Created March 27, 1924 – 93 years ago Midwest Regional Advisory Board Covered IL, WI, IA, western IN Created by shippers as a forum to solve rail freight problems 1968 - first board to include railroad representatives Changed name to MARS in 2001
MARS Covers 11 states, 2 provinces Largest membership – 967 Two meetings annually - January in Chicago - last meeting had record attendance – 796 - July in Lake Geneva - record attendance - 465
MARS Officers 2017-2018 President – Michael Barth, United Sugars Corp. 1st VP – Harry Zander, ECN Capital Rail Finance 2nd VP – Thomas Surma, CF Industries Immediate Past President – Michael Jones, NDM Executive Director – William Schauer, MARS
MARS COMMITTEES Membership – Harry Zander Legislative – Jim Giblin Publicity – Tom Surma Scholarship – Luke Galat Technology – Kathy Bathurst Nominations – Mike Jones Executive committee has 34 members
Primary objectives 1) Resolution of transportation issues 2) Education of members in RR operating practices, innovation and legislation 3) Networking among members 4) Rail equipment, service, supply issues 5) Support NARS 6) Scholarship program
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS Attend a meeting, dues are $25 Anyone interested in rail transportation Broad cross section of US industries Shippers - Ag/food, paper, chemicals, steel, fertilizer, plastics, packaging, construction materials, aggregates Class I, shortlines, regional RR, rail equipment lessors, finance companies, TMS providers, suppliers