Texas Border Business
Laredo, Texas – On Monday, October 18, 2021, the City of Laredo Council Members approved the selection from City Manager, Robert Eads, to appoint permanently two heads of departments to this municipality and have appointed a new City Attorney. For the Laredo Animal Care Services department, Karina Elizondo has been serving as Interim Director. After receiving her application and considering her experience not just with the City but within other entities and acknowledging her professional background, Ms. Elizondo has been selected to occupy this position permanently. Next, Karl John Hickle will be serving as Director of the Building Development Services department, where his 34 years of experience in the public and private sectors will be an asset to the organization. Lastly, the City of Laredo Legal department will be led by newly appointed City Attorney Dean J. Roggia. Mr. Roggia is a graduate of Baylor Law School and his legal career has been dedicated to municipal law.
Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, members of the Council, and management welcome these new members to the City of Laredo and look forward to working together within the municipality and community of Laredo.
Karina Elizondo – Animal Care Services Director
Karina Elizondo is a native Laredoan who has served both the public and private sectors in many varied roles for over 15 years. Karina obtained her Masters of Public Administration from Texas A&M International University in 2014, after previously earning a Bachelor of Arts from the same university in 2009.
Ms. Elizondo’s work experience in Animal Care Services includes working as an Administrative Assistant, Shelter Operations Manager, and Interim Director for the City of Laredo’s Animal Care Services Department. Karina has also received extensive training in Animal Care Services, which includes, but is not limited to Shelter Management Training in 2019, Basic Animal Control Officer Training in 2019, and Certified Euthanasia Technician in 2022. Karina also completed an Improving Managerial Effectiveness with Versatility training in 2019 and received her Paralegal Certification in 2005.
Karina’s experience, training, dedication, and passion for working with animals facilitate the opportunity for her to bring a wealth of hands-on knowledge and skills to the Animal Care Services Department. Karina looks forward to serving the City of Laredo as the Animal Care Services Director.
Karl John Hickle – Building Development Services Director
Karl “John” Hickle is a native Laredoan who has served both the public and private sectors in the energy and commercial construction industry for over 34 years. John obtained his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Texas A&M University in 1987.
Mr. Hickle’s experience in the energy and commercial construction industry included working for Modern Construction, where he began his career. John’s career also included working for Central Power and Light Company, Proviron Natural Gas, and Direct Energy before opening his own business in commercial electric sales during the deregulation period of the Texas electric market. He has 20 years of direct management experience in commercial sales and customer service, including training, supervising, and directing sales teams.
John’s work experience also includes working for construction companies in Laredo, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio. These years of private sector experience, coupled with his degree in Building Construction, provides Mr. Hickle the opportunity to bring a wealth of hands-on knowledge and customer service-minded approach to the Building and Development Services Department.
Dean J. Roggia – City Attorney
Dean J. Roggia was raised in a military family, which provided him with many varied experiences growing up. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School in 2009. Dean initially received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Italian from Brigham Young University before earning his Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University.
Mr. Roggia’s experience includes his most recent position, where he serves as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Irving, Texas, and where he has been for a little over five years. Dean also worked as an Associate attorney at Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam, a municipal firm in Fort Worth, Texas that represents nearly 50 cities after working as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Waco, where he served for nearly five years.
Dean’s legal career has been dedicated to municipal law. In his current position, he works primarily on land transactions and capital improvement projects. Throughout his career, Mr. Roggia has also had the opportunity to serve a wide array of city councils, client departments, boards, and commissions, both in litigation and transactional work. These experiences provide him with a wealth of knowledge and experience that he is bringing to the City Attorney’s Office.
