Jimmie Soto

Executive Director
Jimmie is an active member of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers Board and their Executive Committee. He has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council (SILC) since 2013, and is on the State Plan for Independent Living committee with the SILC. He is a proud member of the local VOICED coalition, comprised of other non-profit Directors throughout Kern County. He is also a proud member of the Bakersfield East Rotary Club.
Before moving to Bakersfield, Jimmie held the position of Director of Program Services at Fresno County’s Independent Living Center, a position he held since 2001.
Jimmie is passionate about the independence of all people with disabilities. Disability has affected his own family with his own visual impairment and having a brother that is Deaf. In his spare time, Jimmie likes to spend time with his wife and three brothers, exercise, and watch football.
Tammy Hartsch

Finance Manager
Laura Rodriguez

Program Coordinator
Jan Lemucchi

LTSS Manager
Susan Privett

Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator
Susan believes the OIB program (Older Individuals who are Blind and Visually Impaired program) is a good fit and will give her opportunities to serve consumers with knowledge and compassion. The ability to learn and teach different methods, tailoring OIB instruction to consumer-specific needs, and using the many types of assistive technology devices available are essential tools which enable others to preserve and enhance the visual acuity still possessed by our ILCKC seniors. “Where there is a will, there is a way”, is a motto Susan believes in to empower others to live fuller lives as independently as possible.
Alexandra Leyva

Services Manager
She is a trilingual, Bakersfield native with an eclectic educational background. She attended Bakersfield College where she completed the ASL Program, transferred to CSUB to study Art History and Criminal Justice, and began interpreting at the collegiate level. Alexandra is a firm believer in life-long learning and completed the Dental Assisting program at SJVC “just for fun.”
Alex has been involved in the Deaf Community for over 15 years. She has interpreting experience predominantly in the educational setting but also has festival, concert, freelance, wedding, and religious interpreting experience as well. She is eager to collaborate with other professionals, consumers, and advocates to help raise the bar for interpreting services provided here in Kern County.
Savanah Adams

Public Policy Coordinator
Carol Henry

Program Evaluator
Santeri Salomaki

Accounting Clerk
Since becoming a member of the ILCKC team, Santeri has brought his knowledge of business to improve finance-related issues and procedures.
Stephanie Smart

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Provider
Jasmine Rubio

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Provider
Jacky Wood

Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist
Jacky has been a paraplegic and has utilized a wheelchair since he was 11 years old due to an ATV accident. He doesn’t let it stop him from what he wants to do and enjoys doing. Jacky believes, “If you set your mind to it and want it, it can be accomplished.”
He enjoys working with people with all types of disabilities and believes he and ILCKC are a good fit. He strongly believes in the AT program and the overall ILCKC organization and philosophy.
Jacky is excited for the opportunity to serve consumers and looks forward to teaching them about the many types of assistive technology devices available, and empowering them to “set their minds to focus on what it is they want to accomplish.”
David Hendrickson

AT Advocate
As owner/operator of Cyber Works Computers, David specializes in small office networking. With advancements in technologies offering new opportunities for education and employment, David found himself reaching out to visually impaired community and individuals with cross-disabilities to share the information. Current technologies are now more attainable than any other time in history and David is passionate about raising awareness.
Renee Hernandez

Independent Living (IL) Specialist
Jessica Carrillo

Independent Living (IL) Rural Specialist
Outside of ILCKC, Jessica has been married for 8 years and is a mother of 5 children. One of her hobbies is extreme couponing. Jessica’s favorite quote to live by is from Henry Ford “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”.
Harvey Clowers

Independent Living (IL) Specialist
Harvey enjoys national bowling level competitions with the American Wheelchair Bowling Association (AWBA) and fishing in his spare time.
Stephany Cisneros

Independent Living (IL) Specialist
Heidi Frye

Independent Living (IL) Specialist
Diana Gonzalez

Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Specialist
Diana is a Bakersfield native, graduated from Ridgeview High School, has an AA degree in Psychology from Bakersfield College with plans to continue her education at CSU Bakersfield to become a school psychologist.
Patty Grubbs

Receptionist
Adelaida Moreno

Accounting Clerk
Since returning to Bakersfield, Adelaida has been a Bakersfield Club of the Deaf committee member and helped organize events for Deaf Night Out. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Josephs Morris

Special Projects Provider
Brooke Whitehead-Tolles

Community Living Coordinator
Brooke, her wife, and her son, are Disney fanatics and in their spare time like to take weekend getaways to Disneyland. Brooke also enjoys playing with her service dog, Angus, and working in her garden.