Formed in early 2020 as a collaboration among business, government, and civic stakeholders. In 2020, B3K commissioned a quantitative market assessment of the Bakersfield-Kern County Region that revealed the major challenges our region is facing. More than half of families struggle to make ends meet, and more than a third of all local residents are part of struggling working families.
We want to beat the challenges our region is facing for everybody in Kern County. By planning and delivering a strategic economic development plan, we believe we will be able to create 100,000 quality jobs in our region and develop pathways for access that help local families improve their economic standing and quality of life.
Georgia Petropoulos
CEO
Georgia Petropoulos is the President and CEO of B3K Prosperity, a nonprofit economic development organization uniting Kern County’s diverse sectors to build a future where people prosper and businesses thrive. A natural connector and changemaker, she collaborates with leaders across government, energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, defense, and more to drive inclusive job creation and regional transformation. Previously, as CEO of the Oakland Business Improvement District in Pittsburgh, she led the city’s third-largest economic center through COVID-19 recovery, launching innovative placemaking efforts, retail incubation programs, and public space enhancements. Georgia’s leadership has produced a series of “firsts” for Pittsburgh, from accessible grant programs to large-scale community festivals. Beyond her executive roles, she has served on numerous boards and advisory groups and represented the U.S. abroad through professional exchanges in Ghana and Nigeria. A bilingual daughter of Greek immigrants with a passion for culture, design, and community impact, she holds degrees in architecture and French from the University of Pittsburgh and Washington University in St. Louis.
Adrianne Pietz
Industry Ecosystem Liaison
Adrianne Pietz is the Industry Ecosystem Liaison (Contractor) of B3K Prosperity. An experienced consultant with over 20 years of leadership in organizational strategy, financial management, and cross-sector collaboration. She is known for driving organizational growth, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering innovative, equity-centered solutions that strengthen teams and transform communities. Adrianne has a deep commitment to regional prosperity and inclusive economic development, with a proven track record of aligning workforce and community strategies to meet the evolving needs of both employers and underserved populations. Through her consulting practice, she helps nonprofits and public-private initiatives scale impact, build sustainable systems, and unlock long-term change. A native of Bakersfield, she received her Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
