Yakima City Manager Vicki Baker has announced Lisa Garcia will be the City’s new human resources director. Garcia replaces Connie Mendoza, who retired earlier this year
Garcia’s first day as City of Yakima human resources director will be Monday, April 6th.
Garcia has more than 25 years of progressive human resources leadership experience spanning healthcare, higher education, global manufacturing, and agribusiness.
“Lisa is a well-known and highly respected leader in human resources here in our area and throughout Washington State,” said Baker. “She has a wealth of experience and expertise and broad familiarity with people management. The City is fortunate to be able to benefit from Lisa’s decades-long career in human resources and her ongoing commitment to the Yakima Valley,” said Baker.
Garcia was born and raised in the Yakima Valley.
Garcia most recently served as chief people officer for Yakima Chief Hops. She worked for Yakima Chief Hops for 13 years, progressively advancing in the company’s human resources structure. From 2001 to 2012, Garcia was the director of human resources for Sunnyside Community Hospital (now Astria). She served as the human resources director for Heritage University before that. Her professional career started as the human resources manager for Rabanco/Allied Waste (now Republic Services).
Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science/Business Administration degree from Central Washington University and holds a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Washington.
Garcia is a member of the board of directors for the Yakama Nation Boys & Girls Club and currently leads the club’s finance, safety, and fundraising chair efforts. She also is a member of the Yakima Chapter of Women in Manufacturing. Additionally, Garcia is a guest lecturer at Heritage University and serves as a youth mentor.
