Oriana Quezada joined Blue Zones Project^® – Bakersfield as the team’s Senior Administrative & Facilities Services Assistant. She brings her experience in the service and nonprofit sector to her current role where she is dedicated to educating and inspiring the Bakersfield community with health awareness towards chronic health conditions such as diabetes.

Her accomplishments include assisting in a fundraising event for Neighborhood Industries from preliminary event planning to the successful implementation – raising 50K in one night. Her administrative experience in the service sector brings creative solutions to the team. Oriana has a Bachelor of Art degree in Communication, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from California State University, Fresno.

Outside of her career, Oriana loves to enjoy her time with family, on road trips, and with friends. She enjoys dancing, reading, sketching, and all things Disney.  

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® “Purpose.” I think being intentional and purposeful in our self-care and keeping in mind our “why” is what grounds us to a fulfilling life.

Diana Delgadillo is the Sr. Manager of Worksite Well-Being for Blue Zones Project^® — Bakersfield. Most of her professional background has centered around account management in healthcare.

She earned a doctorate degree in Health Sciences from MCPHS University. In addition, she completed a fellowship program in community health and disease prevention from Stanford University. With a major interest being health and wellness, Diana looks forward to sharing her knowledge and expertise in affecting change within her Bakersfield community.

Outside of work, Diana loves to read, exercise, and spend time with her niece, Leila.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® principle has to be having a positive pack. I value having a group of individuals who have my best interest, who tell me when I’m wrong, and who share memorable experiences with me. A positive and reliable support system is imperative to my overall health and happiness.

Jonathan Gallardo grew up in Arvin, California, raised by immigrant parents who have been farm laborers ever since moving to the United States from Mexico. Growing up and still living in Arvin, he has seen the lack of access to a healthier environment, specifically in the education system (not only in Arvin but also the surrounding communities). This motivated Jonathan to accept a position as the Blue Zones Project^® – Bakersfield Organization Lead, Schools.

Since graduating from California State University, Bakersfield with a B.S. in Business Administration Marketing and minor in Communications, Jonathan has worked in various, predominately, sales roles. Working with Blue Zones Project will give him the opportunity to finally work with a purpose. Sales is fun, but there is no better feeling than selling life and helping people live longer, better lives! He is super excited to work with Bakersfield’s education system and bring changes to our community’s future leaders.

In April of 2023, Jonathan became engaged to his fiancé, Ashley, after six years of dating. If all goes well, they plan to have a destination wedding in March 2024 in San Miguel de Allende, GTO Mexico! San Miguel de Allende was recently rated the best small city in the world!

In his spare time, Jonathan loves watching the Dodgers and playing softball. He loves to build aquariums as a hobby and Purple Mosaic Guppies are his favorite fish.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9^® is “Know Your Purpose.” My purpose is waking up every morning and making a positive impact in our community!

Melissa Rossiter joined Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield as the team’s Senior Marketing Specialist. She is excited to use her skills in storytelling and public relations to share how this inspiring project will help transform the health and wellness of the community where she grew up.

With a career spanning 20+ years, Melissa has worked as a newspaper reporter/editor, TV news producer and in various marketing roles in Kern County. Melissa has a Bachelor of Art degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from California State University, Bakersfield. She brings a unique blend of skills and experience, including media relations, graphic design, marketing/branding and event planning, to the team.

Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Melissa worked at Kern County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services on its public information team, where she managed and supported the department’s marketing, engagement, and branding efforts. She also discovered a passion for advocating for mental health by overseeing the messaging and design efforts for awareness campaigns during Mental Health Awareness Month in May and National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month in September.

Melissa is married to her husband Devin and they have two children, Hollie and Patrick. In her downtime, she likes to squeeze in a yoga workout or walk, volunteer for Girls Scouts, read or binge watch true crime documentaries and General Hospital.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9 is Downshift. Between work and family activities, it’s so easy to just keep moving forward without a break. Downshifting allows me to reconnect with myself and loved ones and just take time to breathe.

Karina Funez is the Public Policy Advocate for Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield. Karina is responsible for collaborating with community partners and stakeholders to implement local policies that will improve the health of the Bakersfield community.

She grew up in East Bakersfield where the lack of access to healthier food options and the need of a much-improved built environment sparked her interest for advocating for local policies. She studied Public Health Policy at the University of California Irvine and then pursued her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Southern California. Karina has worked on local policy initiatives such as school wellness policies, Safe Routes to School, and local tobacco control policies during her time at Kern County Public Health Services Department.

Prior to joining Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield, she was the Senior Policy Manager at the American Lung Association, providing policy technical assistance to local cities and counties on their local tobacco control efforts. Karina is excited to be working in the community where she grew up in and is eager to see the changes that the Blue Zones Project will do for Bakersfield.

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9 is Purpose because I love living my life with purpose and knowing that I am contributing to world around me with the skills and values that I hold.

Susan received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. Her purpose and passion have been to help children in communities thrive. This led to working for the Kern County Department of Child Support Services for the past 15 years in various roles, including case management, data analytics, human resources and program management.

Her time there is where she discovered her joy of leading and mentoring people and teams, which she has been doing so for the past 6 years. Susan is excited to be part of Blue Zones Project – Bakersfield because she gets to participate in bringing evidence-based concepts and practices for healthier outcomes to a community that she grew up in. She is eager to see opportunities for people in Bakersfield to have healthier choices that will prolong their lifespan so they can spend more time loving and living.

Susan’s purpose and passions outside of work are her husband, Joe, and their two daughters, Mia and Liana. They spend every opportunity creating memories and not wasting a minute. As a working mother, Susan personally understands the struggle when it comes to making healthier choices that benefit her well-being and that of her family. She is all in to bringing an initiative to her community that helps all to live longer, better!

My Power 9

My favorite Power 9 is loved ones first. I’m a first generation Laotian American and my parents deeply instilled the value of putting family first. Taking care of and giving back to our elders is very important. I commit to giving back to my parents daily for the sacrifices they made for my siblings and I growing up.