4. 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
first board to include railroad representatives
Changed name to MARS in 2001

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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