City Manager Stuart C. Ed announced that Larry Nichols will become the new community development director for the City of Las Cruces.
Nichols has more than 28 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He is currently Director of Planning & Inspections for the City of El Paso, Texas. He also served as El Paso’s General Services Director, and Chief Building Official for El Paso and the City of Yuma, Arizona. While in Yuma, he also held the title of Deputy Director - Community Development Department.
He was a general contractor in New Mexico for 14 years and served in the United States Army as an artillery officer in Vietnam and a school architect in Afghanistan during his time in the Peace Corps. His certifications and licenses include certified building code official, building inspector, plans examiner and zoning inspector.
He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree and certification in Public Administration from Arizona State University, and is a Las Cruces High School graduate who played basketball for Hall of Fame coach Lou Henson.
“Larry has a wealth of experience that will help move us forward as an organization,” said City Manager Stuart C. Ed. “He will be instrumental in assisting with our economic development efforts by establishing a one-stop shop that consolidates the process of land development, building permitting and most business licensing into a single location.”
Nichols’ first day will be Nov. 1.