BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Hard Rock International, the Florida-based casino and hotel chain, sent its corporate startup team to Bakersfield Friday. The Hard Rock Casino team set out to drum up excitement, identify partners, and perhaps start staffing some of the 1,000 positions it’ll need t o fill before it opens in Kern County in December 2025. About 300 people were on hand at Bakersfield College’s Renegade Event Room for the combination employee and vendor recruitment fair, the first day of the two-day event. Anyone who was anybody was there. At least three Kern County supervisors, Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh, Snoop Dogg, Jonathan Davis of Korn – well, those last two were at BC in spirit. Their track suits were in attendance. That left Hard Rock Tejon President Chris Kelley to be the star of the show. “Today we’re introducing our recruiting and hiring timeline to our community partners,” Kelley said. “We’re also talking about a path for vendors and suppliers to work for us in the days ahead.” Vendors who might supply what, director of procurement Justin Armstrong? “If you sell food products, meat, fish, bread, produce, any  kind of food service product, definitely your ears should be perking up,” Armstrong said. “If you’re in trades  – plumbing, landscaping, electrical, maintenance, any kind of trade like that – your ears should be perking up.” The Hard Rock perked up some ears almost immediately Friday, handing a $10,000 donation to the Open Door Network of Kern County, which supports homeless families in crisis, among other good works. All well and good, but what about the hard rock part of Hard Rock? Who are these folks listening to? “AC/DC, an old school favorite of mine,” said Kelley, who also mentioned an affection for Bakersfield’s Korn and a soft-rock favorite of his parents, James Taylor. “I think they (AC/DC) introduced a brand of rock that still resonates today.” Bakersfield police search for 15-year-old last seen on Efada Drive  “Rhianna would be one of my favorite artists,” Armstrong said. “(She,) Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga would be my top three.” Gina Cadahia, who works in Hard Rock corporate media relations, is more old school. “I love Lynyrd Skynyrd, I love Fleetwood Mac, and I love Metallica,” she said. “I mean, who doesn’t?” Meaghan Ryan, who works in Hard Rock human resources, demurred on the hard rock portion of the quiz. “I love Garth Brooks,” she said. “I love anything country.” Candi Asuncion, who represents Kern County’s Tejon tribe, which will share in the casino revenue, favors soul music. “Durand Jones and the Indications,” she said, “and Thee Sacred Souls.” So, not a lot of hard rock appears on those impromptu playlists. Thank goodness, then, for Kern County Supervisor Chris Parlier, who couldn’t be happier that the Hard Rock Casino will call his 2nd District its home. Parlier is a fan of Joy Division, which evolved into the band New World Order, but he is flexible. “Van Halen – I like the ‘80s music,” he said. “And I’m going to see a cover band of Led Zeppelin, so right now for this month, it’s Zeppelin.” And yes, the Hard Rock casino will have an indoor concert venue. No word on whether any of those favorite bands have been booked. Most likely not. The target date for phase one, the restaurant and casino, is December 2025. The complete date for phase two, the hotel, is to be determined. Want to know more? Visit casino.hardrock.com/tejon. ...read more read less