Indian Wells City Manager Chris Freeland has appointed Eric Ceja as the new Assistant City Manager, effective March 24.
Eric Ceja has nearly 19 years of experience in local government, with expertise in economic and community development. His local government career began as an assistant planner for the City of La Quinta, where he managed the city’s community development block grant program, participated in the city’s General Plan and Zoning Code updates, and managed project approvals with the Planning Commission and City Council. Mr. Ceja has spent the last 11 years in multiple roles at the City of Palm Desert, including associate planner, principal planner, deputy director of development services & economic development and director of economic development. In these roles, Eric worked on a variety of projects, including: business recruitment and retention, entitlement of numerous housing and retail developments, intergovernmental relations, negotiating development agreements, and much more.
Mr. Ceja’s dedication to his professional and educational development is impressive. He graduated from Sonoma State University with two Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies/City and Regional Planning. He earned his master’s degree in public administration and a Mini master’s in business administration from California State University, San Bernardino. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, International Economic Development Council, California Association of Local Economic Development, and an active member of his community as a coach and director of his children’s youth soccer program.
“Over the past two decades, Eric has worked tirelessly to improve neighboring cities in the Coachella Valley, making a significant impact across the region, I am thrilled to welcome Eric to the City of Indian Wells, where his experience and passion for local government will further new development projects and be a leader within the community, said City Manager Chris Freeland.
For more information about the City Manager’s Department, visit the City of Indian Wells website.