Pub. 7 2018 Issue 2

February/March 2018 9 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 then enjoyed dinner and more time to get acquainted with the KBA staff and KBA Board Chairman Ron Johnson. After a special introduction of Rob Engstrom, the new Chief Political Strategist for the American Bankers Association, the class resigned to the Hyatt Place Hotel for a late-night reception hosted by Herb Iams, President of KBA Insurance. Wednesday, February 7th dawned bright and early and found the BLOK class assembling at the Topeka Country Club for a session on Understanding the State Legislative Process, which was led by Doug Wareham, and Kathy Taylor, SVP and General Counsel. Doug and Kathy comprise KBA’s government relations team, and gave real life examples of shepherding KBA-backed bills through the legislative process. The class then joined the KBA’s annual Public Affairs Conference for the remainder of the day, including the KBA Legislative Cocktail Reception, which allowed the class to interact one on one with their state representatives and state senators. BLOK Session I was capped by a full day on Thursday. The class convened at the KBA office for a working breakfast featuring the panel topic of Understanding the Role of a KBA Volunteer Leader, moderated by Chuck Stones. Panel guests were JimMaag, former KBA Executive Vice President; and two former KBA Chairman: Kent Needham, Chairman President and CEO of First Security Bank in Overbrook; and Leonard Wolfe, Chairman, President and CEO of United Bank & Trust in Marysville. After the panel discussion concluded, the BLOK class had the opportunity to network with the KBA Board of Directors as they arrived for the February board meeting. The class sat in on the first hour of the board meeting as well. Mid-morning, the class departed for the Office of the State Banking Commissioner in downtown Topeka. Commissioner Miki Bowman and her staff welcomed the class and gave them an inside look at their offices, along with an excellent roundtable discussion on hot topics affecting banks in our state. Commissioner Bowman, a member of the 2013 BLOK class, understands the issues that these bankers are facing daily and encouraged the class to maintain an open dialogue with her office. Senator Jeff Longbine, Chair of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and Senator Jim Kelly, Chair of the House Financial Institutions & Pensions Committee were kind enough to share their perspectives on serving in the Kansas Legislature at a special lunch hosted by Capital Strategies, a firm that supports KBA monitor the legislative process. The afternoon was spent at the statehouse, with Doug and Kathy as the ultimate tour guides. The class received insight to statehouse operations, and could view the Senate in session. A highlight of the Statehouse tour included the BLOK class being recognized by the Kansas Senate with a standing ovation. BLOK 2018 Sponsors Bankers’ Bank of Kansas CalTech Central States Capital Markets, LLC Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison INTRUST Bank, N.A. KBA Insurance, Inc. Professional Bank Consultants, LLC Schools of Banking Monica Dahl (Arvest Bank, Overland Park) and John Legg (Central National Bank, Topeka) introduce each other to the class during an ice breaking exercise. BLOK class members participated in a role-playing exercise that followed a bill from introduction to reaching the Governor’s desk for signature. During this session, BLOK class participants learned about the history, structure and governance of the KBA. BLOK class members (left to right) Patrick Bolen, Bank of Prairie Village, Fairway; Tyler Bachman, First Heritage Bank, Overland Park; Anna Baker, INTRUST Bank, N.A., Wichita; Jamie Inglett, Heritage Bank, Topeka; and Stephen Hendrickson, Citizens State Bank of Marysville, Hanover enjoying KBA’s legislative reception. KBA EVP-COO Doug Wareham led the BLOK class on a behind the scenes tour of the Kansas Statehouse.