Success Story: KC Transporting LLC

Driven by Family: A Veteran-Owned Business Builds Its Road Forward

Location: Central California | Kern County | Bakersfield

Business Type: Trucking Company | Home-Based Business

Small Business Center: MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center

Assistance Received: Business Planning, Government Contracting Certifications, One-on-One Advising, Workshops, Grant Application Support

California State Assembly District: 32

California State Senate District: 12

Visit KC Transporting LLC online

When Ahlen and Blanca DeGuzman launched KC Transporting LLC, they were building a business around what mattered most: family.

The Bakersfield husband-and-wife team wanted financial independence and the flexibility to stay connected with their two children serving in the military. With Ahlen’s military background and years of transportation experience, a trucking business offered a way to put his skills to work while creating something of their own.

Operating from home, the DeGuzmans began building the foundation for their company. They obtained $100,000 in financing through loans from a financial institution, purchasing their first truck and a sprinter van to put their plans into motion.

But owning the vehicles was only part of the journey. To pursue government contracts and prepare for growth, they needed help navigating certifications, strengthening their business plan, and identifying resources.

That’s when they connected with the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center, part of the statewide California Women’s Business Centers Network (CA WBC). Through business training and individualized advising, the Network helps entrepreneurs turn experience and ambition into stronger businesses, including family-run and veteran-owned enterprises like KC Transporting.

For the DeGuzmans, that support translated into practical steps forward.

After attending the center’s Department of General Services workshop, they obtained three certifications through Cal eProcure: Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), Small Business (SB-Micro), and Small Business–Public Works (SB-PW). These credentials positioned KC Transporting to pursue additional government contracting opportunities.

“With their guidance, we successfully obtained our government contracting certification, which opened new opportunities for contracts and partnerships,” the DeGuzmans shared.

Ahlen also participated in the center’s Explore, Design, and Launch (EDL) course, completing the program with a finished business plan. That milestone helped the business secure a $2,500 City of Bakersfield grant, providing funds to reinvest in operations, make improvements, and prepare for future growth.

“I have found their consultants to be knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely focused on helping, rather than selling products or services,” Ahlen said.

The progress has come alongside the realities of running a small business. The DeGuzmans hired two part-time employees but later had to let them go. They continue to focus on strengthening operations and are preparing a replacement website with an updated business address.

Each step is helping them build a more deliberate path forward: equipment to deliver services, certifications to pursue new opportunities, and a business plan to guide their decisions.

Today, KC Transporting remains rooted in the family goals that inspired its launch. With support from the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center, the DeGuzmans are building the knowledge and resources to navigate the road ahead.

Visit KC Transporting LLC online to learn more.

If you’re an entrepreneur in Kern County looking for business planning, government contracting guidance, or support starting or growing a business, connect with the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center for training and one-on-one advising.

11/13/2026