Directory

Maria Kuhns

Maria Kuhns is the Executive Director of Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council and the Hannibal Regional Port Authority. HREDC is a nonprofit, public/private partnership that works to promote growth and new investment in Hannibal, Palmyra, Marion County, and Ralls County in an effort to increase the quality of life. The Hannibal Regional Port Authority exists to grow the economy of Marion and Ralls Counties through promoting transportation, logistics and revitalization. As the Executive Director of HREDC, Maria offers leadership and guidance to a regional economic growth strategy, creating partnerships and synergies across the region to strengthen infrastructure, workforce, and business retention and expansion as well as promote the region to prospective businesses. Formerly, Maria was the Director of the Small Business Development Center at HREDC, where she was awarded the Rookie of the Year in 2021 and led the creation of the Ignite entrepreneurial ecosystem program. She holds an M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a B.S. in Agribusiness Management from the University of Missouri. Maria grew up on a family farm in Effingham County, Illinois.

Diana Dove

Diana Dove is the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council Office Administrator. She provides administrative support to the Executive Director and Board of Directors, answers calls, and greets clients who visit HREDC.

Diana has prior experience as an Executive Assistant and Accounting, however, the prior 20 years she’s devoted her career to Business-to-Business sales in the corporate sector. Diana decided to change focus and direct her career towards the support of building communities and businesses, which is what landed her here at HREDC.

Diana first attended college at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO before transferring to St. Louis, where she graduated with her Associate Degree in Business. Diana has sat on the Parent Advisory Board for the YMCA After School Program for 2 years. Calling many rural communities home since moving to Missouri as a child, she and her children have resided in Pike County, MO since 2007.

Sean Freeman

Sean Freeman is the Entrepreneurship Specialist at the Missouri Small Business Development Center at Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council. The Missouri SBDC at HREDC offers one-on-one counseling by appointment and training events on various business topics at no cost thanks to a partnership with the Missouri Small Business Development Center, funded by the Small Business Administration. Prior to the Missouri SBDC at HREDC, Sean held positions at CitiMortgage, Hannibal-LaGrange University, and Haul A Way. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications. Originally from Frankfort, IL, Sean and his family have made Hannibal their home since 2011.