Pub 1 2012 Issue 1

Growing up in a Kansas bank- ing family, I had heard positive things with regards to the KBA long before I ever made the de - cision to get into banking. Dad always had the utmost respect for the KBA and all whoworked there. In addition, Centera Bank has al - ways had a great relationship with the KBA. So, as I became involved with the association during my chairmanship years, the bar was already plenty high. Not only did the KBA exceed my expectations, they exceeded them by a large margin. The professionalism and knowledge exhibited by all who work at the KBA has always been top notch and the leadership has always been strong. Kansas banking was also fortunate to never miss a beat when leadership changes took place, from Harold to Jim and then to Chuck. As positive as the experience was from a banking viewpoint, it proved to be much more valuable from a personal perspective. The lifelong relationships and friend- ships that were developed have been amazing. My tenure as KBA Chairman has definitely been one of the greatest highlights of my banking career. Some of the fond- est memories for Risa and I are the times we spent with the other officers and their spouses and the KBA families. The 2004-2005 KBA year was filled with significant change and excitement as we honored the service of Jim and Kathy Maag as our association’s leaders and welcomed into our fold a new one, Chuck Stones. Jim’s place in the association’s history is significant, and the energy and excitement within the association was fun to watch. • That year, we had four goals. They were: • To facilitate a smooth transition from JimMaag to Chuck Stones • To continue the fight on unfair competition and overburdening regulation • To revisit our strategic plan, and work toward defining the KBA’s role in financial literacy. Bank visits by the elected of- ficers and division leaders took place at various times during the year to gather input into the direc- tion of the association. This effort prevailed even down to the choice of the new KBA logo, which the association uses today. The 2004-2005 KBA year was a busy one full of change and the development of a clear path to the future. Much was accomplished during the year, but there was much yet to be done. Looking back, the succeeding Chairmen, Chuck, the division leaders and staff have done a remarkable job of managing the strategic plan follow-up and laying a quality foundation for the future of our KBA. In 2003, the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) made an ex - traordinary effort to have the KBA President/Chairman and other staff members visit every bank in the State of Kansas. The process took a few years to complete but completed it was! My “tour of duty” began in 2004, as the first female Chairman of the KBA, and bank visits were my first assignments. Between Jim Maag, Chuck Stones and other KBA officers, we visited from as far west as Garden City to south- eastern Kansas in Baxter Springs. Something I will never forget was returning from a bank visit in western Kansas with Jim Maag. He was driving and I fell asleep — not that Jim’s historical lectures were boring, or anything. (Just kidding, Jim.) I awoke to a very unusual, low swirling sound that was so eerie I felt like I was some - where I had never been before. Jim was standing outside the car and looking straight up to the sky. Right before my eyes was the most amazing sight of wind tur- bines for as far as the eye could see. The soft sound of the turning tur- bines was mesmerizing and tran- quil to say the least. Jim explained that he wanted me to experience Kansas in its rawest form…WIND! Thanks Jimand Chuck for sharing with me the State of Kansas and all its fine bankers. Kent Needham First Security Bank, Overbrook KBA Chairman 2004- 05 Kathleen Steward Chisholm Trail State Bank, Wichita KBA Chairman 2003- 04 Mike Stevens Centera Bank, Sublette KBA Chairman 2005- 06