City Manager Tom Hatch presented Senior Recreation Program Administrator Yvette Aguilar with the October City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly employee Meet and Greet on Thursday Oct. 26.

“Yvette’s success can be seen every day at our city Senior Center,” City Manager Hatch said. “Under her leadership, the Senior Center’s programs and membership have flourished, resulting in what is now one of the most robust and successful public senior facilities in Orange County. I’m extremely proud of what she has accomplished in such a short time.”

Aguilar came to the City of Costa Mesa in 2015, after spending nearly a decade working for the City of Covina. She was hired as the City’s Senior Center Program Administrator, which is a full-time staff position that served to lead in the transition of the operation of the Senior Center from a non-profit corporation to a fully operated City facility.

Aguilar has been a key factor in creating a successful relationship with the City’s Senior Commission as well as with local stakeholders and non-profit organizations to assure the forward moving direction and ultimately the success of the facility and program. Two notable project accomplishments that Yvette was instrumental in creating and facilitating were the implementation of the Senior Center’s strategic one, three and five-year goals and objectives and the revamping of the City’s senior transportation program.

Her current role as the Senior Recreation Programs Administrator has allowed her to branch out beyond the Senior Center Program, and to also take on the managerial responsibility of the facilities, programs and staff at the Downtown Recreation and Aquatics Centers.

She is grateful for and proud of the outstanding team that works diligently within the Parks & Community Services Department to make sure that there are quality programs and services that transcend all age groups.

In addition to honoring Aguilar, City Manager Hatch welcomed several new employees to the City and congratulated Jeffrey Bibler, who was recently promoted to Fire Captain.

Also honored were several new employees including Community Outreach Worker Bill Nelson and Administrative Secretary David Nguyen from the City Manager’s Office, Miranda Garcia the new Human Resources Analyst and Jasmine Vega an Accounting Specialist II in the Finance Department.

Development Services interns Ashley Bonetto and Jorge Maldonado were also honored as well as Parks & Community Services Department employees, Jonathan Hooton, Joseph  Nguyen, Peter Nguyen and Riley Stutz, all Recreation Leader II. Also honored was Cynthia D’agosta, the new Fairview Park Administrator.