A leader in municipal government and an employee relations expert, Christina Rodriguez Flores, SCP, is the human resources director for the City of McAllen, Texas, where she engages a workforce of about 2,600 employees – managing civil service testing and hiring processes for the fire and police departments, supervising the recruitment of civilian staff and other personnel, administering policies and grievance procedures, and conducting investigations. Ms. Flores also provides strategic guidance to the city manager and assistant city managers, manages compensation programs and benefits, leads major projects such as compensation studies, handles contracts related to hiring, ensures employment physicals and criminal background checks, leads onboarding and offboarding processes, and advises staff on a wide range of employment matters.
Before joining the City of McAllen, Ms. Flores gained invaluable insights into the region’s workforce dynamics as the director of human resources for the City of Edinburg, Texas, and assistant human resources director for the City of Brownsville, Texas. With her deliberate career moves, motivated by a clear vision of future leadership opportunities, she used these early experiences to hone her skills in public-sector human resources management. Years earlier, she spent more than five years as a teacher with the Brownsville Independent School District, where she fostered a passion for imparting knowledge and uplifting others that continues to inform her approach to employee development today. Her professional path began in 2002 as a marketing and sales representative with Southwest Airlines.
Throughout her career, Ms. Flores has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing the human resources profession. She is recognized as an expert in employee relations and has contributed significantly to industry knowledge through writing and public speaking. In 2024, she co-authored two chapters in the sixth edition of “Effective Supervisory Practices,” published by the International City/County Management Association during the COVID-19 pandemic. Standing among her proudest accomplishments, this project became one of that group’s bestsellers and led to an accompanying training series for supervisors.
Academically, Ms. Flores initially intended to pursue engineering when she began college, but she discovered her true calling when she attended a psychology elective course and realized that helping people improve their lives was her passion. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, and psychology from Southern Methodist University, followed by a master’s degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix. Further expanding her capabilities, she earned the credential of senior certified professional (SCP) through the Public Sector HR Association.
Dedicated to excellence, Ms. Flores is active in professional organizations relevant to her field. She has served as a board member of the Texas chapter of the Public Sector HR Association for nearly six years and as president of the Texas chapter of the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association. Also, since 2020, she has been chairperson of the Rio Grande Valley Human Resources Consortium and maintains membership in the Texas Municipal Human Resources Association. Moreover, Ms. Flores was a featured presenter for the International Capital Market Association in 2024. Eager to offer her insight to the broader human resources community, she has spoken at various seminars and webinars over the last 15 years.
Ms. Flores has garnered accolades commemorating her accomplishments. Among the most notable is the Impact Award, which reflects recognition by her peers for outstanding influence in her field. She attributes much of her success to perseverance, continuous learning, and mentors for whom she expresses deep appreciation and gratitude. She has also drawn deep inspiration from her family’s legacy. Ms. Flores’ father immigrated to the United States as a migrant worker before pursuing an education and ensuring his children received similar opportunities. She views her journey as a way of honoring her parents’ sacrifices while paving the way for future generations — particularly her three young sons.
Anticipating the future, Ms. Flores intends to expand her speaking engagements, with an eye toward one day retiring from her full-time duties to focus on consulting. She is energized by the idea of sharing her extensive knowledge with a growing audience and taking every opportunity to empower others within the profession.