MREIC Team

Charlene Boyes, Executive Director
Charlene Boyes brings a background in technology management, business start-ups and business advising to her role as Executive Director of MREIC. Prior to joining MREIC, Charlene worked with the University of Missouri-Columbia, Office of Technology Management. Previous to her tenure in that role she worked in cell biology research in the public sector research institute; she also worked in business development in the Biotech industry. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Michigan State University. In Charlene's role with MREIC, she works one-on-one with clients and interfaces with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Truman State University, A.T. Still University, and various local and state agencies.

Bob Behnen, Chairman
Bob Behnen is the Director of Development at A.T. University. Previous to his current position, Mr. Behnen served as a State Representative for the Second District for five years. Mr. Behnen also held various management positions at both A.T. Still University and Truman State University. In 1991 he graduated from Truman State University with a B.A. in Business Administration Marketing. He earned his M.B.A. from William Woods University in 1996.

Stan Pickens, Vice Chair
Stan Pickens is the Adair County Presiding Commissioner.

Mari Macomber, Treasurer
Mari E. Macomber is the City Manager for the City of Kirksville. Ms. Macomber brings more than 22 years of experience in public administration and economic development to her current position having served in those capacities for several communities in Illinois and Missouri since 1986. Mari earned M.A. and B.A. degrees from Truman State University.

Michael McManis, Director
Michael McManis brings significant expertise in planning and development having held positions utilizing these skills for more than 22 years. Since 2003, he has served as the Executive Assistant to the President of A.T. Still University. He earned a B.A. degree from Case Western Reserve University, an M.A. from Indiana University and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.

Phil Tate, Director
Phil Tate is the Director of Job Creation for Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Inc. (K-REDI). Phil operated private businesses for 20 years before beginning a career in public service. He has served six terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. Mr. Tate earned a B.A. degree from the University of Missouri.

Sandra Williams, Director
Sandra Williams has been the Executive Director of the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce since October 2009. A life long resident of the area, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University in Kirksville) and a Masters in Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, MO. Prior to joining the Chamber she worked in retail, taught middle school, managed a restaurant and worked over 20 years in the health care field, including almost 10 years as an office manager at the Adair County Health Department.

Richard Coughlin, Director
Richard Coughlin is the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Truman State University.

Eric Barber, Director
Eric Barber is Northeast Regional Medical Center's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Barber was most recently the Chief Operating Officer at Danville Regional Medical Center, Danville, Virginia. He has over ten years of executive healthcare experience in small and large acute and tertiary care healthcare systems. Eric has a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from Kansas State University and a master's degree in Healthcare Administration from University of Kansas.