City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly awarded the City Manager Leadership Award for October to Building Technician II Sheila Larsen.

“When I first arrived here, I did a short stint in Economic and Development Services and quickly learned that Sheila was someone I could count on to answer my questions,” Gallardo-Daly said. “She embodies the City’s core values through her outstanding customer service, reliability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. She is well deserving of this award.”

Larsen has been with the City of Costa Mesa since 2017, when she started as a Permit Technician II. Since then, she has built a reputation as one of the most approachable and dependable members of the team.

She consistently goes above and beyond to assist customers in navigating the permitting process—whether it is answering complex questions at the counter, helping applicants resolve issues in real-time, or coordinating with internal departments to ensure timely approvals.

Her responsiveness and professionalism leave a lasting positive impression on residents, contractors, and design professionals alike.

With many years of experience issuing building permits and handling over-the-counter reviews and customer interactions, Larsen brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the division.

She leverages this experience to serve customers efficiently. Her work ethic and positive attitude make her an indispensable part of her department. She approaches every interaction with courtesy, patience, and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Larsen has her associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Cerritos Community College.