Michelle Hataway is the Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Before becoming director, Hataway served in several DED roles over more than nine years, including regional manager, deputy director, and director of the Division of Regional Engagement; she was elevated to acting director on June 16, 2023. Prior to joining DED, she worked in her family’s 90-year-old business and at Netflix. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in communication studies from the University of Alabama.

Steve has been working with economic development organizations for more than 30 years. After spending his early years working directly for community organizations, he recognized the opportunity to support multiple communities by identifying the needs and solutions that spread across municipalities. At that point, he helped found Community EDGE, an organization created to meet economic development and location strategies needs faced by many community organizations. In 2015 Community EDGE joined forces with MarksNelson in order to increase the depth of resources available to the clients of both firms. Steve has spent countless hours advising organizations on how to support the growth of their community, partner with businesses, access resources, plan and respond to natural disasters, and more. He has been called to testify before the United States House of Representatives and Missouri General Assembly and to speak at the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Ryan Poston serves as Presiding Commissioner of Montgomery County, Missouri. In this role, he works with the county commission on county government operations, budget matters, infrastructure, and economic development issues affecting Montgomery County residents. He is based in Jonesburg and serves alongside the First and Second District Commissioners.