A new Senior Planner has been hired by the city of Ceres to replace James Michaels who had filled that role for many years.

Teddie Hernandez was introduced at last week’s meeting of the Ceres Planning Commission, of which two members are also new.

“We’re thrilled to have Teddie on our team,” said Christopher Hoem, director of Community Development for the city of Ceres. “We’re already brainstorming together new ways to improve our processes and how we can leverage technology to better serve the city of Ceres.”

Hernandez had been with the San Joaquin County Department of Community Development for over four years where she served as an associate planner and assistant planner. She specialized in reviewing planning and building applications, customer service, environmental review, and finding ways to streamline the permit process.

She was a combat medic in the Army from November 2003 to August 2005; and an Army flight medic from August 2005 to April 2009. Hernandez attended South Plains College in Texas and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from California State University-Stanislaus with a minor in Psychology. She worked as a project manager for J.S. Taylor Construction for six months in 2015. After a short stint as a student tutor at CSU Stanislaus she worked briefly as a senior liability field claims representative for Farmers Insurance.

The city has also a new building permit technician in Rhonda Rose.