The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) elected a new slate of officers for the calendar year at its annual meeting, January 12 and 13, 2011, at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort in Oak Brook, IL.

The 2011 MARS officers are:

President: Randy Worth, vice president and general manager, Merchants Distribution Service, Des Moines, IA

First Vice President: Dan Murray, senior account manager, CSX Transportation, Oak Brook, IL

Second Vice President: Lisa Longtin, manager rail and barge operations, Grain Processing Corp., Muscatine, IA
 
Keynote speakers, Donald W. Seale, EVP & CMO, Norfolk Southern, and Keith Creel, EVP & COO, Canadian National, addressed the audience of nearly 350 -- a record-setting 39 percent increase over the 2010 annual meeting attendees. The increased participation is attributed to growing interest in MARS meeting agenda topics and “Railroading 101”, a concurrent session that drew 100 registrants alone.
 
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is one of five regional North American associations under the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) national organization. Headquartered in the Chicago area, MARS provides an open forum for discussion and resolution of rail transportation issues by bringing railroads, shippers, receivers, and rail supply companies together twice annually for formal meetings in the Chicago area. To review the most recent meeting summaries and to inquire about MARS membership, visit http://www.railshippers.com and click on the Midwest tab.