Astra Ferris, who is currently the chief executive officer of the Barton County Chamber of Commerce in Lamar, Missouri, was hired via a unanimous vote of the Growth Alliance Board of Directors Wednesday.

Her first day on the job will be Sept. 5.

Ferris will replace Dennis Plautz, who has been the chief executive officer of the Growth Alliance since it was founded in 2012.

Plautz is retiring after a long career in public service that began in 1975 when he started working as a planning associate for the city of Fort Dodge. He was the city’s director of business affairs and community growth before becoming the Growth Alliance CEO.

Dennis Plautz

In a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, Ferris said she was attracted to the Growth Alliance because she sees it as an organization built on “collaboration, collaboration, collaboration.”

“Economic development is a team sport,” she said. “This is a stellar team.”

“It’s clear to me that all the community stakeholders and leaders have forward momentum in mind,” she said. “That’s refreshing.”

The emphasis on collaboration between the Growth Alliance, the public sector and the private sector was instituted by Plautz; Tim O’Tool, the first president of the alliance’s board; and other founders of the group. Plautz has attributed the group’s success to the constant collaboration.

Ferris said she was also impressed by the Fort Dodge community and its people.

“It really seems like Fort Dodge has great people trying to do great things together,” she said.

She expressed confidence that any problems the community faces can be solved.

“We have enough energy from our citizens to tackle problems and strategize solutions for positive change,” she said.

Luke Hugghins, the president of the Growth Alliance board, said it was clear that Ferris has the “sound technical skills’ to manage economic development efforts and the right interpersonal skills to be a leader of people.

“I was impressed with her authenticity and her knowledge of just a whole variety of things,” said Phil Gunderson, who led the alliance committee that searched for a new chief executive officer.

He described Ferris as a “natural leader and communicator.” He said she has the skills to be “very collaborative across the board.”

How the search was conducted

When Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, said last year that he wanted to retire, the alliance’s Board of Directors appointed a committee to lead the search for his replacement.

It consisted of Phil Gunderson, Leah Glasgo, the Rev. Austin Hill, Kelly Hindman, Luke Hugghins, JP Mansfield, Mike McCarville, John Taetz and Jesse Ulrcih.

The board also hired Jorgenson Consulting, of Greensboro, North Carolina, to advertise the position and do an initial screening of applicants.

“They have been really great in helping us through this and aligning us with really great candidates to choose from,” Gunderson said.

He said there were initially more than 100 applicants. Jorgenson Consulting gave the search committee a list of eight candidates it considered to be the best. Five of those candidates were interviewed.

Then two finalists, including Astra Ferris, were invited to spend a day in Fort Dodge for more interviews and meetings.

The search committee then recommended Ferris to the executive committee of the Board of Directors. The executive committee recommended her to the full board, and she was hired by a unanimous vote on Wednesday.

About Astra Ferris

Current role

Chief executive officer of the Barton County Chamber of Commerce in Lamar, Missouri, since 2012

Employment history

Various positions at US Bank in Joplin, Missouri, 2006 to 2012

Executive assistant at Sunrise Media Group, 2002 to 2006

Education

Organizational management certification from the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

National Grant Writer Certification

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management certification

Graduate of Joplin High School, Joplin, Missouri

Currently enrolled in Western Governors University

Awards and honors

Joplin Regional Business Journal’s Most Influential Woman of the Year for 2016

Joplin Regional Business Journal’s 15 Under 40 Honoree for 2016

2023 Nexstar Broadcasting Regional Remarkable Woman

Civic involvement

Missouri Economic Development Council Board of Directors

Missouri Workforce Development Board

Jobs for America’s Graduates State of Missouri Board

MidAmerica Economic Development Council

MOKAN/Joplin Regional Economic Development Organization Board

Economic Security of Southwest Missouri – Early Childhood Development Policy Council

Cox Barton County Hospital Advisory Board

Lamar Rotary Club

Lamar R-1 School District Career and Tech Center Advisory Board

Lamar United Methodist Church

Family

Husband Jerrad, three children

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