Hawaiʻi Senate Confirms DBEDT Director & Deputy Director

Legislative session, March 19, 2015. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Members of the full Senate today unanimously confirmed Luis Salaveria as the director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Mary Alice Evans was confirmed as deputy director of the DBEDT.

“Our economy is in good hands,” said Senator Glenn Wakai (D, 15th District), chair of the Senate Economic Development and Technology committee. “He has the intelligence, background and demeanor to launch our economy into new areas of profitability.”

Salavaria has more than 20 years of public and private sector experience. Most recently, he served as the deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance.

Evans has four decades of public service, beginning as a student intern in the office of the governor. She has served as deputy director of DBEDT since 2011.

“We’re very excited, very appreciative of the Senators’ confidence in us,” said Salaveria. “Our state is headed in the right direction. We have a lot of things we need to accomplish, such as diversifying the economy, cultivating innovation, and building the workforce of the future, all things that are important for the state and we look forward to getting to work.”