Pub. 4 2015 Issue 2

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 8 K BA STARTED THE BANK LEADERS OF Kansas (BLOK) program ten years ago with a vision of developing Kansas bankers and helping to familiarize them with a wide range of topics that influence the industry, while building a collaborative networking community. The tenth BLOK class convened for their first session in Topeka on February 3, 2015. “Building a Confident KBAVolunteer Leader” was the title of the session that began with an afternoon overview of the history and structure of the Kansas Bankers Association. Day two focused on state advocacy and began with a session on the legislative process at the Kansas Statehouse. The BLOK class participated in the KBA Public Affairs Conference, followed by a legislative reception at the Topeka Country Club. Class members were encouraged to locate offices and meet their State Representatives and Senators while at the state capitol mid-day. The Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Kansas State Treasurer Ron Estes joined the class at one point to introduce themselves and discuss the operations in their respective offices. The third day of Session One started with a leadership panel designed to expose the class further to the role of a volunteer KBA leader. KBA President Chuck Stones moderated a panel that included Jim Maag, former KBA Executive Vice President; Former KBA Chairman Kent Needham who serves as Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of First Security Bank in Overbrook; and KBA Past Chairman Leonard Wolfe, who serves as Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of United Bank & Trust in Marysville. The class then sat in on the first hour of the KBA Board meeting before transitioning to the Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) for a briefing on the structure and responsibilities of the OSBC. Following the OSBC’s presentation, the class listened as Representative Jim Kelly, Independence (District 11 – R) and Senator Jeff Longbine, Emporia (District 17 – R) described how they balance their personal/professional lives with service in the Kansas Legislature. Rep. Kelly is Executive Vice President with Community National Bank & Trust in Independence, while Senator Longbine (owner of Longbine Auto Plaza) serves on the Board of ESB Financial in Emporia. Following the legislative panel the group walked to the Statehouse and received a behind-the-scenes tour of the state capitol from KBA’s Statehouse lobbyists. The tour included visiting House leadership offices, witnessing a House committee in action and viewing the Kansas Senate while in session. Sara Girard, Kim Hesting, Trent Grissom and Scott Nelson chat during a break. BLOK SESSION I 2015 BANK LEADERS OF KANSAS CLASS CONVENES FOR SESSION 1 Sam Pepper, Jr., Equity Bank, Wichita; Matt Hoefer, First State Bank & Trust Co. of Larned, Overland Park; Brad Zimmerman, Bucklin National Bank branch GNB, Bucklin; Mikel Hadachek, Astra Bank, Belleville; Tami Molloy, Verus Bank, Derby; Trent Grissom, CalTech, Olathe; Brice Malloy, Legacy Bank, Wichita; Elsa Havel, Grant County Bank, Ulysses; Travis Thompson, Farmers Bank & Trust, Larned; Sheila Reimer, First National Bank in Pratt, Pratt; Quintin Robert, First National Bank of Kansas, Osage City; Kim Hesting, Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co., Beloit; Scott Soderstrom, INTRUST Bank, N.A., Wichita; Allison Kernin, Kansas Bankers Association, Topeka; Shan Hanes, First National Bank of Elkhart, Elkhart; Christy Simonsen, Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Wichita; Nick Wolfe, United Bank & Trust, Marysville; Barbara Christ, Arvest Bank, Overland Park; Sara Girard, Central National Bank, Topeka; Scott Nelson, Carson Bank, Mulvane. Thank you to our sponsors Bankers' Bank of Kansas FHLBank Topeka INTRUST Bank, N.A. KBS KBA Insurance, Inc. K-Coe Isom Professional Bank Consultants, LLC Promontory Interfinancial Network Schools of Banking