Now in its seventeenth year, the Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) Program is a leadership development program coordinated by the Kansas Bankers Association. The BLOK program is designed to improve the leadership skills of Kansas bankers and it accomplishes that goal through four primary objectives:

• To increase the individual banker’s understanding and knowledge of the structure and governance of the KBA, including a complete overview of programs, services, and representation provided by the KBA
• To improve the individual banker’s understanding of the state and federal legislative process and increase their willingness to actively support and defend the Kansas banking industry
• To increase the individual banker’s understanding and awareness of the various state and federal agencies that govern the banking industry in Kansas and how those agencies interact with the KBA
• To improve the individual banker’s leadership and communication skills through professional development and leadership training sessions and to provide a clear understanding of the individual banker’s role as a volunteer KBA leader

This year’s class will include a wide range of banking industry talent from across the state. Twenty-one Kansas bankers will participate in four BLOK training sessions that will arm them with the knowledge and information needed to be credible and effective advocates for the Kansas banking industry. The first session is scheduled for Feb. 7-9 and will center on the 2023 Harold A. Stones Government Relations Conference in Topeka.