Deputy City Manager

Melissa A. Valadez-Cummings

Melissa joined the City of Cedar Hill staff in 2003 and serves as Deputy City Manager. In her role, she has oversight responsibility for numerous citywide sustainability initiatives, the City's budget development process and several City departments.

Along with DCM responsibilities, Melissa currently leads the City of Cedar Hill's recognized "Growing Green" sustainability efforts, and has secured over $2 million in grants for citywide Green projects. She has coordinated the City's Sustainability Master Plan, a recycle-focused solid waste contract, installation of a 152 kW solar photovoltaic system and a 4.5 kW wind turbine, the purchase of electric Nissan Leaf vehicles, two grant-funded electric vehicle charging stations, a citywide solar-powered trash and recycling compactor program, and now a comprehensive water management and conservation AMI project.

Valadez-Cummings was the 2014 ICMA John Garvey scholarship recipient and traveled to the ICMA Sustainability Summit in China. She currently serves on two ICMA Committees - the International Committee and the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Valadez-Cummings earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Kansas State University and holds a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas, where she serves on the Alumni Board of the renowned KU MPA City Management focused program. She is an active member of the International City Management Association (ICMA), the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) and the North Texas City Management Association (NTCMA). She is a 2007 graduate of the Senior Executive Institute (SEI) of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia and a 2008 graduate of the Leadership ICMA program.

Melissa was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce in 2014. She is passionate about seeing other women succeed and enjoys promoting women to serve in leadership roles throughout the community. Melissa has two daughters, Amaya, and Zoe. They love to learn and are the future classes of 2026 and 2027!