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The City is proud to announce that the Management Services Department has three new executive team staff members that the City obtained after competitive recruitment processes.
Belinda Varela is the City’s Human Resources and Risk Manager. Belinda holds a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis on Public Sector Management and Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing from California State University Northridge. She has over 15 years in the public sector, with 10 years in Human Resources, handling all facets of Human Resources, including organizational leadership, performance management, talent acquisition, classification, compensation, benefits administration, employee engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion, employee recognition, workers compensation, and employee relations.
Most recently, Belinda worked for the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (operator of Metrolink), and was a Sub-Committee Chair for Metrolink’s Green Team, where she worked on sustainability efforts through the workforce – a plan that empowered the workforce and promoted a culture of innovation, by encouraging a positive employee experience, that develops employees to be leaders in their field, supports wellness, and provides the necessary tools and guidance for success throughout the employee’s career. Belinda previously held human resources positions with the City of Calabasas and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Belinda enjoys reading, quilting, the outdoors and fun adventures with her kids, Hendrix, AJ and Presley.
Desiree Jimenez is welcomed back to the City in the role of Chief City Clerk. Desiree previously served as our Deputy City Clerk from 2012-2018. Desiree is a Certified Municipal Clerk with over 15 years of municipal government experience and has previously served the communities of Covina, Malibu, Burbank, and South Pasadena. She is a proud member of the City Clerk’s Association of California and the International Institute for Municipal Clerks, and is working towards receiving her Master Municipal Clerk designation. Desiree brings to the Department a positive attitude and stands ready to serve the South Pasadena community with integrity, transparency, and fairness.
Luis Frausto is our new Management Services Director, and the latest addition to the City’s executive team. Luis comes to the City of South Pasadena with over twelve years of combined management experience in both the public and private sector, including several leadership roles in the City of Long Beach. Luis served as the Administrative Operations Officer and Commercial Services Officer in the Department of Financial Management, and most recently as the Administrative Officer (Personnel Administrator) for the Long Beach Police Department, managing administrative and human resources functions for a department of approximately 1,000 full-time employees.
Luis brings with him extensive experience participating in and directing activities for busy administrative operations, financial, human resources, and project management functions. Luis holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach, with an emphasis in Urban Affairs, and a graduate certificate in Personnel and Labor Relations. He has a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton, and an Associate’s in Administration of Justice. Additionally, Luis has a Human Resources certification from IPMA-HR, and is pursuing his doctorate degree in Organizational Change at the University of Southern California. Luis enjoys music, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family.
The City is very excited to introduce the leadership of our Management Services team, and looks forward to all of their contributions.
