Julie Hower, KBA Vice Chairman
Julie Hower is the Chairman, President & CEO of Farmers & Drovers Bank in Council Grove. She has previously served on the KBA State Affairs Committee as Chairman, KBA Board and in the BLOK class of 2007. Julie earned her Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas. She is married to her husband, John Hower and has two daughters, Hailey and Ally. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, traveling, cooking and K-State sports.
Michael Black, Regional Representative
Michael S. Black is the President & CEO of ESB Financial in Emporia. Prior to his current position, he served as the VP Regional Manager at CoreFirst Bank & Trust in Emporia from September 1997 to September 2011. Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Emporia State University and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking Colorado. He is married to his wife Tammy and has two sons, Cody and Tanner, who are both grown. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and the outdoors. His goal is to have a bank examiner tell them they run a good bank.
Lori Bone, Trust Division President
Lori Bone is the Senior Vice President/Trust Officer of Fidelity State Bank & Trust Company in Dodge City. Lori had previously worked as a staff accountant at Landmark National Bank. She has served as a Trust Division Board Member since 2018. Lori earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. Mary of the Plains. She is married to her husband Joel and has two children, Jerica and Jonathan. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, reading, working in the yard and riding motorcycles with her husband.
Teri Ginther, At Large Representative
Teri Ginther is the President and COO of Bankers’ Bank of Kansas in Wichita. She earned her degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is married to her husband Paul and has three children and five grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys KC Royals baseball, KU sports and whatever her grandchildren are doing. Although she does not have previous experience working on KBA committees, Teri is passionate about community banking and the issues impacting their ability to thrive and compete. Her 40 years of banking have provided her with a broad range of banking experience. She is both grateful and looking forward to the opportunity to help the KBA achieve its mission and goals.
Mikel Hadachek, Kansas Ag Bankers Chairman
Mikel Hadachek is the Market President/VP Loan Officer for Astra Bank in Belleville. Before his current position, he served as a loan officer at the Munden State Bank in Munden, KS. He also served on the KBA Technology Committee from 1998-1999. Mikel earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from Kansas State University and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Madison, Wisconsin. Mikel has two children, Erica and Gary. He enjoys golfing, doing yard work and watching K-State athletic events in his spare time.
J.C. Long, Regional Representative
J.C. Long is the Chairman, President & CEO of The Bank of Commerce & Trust Co. in Wellington. His previous employment positions included the Kansas House of Representatives, Director of Gov. Affairs and UtiliCorp United Inc. J.C. served on both the KBA State Affairs Committee and the KBA Insurance Committee as well. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas. He is married to his wife Mary and has two children, Will and John. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, photography and history.
Paul Thompson, Director Appointed by KBA Chairman
Paul Thompson is the President & CEO of Country Club Bank in Kansas City. Before his current position, he worked for CCB & Affiliates from 1987 to the present and Rolf & Associates, CPA from 1984-1987. He has served on the KBA Legislative Committee since 1995. Other committee positions he has had and been on include FRB-KC Class A Director from 2014-2018, MBA Chairman from 2004-2007, Membership Committee from 2004-2007, and Government Relations Committee from 2008-2011. Paul obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Creighton University in 1984 and his Master of Business Administration from Rockhurst University in 1987 and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado in 1998. He is married to his wife Mary and has five children: PJ, Emily, Caroline, Margaret and Robert. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and history. His goal is that he just wants to provide any assistance he can to benefit the long-term, ongoing success and viability of community banking.
Tyler Whitham, Director Appointed by KBA Chairman
Tyler Whitham is the President of Western State Bank in Garden City. Before his current position, he was the Engineering Manager for Acquisition and Divestiture for Meagher Energy Advisors. Tyler earned his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mineral Economics and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking Colorado. He is married to his wife Amy and has six children: Scarlett, Ryan, Zane, Vivian, Corinne and Finn. His goal is to improve the likelihood of success of his family business and others like it in Kansas by promoting community banking, defending the interests of community banking politically and improving bank operations through offering or referring preferred services.
Nick Wolfe, YBOK President
Nick Wolfe is the SVP and Community Bank President of United Bank & Trust in Marysville. Before his current employment, he worked for the Landoll Corporation. Nick has served on the KBA Bank Management Committee from 2022 to the present and the BankPAC Committee from 2018-2019. He has also served on the Advanced School of Banking Advisory Committee. Nick earned his degrees from Emporia State University and Neosho County Community College and is an alumnus of the Advanced School of Banking. He is married to his wife Rylee and has three children: Brynlee, Adlee and Sadie. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing and watching a lot of softball.
