Kansas Bankers Assn

Day 2 of Women in Banking wrapped up on a high note! ?? Attendees left buzzing with energy after a morning packed with powerful insights on leadership, financial innovation, diversity, and career growth. Janice Litvin brought the energy to the morning with interactive activities and powerful insights! ?? She highlighted that supporting employees isn’t just the right thing—it’s smart business. When leaders prioritize communication, growth, and well-being, everyone thrives. ?? Anne Schutt ??CFP?, WMCP?, ChFC?, CPFA?, MBA, VP of Business Development at Midwestern Securities Trading Company, LLC, challenged us to break down the barriers holding back curiosity in the workplace. ?? By creating space for exploration, innovation, and open-minded thinking, organizations can build cultures where employees feel valued, engaged, and inspired to grow. ?? Lie detection = fascinating and powerful! ?? To close out this year’s Women in Banking Conference, body language expert Traci Brown, CSP delivered a captivating session on spotting deception through subtle gestures, facial cues, and micro-expressions—game-changing insights for anyone in banking and finance! ??? #WeBankKansas

The annual Women in Banking Conference launched this morning at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, uniting nearly 200 attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors for a day of inspiration, connection, and professional growth. KBA Chair-Elect Julie Hower of Farmers and Drovers Bank in Council Grove opened the event with heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, planning committee, and KBA staff for their contributions before welcoming the first speaker to the stage. Shanna Adamic captivated the crowd with her powerful presentation, “The Power of Audacious Optimism.” Her personal journey is equally inspiring—after surviving a rare, life-threatening brain tumor that resulted in partial hearing loss, she defied the odds with just a 4% chance of regaining facial function. Shanna’s resilience and unwavering optimism are central themes in her upcoming memoir, Audacious Optimism, which encourages others to embrace uncertainty and unlock their full potential. Joe Micallef, a seasoned banking professional with over 25 years of experience, reminded attendees that “banking is a team sport,” encouraging leaders to foster a collaborative, high-performing culture by embracing the roles of captain, coach, and cheerleader within their teams. Kathy Taylor and Kelly VanZwoll outlined KBA’s state and federal legislative priorities, emphasizing their importance and the positive impact they’re poised to have on Kansas banks and the communities they serve. #WeBankKansas

Closing out Day 1 was Carmen Schwab with Haberfeld, who reminded us that when you know why you do what you do, even the toughest days become easier. Ready for an inspiring Day 2! #WomenInBanking #WeBankKansas

KBA’s Doug Wareham and Alex Greig were honored to present Trish Dunkin, EVP with the Elk State Bank with KBA’s 50-Year Banker Award. Joining the presentation (l to r) were Elk State Bank’s Tim Ohlde, Lance Nobert and Nate Kohake. Congratulations Trish!

#WeBankKansas #KSLeg

“Congratulations to native Kansan and former Kansas State Bank Commissioner Miki Bowman on being nominated by President Trump to serve as the Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision. KBA encourages the United States Senate to act swiftly to confirm this appointment and we look forward to working with Governor Bowman to bring a common-sense approach to ensuring the safety and soundness of American’s financial system.” – Doug Wareham, KBA President & CEO

Eric Meyers (Chairman/President/CEO) and Lisa Befort (Executive Vice President) with Ninnescah Valley Bank in Cunningham, Kansas thanked Team KBA for the strong support they receive from KBA’s Insurance and Legal Departments.

Stan Robertson, President & CEO of the Haviland State Bank updated KBA’s Doug Wareham and Alex Greig on banking and economic conditions in south central Kansas.

Team KBA had a great visit about the opportunities and challenges facing community banking with Portor Loomis (Chairman) and Monte Hostetler (CFO) of The Peoples Bank in Pratt, Kansas.

Doug Wareham was honored to update the Golden Belt Bankers Association on KBA’s top legislative priorities in Topeka and Washington DC at a special dinner event held earlier this week in Hudson, Kansas.