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 Andy Sevilla
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Staff report
Barton Publications Inc. publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton announced today the selection of a new editor for the award-winning Hays Free Press, Kim Hilsenbeck. The paper recently promoted Hilsenbeck to the position following a 10-month stint as the Features Editor.
Hilsenbeck started as a reporter in January 2012 focusing on Kyle city news and education. She then expanded her role to be the main feature writer for the paper and was eventually tapped as the Features Editor while continuing to bring education-related news to Hays area residents.
The new editor was recently honored by the South Texas Press Association (STPA) as the 2013 Journalist of the Year and she also received accolades for her feature writing, among other stories.
With a nearly 20-year career in writing, research and communications, Hilsenbeck will help the paper continue its efforts to bring quality local news to Hays County readers while also propelling it into the 21st century new media arena. The paper already offers video stories as well as uses social media to engage readers. An improved Hays Free Press website is slated to launch later this summer.
Fresh out of graduate school, Hilsenbeck went to work as a project manager for a survey research firm in Austin where she led large-scale projects with budgets ranging from a few thousand dollars to several million. Over her 12-plus year career at that firm, she routinely managed teams of up to 20 people including several who were in different locations across the country.
Prior to that, she worked for a nonprofit festival management firm in Pennsylvania. She brings an innate sense of leadership and a team approach to the table. She offers a fresh perspective on local news as well as on how state and national news effects Hays County citizens. She is also an active member of the Hays CISD Student Health Advisory Committee.
Hilsenbeck is a graduate of Kutztown University and holds an MA from the University of Texas at Austin. She resides in Hays County with her family.
In addition, Andy Sevilla has been named senior reporter at the newspaper.
Sevilla has been with the Hays Free Press since August 2012. Before working at this newspaper, he was a part-time reporter for the San Marcos Mercury website and the Texas State University Star.
Sevilla has mainly been covering courts, crime and the city of Kyle, delving into financial matters in politics and government. He will continue this coverage and be expanding to other areas as needed.
He has a BA in Mass Communication from Texas State University.
