14 KBA Chairman Mike Ewy, Community State Bank in Coffeyville, welcomed the nearly 150 Kansas Bankers to the Topeka Country Club for the 2022 Harold A. Stones Public Affairs Conference on February 9 after a threeyear interruption because of COVID. Bankers were clearly energized to see each other and come together to advocate on behalf of the industry before state policymakers. The group welcomed the day's first presenter, Kansas Gubernatorial candidate and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. He acknowledged the critical role that banks played in deploying billions of dollars of PPP funds to small businesses across Kansas, which helped businesses not just stay alive, but for some, even thrive during the pandemic. However, he cautioned that while the state general fund is looking very healthy and that there needs to be some action on tax policy and helping fund the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS), the legislature needs to remain diligent in their discussions with so much uncertainty that continues to exist. He concluded his remarks by talking about his office's work on a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature more power over regulations proposed and enforced by regulatory agencies. Next in the line-up was special guest Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. She began her address by thanking bankers across Kansas for continuing to help their communities during the pandemic. She touted her administration's work on the first state housing study in decades and the need for legislation in this session to address the shortage of housing in both rural and urban communities. She hoped it would lead to more houses available to enable the state to bring more jobs to various communities. Governor Kelly also highlighted her administration's work on trying to land the mega $4 billion economic development project, otherwise known as Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act (APEX). This year's information-packed conference included a state legislative leaders panel discussion moderated by KBA's AVP 2022 KBA's Harold A. Stones Public Affairs Conference ABA VP — Congressional Relations Dan Martini provides an overview of ABA’s initiatives at the Federal level KBA EVP-General Counsel Kathy Taylor and current KBA Chairman Mike Ewy (Community State Bank, Coffeyville) host a fireside chat with Acting Comptroller Michael J. Hsu Patrice Newton And Jim Echols (Renaissance Management & Training Solutions) BLOK alumni Jonathan Holmes (Valley State Bank, Belle Plaine) and current BLOK class member Francis Scheuerman (UMB Bank, Kansas City)
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