BAKERSFIELD, CA – The North of the River Recreation & Park District (NOR) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Bret Haney as its next General Manager. Mr. Haney will take the helm at NOR, April 24th. Steven Ruettgers, NOR Board Chair stated, “The Board is very pleased that Bret has accepted the position of General Manager. We look forward to working together to continue NOR’s tradition of making the North of the River Community a better place by providing parks, recreation and other services to meet the needs of the people living in the District and to greater Bakersfield.” 

Mr. Haney was selected from a diverse pool of 42 candidates and vetted through a dynamic and thorough recruitment process that included three levels of executive interviews. Mr. Haney leaves the County of Kern where he has served as a Division Chief in the General Services Division since 2011. 

Haney, who possesses an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from CSU Bakersfield, began his career with the County in 2009 and served in increasingly responsible positions prior to his current role. 

Mr. Haney noted of his appointment, “I’m excited to join and lead an exceptional organization that plays such a critical role in offering activities and services that contribute to a better quality of life for Bakersfield citizens,” Haney said. “I’m looking forward to working with the Board to continue NOR’s mission and objectives and providing leadership through partnership with NOR’s highly skilled parks and recreation professional and support staff.”