City hires interim IT director

Costa Mesa has hired an interim information technology director who brings with him 20 years of government experience.

Steven Ely, who started work Monday, will earn $130 an hour, said city spokesman Bill Lobdell.

Ely, a University of Phoenix graduate, was hired through NexLevel, a Carmichael-based management consultant company.

He last worked for Xerox as a government consultant, according to his résumé. Some of projects included work for the cities of Lake Forest, Irvine and New Orleans.

He has also worked for Lockheed Martin.

Ely replaces Bobby Young, a 13-year Costa Mesa employee who left as finance and information technology director in August for a job in the private sector.

Since Young’s departure, Costa Mesa has split finance and information technology into separate divisions, with one person heading each. Assistant City CEO Rick Francis said at the time that the IT and finance functions both “need focused and expert leadership in their individual respects.”

Now heading the finance department, also on an interim basis, is Stephen Dunivent.

Dunivent, a Costa Mesa resident, began in September. He previously worked for the county.

— Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint