William C Nelson

Mr. Nelson is Chairman (since 2001) of George K. Baum Asset Management, a provider of investment management services to individuals, foundations, and institutions. He also serves on the board of DST Systems. Mr. Nelson served on the Executive, Audit, and Compensation and Development Committees during 2007. Prior to joining George K. Baum Holdings, Mr. Nelson retired from a 40-year career in banking in March 2000. At the time of his retirement he was serving as Chairman of Bank of America Midwest and President of Bank of America Kansas City Region. Mr. Nelson came to Kansas City in 1988 as President of Boatmen’s First National Bank of Kansas City. In 1990, he assumed the additional responsibility of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Boatmen’s in 1988, he served as Executive Director at First Republic Bank Corporation in Dallas, Texas. Previous experience at Mellon Bank included several years in London, where he was Vice President and General Manager of Mellon’s European Operations. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Yale University. He also attended the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Board of Directors of DST Systems, Inc., Great Plains Energy, Midwest Research Institute, the Auto Club of Missouri and Chairman of the Board of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City. He has served as Chairman of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Development Council and Vice Chairman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. He has also co-chaired the Partnership for Children, and was Chairman of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, 1998-2001.