DONTATIONS WILL HELP "JERRY'S KIDS"
KERMAN (Apr. 5) - The Kerman Valero service station, located at Whitesbridge and Madera, reports raising $2,320 this year, as part of the "Jerry's Kids" campaign against muscular dystrophy. Customers received a paper lucky shamrock with their name for a donation. The donations will help send children to camp, it was reported.
Celebrates 35th Year in Business
Dennis Reynolds of Reynolds Insurance Services in Kerman, recently celebrated his 35th year in business. Located at 426 S. Madera Ave., he offers all types of insurance services.
He began with CalFarm Insurance, the original Farm Bureau affiliated company, on Mar. 1, 1971. He served as local area representative for over 15 years, and was recognized as CalFarm Agent of the Year in 1988. All of his family have worked in the agency at various times throughout his career.
Reynolds is a Mendota native, and is married to high school sweetheart Juanice (Hawn), also from Mendota. They have three children and four grandchildren. Both enjoy church activities and are avid golfers.
After graduating from Tranquillity High School Reynolds attended Coalinga Junior College and also completed the US Army’s Officer Candidate program. He served four years on active duty, earning the rank of Captain.
When asked if retirement is on the horizon he said, "I enjoy my work too much for such thoughts. Maybe I’ll cut back a day or two every once in a while."
KERMAN TELEPHONE NAMED
FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Fewer than 15% of family run businesses make it to the third generation – a milestone that Sebastian Enterprises, Inc. and Kerman Telephone Co. are proud to have achieved.
On Thursday, Jan.19, the Institute for Family Business at California State University, Fresno named Kerman Telephone Co. the family business of the year, at an awards ceremony attended by approximately 300 people.
The Sebastian family has certainly come a long way since 1946, when young entrepreneurs Bill and Katey Sebastian purchased Kerman Telephone Co. The business was so small, and finances were so tight, that Bill and Katey actually lived inside the telephone company office for a few years.
Today, the Sebastian family employs 130 individuals, and owns not only Kerman Telephone Co., but KerTel Communications, Inc. and Foresthill Telephone Co. north of Auburn.
"Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you," said Bill Barcus, president of Kerman Telephone Co., when asked a family business’s most important lesson.