Veronica Escalera-Ibarra

Sr. Community Outreach Manager

Veronica Escalera-Ibarra, AICP, is an urban planner, public involvement specialist, and real estate development professional who joined Rifeline in August 2025 as a Senior Community Outreach Manager. Based in San Antonio, Texas, she is committed to fostering equitable and connected communities. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, providing her with a unique ability to bridge technical expertise with authentic community engagement. 

With a strong foundation in strategic planning, infrastructure project management, and community engagement, Veronica's public sector experience includes key roles at VIA Metropolitan Transit and the San Antonio River Authority. These positions have deepened her understanding and knowledge of transit operations, water resource management, wastewater and pipeline projects, real estate acquisitions, and parks and trails. In these roles, she successfully guided complex initiatives by building trust with stakeholders, aligning diverse perspectives, and ensuring that technical priorities translated into tangible community benefits. 

Veronica’s career is defined by her leadership in public engagement and strategic planning. She consistently demonstrates the ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and oversee cross-sector collaborations to deliver projects from conception through completion. Her expertise lies in designing outreach initiatives that rebuild trust, foster collaboration, and give communities a meaningful voice in shaping their future. 

A native of San Antonio, Veronica holds a Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is also a Certified Associate Project Manager (CAPM) and a Right of Way Professional (RWP). Beyond her professional role, she is deeply engaged in advancing the planning profession through involvement with the American Planning Association, ULI-San Antonio, and as a participant in the 2025 Alex Briseno Leadership Development Program.