Herzon Alfaro joins the Pasadena Tournament of Roses as the new Facilities Manager, bringing more than a decade of experience and a genuine excitement for what’s ahead.
After earning his associate degree in general education mathematics and science from Rio Hondo College in 2023, Herzon has worked for the past 10 years in facilities roles at Inspire Charter School and most recently at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Westwood.
In his new role, Herzon will manage day-to-day operations of the building and work closely with vendors on property to ensure everything runs smoothly. “I’m excited to be working with Traci Ridling and learning more about the Association,” Herzon said. “I’m especially looking forward to working on the float buildings alongside Mike Abboud, Craig Bugajski and Chris Lofthouse.” He also shared how thrilled he is to live on property in the Caretaker’s Cottage starting June 1. “And of course, I can’t wait to experience the upcoming Rose Parade and finally see my first Rose Bowl Game in person.”
Outside of work, Herzon keeps busy with a long list of hobbies. He plays flag football on Sunday mornings at Brookside Park, hits the gym three times a week with his mom and partner and makes regular trips to Berkeley with his brother, Charles, to watch Cal football. He’s also a major car guy and has built out several of his own vehicles, including a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage styled like a 1998 Lancer Evo, a wrapped 2008 Honda Civic and a lifted 2018 Toyota Tacoma with off-road mods.
Herzon comes from a tight knit family of five. His parents, Martha and Ernesto, are originally from San Vicente, El Salvador and Matagalpa, Nicaragua. He has two older brothers, Charles and Steven. At home he’s also got two huskies, DD and Bella. “DD is named after the rescue dog in Metal Gear Solid V,” he said. “Same color, same height. He even naps with my dad.”
One of Herzon’s favorite memories is when he attended the Rose Parade five years ago with his mom to see El Salvador marching in the parade. He distinctly recalls the joy in his mother’s eyes as she got emotional seeing their home country represented. She eagerly called to him, “Hijo, recoge la cámara, ya llegaron,” asking him to pull out his camera to capture the special moment. Now he’s part of the team behind the scenes, making sure others get to have unforgettable memories of their own.
