For many years the three familiar faces at the city of Ceres Recreation Department were Cambria Pollinger, Traci Farris and Cara Butler. With both Pollinger and Farris having left in 2018 for other job pursuits, and Butler recently retired, a completely new staff serves the public at the Community Center.
Maya Narvaez is the new Recreation Administrative Coordinator who replaces longtime city employee Butler.
Allegra Morelli is the new Recreation Supervisor, replacing Pollinger.
The changes follow the October 2018 hiring of Matthew Lohr who replaced Farris as recreation manager. The city also hired recreation coordinator Crystel Aguilar in 2018.
The city’s Parks & Recreation Department oversees the operation of the Ceres Community Center and conducts a wide variety of recreation programs ranging from senior exercise to children’s cooking and art classes and from aquatics to Nerf gun wars. The department also hosts a variety of events, such as the Concerts in the Park series, Halloween Festival and the Ceres Christmas Festival.
Narvaez is a Ceres resident who earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration from California State University, Fresno in May 2018. Her work experience included a volunteer coach with Ceres Youth Baseball, a recreation leader with the city of Turlock for six months, an intern with the city of Ceres; a front desk associate with the Disney College Program in Orlando, Fla.; and most recently an event attendant at the Modesto Centre Plaza.
“During my time with the Disney College Program I worked in the hospitality side of Disney,” said Maya. “I gained valuable experience working in world famous resorts and expanding upon my career and knowledge. While there I had the opportunity to work with diverse populations including people from all over the world with many different backgrounds. “
Morelli earned her master’s degree of science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration from California State University, Sacramento in 2017. She worked at the Community Engagement Center at Sacramento State in 2016 and was the senior recreation specialist for Cosumnes Community Services District from 2015 to February 2018. She was also a substitute teacher in Los Banos and was an event planning specialist for the Stanislaus County Office of Education from June 2018 until she was hired by Ceres.
