Four decades of public service and financial turnaround earn Rios statewide recognition
Vicki Rios, assistant city manager for the City of Glendale, has won a 2026 Woman Achievers of Arizona award from the Arizona Capitol Times and State Affairs. The honor recognizes exceptional women whose leadership and service have shaped Arizona's communities. Rios will be honored Oct. 8 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
Rios has spent four decades in municipal finance and public service, including more than a decade with Glendale. She joined the city in 2013 as Assistant Finance Director, when Glendale was widely considered one of the most financially distressed cities in the nation. She was instrumental in helping refinance hundreds of millions of dollars in city debt, saving taxpayers approximately $175 million and helping the city earn the highest possible bond rating.
“Vicki's fingerprints are on nearly every part of Glendale's comeback story. This recognition is well-earned, and it reflects the kind of quiet, consistent leadership that doesn't always make headlines but makes everything else possible,” said Mayor Jerry P. Weiers. “I would expect nothing less from someone from my home state of South Dakota. She’s the best!”
As assistant city manager, Rios now oversees six major departments and supports Glendale’s nearly 2,000 employees. This past year, she has played a leading role in the completion of Glendale's $97 million Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project, which transformed City Hall, Council Chambers, the E. Lowell Rogers Amphitheatre and the historic Murphy Park into modern, resident-focused public spaces.
Under her leadership, the city has expanded public safety by hiring additional police officers and firefighters, purchasing new fire engines and renovating police and fire stations. She has also helped guide the revitalization of parks throughout the community, enhancements to library services and facilities, and improvements to streets and infrastructure.
“For me, the greatest reward is seeing those investments improve people’s quality of life because Glendale isn’t just where I work, it’s my home,” said Rios. “This recognition reflects the hard work of the whole Glendale team. I hope it can be an inspiration to other people, to know you can be recognized for a job well done every day that, over time, adds up to something extraordinary for the community.”
Rios’ commitment to Glendale is also deeply personal. Since choosing Glendale as her home in 1985, she has invested in the city’s future not only through her profession, but through countless hours of volunteer service. Beyond City Hall, she has served as a Girl Scout leader and volunteered in local schools and civic organizations. She has served on the board of the Government Finance Officers Association of Arizona, and for nearly 20 years she was the chairperson of the Certification Advisory Committee for the Arizona State Board of Accountancy.