Featured Image Above: 2022 BLOK Class. Back row (left-right): Sam Jackson, First State Bank, Plainville; Brock Stuhlsatz, Citizens Bank of Kansas, Derby; Alex Greig, Kansas Bankers Association, Topeka; Greg Thiessen, First Bank of Beloit, Beloit; Joe White, INTRUST Bank, NA, Wichita; Evan Whetzal, First Heritage Bank, Seneca; Deron O’Connor, Astra Bank, Hays; Kyle Murrow, Denison State Bank, Holton; and Cole Thompson, BOK Financial, Overland Park. Middle Row (l-r) Jordan Lauer, Farmers State Bank, Westmoreland; James Hagedorn, United Bank & Trust, Seneca; Nick Gideon, Silver Lake Bank, Lawrence; Garrett Sharp, Community National Bank & Trust, Chanute; Clint Shoemaker, Guaranty State Bank and Trust Co. Beloit, and Trae Watson, Heartland Tri-State Bank, Elkhart. Front row (l-r): Jennifer Caughron, Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Wichita; Kimberly Wallace, Equity Bank, Wichita; Brandi Archer, First National Bank and Trust, Phillipsburg; Lewis Walton, Kansas Bankers Association, Topeka; Lindsey Snider, Central National Bank, Junction City; and Francis Scheuerman, UMB Bank, N.A., Kansas City.
The 2022 BLOK class members met in Kansas City on April 11-13 to continue their training. Ted Garnett of Performance Resources Consulting, LLC, led the class in a session titled Leadership and Self Deception, followed by a session titled Leadership Accountability. Mr. Garnett took the class through several hands-on exercises that helped them stretch their minds and think outside the box.
Day two kicked off with a full slate of speakers at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, starting with a welcome by Esther George, President & CEO. President George welcomed the class to the bank, talked about the challenges she and her team were looking at, and took questions from the class on issues for which bankers need to keep watch.
Following the welcome, a history of the Federal Reserve was presented by Executive Writer and Historian Tim Todd. Mr. Todd talked about the bank’s origins and what the banking system looked like before its founding. Andy Glover, Senior Economist, led the class through an economic outlook focused on Kansas and the 10th Federal Reserve District. The morning concluded with Mike Thomas, Manager, Examinations and Inspections, giving the group a detailed review of Kansas banking conditions. Following lunch and a group photo, the class enjoyed a tour of the Fed.
Dr. Bruce Morgan kicked off the afternoon sessions and gave a presentation “What’s the Future for Community Banks?” A distinguished urban banker panel made up of Mark Larrabee, President and CEO of Arvest Bank in Shawnee Mission; Dave Vander Veen, President of Freedom Bank in Overland Park; and Travis Hicks, CEO of TriCentury Bank in DeSoto, provided the class a look into their market space, and how they hire and retain the best talent. The group also talked about how they are competitors and resources to each other in the highly competitive marketplace of Kansas City.
The afternoon at the Federal Reserve concluded with another panel discussion titled “Banking Meets Public Service.” Retired 47-plus years banker and State Senator Mike Fagg of El Dorado; Mike Boehm, SVP of Commerce Bank and Mayor of Lenexa; and Mark Kennedy, AVP & Trust Officer at Citizen’s State Bank & Trust in Ellsworth and former Mayor of Ellsworth talked about their respective offices and what it means to hold public office. They shared how the vast differences in the sizes of the cities they serve contribute to the challenges and rewards of being involved in their communities. They also encouraged the BLOK class to get involved in their communities to have an impact and to help cultivate the next generation of public servants.
The final day kicked off at UMB Bank’s Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. UMB President & CEO Jim Rine welcomed the class and thanked them for visiting the bank. The class’s first speaker of the day was FDIC Regional Director James LaPierre, who talked about the FDIC’s regulatory priorities and took questions from the class on the current banking conditions and what he has seen in his seven state region. The class also heard from UMB Senior Financial Analyst John McQueen about the interest rate environment. The last speaker of the day was Retired Army Colonel and State Representative Chris Croft of Overland Park, who gave a presentation on leadership and what he learned and taught as the Director of the Center for Army Leadership at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
For Session III, the class will head to Wichita in July to continue their training before going to Washington D.C. with KBA’s Federal Affairs Committee in September.
Thanks to BLOK Sponsors: INTRUST Bank, N.A., KBA Insurance, Inc., Professional Bank Consultants, LLC, and Bankers’ Bank of Kansas.
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President & CEO Esther George welcomes the 2022 BLOK Class.
FDIC Kansas City Regional Director James LaPierre discussed the agency’s priorities.
Ted Garnett actively engages the BLOK Class with specific leadership lessons.
