Career
Frances Gonzalez was promoted to Assistant City Manager in November 2003 after serving three years as Assistant to the City Manager. Currently, Ms. Gonzalez provides executive oversight over the Department of Community Initiatives, the Metropolitan Health District, the Solid Waste Management Department, and the Office of Grants Monitoring and Administration.

As Assistant City Manager, Ms. Gonzalez was instrumental in the integration of City/Council health services. In 2008, this consolidation was achieved and will ultimately produce a high-performing public health system to enhance quality of services, reduce duplication, and support a seamless system of care for patients. This consolidation included shifting clinical, preventive health services and transitioning employees and facilities to Bexar County’s University Health System. Other notable projects include Ms. Gonzalez’s efforts in leading a team of City staff to plan and develop a state-of-the-art homeless campus, now known as Haven for Hope. This transformation center is estimated to be a $90 million dollar project that will provide comprehensive programs and services for men, women, and families. Ms. Gonzalez helped negotiate the site development, lease agreements, and operating agreements with the non-profit. Over time, the City will realize the benefits of providing services to the homeless population through streamlined programming.

As Assistant to the City Manager, she coordinated the City’s Better Jobs efforts, which was designed to link education, economic development and workforce development programs and initiatives. Ms. Gonzalez also has served as director of the City’s nationally-recognized Neighborhood Action Department. Neighborhood Action, now known as the Housing and Neighborhood Services Department, is responsible for mobilizing City departments in a coordinated effort to clean up and improve selected neighborhoods through a variety of initiatives. She spearheaded four Affordable Parade of Homes projects with a variety of builders, homes styles and affordable pricing.

Prior to serving as Director of Neighborhood Action, Ms. Gonzalez was responsible for staffing and coordinating the activities of the Housing and Neighborhood Action Team, which was developed to facilitate and expand existing housing policies and programs, managing the intergovernmental efforts locally as well as overseeing the state and federal legislative process. Before becoming special projects manager, she managed the Organizational Review Office, which conducted comprehensive organizational studies of all City departments with the objective of improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness and finding new and better ways of delivering public services.

Ms. Gonzalez also has served in the positions of Special Projects Officer with the Office of Dome Development and as a Planner in the Department of Economic and Employment Development.

Education
B.A. Political Science, Pan American University
M.A. Urban Studies, Trinity University, National Hispanic Field Service Fellow
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government

Professional Memberships
International City Management Association (ICMA); International Hispanic Network, Past President; Texas City Manager’s Association (TCMA); Urban Management Assistants of South Texas, Past President; San Antonio Red Cross Area Chapter ; San Antonio Education Partnership; Women and Girls Fund; SA Hispanic Chamber Health Disparity Task Force.

Honors
Ms. Gonzalez was recognized as the national recipient of ICMA’s 2008 Assistant Excellence in Leadership Award in Memory of Buford M. Watson, Jr.

Under her leadership, Neighborhood Action received the 1999 Award for Program Excellence Innovations in Local Government from ICMA and was named a semi-finalist for 1999 Innovations in American Government Award from the Ford Foundation and Kennedy School of Government; Outstanding Young Women of America; San Antonio Star.

Personal
Ms. Gonzalez was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley in Mercedes, Texas. She and her husband, Roel, have one son, Matthew Israel.