October 11, 2023
After a comprehensive search, the Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council (HREDC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Sean Freeman as Entrepreneurship Specialist. Sean brings a wealth of knowledge in varying sectors to the SBDC position. Previously Sean has held positions at CitiMortgage, Hannibal LaGrange University, and Haul-a-Way. Sean begins work with HREDC on October 16, 2023.
“We had an impressive applicant pool. Throughout the screening process, Sean distinguished himself as a quality applicant,” said Maria Kuhns, Executive Director of HREDC. “Since we began offering SBDC services in January of 2020, the demand for services in our seven-county service territory has been high. Since October of 2022, our SBDC has assisted over 120 businesses. Sean brings a positivity and energy level that will suit him well assisting our region’s businesses and startups as well as growing and expanding our center and the Ignite program.”
The position is partially funded with a 50/50 grant from the University of Missouri Extension, funded in part through the U.S. Small Business Administration, to support Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) in Missouri. HREDC provides SBDC services to a seven-county region. Sean will direct HREDC’s Ignite Program and lead the organization’s outreach to early and second stage companies.
Sean shared HREDC’s enthusiasm for the position. “I love Hannibal and Northeast Missouri, and I look forward to being part of an organization that will allow me the opportunity to use my experience and talents to support businesses in the area.”
Sean will hit the ground running onboarding with the Missouri SBDC network, meeting with stakeholders in the seven-county SBDC service territory and learning more about the HREDC region. The HREDC Board of Directors and staff would like to thank SBDC State Director Ted Guitierrez for his assistance throughout the hiring process.
HREDC works to promote financial investment in Hannibal, Palmyra and Marion and Ralls Counties. For more information on the organization, please visit their website at www.hredc.com.
About the Missouri SBDC
The Missouri SBDC helps business owners make confident decisions to start, grow, and sell their businesses. Services are provided to all Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis in the form of training events and one-to-one counseling by appointment. The Missouri SBDC is a program funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partner of the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program.
