TWELVE WYANDOTTE PLAZA
120 WEST 12TH STREET, SUITE 800
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64105
TELEPHONE (816) 474-1100, TOLL FREE (800) 821-7195
FAX (816) 283-5171

Chairman, George K. Baum Asset Management

William C. Nelson joined George K. Baum Holdings as Chairman, George K. Baum Asset Management in March 2001. His responsibilities include providing senior level leadership and strategic advice to the management teams of two of the firm’s subsidiaries Prairie Capital Management, Inc. and George K. Baum Merchant Banc LLC, as well as the Investment Banking Division of George K. Baum & Company.

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 1989 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 RepublicBank 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., Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City; Great Plains Energy, Inc., Midwest Research Institute and the Auto Club of Missouri. 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.

Mr. Nelson has served as the honorary Chairman of the State Ballet of Missouri and former Chairman of the Business Partners/Kansas City Symphony. He also served as the 1995 general campaign Chairman of the Heart of America United Way. In addition, Mr. Nelson serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Missouri Repertory Theatre and Chairman of the Committee of 101 and Chairman of The Hawthorn Foundation. He also serves as a Director of the Kansas City Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation and as an Advisory Director of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. Mr. Nelson is currently the Chairman of the Early Learning Leadership Board of the Mid-America Regional Council and serves as a member of the Kansas Governor’s Education Policy Committee. Kansas Governor Sebelius has appointed him to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.

Mr. Nelson has -received the following awards: Ingram's 1993 Local Hero Award; Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee 1993 Human Relations Award; Urban League of Greater Kansas City 1994 Difference Maker Award; Minority Supplier Council 1995 CEO of the Year Award; Kansas City Globe's 1995 Bridgebuilder Award; Heart -of America Council, Boy Scouts of America 1995 Distinguished Citizen Award; Gillis Center 1995 Spirit Gala Award; the Chamber of Commerce Centurions 1997 Leadership Award: Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America 1999 Silver Beaver Award; Honorary Police Commissioner, Kansas City, Mo.; and the W.F. Yates Medallion for Distinguished Civic Service from William Jewell College; National MS Society's 1999 Hope Award; National Conference for Community and Justices 2000 Distinguished Citizen Award. Mid-America Regional Council awarded Mr. Nelson its 2001 Regional Leadership Award. Mr. Nelson was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from St. Mary College.

Mr. Nelson and his wife Barbara, have three sons.