Artesia City Manager Maria Dadian Announces Retirement

After serving the City of Artesia for more than 18 years, City Manager Maria Dadian says she plans to retire and will step down from her post in late October, according to a city-issued statement.

When asked about her decision, Dadian said it was simply the right time.

“After thinking about it for a while, it suddenly hit me that there is never a right time to retire, there’s always something that needs be done,” she said. 

Dadian continued, “But the decision is something I’ve been thinking about for some time, so it seemed now was about as good a time to make this decision as any other.”

Dadian, a California State Los Angeles graduate, has served the city since January 1994, when she was hired as the Assistant City Manager. She was appointed to City Manager in 2000, and has been the driving force, alongside the City Council, behind many of Artesia’s projects, including the redevelopment projects and other city improvement projects. 

Mayor John P. Lyon, who has worked with Dadian for most of her tenure, said her service to the community has been commendable and that Artesia won’t be the same without her.

Prior to her work with the City of Artesia, Dadian began her career in municipal government working for the City of South El Monte in 1975. In March 1982, she accepted the position of Parks and Recreation Director with the City of Hawaiian Gardens, and after four years was promoted to Assistant to the City Administrator. After 11 years of continuous service with the city, she was named interim Executive Director of Hawaiian Gardens' newly established non-profit organization called the Coalition for Youth Development. During her municipal career she has been contracted by both public entities and private businesses to organize and implement public safety and recreation programs.

Dadian has not yet revealed what she plans to do after retirement. Her last day as City Manager is slated for Oct. 19.

The City of Artesia will be entering into a transitional period, and during this time the City Council plans to provide considerations to selecting a new city manager. The City Council will convene on Monday, Aug. 27 to commence this work, according to the city. 

- City of Artesia