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Planned Parenthood announces CEO's retirement

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Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri announced the retirement of current president and CEO, Peter Brownlie, this week. Brownlie spent 15 years advocating for women's health care rights. He said he will retire from the organization in the Spring of 2014.

"I get up every morning knowing the services we provide are helping people live lives the way they want to," says Brownlie.

Since 1999, Brownlie has advocated for women's health rights on state and national levels. Throughout his career, he has served as CEO at both the Planned Parenthood of North Central Indiana and the Planned Parenthood of North Texas.

The Board of Directors at Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri hope to choose a new CEO by the end of the year.

"Their objective is to be able to hire my successor by January," Brownlie said. "If that person wants, then I will be here to provide some overlap and help them learn about the organization."

Brownlie said his biggest challenge was the criminal investigation charges by former Attorney General and District Attorney, Phil Kline, in 2010.

Those charges questioned whether the Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri followed the Kansas state abortion laws, and if the Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood met licensing requirements. In 2011 and 2012, those charges were dismissed.

"It is a demanding job," Brownlie said.  "Our organization is relatively small, but it is complex and the issues we deal with are complex. And we are, in this area of the country particular, are constantly under challenge or being challenged by political and legislative forces."

After 35 years of work, Brownlie said he is a pretty resilient person. He also said problems energize him, and he will continue to work with non-profit health groups after he retires. 

Brownlie plans on officially stepping down in either March or April after a new president is chosen.