PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Yuri Gonzalez
Phone: (956) 310-2139
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Pharr Appoints Melanie Cano as Assistant City Manager

Pharr Assistant City Manager Melanie Cano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025

Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr is proud to announce that Melanie Cano has been appointed as its new Assistant City Manager. The appointment was made on Thursday, November 6, 2025 by Pharr City Manager Dr. Jonathan B. Flores. Cano now joins the ranks of Assistant City Managers Hilda Pedraza and Dr. David Friedland, under the leadership and guidance of Flores and Deputy City Manager Cynthia Garza-Reyes. As Assistant City Manager, Cano will oversee development services, public utilities, public health, code compliance, grants management, and parks and recreation departments, among other critical city operations.

“Melanie has been an impactful leader who has helped our organization achieve high levels of success. Her passion, commitment, and high standard of excellence make her the perfect fit for our leadership team as we serve our growing community,” said Flores. “I am excited to see her continue to grow in her professional development,” he continued.

Cano is an accomplished municipal government professional with over twelve years of experience in public administration. Cano was instrumental in establishing and developing the Office of Strategic Excellence (OSE) for the City of Pharr, leading it with vision, innovation, and a commitment to results. In her previous role as OSE Director, she spearheaded the city’s efforts in strategic planning, process improvement, performance management, and data management. Under Cano’s leadership, OSE supported all city departments by translating strategic goals into actionable steps, strengthening data-driven decision-making, promoting transparency, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her efforts helped position the City of Pharr as a finalist in the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program, a U.S. government initiative administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that recognizes organizations for performance excellence. Prior to OSE Director, Cano served as Development Services Director, bringing with her a deep understanding of city operations and organizational dynamics.

Cano was recently accepted into both the Houston Christian University Women in Leadership Program and the Texas Women’s Leadership Institute. She also co-authored an article in Texas Town & City Magazine titled “Taking the Lead Through Strategic Planning.”

Cano holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM), both from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Melanie is married to her beloved husband, Artemio Arevalo Jr., and together they have two children, Lucas and Khloe.

“It’s truly an honor and a privilege to step into this new role as Assistant City Manager,” said Cano.

“I’m humbled and honored by the opportunity to continue serving the City of Pharr and inspired by the commitment of our incredible team. With my experience and passion for public service, I look forward to continuing our mission of enhancing the quality of life of our residents and giving back to the community I care deeply about,” Cano added.

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