Frecia Cevallos has been appointed Deputy Director of the Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development and Robert Ewbank was named Director of the County’s Department of Information Technology.

Frecia Cevallos has been a member of the Department of Research and Development team for over 15 years, serving as an Economic Development Specialist. As Deputy Director, she will continue to oversee economic development and sustainability efforts and initiatives, working closely with the department’s leadership team to ensure the implementation of sound policies and practices that support the County’s economic growth and development.

For the past nine years, Cevallos managed the development and implementation of the Hawaiʻi Island Tourism Strategic Plan and Destination Management Action Plan, which includes the County’s community-based tourism initiatives and the Hawaiʻi Island Visitor Promotions Program.

In addition to her work with the County, Cevallos, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. worked in the social service sector, providing outreach and capacity-building support for culture-based education, community-based stewardship, and economic diversification initiatives on Hawaiʻi Island. She has also managed public relations and political campaigns for the United Nations Center for Human Rights and Amnesty International, coordinated special events and student activities at the Seattle Center and the University of Washington, and owned a small business.

Her appointment comes on the heels of former Deputy Director Agres’ retirement.

Robert Ewbank, who currently works at the Hawaiʻi County Planning Department, will assume the role of Director of the Department of Information Technology with over 20 years of hands-on technical and supervisory experience. He will focus on providing users and clients with a stable computing environment that maintains confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Ewbank brings experience with IT systems and supervision in various settings, as well as years of experience in county government. He will begin his new role on May 15, 2023.