Elvira Alonzo brings over 40 years of distinguished public service to the City of McAllen, where she now serves as the Assistant City Manager. Prior to this role, she was the Director of Public Works, overseeing daily operations, interdepartmental collaborations, and managing a workforce of 290 employees across 14 divisions. Her leadership has included responsibility for multimillion-dollar budgets and strategic planning for essential municipal services, experience she continues to build upon in her current role.
Ms. Alonzo holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from South Texas College and is a Certified Public Manager by the State of Texas. She is also an alumna of the Texas Public Works Institute. In addition to her primary role, she serves as the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of McAllen, where she plays a key role in local emergency response and is regularly deployed under the State’s Public Works Emergency Response Team to assist other Texas communities during times of crisis.
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.