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On March 1, Kansas City Southern announced it expanded its board from eight to nine directors and elected Karen Pletz to fill the new position.

President and chief executive officer of The University of Health Sciences, Pletz chairs the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the boards of Benedictine College, the Civic Council, Central Bank, Kansas City Area Development Council, Kansas City Public Television, Metropolitan Council of the Arts, Midwest Bioethics Center, Inc., Midwest Research Institute, Rising Tide and Rockhurst University.

Missouri Gov. Bob Holden appointed her board member of the Hawthorn Foundation, which promotes economic development in the state. Pletz also serves as one of 10 special advisors to Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Kay Barnes and has been named one of the city's 20 most influential women.