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.