Better Together task force

Sitherwood, 58, was born into a military family in Norfolk, Va.

Education: She graduated from Southern College of Technology with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering technology, and from Brenau University with an MBA.

Career: Sitherwood has worked for more than 30 years in the natural gas industry. As CEO of Spire, she runs a natural gas marketing company, an emerging technologies group and five natural gas utilities in Missouri, Mississippi and Alabama. She sits on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, United Way St. Louis’ Executive Committee and the American Gas Association. She is now chairwoman of Civic Progress, an organization of chief executives from more than 30 of St. Louis’s largest employers.

Ross, 60, grew up in poverty in Memphis, Tenn., hiding from gangs, getting beat up, even witnessing an execution-style murder.

Education: He graduated from Yale University, then completed medical school at Washington University of St. Louis and earned a master’s in epidemiology at St. Louis University.

Career: Ross helped create regional health services such as the Saturday Free Health Clinic, Casa de Salud Health Center, the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, Health Literacy Missouri, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Center for Diversity and Cultural Competence, the Washington University Institute for Public Health, as well as a magnet health professions high school in St. Louis. He is a professor of medicine in the Nephrology Division at Washington U and a Better Together board member.

Kar, 43, was born in Iowa to parents who emigrated from India.

Education: He attended St. Louis University for his undergraduate degree, where he met his wife, a St. Louis native. He got his law degree at the University of Iowa and now works in corporate antitrust compliance.

Career: Kar is chairman of his office’s recruiting committee, and sits on the boards of the International Institute, a St. Louis refugee resettlement agency, and Mid-America Transplant, a non-profit that coordinates organ and tissue donation. He has sat on boards of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Gateway Region YMCA, and the Downtown Y. He works pro bono to represent refugees seeking U.S. asylum.

Van Niel, 34, grew up in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

Education: She attended Elon University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, earned a dual degree in engineering physics and civil engineering, and came to St. Louis 11 years ago to work for Boeing.

Career: Van Niel has since served on the boards of the National Urban League Young Professionals, the Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis, the Sophia Project, the Regional Business Council's Young Professional Network, the Women’s Society of Washington University and as president of the Urban League Young Professionals.

Adorjan, 80, is the son of Hungarian immigrants, grew up in a South St. Louis three-room flat.

Education: He put himself through St. Louis University, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in finance and economics.

Career: Adorjan worked his way up at St. Louis-based Emerson, and eventually became president of the company. He has since worked largely in private equity, turning around companies and selling them, and is now chairman of his family firm, Adven Capital. He served as a SLU board member and chairman for more than 25 years.