Pub. 8 2019 Issue 5

September/October 2019 15 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 2019 BLOK CONCLUDES WITH FINAL SESSION T he 2019 BLOK Class convened at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta on September 16-17 for their fourth and final session of the yearlong program. The 20-member class was welcomed by a panel discussion featuring KBA Chairman Kurt Knutson (Chairman and CEO, Freedom Bank, Overland Park), KBA Chairman-elect Jonathon Johnson (President & CEO, Home Savings Bank, Chanute) who shared their insights on leadership and what led them to serve on KBA Board of Directors and their take on banking industry trends. At the conclusion of the first day of training, the class members were treated to a special closing session dinner event featuring musical performances by KBA staff. The next morning began bright and early with an engaging session titled, “Differentiating Your Leadership Brand and Avoiding Leadership Self-Deception” led by Ted Garnett, president of PS Culture Matters. Garnett, who was also a featured part of BLOK Session II, encouraged participants to evaluate their respective bank’s mission statement. KBA Chairman-elect Jonathon Johnson (left; President & CEO, Home Savings Bank, Chanute) and KBA Chairman Kurt Knutson (right; Chairman & CEO, Freedom Bank, Overland Park) impart their leadership lessons on the 2019 BLOK Class. Kristen Wesolowsky (left; Legacy Bank, Wichita) asks for clarification on a point from speaker Ted Garnett. Also pictured are Jeff Martin (First Heritage Bank, Centralia) and Darrin Golliher (Stockgrowers State Bank, Meade). Don Reinsch (Central National Bank, Junction City) shares with his classmates the lessons he learned during the book report process. Terry Wright (left; GNBank, Horton), Tyler Walden (center; Allen Gibbs & Houlik L.C., Wichita) and Jeremy Hacker (right; United Bank & Trust, Concordia) pose by their interpretation of a tower. Continued on page 17