Maria Kuhns
Executive Director, Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council and Hannibal Regional Port Authority

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. 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.