City of McAllen Names Director to Lead Newly Created Department of Special Events

Carina Jimenez, a certified event executive, has over 20 years of experience with internationally awarded McAllen events

The City of McAllen is proud to announce the promotion of Carina Jimenez to serve as the Director of the newly created Department of Special Events. In this new role, Jimenez will lead efforts to strengthen and grow McAllen through innovative, collaborative, citywide programming and elevated visibility of the city’s signature events.

With nearly two decades of experience in event leadership, budget management, sponsorship development, and public engagement, including her most recent role as Deputy Director of Programs for the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department, Jimenez brings unmatched expertise and vision to the role. With the vision and guidance of her mentor, the late McAllen Assistant City Manager Joe Vera, she helped develop and lead some of McAllen’s most iconic celebrations, including the McAllen Holiday Parade, McAllen Marathon, and the Independence Day Celebration, which together attract hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors annually.  In fact, Jimenez has led numerous initiatives that have helped the City of McAllen’s events gain national and international recognition; she played a pivotal role in securing McAllen’s designation as an IFEA World Festival and Event City for the past three consecutive years.

“Carina has been a cornerstone of our community’s most beloved events,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “Her leadership and dedication have helped transform our events into experiences that define McAllen’s identity. I’m confident she will take our Special Events programming to even greater heights.”

The newly created Department of Special Events will align McAllen’s event strategies across departments, enabling a more unified and impactful narrative about what makes the city such a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and visit. It will also help streamline communication and resource-sharing across the city, making it easier for sponsors to engage with McAllen holistically, from civic recognitions and park concerts to major festivals and community initiatives.

“This department allows us to elevate how we plan, promote, and partner,” said City Manager Isaac J. Tawil. “Carina’s attention to detail, creativity, and professionalism make her the perfect fit to lead this next chapter.”

Jimenez has led cross-functional teams of over 100 staff and seasonal employees and developed multi-million-dollar event budgets since 2014. She is also a Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) by the International Festivals & Events Association and currently serves as Chair of the Texas Event Management Institute and Secretary/Treasurer for the Texas Festivals & Events Association.

“It has been an amazing experience to work alongside the entire team at McAllen Parks & Recreation, and I’m honored and excited to lead this new department,” said Jimenez. “McAllen is a city full of energy, creativity, and pride, and I look forward to continuing to bring people together through meaningful, well-executed events that reflect the heart of our community.”

Jimenez earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio.