Pub. 7 2018 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 6 PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE T he Topeka Country Club was the setting for KBA’s 2018 Public Affairs Conference held on Wednesday, February 7th with more than 120 bankers in attendance. After a warm welcome by KBA Chairman Ron Johnson, the podium was turned over to Rob Engstrom who recently joined the American Bankers Association staff team as its new Chief Political Strategist. Engstrom outlined several strategies for strengthening the banking industry’s voice in Washington, D.C., including the creation of ABA’s Voter Education Fund, which will be used as a resource to become more active in federal legislative races, including primary races. KBA President Chuck Stones moderated a panel discussion featuring Will Ruder, Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Dalton Henry, Legislative Director for Congressman Roger Marshall. Ruder and Henry were both optimistic that federal legislation bringing long-overdue regulatory relief for community bankers was close to being realized in Washington, D.C. Ruder was hopeful S. 2155, the bi-partisan reg relief bill adopted by the Senate Banking Committee, would be considered by the full Senate before the end of March. Henry said the U.S. House, which has numerous reg relief bills of its own, will want to put its own stamp on the Senate’s proposal before a final bill is advanced to President Trump. Other highlights of this year’s information-packed conference, included a state legislative leaders panel discussion that showcased very different views on how the state legislature should address on-going school finance dilemma between the legislative and judicial branches of state government. Panelists included Senate President Susan Wagle (R-Wichita), Senator Lynn Rogers (D-Wichita), Speaker of the House Ron Ryckman, Jr. (R-Olathe), and House Minority Leader JimWard (D-Wichita). State Banking Commissioner Miki Bowman updated conference attendees on reorganization efforts at the OSBC and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt discussed the growing population of elderly Kansans and related cases of elder financial abuse. Schmidt, who currently serves as President of the National Association of Attorney General’s is helping spearhead a national effort to raise awareness of elder abuse. Doug Wareham, KBA’s EVP & COO updated attendees on KBA’s state legislative agenda and encouraged bankers to express support for Senate Bill 335 (introduced by the KBA) and Senate Bill 283 (introduced by the OSBC), which modify the state banking code. Wareham also introduced the 2017 graduating class of KBA’s Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) program. Following the graduation ceremony, KBA Chairman Ron Johnson introduced the 20 members of the 2018 BLOK Class and wished them well on their upcoming BLOK training experience. Closing out this year’s conference was a special address by recently sworn-in Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer. Governor Colyer talked of changing the tone coming from the Executive Branch of state government and he thanked the bankers in attendance for being servant-minded leaders in their communities. Following the Governor’s comments, bankers from across the state welcomed State Senators and State Representatives for KBA’s annual Legislative Reception, also held at Topeka Country Club. Special thanks to every Kansas banker that helped make this year’s conference a huge success. Please mark your calendars for the 2019 KBA Public Affairs Conference set for February 6, 2019 . Newly-minted Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer shared his priorities for the coming year. KBA Legal Intern Kelly VanZwoll, KBA SVP-General Counsel Kathy Taylor, Rep. Rich Proehl (R-Parsons), Rep. Jim Kelly (R-Independence), and Beth Kelly pause for a photo during KBA’s Legislative Reception.