Texas Border Business
The City of McAllen has announce the appointment of Elvira Alonzo to the position of Assistant City Manager, effective July 21, 2025. Alonzo brings a distinguished over 40-year career in public service at the City of McAllen, with experience in McAllen Public Works as Director, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, McAllen Parks and Recreation, City of McAllen Community Development Block Grant program, and McAllen Finance Department. She was serving as Director of Public Works since 2016. She oversees daily operations, interdepartmental collaborations, and manages a workforce of 290 employees across 14 departments. Under her leadership, she was responsible for multi-million-dollar budgets and strategic planning for essential municipal services.
City Manager Isaac J. Tawil stated: “Elvira brings a wealth of diverse experience, dedication, and deep knowledge of municipal operations to this new role. Her leadership, longstanding commitment to public service and overall enthusiasm have made a lasting impact on our community, and I’m confident she will continue to make meaningful contributions in this expanded capacity.”
In her new role, Alonzo will continue overseeing the following departments: Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Convention Center, and Department of Special Events.
“It’s truly an honor to step into this new role as assistant city manager for the City of McAllen. A city, I’ve been proud to serve for over 40 years. I started my journey here with a heart for public service, and that commitment has only grown stronger with time. I’m grateful for the trust of our city leadership and excited to work alongside so many dedicated employees as we continue creating opportunities and improving quality of life for our community. I look forward to supporting the incredible work already underway and helping move McAllen forward in every way we can, “said Elvira Alonzo, Assistant City Manager, City of McAllen.
As director of Public Works, Alonzo led initiatives that reshaped the city’s development landscape, including:
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, including management, department heads, technical, clerical, and skilled labor personnel across key operational divisions: Solid Waste, Renewable Resources, Streets & Drainage, Fleet Maintenance, Materials Management and Keep McAllen Beautiful Staff and Board. Adept in budget oversight, operational strategy, and staff development.
Innovative in creating and executing marketing strategies and educational programs aimed at enhancing community engagement and quality of life.
Experience with economic development, retail, environmental assessments, emergency management, (including disaster deployment and recovery), land acquisition, and public-private partnerships.
Skilled in grant writing and administration, contract negotiations, and building successful collaborations with major corporations, including Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest, OI Glass Manufacturing, and Simon La Plaza Mall to support recycling and sustainable initiatives.
Alonzo is a Certified Public Manager and holds certifications in Incident Command System in Emergency Management, and in Environmental Procedures.
A passionate advocate for public service and professional development, Ms. Alonzo serves on numerous boards and organizations at both the local and state level. These include the United Way of South Texas, the Executive Board of the American Public Works Association–Texas Chapter, the Public Works Institute of Texas (where she also serves as an instructor), and the Texas Women Leadership Institute under the Texas City Managers’ Association, the Texas Solid Waste Association of North America (TXSWANA), and the Advisory Board of South Texas College. Her enduring commitment to civic involvement is evident through decades of service to various nonprofit and community organizations.
In 2015, Ms. Alonzo was honored with the National Professional Manager of the Year award by the American Public Works Association, a testament to her exceptional leadership, integrity, and dedication to the field of public works.
Information source: The City of McAllen
