Chris Kelley, Property President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon, has been awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship by a collective of all Bakersfield Rotary Clubs, recognizing his leadership, community impact, and commitment to service across Kern County. The honor was presented Thursday during a special all Rotary Club luncheon gathering in Bakersfield.

Kelley joins a distinguished group of recipients, including last year’s honoree Linda Resnick, Vice President and Co-Owner of The Wonderful Company, highlighting the significance of the award within the local community.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is among Rotary’s highest honors, recognizing individuals who exemplify the humanitarian and service-driven values championed by Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International. Established in 1957, recognition acknowledges individuals whose contributions—or contributions made in their name—support The Rotary Foundation and its global initiatives, including education, disease prevention, and community development.

Kelley’s selection reflects his ongoing efforts to foster economic growth, community partnerships, and charitable initiatives throughout Kern County, particularly through his leadership at Hard Rock Casino Tejon. “The six Rotary Clubs of Bakersfield were honored to present Chris Kelley with a Paul Harris Fellowship at our all-club luncheon. This recognition honors community leaders whose actions embody Rotary’s highest ideals of service, integrity, and impact. Chris and Hard Rock Casino Tejon have certainly met that high standard. I was honored to present this prestigious award following Chris’ outstanding presentation to our membership last Thursday.” stated Jackie Maxwell, President Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary.

Kelley accepted the honor with gratitude, emphasizing the collective effort behind the recognition.

“I’m truly honored to receive the Paul Harris Fellowship,” said Kelley. “This recognition reflects the incredible partnerships we’ve built across Kern County and the shared commitment to giving back. On behalf of our team at Hard Rock Casino Tejon, we’re proud to support the community we call home and to stand alongside organizations like Rotary that make a meaningful difference every day.”

Since opening, Hard Rock Casino Tejon has prioritized community engagement through philanthropic contributions, local partnerships, and initiatives aimed at supporting health, safety, and economic vitality in the region. Kelley’s leadership has helped position the property as both an entertainment destination and a committed community partner.

The Paul Harris Fellowship has been awarded to more than one million individuals worldwide, including notable leaders such as Jimmy Carter, Boris Yeltsin, Jonas Salk, and Mother Teresa, underscoring its global significance and enduring legacy of service.

###

About Hard Rock Casino Tejon
The entertainment venue is located less than 15 miles south of Bakersfield on Tejon Indian tribal land in Mettler, situated at the southernmost tip of California’s Southern San Joaquin Valley and near the base of the historic Grapevine Mountain Pass that connects Southern California to the Central Valley. The property features 150,000 square feet of gaming space, more than 2,000 slot machines, over 60 table games and multiple dining destinations including the iconic Hard Rock Café and recently received the 2026 Golden Empire Award for Favorite Place to Work.

About Hard Rock®
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in nearly 80 countries spanning more than 300 venues including owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Locations and Cafes. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at locations around the globe. The Unity™ by Hard Rock global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties. In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.

HRI has received numerous industry, destination and workplace awards across the travel, hospitality, gaming, entertainment and food & beverage sectors. HRI currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.