The KBA CEO & Senior Management Summit and Annual Meeting at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs was an outstanding week of leadership, learning and networking with banking industry leaders from across Kansas and beyond! A record-breaking crowd of more than 560 attendees joined to hear an outstanding lineup of speakers and connect with our incredible sponsors.
KBA Chairman’s Address
To begin the event, KBA Chair Julie Hower, Farmers & Drovers Bank, Council Grove, shared her Chairman’s Address, highlighting a year of accomplishments for the Kansas banking industry. Hower shared KBA-spearheaded achievements ranging from pushing back on federal credit card policy mandates and price controls to the adoption of state legislation designed to help prevent scams and protect vulnerable bank customers from fraud. Hower encouraged Kansas bankers to look to the KBA for their education, insurance, legal and compliance needs, and she applauded the dramatic growth of the Kansas Bankers Educational Foundation, which is having a positive impact on bank workforce development, financial literacy and fraud protection.
Mountainside Policy Chat
Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the American Bankers Association, joined Mark Schifferdecker, President and CEO of GNBank, Girard, and Doug Wareham, President and CEO of the KBA, for the Mountainside Policy Chat. Nichols provided updates on key federal policy issues, including the CLARITY Act, ongoing efforts to include an ACRE Act fix in a year-end tax extender package, and the Credit Card Competition Act. He concluded with a look ahead at the 2026 election cycle and its potential implications for the banking industry.
Jesse Sugarman, AVP of Public Policy Initiatives with Travelers, gave attendees a broader perspective on today’s economic landscape by examining how trade policies, global conflicts and presidential agendas have shaped the economy over the past century. Drawing on more than 100 years of historical data, he helped bankers separate short-term headlines from long-term trends. His presentation sparked thoughtful discussion and received outstanding feedback from attendees, who appreciated the historical perspective and practical takeaways from his session.
State Bank Commissioner David Herndon received the Kansas Bankers Association Flint Factor Award on day one of the event! Commissioner Herndon has been a passionate advocate for Kansas banking for more than 30 years, including 22 years as President and CEO of First State Bank of Kansas City, service as KBA Chairman from 2008-2009, and the past seven years as State Bank Commissioner. His leadership, dedication and commitment to Kansas banks have helped strengthen and advance our industry.
2026 Jim Maag Golf Classic
Golfers were welcomed to the annual Jim Maag Golf Classic on Friday. Thank you to Central States Capital Markets for sponsoring the time-honored tradition of the traveling trophy! The winning team was Carston Cooper and Scott Cooper with Patriots Bank, Garnett, and Tyson Oakes and Brad Oakes with FirstOak Bank, Independence, who ended the day with a score of 59.
Securing Tomorrow’s Banking Workforce
Following golf, attendees enjoyed the “Securing Tomorrow’s Banking Workforce” panel, where Kansas State University President Dr. Richard Linton and University of Kansas Chancellor Dr. Doug Girod shared how their institutions are preparing the next generation of banking and business leaders. Facilitated by John Dicus, President and CEO of Capitol Federal Savings, Topeka, and Julie Hower, President and CEO of Farmers & Drovers Bank, Council Grove, the discussion explored workforce trends, talent development and how the universities are harnessing the power of AI.
Congressional Panel
Kansas bankers then welcomed Congressman Ron Estes, Congressman Tracey Mann, and Congressman Derek Schmidt for a federal policy update focused on issues shaping the banking industry and the communities it serves. Facilitated by Chairman Kendal Kay, Stockgrowers State Bank, Ashland, and Doug Wareham, the conversation covered topics including the SCAM Act and efforts to fight financial fraud, the CLARITY Act, prospects for a tax reconciliation package, and progress toward a new Farm Bill.
U.S. Navy Veteran and retired Southwest Airlines Pilot Tammie Jo Shults delivered an inspirational closing keynote session for day two of the Summit. Shults took the audience through her career as one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet Pilots in the United States Navy, then becoming a Southwest Airlines Pilot where she heroically saved the lives of 148 people during an air catastrophe. Attendees ended day two of the event with a KBA Leadership Reception and Dinner at the Cheyenne Mountain Lodge.
Annual Meeting and Election of KBA Officers
On the closing day of the event, Kendal Kay, President and CEO of Stockgrowers State Bank, Ashland, assumed the KBA Board Chairmanship during KBA’s 139th Annual Meeting.
Following the annual meeting, James Kelly, Chief of Staff to Senator Jerry Moran, joined attendees and shared his journey to serving as Chief of Staff. Kelly provided an in-depth update on the CLARITY Act and where it stood in the Senate as they went into their August recess.
The KBA was honored to welcome back Kansas native Miki Bowman, Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Joined by KBA Chair-Elect Kyle Campbell, Bowman participated in a candid conversation on regulatory priorities, the future of community banking, current economic conditions and factors influencing interest rate decisions. She also highlighted efforts to bring together banks, technology platforms, telecommunications providers and other stakeholders to combat the growing threat of fraud.
This year’s event was a success, and we hope to see everyone there again next August 5-7, 2027!
