'InspirASIAN’

What are the key skills that make you successful in your position?

Success as a City Manager, along with my previous role as an Assistant City Manager, requires a unique blend of technical expertise, emotional intelligence, and strategic leadership. One of the most important skills is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively—not just with the City Council and staff, but with residents, regional partners, and other stakeholders. Building trust and understanding across diverse audiences is essential to advancing policy goals and maintaining public confidence.

Adaptability and problem-solving are also critical. No two days are alike in local government, and the ability to respond thoughtfully and decisively to emerging challenges—whether it's a budget issue, a policy shift, or a community concern—can make all the difference.

I’ve also found that collaboration and team-building are at the heart of this role. You must be able to align different departments and personalities toward a shared vision while empowering your team to lead and grow. This includes fostering a culture where people feel valued, heard, and motivated to do their best work.

Finally, I would say that self-awareness and humility have served me well. A successful City Manager recognizes they don’t have all the answers, and that progress often comes from listening, learning, and lifting others up. The role is demanding, but with the right mindset and a strong team, it’s also incredibly rewarding.

What career advice do you live by?

The career advice I live by is simple: success is never a solo journey. I’m constantly reminded of the saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” From childhood, we rely on parents, guardians, teachers, and siblings to raise and support us. In school, we look to educators and counselors for guidance. And in our professional lives—no matter how far along we are—we must stay humble and continue to seek out mentors who can teach, challenge, and inspire us to grow.

Surrounding yourself with a strong support system not only makes you a better professional, but also a more effective team member and leader. When we work in partnership with others, we are better equipped to achieve shared goals—those of our organizations, our city councils, and the communities we serve. Just as we benefit from the support of others, it's equally important to invest in our coworkers and teams, helping them learn, grow, and succeed.

This culture of trust, collaboration, and communication is the foundation of high-performing teams. And when that foundation is strong, what we can accomplish together has no limits.

Finally, connecting with mentors and building support networks through professional organizations like I-NAPA, ICMA, MMASC, and CALED has been instrumental to my growth and success—something I truly wish I had discovered earlier in my career. If there’s one piece of advice I’d emphasize, it’s to get involved in these organizations. They offer invaluable opportunities for learning, connection, and support at every stage of your professional journey.

What experiences and past roles have led you to where you are today?

The challenges my family and I faced as first-generation immigrants from the Philippines inspired me to help others and led me to a career in public service. After volunteering for nonprofits during college and working in the political arena after graduation, I discovered I could make a direct impact on people’s lives and communities through local government.

Having a generalist background has proven to be the best path to my current role as City Manager for the City of Moorpark. I’ve drawn from my experience in the highly political environment of the New York City Mayor’s Office, the human resources, budget, and urban planning knowledge I acquired during 11 years with the City of Los Angeles, and the economic development skills I learned in the City of Indio. Each of these experiences has helped me address the wide range of issues and opportunities facing the community I now serve.

What has truly prepared me to step into the role of chief executive, however, is a mindset: being willing to take on the jobs no one else wanted, confronting the toughest projects, engaging in difficult conversations, acknowledging my weaknesses, and taking risks to grow in unfamiliar areas. Pushing past self-doubt and leaning into discomfort has been essential to learning, leading, and ultimately making a difference.

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome?

As someone who is highly driven and holds myself to high standards, one of my greatest challenges has been learning how to manage the pressure I put on myself—especially when I didn’t achieve a promotion or meet a professional goal. Like many others, I’ve experienced moments of self-doubt, disappointment, and emotional strain that not only affected my well-being but also impacted the people I care about.

With the support of my family and mentors, I came to understand that I was measuring success too narrowly and being too hard on myself, particularly early in my career. I failed to fully appreciate the meaningful progress I was making and the good already present in my life. Through faith, introspection, and intentional soul-searching, I’ve learned to slow down, stay grounded, and find joy in areas of life beyond work. We have to remember that our job does not define who we are. At the core, we are individuals first, with values, passions, and identities that deserve just as much recognition.

Eventually, I did achieve the goals I had set—including becoming a City Manager. But the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that everything unfolds in its own time. Trust your path, tune out the noise—both external and internal—and be present. Success often comes not when you're chasing it relentlessly, but when you’re aligned with your purpose and open to growth in every form.

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

I was briefly in a boy band during high school—thankfully, it was the ’90s, long before the internet and social media, so there’s no digital evidence to confirm (or deny) it ever happened!

What is your favorite hobby? How did you get into this hobby?

Basketball. I learned to love the game from my father and older brother, and I played a lot of pickup basketball when I was younger. But now I mostly just enjoy watching due to my sore knees! I am a life long Los Angeles Lakers fan.

Why did you join I-NAPA?

I joined I-NAPA in 2017 after experiencing something I hadn’t encountered before—Asian and Pacific Islander professionals who were not only deeply passionate about local government, but also genuinely committed to uplifting others. Seeing individuals who shared my heritage and background thrive at the highest levels of leadership was incredibly inspiring and made me feel seen, empowered, and motivated to grow.

What’s your favorite part of being a member of I-NAPA?

Having mentors and a strong support system that have been invaluable in guiding my professional journey—and along the way, I’ve built lasting friendships that continue to enrich both my career and my life.