2023/2024 Board of Directors

Run by a board of directors consisting of dedicated members of the community, The Empty Space has grown into one of the premiere places to view live theatre in Kern County. Our all-volunteer Board is comprised of experienced individuals who support TES with their time and talents. To learn more about our board members, please click on their individual pictures below. We are dedicated to bringing the experience of live theatre to as many people as possible, along with the help of our supportive and generous community.

Our board of directors holds yearly elections for new board members. Beginning each year in April, a call to new board members will be released through our public relations outlets. All applicants must submit a letter of intent along with a professional resume. Final candidates will be asked to attend a board meeting in May or June before the board makes their final selections. Tenures run for a period of one year from July-June and include a variety of positions and responsibilities.

Our Current Board

Jeremiah Heitman is returning to The Empty Space Board as Executive Director after a long hiatus having previously served in the capacity of Operations, Financial and Executive Director a number of years ago. He holds a degree in Theatre from the University of California, San Diego and has been involved in numerous productions at The Empty Space and various theatres throughout Bakersfield and Los Angeles over the years. Jeremiah has 20+ years experience working in the non-profit sector and over a decade of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He currently works as the Director of Client Advocacy at Bakersfield ARC.

Jeremiah Heitman
Executive Director

Emily Thompson
Personnel Director

Stevie Mcnabb
Director-At-Large

Tessa Ogles
Director-At-Large

Oliver Love
Director-At-Large

Kristina Saldaña has been the Financial Director of The Empty Space since 2007, directing numerous productions, including Imaginary Friends, Spring Awakening, Cabaret, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Angels in America, and The Last Five Years. She has also written and created a number of musical revues and original productions, including The Role I Was(n't) Born to Play (1-4), The 12 Plays of Christmas, The Subject Is..., and A Very Empty Christmas.

Kristina is an administrative coordinator at California State University, Bakersfield where she works in the Department of Music and Theatre.

In her spare time she is an independent baker and caterer. Kristina earned her Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Bakersfield College and her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from CSU Bakersfield.

Kristina Saldaña
Financial Director

Ron Warren
Operations Director

Elyse Holladay
Facilities Director

Jay-Ar Ignacio
Director-At-Large

Kailey Keeten
Director-At-Large

Connor Putman
Director-At-Large

Jesus Fidel is a self-taught curator. Currently serving his 10th term as Gallery Director of The Empty Space, he is excited to take on the additional role of Co-Chair Artistic Director. He has curated over 100 art shows and has helped provide hundreds of local artists with a wonderful place to show and sell their work. Finding his way to The Empty Space through his own art, he hopes to help other artists find their way to joy through their own craft as well.

Jesus Fidel
Artistic Director

Claire Rock has been with The Empty Space Board of Directors since 2014 as Director at Large, Personnel Director, and Communications Director. Her long and torrid love affair with TES began at its inception when she first trod the stage as a wee bairn of 15 in a Shakespeare workshop taught by the incomparable Bob Kempf. The love of theatre and Shakespearean literature that was kindled at TES inspired her educational background as she went on to receive BAs in Theatre Arts and English Literature from Cal Stat University, Northridge.

Outside of The Empty Space, Claire works for Steven Studios as a photo editor/designer and event photographer. In her spare time, Claire can be found buried deep inside a book, behind a colossal pile of LEGOs, or at her favorite local store, In Your Wildest Dreams.

Claire Rock
Communications Director

Nick Ono
Technical Director

Alyssa Rocha
Director-At-Large

Marina Gradowitz
Director-At-Large