Pub. 8 2019 Issue 4

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 18 BLOK SESSION III – FEDERAL ADVOCACY N ineteen members of the 2019 Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) class traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn about advocacy at the federal level in the third session of the year-long program. The trip began with a fun evening led by KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham, on a mobile monument tour. The tour included stops at Iwo Jima, National WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, U.S. Capitol, and the Korean War Memorial. On Monday morning, the American Bankers Association (ABA) provided a special introductory session to the class in their office to outline the many resources with which the staff experts at the ABA can assist. An important component of the trip to Washington D.C. is to demonstrate how the Senate and Congressional offices function and how bankers can interact with them. Immediately after the orientation at the ABA, the class gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a behind- the-scenes look provided by Chiefs of Staff Jackie Cottrell The 2019 BLOK Class and KBA Officers outside of the FDIC. Pictured left to right are: (back row) Jeremy Hacker, United Bank & Trust, Concordia; Jacob LaRue, Bank of Commerce, Chanute; Darrin Golliher, Stockgrowers State Bank, Meade; Crissy Shumard, INTRUST Bank, N.A., Wichita; Kristen Wesolowsky, Legacy Bank, Wichita; Kelli Galbrecht, CrossFirst Bank, Leawood; KBA Chairman Chris Donnelly, Bank of the Prairie, Olathe; Blake Meyer, Denison State Bank, Holton; Chris Wente, Golden Belt Bank, Hays; Jeff Martin, First Heritage Bank, Centralia; Derek Bailey, Great Western Bank, Shawnee; Eric Clemenson, Arvest Bank, Mission; Tyler Walden, Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C., Wichita; (front row) Suzan Saville, FHLBank Topeka, Topeka; Amanda Williams, Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Wichita; Lindsey Voss, Farmers Bank & Trust, Overland Park; KBA Vice Chairman Jonathon Johnson, Home Savings Bank, Chanute; KBA Chairman-Elect Kurt Knutson, Freedom Bank, Overland Park; Carmelita Taylor; Astra Bank, Abilene; Don Reinsch, Central National Bank, Junction City; Jared Brown, Impact Bank, Wellington; Chris Bilby, Home Savings Bank, Chanute; KBA Past Chairman Ron Johnson, Community National Bank, Seneca. (Not pictured is Terry Wright, GNBank, Horton). Congressional Chiefs of Staff impart insights on the 2019 BLOK Class. Pictured are Jackie Cottrell (Senator Pat Roberts’ office) and Colin Brainard (Congressman Steve Watkins’ office). The BLOK Class was joined by their families for the Chiefs of Staff panel discussion at the U.S. Capitol. Derek Bailey (center; Great Western Bank, Shawnee) and his wife Jackie visit with Dan Martin (U.S. Rep. Ron Estes office) during the reception. Don Reinsch (Central National Bank, Junction City) poses a question during a visit to Congressman Roger Marshall’s office. Left to right are: Jeremy Hacker (United Bank & Trust, Concordia); Reinsch; Darrin Golliher (seated, Stockgrowers State Bank, Meade); Brad Elliott (standing, Equity Bank, Wichita); and Amanda Williams (Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Wichita).