Board of Directors

Shawn, a proud Bakersfield native, has extensive experience in designing, developing, and overseeing for-profit and not-for-profit businesses that benefit people with disabilities. Shawn has a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University and graduated Magna Cum Laude. In addition, Shawn is a Graduate of the National Leadership Consortium through the University of Delaware. Shawn has 30 years of experience working with people with disabilities, 20 of which were in executive level leadership. Shawn serves on multiple non-profit boards and is a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield Downtown.

Penny Valdovinos currently serves as the Vice Chair for ILCKC’s Board of Directors and Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Penny has worked with those with disabilities and the aged for over a decade.
After 20+ years of service with the County of Kern Department of Human Services as a Human Services Technician III, Penny has since retired and spends her time volunteering and serving as an advocate.
Penny participates in legislative advocacy events for both the blind and disabled in Sacramento as well as locally. Penny has been involved with The Salvation Army’s Community Care Ministries including “In-Sight In-Touch,” a program designed for families and people affected by visual impairments and/or blindness. For over a decade she has been involved with the Greater Bakersfield Council of the Blind and serves the Council as President. Penny is also a proud member of the Guide Dog Users International as well as Guide Dog Users of California.

Jason grew up in the community and earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Educational Counseling from CSU-Bakersfield. He then went on to earn an Ed.D in Educational Leadership. Jason is currently the Director of Basic Needs and Lectures in the Psychology Department at CSU-Bakersfield. In his role, Jason serves on several local and statewide teams, with the aim of reducing food and housing insecurity for college students and the community at-large. Additionally, Jason has a background in mental health and suicide prevention that continues to serve him well in his work. He is a married father of one who enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

Robert is a retired Certified Public Accountant (CPA), who has worked in the industry for 40 years. He is a graduate of CSU-Bakersfield and has in prior years worked as the Controller for the Bakersfield Californian as well as the Chief Financial Officer for the Bakersfield Arc. He served as a financial consultant for the Independent Living Center of Kern County for several years and has spent the last years of his business career as a financial officer for government agencies. In recent years Robert has volunteered his tax experience as a volunteer for CAPK-VITA, which prepares 1040 income taxes returns as a free service for senior citizens and has also been serving as a Board Member and treasurer for the ILCKC since 2018.

Since 2019, Nathan Gutierrez has been a member of the City of Bakersfield team, currently holding the position of ADA Coordinator/Title VI Coordinator, in addition to serving as Senior Management Assistant in the City Manager’s Office. In his role, Nathan is responsible for overseeing compliance with ADA and Title VI regulations to ensure that the accessibility needs of local constituents are effectively addressed.

Additionally, Nathan is actively engaged in the broader community as a member of the ILCKC Board of Directors and is one of six Steering Committee members within the California Network of ADA Coordinators. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University and is presently pursuing his MBA.

With over 20 years of experience playing wheelchair basketball, Nathan has also contributed to the development of young athletes by coaching at both junior varsity and varsity levels across three local high schools.

ILCKC’s past Board President is Lito Morillo, a graduate of Cal State Bakersfield with BA in Public Administration. He has been working in the field of social services for over 26 years. Lito currently works as the Director for Kern County Human Services and has held this position since April 2022. Prior to this position, Lito was the Director for Kern County Aging & Adult Services for 11 years.
In addition to serving on the ILCKC’s Board, Lito also serves or has served on several other boards and committees including the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, Kern Senior Network Board, IHSS Advisory Committee, Strata Credit Union Board, First 5 Commission, and Kern County Network for Children.

Donna’s work experience includes serving as the Human Resources Director at Jaco Oil Company since 2022. Prior to this, they worked as the Senior Human Resources Consultant at Klein DeNatale Goldner from 2018 to 2022, where they provided HR consultation and practical solutions to companies of various sizes and industries. Donna also worked as a Human Resources Advisor at Aera Energy LLC from 1991 to 2018, focusing on compensation, performance management, labor relations, and employee development.
Donna has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus on Human Resources from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. Donna also attended Escalon High School. Additionally, they hold a certification in SPHR from the HR Certification Institute. Donna has been a board member of the Independent Living Center of Kern County since 2022.

Brittany was born in Arizona but has called Bakersfield home for the majority of her life. Her professional journey began in the medical field, where she worked as a phlebotomist for a decade. Not only did she excel in her role, but she also shared her expertise by teaching a phlebotomy class. However, a physical disability prompted Brittany to pivot her career away from the medical field and into media marketing. Making a smooth transition into print media, Brittany contributed her talents to the Bakersfield Californian before making her mark at KGET- TV 17. Since 2021, she has served as an Account Executive at KGET-TV 17, bringing her wealth of marketing experience to the forefront. Beyond her professional endeavors, Brittany has a passion for photography, evident in her volunteer work as a photographer at the Bakersfield City Animal Shelter in 2017. In addition to her career, Brittany is dedicated to community service and has actively served on the Board of the Independent Living Center of Kern County since 2022. Her commitment to both her professional and philanthropic pursuits reflects her multifaceted talents and the positive impact she continues to make in Bakersfield.