Abel Avalos

Abel Avalos serves as the City Manager for the City of Artesia, California, since October 2024, overseeing municipal operations. Previously, Avalos held the position of Community Development Director for the City of Lakewood from February 2019 to September 2024, managing planning, building, code enforcement, and economic development. Prior to this, Avalos was the Community Development Director for the City of Bell Gardens from December 2012 to January 2019, overseeing the Community Development Department. Experiences also include serving as Redevelopment Manager for the City of Anaheim from 2005 to 2012, responsible for affordable housing development, and Land Acquisition Manager at John Laing Homes from 2001 to 2005, focusing on urban in-fill acquisitions. Early career roles in Anaheim included Project Manager and Operations/Staff Analyst, managing various projects and conducting internal audits. Abel Avalos earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach.