City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison presented Parks & Community Services Executive Assistant Laura Fautua with the City Manager Leadership Award for the month of September.

“I think it is such a great story that Laura was a participant in the City’s recreation after school program when she was in grade school,” Farrell Harrison said. “That experience led her to join the Recreation Leader in Training Program. In her 13 years since, she has proven to be a huge asset in the Parks & Community Services Department and has demonstrated a love and passion for the department and the City and community. The proof of her dedication can be seen with the series of promotions she’s received over the years. I’m so happy to present her with this award.”

It was in 2010 when she was officially hired on as Recreation Leader. Ever since, she has worked for various programs including the ROCKS program, Day Camps, Youth Sports, Teens and Facilities.

In 2016, Fautua was promoted to Office Specialist working the recreation front counter here at City Hall. She began facilitating program registrations, special event permits, and general park inquiries. In 2018, she became Office Specialist II and was instrumental in the transitioning of the department’s responsibility for processing animal licenses as well as helping to take on block party permits.

In 2021, Fautua was promoted yet again to Executive Assistant, where she not only has been a tremendous help to the department on a number of projects but continuously is improving administrative processes and procedures for the whole department.

She also helps to manage all the departments commissions and committees (which totaled six for a period of time) with agendas, reports and minutes.

Fautua was born and raised in Costa Mesa. She attended elementary, middle and high school as well as Community College right here in the City. She has a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Fullerton, where she majored in Child and Adolescent Studies.