We were lucky to catch up with Chrystal OJon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chrystal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, let’s take a stroll on memory lane, back to when you were an apprentice or intern. What’s a memorable story from that time that you can share with us?
Right after graduating from Pacific Palisades high school, I had the opportunity to intern at San Diego State University in the early 1980s. It was a positive and inspiring experience—one that exposed me to new ideas, professional environments, and the importance of showing up prepared and curious. While I went on to pursue general college coursework rather than immediately following that path, the confidence and sense of possibility I gained from that internship stayed with me.
Years later, that early experience came full circle when I was hired as a salesperson for LA Focus, a local Los Angeles newspaper owned by Lisa Collins of Billboard and DreamWorks executive Jheryl Busby. Within a year, I was promoted to Marketing Director. Working closely with the editorial team while building relationships with local advertisers felt completely natural—almost like being right at home. It taught me the power of collaboration, storytelling, and understanding how business and creativity work best when they support one another.
After retiring alongside my husband, who served 34 years across three branches of the U.S. military, I made the decision to return to school later in life. That season of reflection gave me clarity. I saw an opportunity to bring everything I had learned—education, media, leadership, and community-building—into something meaningful. That vision became a local magazine in my small town, focused on community, arts, and technology.
Looking back, those early internship and apprenticeship experiences shaped my leadership style more than I realized at the time. They taught me to value people, listen closely, lead collaboratively, and create spaces where stories—and communities—can thrive.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Chrystal Allen-O’Jon—an entrepreneur, publisher, community advocate, and lifelong storyteller rooted in service and connection. My journey into media, business, and community leadership didn’t follow a straight line, but every chapter has shaped the work I do today.
Right after graduating from high school, I had the opportunity to intern at San Diego State University in the early 1980s. That experience was formative—it showed me the power of professional environments, collaboration, and ideas brought to life. Later, I found myself working in media as a salesperson for LA Focus, a Los Angeles newspaper owned by Lisa Collins of Billboard and DreamWorks executive Jheryl Busby. Within a year, I was promoted to Marketing Director. Working side by side with editorial teams while building relationships with local advertisers felt natural to me. It was the perfect blend of creativity, strategy, and community engagement—and it confirmed that I had found my space.
After years of professional work and raising a family, I eventually returned to school later in life while my husband and I entered retirement following his 34 years of service across three branches of the U.S. military. That season gave me perspective—and purpose. Living in a small but rapidly growing city, I saw a gap in how stories were being told. Communities were growing, businesses were opening, artists were creating, veterans and seniors were contributing quietly—and yet many of those stories weren’t being seen or preserved.
That realization led me to create Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine, a community-centered publication focused on people, culture, small businesses, arts, education, and civic life. Through the magazine and related initiatives, I provide storytelling, visibility, and connection—helping small businesses grow, nonprofits gain awareness, creatives be seen, and residents feel informed and included. I also support community events, youth internships, arts programming, veteran advocacy, and local economic development through partnerships and service-based work.
What sets my work apart is that it’s deeply rooted in authentic community engagement. I don’t just tell stories from the outside—I live in the community I serve, listen to its residents, collaborate with local leaders, and approach every project with care and integrity. My background in media, marketing, business, and nonprofit leadership allows me to bridge creativity with strategy and heart with execution.
I’m most proud of building platforms that uplift others—whether that’s a small business gaining new customers, a student getting their first internship experience, a veteran being recognized, or a community coming together through arts and culture. I believe storytelling is a form of service, and when done thoughtfully, it can strengthen trust, inspire participation, and build lasting impact.
What I want people to know about me and my brand is simple: I lead with purpose, I value people, and I’m committed to work that leaves communities better, more connected, and more visible than before. Everything I do—whether in media, education, advocacy, or leadership—is grounded in that belief.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has consistently been relationships and word of mouth built through community involvement. Because my work is rooted in local service—highlighting small businesses, nonprofits, artists, schools, and civic initiatives—people get to see my work before they ever become a client. They experience how I show up, how I tell stories, and how I support the community. Referrals often come from business owners, community leaders, and organizations who’ve collaborated with me or been featured through Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. That trust, visibility, and genuine engagement have been far more effective than traditional advertising, and it continues to bring aligned clients who value community, authenticity, and long-term impact.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One moment that really illustrates my resilience is the decision to start over—intentionally—later in life.
After years of professional work, raising a family, and supporting my husband through years of service in the U.S. military, I found myself at a crossroads. Retirement wasn’t an ending for me—it was a pause that forced me to ask hard questions about purpose, impact, and what I still had to give. At the same time, I was navigating personal transitions, caregiving responsibilities, health challenges, and the reality that reinvention doesn’t come with a roadmap—especially when you’re doing it outside of traditional timelines.
Instead of shrinking my goals, I chose to return to school, rebuild intellectually, and apply everything I had learned over decades—media, marketing, leadership, service—into something new. Starting Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine wasn’t easy. I built it from the ground up while balancing coursework, community commitments, family life, and financial uncertainty. There were moments of exhaustion, self-doubt, and quiet pressure to “slow down” or “step back.”
But resilience, for me, has never looked like powering through alone—it’s looked like adapting, learning, asking for help, and staying anchored to purpose. I kept showing up because I believed my community deserved to be seen, small businesses deserved support, veterans and seniors deserved recognition, and young people deserved opportunity.
What that journey taught me is that resilience isn’t about bouncing back to who you were—it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be next, even when the path is uncomfortable. That mindset now shapes how I lead, how I serve, and how I build—always with empathy, patience, and a long view of impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maricopalifestylemagazine.com/
- Instagram: maricopalifestylemagazine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrystalOjon/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystalallenhere/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maricopalifestylemagazineAZ
- Other: I’ve partnered with local business organizations to hold this event: https://maricopadmafest.com/
Image Credits
Chrystal O’Jon