Bob Hawkes

Bob Hawkes has taught classes on small business planning and start-up, marketing, management, finance, cash flow, and communications at Bakersfield College and College of the Canyons for 25 years. He was a consultant for the Small Business Development Center for 20 years and also served as the interim director of the new Business Assistance Center at Kern Community College District. As a trainer, specializing in supervisory skills, communication, and change management, Bob has provided assistance to a broad array of business and governmental organizations. Until his recent retirement, Bob was the Director of Workforce Development for the Kern Community College District. In that role, Bob worked with the faculty and staff of a consortium of four community colleges, the middle schools and high schools they serve, and regional industry. His goal was to implement a new system of career-based training that would increase high school graduation rates; reduce the need for college entrance remediation; and increase community college certificates and graduations. He also served as the Director of the Central/Mother Lode SB1070 Region. In this role, Bob coordinated pathways and best practices among 14 colleges and their feeder high schools. Bob has lived in Kern County for nearly 40 years. He and his wife, Beth, spend time spoiling their 8 grandchildren and planning their next visit to Italy.