Marni Sanders’ passion for the Yuba Sutter community has been evident in her most recent role as CEO for the Yuba Sutter Chamber of Commerce, where she devoted her attention to helping Yuba Sutter businesses grow and thrive. The opportunity to lead Blue Zones Project has allowed Marni to take her passion for community and her many community connections and put them to use in building momentum and engagement towards better health and well-being for Yuba Sutter.  Marni’s deep sense of commitment to her own overall health and well-being perfectly aligns with the Blue Zones Project efforts.  

In addition to Marni’s leadership at the Chamber she has over 20 years of experience in fundraising and community engagement. In her down time, she loves to spend time outdoors, running, hiking and practicing yoga. She also enjoys volunteering in the community and serves on the board of directors for the Yuba Sutter Salvation Army and is a member of Early Risers Kiwanis.  Marni is dedicated to helping the community make the healthier choice the easier choice.  

Marni graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors in sociology.  

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Ricky brings over 25 years of experience in public service and community leadership. A former Mayor of Marysville and accomplished consultant, Ricky has a proven track record of driving positive change through policy implementation and strategic planning.

With a master’s degree in public administration and a BA in economics, Ricky has successfully led initiatives transforming local government finances, secured millions in grant funding, and improved community well-being. His expertise in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and project management makes him an ideal fit for advancing the Blue Zones Project’s mission.

As a bilingual professional and long-time resident of the Yuba-Sutter area, Ricky brings a deep understanding of the community’s needs and challenges. His experience in collaborating with diverse groups, from local organizations to state-level committees, will be instrumental in fostering partnerships and driving policy changes that support healthier, happier lives for all residents.

Ricky’s passion for community service and his strategic approach to policy advocacy positions him to make a significant impact in shaping the future of Yuba-Sutter through the Blue Zones Project initiatives.

Personally, Ricky and his wife Jennifer are parents to two adult children and a teenager attending middle school.  He is actively involved in his local community by serving on his son’s school board and parish.

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Alex joins the Blue Zones Project® – Yuba Sutter team as the Engagement Lead. She is excited to be a part of the health and wellness transformation of the community where she was born and raised. Prior to Blue Zones Project, Alex worked for CBS Radio, Fox40 News, and KTXL, and created magic for families from all over the world at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim. Alex has incorporated her passion for the arts while promoting physical and mental health by performing in numerous tours with the Power of One and Adventist Rideout Healthy Kids assemblies. Through song, dance, and humorous skits, these assemblies encouraged thousands of elementary and middle school students in the Yuba Sutter and surrounding communities to eat healthy, get moving, and be kind.

Most recently, Alex worked as a Health Education Specialist for Yuba County Health and Human Services in the Public Health Division. She is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis in Mass Media. In her spare time, Alex enjoys her role as the Yuba Sutter Arts and Culture Applause Kids! Youth Arts Director, singing in various cover bands throughout the Sacramento region, riding her Peloton, and hanging out with her fiancé and their two Persian cats.

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Cristina Espinoza, Blue Zones Project® – Yuba Sutter’s former Senior Events and Office Specialist, will now serve in the role as Organization Lead. Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Cristina worked for nearly three years for Yuba County. While working with homeless families to find and retain housing, she inevitably fell in love with the community. Her short time as a Health Education Specialist strengthened her admiration for the Yuba Sutter area and helped her to see the community’s potential to flourish. Cristina attended California State University, Sacramento, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science, Community Health Education, and hopes to attain her master’s in Public Health Communication. Cristina looks forward to helping organizations in Yuba Sutter create healthier environments, where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

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Jennifer Jelavich joins the Blue Zones Project® – Yuba Sutter team as the Organization Lead. Jennifer has been a teacher for over 20 years, specializing in online learning and community engagement. A few of her proudest moments include being the first Online Teaching Specialist at San Francisco State University in 1998; developing the first online preschool directory in the East Bay of California beginning in 2003; and most recently, creating an online community during COVID-19 through storytimes with her dog, Pinky, reaching families across the United States and Canada. Born and raised in the Yuba Sutter area, Jennifer is passionate about supporting our local organizations and businesses. She is a wife and proud mom of three sons. Her goals have always been to support heart-centered projects and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

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Judy Brogden brings decades of event planning experience and community involvement to the position of Sr. Events and Office Specialist with Blue Zones Project Yuba Sutter.

She takes joy in bringing people together and building community relationships. Her most recent position with the Yuba City Downtown Business Association gave her the opportunity to help coordinate events like the annual Downtown Summer and Christmas Strolls. Other local events she has been involved in previously are the Marysville Peach Festival and Christmas Parades.

In addition, Judy has over 26 years of experience in the Fair Industry, including CEO of the Yuba-Sutter Fair and Assistant Entertainment Coordinator at the California State Fair.

She has been tagged as having ‘2 green thumbs and green toes’ and is very passionate about growing and making healthy food choices. She starts, plants and maintains over 2,100 square foot of garden space and donates plant starts to local non-profits and schools.

Not only does Judy love building community, but she also delights in giving back with the help of the Marysville Yuba City Soroptimist Club, a professional women’s group supporting local women and girls.

Judy is excited in creating Blue Zones events in Yuba Sutter to transform our community to live better, longer.

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