Nonprofit Leadership Awards
Recognizing Kern County residents whose leadership and service have strengthened our nonprofit community.
The Kern Alliance of Nonprofits’ (KAN) 4th Annual Leadership Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Woman’s Club of Bakersfield, 2030 18th St. The purpose of the Nonprofit Leadership Awards is to recognize distinguished Kern County residents who have made significant contributions to the nonprofit sector in the region.
Purchase Tickets/Tables/Sponsorship
- Nonprofit Professional of the Year – It takes passion, drive and intellect to craft true transformation for people served by the non-profit community. This award honors the leader who has best used those tools to make a dramatic impact in the lives of their non-profit clients and, through service, improved the communities of Kern County.
- Board Member of the Year – This honor goes to the non-profit board member whose commitment, engagement and stewardship has helped shape growth, improvement, and accountability at a Kern County Non-Profit. By providing financial support, oversight, guidance, and encouragement this leader has helped staff and the non-profit exceed its plans and expectations.
- Rising Star Award – Non-profit staff and young leaders are on the frontlines of our efforts to impact community problems, overcome social barriers to success and improve people’s lives. This award honors an emerging star in the nonprofit world who made a powerful impact this year and who we are excited to see grow and develop in the coming years.
- Lifetime Achievement Award – This category is designed to honor the legends of Kern County’s non-profit community. Their decades of commitment and effort have built a lasting legacy for the organizations they serve, created a foundation of structure and knowledge all nonprofits can benefit from, and served as the measure of attainment that new generations should aspire to.
- Unsung Hero – These quiet champions transform services from routine to exceptional because they get things done, serve with heart and don’t waste time asking for recognition. They’re an example of how to truly excel and an inspiration for those around them. This award exists to create a space where these humble leaders get the recognition they deserve.
- Youth Award (High School) – The next generation of non-profit leaders and innovators are already giving of their time and individual passion as they work toward their high school graduation. This award will recognize one of these young people for the work they do on behalf of causes they care for.
- Nonprofit Contributor/Partner – Nonprofits don’t succeed without the support of community supporters who give of themselves and their resources to empower the transformative work our organizations do each day. This awards a community contributor and partner who has a heart for making sure nonprofits have what they need to succeed.
2025 Honoree Bios
Award – Nonprofit Professional of the Year
Zane Smith has served in youth development for 37 years, spending the last 29 years as executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. Under his leadership, the Club built a state-of-the-art clubhouse, expanded from 1 to 72 locations and partnered with 11 school districts to support after-school programs. He is actively involved in the community, serving on several boards including North Bakersfield Rotary and the Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs. Zane is married to Amy, a fellow nonprofit leader, and has two children: Christopher, a banker in Monterey, and Charlotte, a future educator.
Award – Board Member of the Year
Endee Grijalva currently serves as program director of workforce and talent development at the Kern Community College District. A first-generation college graduate, she studied organizational and strategic leadership at Bakersfield College and Fresno Pacific University. Endee expresses her passion for public service by sitting on the boards of The Open-Door Network, United Way of Central Eastern California and the CAPK Friendship House. She is dedicated to expanding educational access and creating life-changing opportunities for students and families. Endee is a proud wife, mother of three and east Bakersfield native.
Award – Rising Star Award
Fatima “Teems” Tulfo is the director of community impact at Kern Community Foundation. She was raised in Bakersfield and earned her bachelor’s degree from Cal State Northridge and her master’s from San Francisco State University. After spending time in the Bay Area, she returned home with a deeper appreciation for the community that raised her. Since 2022, Teems has led the Foundation’s work to strengthen local nonprofits and engage the community. As a first-generation college graduate, she’s passionate about education and giving back. She hopes to inspire her son, Frein, and goddaughters to do the same.
Award – Youth Award (High School)
Priscila Salazar is a student-athlete and honor scholar who is pursuing a future in medicine. With support from Soar Solutions Youth Center, she has developed strong leadership skills, academic discipline and a commitment to community involvement. Priscila will continue her academic and athletic journey at Butte College, where she plans to major in biology with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.
Award – Nonprofit Contributor/Partner
Karen Zuber serves as the president of Bank of America for Kern County. In her role, Karen is responsible for deploying the bank’s philanthropic strategy across the County, delivering a better community for clients and teammates. She currently serves on the board of Kern Economic Development and the Bakersfield College Foundation. Karen has been a resident of Kern County for more than 40 years. She lives in the Lake Isabella community with her husband and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She recently started the nonprofit KRV Bridge Connection in her hometown where she has created a collaborative space for eleven other nonprofits to support the underserved community.
Award – Unsung Hero
Heath Niemeyer and his wife Georgina are happy to call Bakersfield home for the last 8 years and Heath is proud of his Kern County heritage. His mother graduated from East Bakersfield High School and his grandparents farmed in McFarland. Heath is an alumnus of the CSU system and of CSUB and he is currently a member of Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr’s Presidential Cabinet, serving as Vice President for University Advancement. He leads a team of all stars in the development, alumni engagement, events, data prospecting, annual giving and marketing and communications departments. In his capacity as executive director of the CSUB Foundation’s Board of Directors, he is honored to work with some of our community’s outstanding leaders. The Board and his colleagues in UA are all focused on enhancing the education of the students at CSUB and helping to transform our community through higher education. Heath also serves on the boards of Kern Bridges Youth Homes, Active Bakersfield Alliance, several campus groups, and initiatives, and is a Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary member.
Award – Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim has served as the Executive Director of Flood Ministries for the past six years. Flood is a non-profit agency formed in 2008 to intervene in the lives of people experiencing homelessness in order to help them navigate available community resources and exit to permanent housing. Prior to Jim’s position with Flood, he served as the homeless services manager for the County of Orange where he helped the county develop a systemic response to the homeless crisis there. After serving as a Pastor in Wasco for 17 years, Jim has served at various local non-profits including the United Way of Kern County, the City of Wasco Housing Authority and the Golden Empire Gleaners. Jim is familiar with the issues surrounding homelessness in Bakersfield and Kern County. Jim previously served on the executive board for the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative and currently serves on its governing board, having previously served for three years as its chairman. Jim is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and California State University, Bakersfield where he received a Master’s in Public Administration.