San Pablo, CA – San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez has formally announced the appointment of Ms. Maria Lara-Ojeda as the City’s new Assistant City Manager.
In July 2024, Peckham and McKenney, an executive search firm based in Roseville, CA, was retained by the City of San Pablo to conduct this important and successful executive search for the City organization.
Ms. Lara-Ojeda, selected from a field of 101 applicants, recently served as the Assistant City Manager for the last five (5) years with the City of American Canyon, CA, in Napa County. Briefly, in 2019, she served as a Consultant/Interim Finance Director for the City of Benicia, CA, in Solano County, and prior held the Town Finance Director/Treasurer position handling the complex budget, finance, investment, and utility billing services in the Town of Yountville, CA in Napa County from 2015 to 2019.
From 2005 to 2015, Ms. Lara-Ojeda also served in a number of key management positions taking on increased responsibilties culminating in her ascent to the Deputy City Manager position in the City of Pleasanton, CA, in Alameda County.
“Ms. Lara-Ojeda brings forward a strong record in public service, serving in a number of local municipal organizations in the Bay Area region for the last 25 years, and has developed a diverse experience, and vast knowledge in managing administrative, budget, financial, and internal operations in those cities served. She will be a tremendous addition to our City organization, and will serve as a valuable member of the City’s Executive Team,” stated San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez.
Rodriguez further stated Lara-Ojeda will serve as the City’s “number two” administrator and operational officer and report directly to the City Manager, with daily management and operational oversight over all City Departments. Furthermore, the Assistant City Manager position will directly oversee the City’s Economic Development/Housing, and Human Resources/Risk Management functions in the City Manager’s Office.
Ms. Lara-Ojeda earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sociology and Latin American Studies from the Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA. She is also a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Senior Executive Institute, Center for Public Service Training in Charlottesville, VA.
Lara-Ojeda’s official start date in her new role is November 18, 2024.
Her starting base salary is $264,840 annually. Ms. Lara-Ojeda is married and has one child.