More than 225 members of the business community were in attendance on Dec. 9 to hear about various issues affecting the economy and community during the Chamber's annual Bakersfield: The Next Five Years forum.

Sponsored by AT&T, this business forecast spotlighted three key areas of our community. Thanks to speakers Bart Hill, San Joaquin Bank, and Garro Ellis, Moneywise, for providing perspectives and insights on economic, investment and stock market trends, and to Don Cohen, Convention & Visitors Bureau, for his overview on the impact of tourism on our local economy and strategies being employed to attact visitors and tourists.