County highlights businesses and celebrates Route 66 at State of the County

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Seven individuals standing on a stage wearing formal and casual attire. Behind them is a large screen displaying ten portraits. — *County leaders are recognized at the annual State of the County event.*

San Bernardino County put a spotlight on its local businesses during the annual State of the County event on Thursday, Oct. 8, which also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

County officials in attendance included Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Josie Gonzales, Sheriff Shannon Dicus and County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre.

Jesse Duran, a longtime radio show host in the Inland Empire, opened the event by welcoming attendees and talking about his connection to the county.

“After spending so many years on the air here, I’ve developed a real appreciation for this region, including the people, the communities and everything that makes San Bernardino County such a special place,” Duran said.

Following his introduction, a video featuring County Chief Executive Officer Luther Snoke and the Board of Supervisors highlighted the significance of Route 66 and its impact on the region. The celebration continued with a swing dance performance.

Rowe then welcomed attendees and introduced the evening’s Route 66 theme.

“We’re celebrating Route 66 and how this historic road has inspired travelers for 100 years to drive across this great country,” Rowe said.

The event featured three panels. The first included Trustee Nathan Gonzales, chair of the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees; Peter Van Helden, executive chairman of Stater Bros. Markets; and Jerry Rowley, co-owner of Logan’s Candies. The panelists discussed their organizations’ background, the keys to their longevity and plans for the future.

“We have an incredibly bright future ahead, not only for the colleges, but for generations of students to come,” Gonzales said. “We all had struggles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but our college district and colleges came out even stronger. We have the highest total enrollment that we’ve ever had, more than 30,000 students. That’s because we’ve been thinking ahead for a long time.”

The program also included a panel led by Baca with Dann Ades, president and chief executive officer of Cold Star Ice; Richard Niño, vice president and chief operating officer of Burrtec Waste Industries; and Dr. Timothy Jenkins, area medical director and chief of staff for Kaiser Permanente’s San Bernardino County area. The panel discussion focused on the success of family-owned businesses, the growth of Burrtec and Kaiser Permanente’s history and role in health care.

“One of the keys to our success has been the family operation, holding strong values and having a great work ethic,” said Ades. “As we’ve grown through acquisitions, we’ve been able to sustain that in each area that we’ve gone to. Our success is also the community.”

The final panel, led by Rowe, featured Wendy Darms, chief executive officer of ComAv; Alan Vidal, senior vice president of technology at Ecotec; and Bill Martinich, senior vice president of U.S. operations at Equinox Gold. The panelists discussed workforce development, innovation and expansion plans.

“My success has been mostly because of the employees that we’ve hired,” Darms said. “We are also regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, so hiring experienced, certified A&P technicians is very important to our industry. Not only that, we really look for people who are passionate about the industry because the quality of work that goes into what they do in repairing an aircraft is extremely important.”

Following the final panel discussion, Rowe invited Baca back to the stage to help close out the program. They acknowledged the event’s sponsors, historic Route 66 locations and the classic car owners who allowed them to take a spin in their vehicles. The event continued with a networking reception where attendees had an opportunity to connect with county officials, business owners and community leaders.

After the program, attendees shared their thoughts.

“It was an honor to attend and reflect on how far our county has come, while gaining a greater appreciation for the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead,” Assemblymember Robert Garcia (D-Rancho Cucamonga) said. “I commend the county’s leadership and staff for putting together an exceptional event that highlighted not only our region’s accomplishments, but also the vision and promise of its future.”

“The State of the County event was an enjoyable gathering that validated the reasons San Bernardino County enjoys its many successes,” Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) said. “The exemplified chosen school and business partnerships should serve as an example to other governance groups on how to showcase favorable partnerships between government and business groups.”

“It’s always great to see the progress that the county is making each year,” Fontana Mayor Pro Tem Peter Garcia said. “It’s great that they’re highlighting businesses in the county because a lot of us work with them and use their services. It’s good to meet them in person and have some good conversations with them.”

“This is my third year in a row and it’s incredible,” said Doug Whiteman, chief executive officer of River’s Edge Ranch. “To see all of the things going on with the businesses and the supervisors and all that they’re doing for the county is really inspiring, and it makes me proud to be in San Bernardino County.”

Those who missed the event can watch the State of the County program online.

Additional County Update News – October 15, 2026