EPPD - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Financial Services and Human Resources

Job Titles:

• Government
• Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso
• Member of the City of El Paso

Araceli Guerra serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso, where she oversees recruitment, retention, strategic planning, innovation, and technology services. Her portfolio includes the departments of Human Resources and Information Technology. In addition, she currently serves as the Interim Director for the Community and Human Development Department. Prior to her appointment as Deputy City Manager, Ms. Guerra held the position of Managing Director, during which she led the City of El Paso to national recognition for its innovative use of technology to enhance government operations. Under her leadership, the City ranked in the top five for the 2023 Digital Cities Survey Award in the category of cities with populations of 500,000 or more and in the top ten since 2019. Ms. Guerra has been a dedicated member of the City of El Paso team since 2006, starting her career supporting enterprise applications. Over the years, she has held various leadership roles, including serving as the Director of Information Technology Services. In2010, she led the software team as an application administrator and was instrumental in establishing and managing the City's Information Technology Project Management Office. Ms. Guerra earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a certified Project Management Professional and holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, reflecting her expertise in operational efficiency and strategic innovation.

Job Titles:

• COMMANDER

Job Titles:

• Assistant Director
• Member of the Department Leadership Team

Job Titles:

• Member of the Department Leadership Team
• Interim Director of CID

Job Titles:

• Member of the Department Leadership Team
• Director of C.I.D. Grant Funded Programs

Job Titles:

• Government
• Purchasing Director
• Deputy City Manager

K. Nicole Cote brings over two decades of knowledge and expertise to her role as Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso. With more than 20 years of service to the City, Ms. Cote has demonstrated exceptional leadership in navigating fiscal challenges and driving significant advancements in internal process improvement and service delivery. Prior to her appointment as Deputy City Manager, Ms. Cote served as Managing Director for the Office of Management and Budget and Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing. In this capacity, she played a key role in overseeing the financial management and strategic sourcing for the City's multi-billion-dollar budget and workforce of over 6,000 employees. Her work ensured compliance with federal, state, and local procurement policies while managing the acquisition of more than $500 million annually in construction, goods, and services. Ms. Cote's leadership style is defined by her systems-level perspective and ability to foster collaboration and teamwork to enhance service delivery for the community. Over her 12 years in the Office of Management and Budget, she rose from Budget Analyst to Budget Director, where she led initiatives such as balancing budgets and establishing sustainable funding for critical infrastructure and operations, including $29.1 million in capital funding for facility maintenance and vehicle replacements.

Job Titles:

• City Attorney

Karla Nieman currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of El Paso, where she leads the legal department in providing comprehensive legal services to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and various City departments, boards, and commissions. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, she has embraced El Paso as her home since the age of five, growing up and building her life and career within the community. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature from the University of Texas at El Paso and received her law degree from Indiana University in Bloomington in 2004. Upon graduating, Karla returned to El Paso and joined Scherr & Legate, where she focused on personal injury and employment law. In 2007, she began her career as a municipal lawyer with the City Attorney's Office. For nearly 20 years, she has represented the City in Federal and State courts, managed complex legal matters, and played a key role in negotiating major economic development projects and addressing utility law issues. As City Attorney, she ensures that the City's legal affairs are handled effectively and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, guiding decisions that impact El Paso's growth and development.

Job Titles:

• Government
• Deputy City Manager

Richard Bristol brings nearly three decades of public service experience to his role as Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso. With over 27 years of service, Mr. Bristol has demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing infrastructure management, operational efficiency, and organizational innovation across multiple departments. Before beginning his career in municipal government, Mr. Bristol served in the United States Navy from 1987 to 1991, where he gained valuable leadership and organizational skills that would later shape his approach to public service. Prior to his appointment as Deputy City Manager, Mr. Bristol served as Director of Streets and Maintenance, where he spearheaded significant improvements in street maintenance and traffic management operations. His strategic approach included the application of Lean Six Sigma principles, which enhanced service delivery in areas such as pothole patching and street sweeping, producing long-lasting results that continue to benefit the community. Throughout his career, Mr. Bristol has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, including Assistant Director of Streets and Maintenance and Capital Improvement Manager for the City Engineering Department. As Capital Improvement Manager, he oversaw the financial management of the City's Capital Improvement Plan, established new project budgets, and played a pivotal role in the development of the Development Services Department. Mr. Bristol began his career with the City in 1997 as a Budget and Management Analyst in the Office of Management and Budget. He quickly advanced through the department, contributing to key initiatives such as the implementation of PeopleSoft systems, managing budgets for nearly every City department, and supporting the City's transition from a strong mayor form of governance to a council-manager system. Over the years, Mr. Bristol has been instrumental in several transformative efforts, including the creation of the International Bridges Department and the establishment of the Public Service Board Storm water Utility. His extensive experience has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of municipal operations, from budgeting and strategic planning to infrastructure and service delivery. Mr. Bristol holds a Bachelor of Arts and a master's in public administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. His career reflects a deep commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and improving the quality of life for the residents of El Paso.

Job Titles:

• Government
• Member of the Department Leadership Team
• Deputy City Manager & City Engineer
• Professional Engineer in the State of Texas

Yvette Hernandez, P.E., serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso, bringing over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors to her role. A native El Pasoan, she has dedicated her career to enhancing infrastructure and delivering projects that improve the quality of life for the community. Prior to her appointment as Deputy City Manager, Ms. Hernandez served as the City Engineer and Director of the Capital Improvement Department (CID). She managed a team of approximately 70 employees and oversaw a robust operating budget of $963 million, which included more than 140 active projects. Her leadership ensured the efficient execution of the City's capital improvement initiatives, including federally funded programs, which she successfully managed with $80 million in active projects. Ms. Hernandez has held various leadership roles throughout her career, including CID Grant Funded Programs Director, where she oversaw Federal Highway and Federal Transit Funded projects, and Assistant Director of CID, where she streamlined operations and tripled project spending efficiency, leading to faster and more effective project delivery for the community. A licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas, Ms. Hernandez earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California. Upon returning to El Paso, she pursued and completed a master's in public administration at the University of Texas at El Paso. Her extensive technical expertise, proven leadership, and unwavering commitment to her hometown position her as a key leader in shaping the future of El Paso.