My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is Purpose. In a time where there are so many pulls on my time and attention, knowing and holding onto my purpose helps me stay focused and centered, knowing that I matter.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is “Loved Ones First.” I believe that spending time with family Is so valuable. It’s important to put the phone down, get together, and create some fun, meaningful memories. Putting, “Loved Ones First” Is what keeps our family healthy and connected

Carrissa Runyan joined Blue Zones Project^® – Bakersfield as the Volunteer Program & Events Specialist. She aims to inspire individuals to become active in the community.

Carrissa has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science, as well as an associate degree in psychology. Having worked closely with individuals to improve their quality of life, she strives to do the same work in the community by uplifting and motivating those she meets.

Before her journey with Blue Zones Project, she was a personal trainer and an assistant general manager with In-Shape Health Clubs LLC. Her day included working with team members and clients to promote fitness and well-being, live healthier lives, and enjoy the process.

Carrissa is engaged and they together have a daughter named Avianna. In her downtime, she enjoys reading romance novels, reading poetry and spending quality time with her family.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is “Loved Ones First.” I find that the business of life can sometimes interrupt quality time with loved ones. Therefore, I strive to create time with those I love.

Floricel Mondragón Arzate joined Blue Zones Project^® – Bakersfield as the team’s Organization Coordinator. She approaches all aspects of her job with a positive, hard-working mindset, and is excited to be a part of the health and wellness transformation of the community.

Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Floricel began her 15-year career with Kern County. She served in the fiscal team for the Public Works Department specializing in purchasing, accounts payable, internal audits, and other related functions. Most recently, Floricel was with the Kern County Department of Child Support Services as an Administrative Coordinator where she supported various teams including fiscal, payroll, and human resources.

Floricel is inspired daily by her partner and their family. Together they have five children ages 5-19. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and reading a good book.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is “Loved Ones First.” Our strong family values ensure everyone in our family is cared for and loved by setting time aside for each other daily.

Linda Johnson-LeBlanc joined Blue Zones Project^® – Bakersfield as the team’s Organization Lead for Worksites. She is thrilled to use her marketing, sales, and client service experience to contribute to the Blue Zones Project mission to empower everyone, everywhere to live longer, better.

Linda has a career spanning over 20 years and has held roles in marketing, market research, project management, client service, and business operations. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Cabrini University located in Radnor, PA and a Masters of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from LaSalle University located in Philadelphia, PA. She has developed a keen ability to build strong partnerships and deliver exemplary results.

Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Linda worked for a Christian missionary society in the marketing and communications department where she created marketing strategies for the organization’s products and programs. She also served as a key contributor in cross-functional strategic planning regarding program, product and business initiatives, including operations, marketing and customer outreach.

Linda enjoys volunteer work, taking long scenic drives, walking the trails and relaxing to jazz music. She also loves spending time with her two grandchildren, Ariyah and Mikayla.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® Is “Love Ones First.” Between my children and my extended relatives, I am grounded in family. We have always been really close and they serve as my source of support and encouragement. Putting my loved ones first fills my heart with joy and keeps a smile on my face.

Vicheka Ek grew up around the appreciation of food; defined by their unique origins, flavor profiles, and story of their distinctive taste. She enjoys diving deep into every dish to discover its inspirations, which are amplified by the ingredients sourced from grocery stores to Kern County’s local farms. With this in mind, she is excited to embark upon a project that will encourage healthier food habits and contribute to life longevity within the Bakersfield community as the Blue Zones Project^® – Organization Lead of Retail Foods and Grocery.

While working to receive her B.S. in Business Administration Marketing from California State University, Bakersfield, Vicheka was instrumental in the development of custom Electronic Health Records Software for healthcare providers in a wide variety of fields, allowing them to focus more on patient care and less on red tape. Since graduating from CSU Bakersfield, Vicheka has overseen the creation and development of a technical support center to assist the Central Valley’s essential workers in our hospitals and schools, during the pandemic. Then, moving onto corporate operations, helping to streamline workflows, strategically scale for growth and drive revenue. Throughout this journey, she credits the tight knit community of Bakersfield of mentors, teachers, family, colleagues, neighbors contributing to her reaching these milestones, as it truly takes a village. Vicheka’s core mission is to help others and give back to the city that has raised her, leading her to join the Blue Zones Project.

During her free time, Vicheka can be found indulging in her guilty pleasure of binge-watching Fast and the Furious movies, or on an equally adrenaline-inducing quest to discover good eats/events in Kern County and the Golden State. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Valley Achievement Center for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities and is an active member of the Bakersfield Twilight Rotary Club. Additionally, she can be found volunteering her time to help nonprofit organizations such as Boys and Girls Club and CASA of Kern County.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is Purpose or, as the Japanese call it, “ikigai,” which ‘is the intersection between what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs; it is the bliss of intention behind what you’re doing, and why you feel most alive.’