Dec 26, 2024
“My roots run deep here in Kern County. I am fascinated by people and their stories, their grit and tenacity,” said Cherese. “Everybody has a story. We are all so vital. Whether you're the janitor or the CEO, we all have different backgrounds and stepping stones in life.”
Born and raised in Kern County, Cherese is proud to work, live, and give back here.
“My Mom is 90 and my Dad was 93 when he passed away last January. I say it was a Kern County mixed marriage because Mom came from agriculture and Dad came from oil” she said. “Dad was actually a fireman but also owned apartment complexes and a dirt excavation business, in addition to being a real estate broker.”
Cherese has been married to her husband, Tim, a foreman in civil construction, for 27 years after meeting at a George Strait concert. Their daughter, Paityn, 24, is a nurse, and son, Caiden, is 20. Community life came full-circle for the family in July when Caiden joined the Kern County Fire Department, the same department from which her father retired.
A graduate of North High School, Cherese studied business administration at Bakersfield College but her abilities started much younger.
“My desire since I was a little girl is to be a leader. The authenticity of your personality is so true when you are little. I was always playing sports and having goals,” she explained. “My Mom has a picture of when I was 5; I would put lawn chairs in my little red wagon and charge the neighborhood kids five cents to pull them wherever they wanted to go.”
Cherese credits her interest in leadership to her parents’ example.
Cherese Grell, husband Tim, their son Caiden and daughter Paityn. PHOTO COURTESY CHERESE GRELL
Telecommunications in technology was where Cherese applied her skills for 25 years. When a software company where she was consulting moved out of California, she chose to stay to care for her aging parents.
“God laid it on my heart to start this business,” she said of beginning Positive Results Unlimited in 2016. “I meet businesspeople who say, ‘This is where we are as a company, that’s where we want to be, so how do we get there?’ My fulfillment is watching them succeed.”
Cherese became a CityServe Kern volunteer in 2017 on the Mayor’s Ball Committee.
“They had grown organically, so I was hired to help with their strategy and come on to work in the director role,” she said.
CityServe coordinates efforts between churches and individuals to serve the community’s most vulnerable, from widows and orphans to the imprisoned and people experiencing homelessness.
“Everybody has a gift to give. My job in both the for-profit and non-profit sector is to help people get to the next level. If you place people where they are meant to be, using their natural talents, you’ll never have to manage them because they will soar,” she said. “People need encouragement. The way I make an impact is by helping others see what they’re capable of.”
Q&A with Cherese Grell:
Q. What advice do you have for parents in difficult life stages?
A. I used to put myself in timeout. I would say “Mommy has to go in her room” because I would need that pause. Another piece is creating the village around you. There's no way I could have raised my kids totally by myself. I was blessed with other moms and their advice.
Q. What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?
A. We have such a giving community. We have the most loving people here in Bakersfield, with mercy and grace, who want to connect and help and share life together. There are resources all around us. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Q. What is your parenting PSA?
A. Be kind to yourself.
Fill-in-the-blank questions:
- I'm always laughing at..... Myself.
- The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is.... Breathe; I take a minute to box breathe, breathe in, breathe out.
- My favorite food is... Chocolate.
- My favorite dessert is... Chocolate. Honestly, though, my favorite dessert is homemade ice cream.
- In my pantry, you will always find... Stevia.
- The best book I've read lately is... “Predictable Success” by Les McKeown
- So far, my best life advice is... Don't ever give up.
