Mary Beth Garrison has been a GTEDC Board Member for nearly a decade. Mary Beth brings continued commitment and perspective to the group. Her professional roles with KBAK-TV 29, the County of Kern, the Stallion Springs Community Services District and the nonprofit organization: Community Clean Sweep has given her the opportunity to serve residents within the greater Tehachapi community, and throughout Kern County. 

 She is a founding member of the nonprofit organization Community Clean Sweep, and currently serves as the senior advisor for communities and communications at Rio Tinto U.S. Borax. Mary Beth is proud to have been a catalyst for the GTEDC – helping it morph from a “Breakfast Club” into a vital, contributing body with the purpose of developing greater Tehachapi into a place people want to live, work and play.

Senior Advisor, Communities & Communications, Rio Tinto US Borax

Phone:(661) 703-2624

Laura Lynne Wyatt serves as secretary for the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council. She is also the General Manager of Stallion Springs Community Services District. Previously she served as the District Director for Kern County Supervisor District 2 and as a broker/associate at Access Real Estate in Tehachapi.

General Manager, Stallion Springs CSD

Phone: (661) 822-3268

Corey Costelloe is the Assistant City Manager in Tehachapi, California, his hometown. Costelloe joined the team at City Hall in September of 2017 after 15 years of work in the media and communications field, most recently at CSU Bakersfield where he served as Assistant Athletics Director for Communications. During his time at CSUB, Costelloe earned his Master’s in Public Administration, and in 2017 the opportunity to come home and work for his community prompted a switch in careers and a new purpose. He previously served as the Economic Development Coordinator (2017-2021).

A 2002 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif., he earned his MPA with honors in 2016 from CSU Bakersfield and in 2018 completed the CALED Intro to Economic Development Certification Program at the Craig School of Business at Fresno State. He currently serves on the Tehachapi Tourism Commission, the Board of Directors for the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council, is chairperson of the Tehachapi Unified School District Facilities Advisory Committee and is President of the THS Warriors Booster Club. 

Assistant City Manager, City of Tehachapi

Phone: (661) 822-2200 ex. 121

Mark Olson serves as the vice president for mill operations at Pacific Steel Group. PSG is currently seeking to build a $540 million recycled steel micro mill in East Kern County. The mill is anticipated to be the cleanest steel mill in the world by eliminating the need for natural gas in the manufacturing process by on-site renewable energy and storage. 

Local business owner. Full time resident since 2013. Love of family, friends, my country and community. Proud to call Tehachapi my home.

Owner, South Street Digital

Phone: (661) 823-4908 

Claudia Baker has been in the printing and publishing industry since 1992, when she founded Hilltop Publishers. Her vision – becoming Tehachapi’s main source for local events and happenings – became a reality in 2001, when Claudia – along with her daughter, Alysia Bailey – established Hilltop Publishers’ Home of The Loop Newspaper (previously Hilltop Shopper from 2001 through 2006).

The Loop has grown quite a bit since its inception and now boasts a distribution to over 200 locations throughout East Kern County. “People stop me on the street all the time just to tell me how much they love The Loop and how it’s their favorite hometown newspaper,” said Claudia, “We didn't realize what was required to pull this paper together every other week when we started, but our team is ambitious and dedicated. 

Owner/Publisher, The Loop Newspaper

Phone: (661) 822-8188

Ashley Cortes serves as the Public Sector Solutions Manager for waste and recycling hauler WM, who services the City of Tehachapi, much of the Greater Tehachapi Area and East Kern County. Ashley has been with WM since 2018 after previously working with the City of Palmdale. 

Ashley Cortes, Public Sector Solutions Manager

Lisa Stephens serves as the Director of the Kern River Valley and East Kern Campuses for Cerro Coso Community College. 

Under her leadership, Cerro Coso has successfully expanded their footprint and impact in East Kern, specifically at their Tehachapi campus where continued demand is leading to additional program offerings.

Lisa is a graduate of Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest, Calif., and holds a Master's Degree in Social Services from California State University, Bakersfield.