Assistant City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented the March City Manager Leadership Award to Associate Engineer Cristina Oquendo.

“Cristina is well-known, admired, and respected by all her coworkers due to her unselfish, warmhearted, creative, and enthusiastic personality,” Gallardo-Daly said. “She always plays a pivotal role in the planning and successful execution of team building activities and events for the Public Works Department. I was thrilled to present her with this award.”

Oquendo began her career with the City of Costa Mesa in November of 2003 as an Engineering Intern.

Thanks to her motivation, commitment, and dedication, Oquendo has risen high, currently holding the title of Associate Engineer in the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department.

Her responsibilities include the oversight and management of CIP projects, from design to construction, such as the Parkway Maintenance, Street and Alley Rehabilitation Project.

Oquendo also manages and oversees the updating of the City’s Pavement Management Plan through the comprehensive reporting and surveying of pavement conditions citywide.

She is also known as a “foodie,” and enjoys playing tennis, snowboarding, and mountain hiking. She has hiked to the peaks of Half Dome in Yosemite and Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. 

She graduated from California State University of Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction management and is currently pursuing her Professional Engineer’s license.