About KRV Bridge Connection

Serving the Kern River Valley Community

KRV Bridge Connection (KRVBC) is dedicated to uplifting the Kern River Valley community by bridging the gap between public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Our mission is to bridge individuals and families to services that address food insecurity, homelessness, and the needs of low-income households.

Our Mission

KRVBC is a grassroots hub of united public, private, and non-profit sectors, bridging our underserved with locally accessible advocates and resources to uplift our community as a whole.

Grassroots Beginnings

KRV Bridge Connection began as a small group of individuals meeting to discuss the unique needs of the Kern River Valley. While many essential resources were available, they were primarily located in Bakersfield, making access difficult for valley residents. Our early discussions focused on how we could bring those resources closer to home, ensuring the community had a local hub for support. What began as small conversations quickly grew, culminating in a vision to provide a permanent space for other nonprofits to offer their services directly to the community.

Over the past two years, KRVBC has steadily evolved from these grassroots efforts into a key community resource. We started by helping nonprofits organize events in the valley, such as addiction recovery sessions, resource fairs, and services for winter needs, provided by organizations like CAPK. Each event brought us closer to our goal of bridging the valley’s underserved population with the help and services they need.

Where are you located?

Our Board

Karen Zuber — Co-Founder &emdash; President

Other Affiliations
  • President, Bank of America | Bakersfield
  • Board Member, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
  • Board Member, Kern Economic Development Foundation

Julie Simpson — Vice President

Other Affiliations
  • Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member, Hopester Inc.
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Interpreter for the Deaf

Bryan Apaez — Vice President of Marketing

Other Affiliations
  • Owner/Operator, Kern River Ceviche Company
  • Board Member, Sierra Shared Spaces

Karole Nelson — Secretary

Other Affiliations
  • Manager/Co-Owner, Orion Rose Properties, LLC
  • Secretary, Lake Isabella & Bodfish Property Owner's Association

Denise Boshers — Chief Financial Officer

Other Affiliations
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Treasurer, Bakersfield National Cemetary Support Committee
  • Board Member, Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK)
  • Accountant, Kern County 999 Officer Down Foundation

John Blythe — Auditor

Other Affiliations
  • Co-Chairman, Board of Directors, Film Regions International, Inc.
  • Chairman, Board of Directors, Kern Valley Healthcare District
  • Region 1 Vice President, Board of Directors, National Exchange Club

Our Staff

Laurie Birdwell — Interim Executive Director

Other Affiliations
  • Owner/Operator, Evermore Homestead and Ranch
  • UC Master Gardener
  • College of the Canyons Instructor

Chris Zuber — Site Manager

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