City Manager Tom Hatch presented Management Analyst Ashley Garcia with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet employee appreciation event on Thursday April 26.

“Ashley is an outstanding utility player in our organization,” City Manager Hatch said. “No matter how big her workload is, she takes on all new assignments with a smile. She is a wonderful member of our team and we appreciate all of her hard work.”

Garcia arrived in Costa Mesa in 2015 and most notably took on the task of re-inventing Youth in Government Day to great success. She far exceeded the goals for this event and she continues to make it even better every year. She leads the city team to create a wonderful day for the high school students who learn about how local government operates.

Garcia has many roles in the city. In addition to her job as a Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office, she has been assisting Human Resources with recruitments and she leads the city’s Management Analyst group to address specific citywide projects.

Most recently, when the city became short staffed in Finance, Garcia jumped in on the budget team and dropped everything to help the team get the budget done on time. It required long hours and all of her other important work and deadlines had to be met as well. In addition, to all of her work here she is currently the President of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California.

Garcia holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC.

In addition to honoring Garcia, Hatch paid tribute to Kyle Smith a new Recreation Leader III

and he recognized newly promoted employees Gladys Gonzalez, to Office Specialist in the City Clerk’s Office, Mike Ruhl to Fire Engineer, Hugo Contreras and Francine Jiminez to Recreation Specialists

He also recognized Fire Capt. Shawn Brosamer, who is retiring after 30 years with the city Fire Department.