Eli Svaty was hired in August of 2019 to serve as the first executive director of the Seward County Development Corporation. Born and raised on a farm in Ellsworth, Kansas, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Language and Literature from Sterling College in 2006. That fall, he moved to Liberal, Kansas, and began his career as a high school English teacher for USD 480, serving as the Language Arts Department Chair from 2009-2019. In 2015 he completed his Master of Liberal Studies Degree from Fort Hays State University. During his time with USD 480, he also served as the pilot of the LHS Redesign and presented at numerous conferences across the region and country. 

After fifteen years, Mr. Svaty considers LIberal home. It is where he met his wife and where they are raising their four children. As the executive director of the development corporation, he works to increase Seward County's economic presence in Kansas. Liberal and Kismet have provided opportunities for both people and businesses for more than a century, and we must actively engage all members of our communities if we hope to thrive through another century. 

Raquel Arellano

Director of Entrepreneurship

Raquel Arellano began work for the Seward Co. Development Corporation in January 2022 as the Director of Entrepreneurship. Her job is to match entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed as business owners. She is a native of Liberal, KS and has owned and worked in small businesses in the community. She knows what it means to need someone in your corner who values the hustle that's in every entrepreneur. Raquel believes leaders are learners, which is why she spends time coaching and arming our entrepreneurs with valuable content they can implement into their businesses today.

Damien Denmark

Director of Business Development

Damien Denmark joined the Seward County Development Corporation in 2022, where he has been instrumental in helping leading the organization's efforts to support local businesses and attract new investment to the area.

Born and raised in the vibrant town of Texarkana, TX, Damien developed a love for community building early on. He put this passion to work as a leader of the Main Street Texarkana revitalization effort, which helped transform the downtown area into a hub of activity and commerce. In addition to this work, Damien also played a key role in several development projects throughout the town, helping to create new jobs and opportunities for residents.

In August 2020, Damien relocated to Liberal, Kansas, to take on a new challenge: helping to build out T-Mobile locations in the southwest corridor of the state. In this role, he applied his expertise in business development to the telecommunications industry, helping to ensure that the people of Kansas have access to the latest technology and services.

Throughout his career, Damien has been committed to positively impacting the communities he serves. He is a tireless advocate for economic growth and development, always looking for new ways to drive progress and create opportunities for others.