Boys Chorus” Ryan Phiefer, 15, Chase Raymond, 14, and Ari Miller, 15, ran around freely, happy to be away from Orange County and, especially, away from their parents.
“We came to sing at 8 as people were coming in,” said Raymond. “We took, like, a 10-minute break and sang again. Then we went into the main tent to sing the national anthem and a special song they requested, a patriot song.”
Not only did they enjoy being away from home, but they also enjoyed certain speakers.
“I liked Barak, the former prime minister of Israel,” said Miller.
“I’m mostly here for Arnold (Schwarzenegger),” said Phiefer. “We also checked out Steve Young too. He was cool.”
NFL MVP and former San Francisco quarterback Steve Young made a fabulous addition to the conference for those football fans in attendance. Craig Johnson brought his son Jason, mainly to see Young.
“I went to law school with Young,” Craig said. “The conference has been great so far. I’ve been coming since 1988, but have missed the last three years. I liked Steve Young and Roy Firestone.”
These celebrities provided a treat for all in attendance.
Runner@csubak.edu